Tejada

[jaklewein]

I'm a fan, and it ain't because he keeps hitting homers.  This guy absolutely loves to play the game. 

[chuck]

I'm a fan, and it ain't because he keeps hitting homers.  This guy absolutely loves to play the game. 

I love how he is the undisputed leader of the infield and how he has no qualms about calling time out and jogging to the mound to counsel a pitcher.

[pravata]

The grounder up the middle in the 8th Brocail started to reach for it but quickly pulled back.  He let it go through for the dp,

"It's like the other night (Tuesday) I tried to bare-hand the ball and (Tejada) came up immediately afterward and said, 'Now listen, I'm playing up the middle on a lefty. You got to let the ball go all year long.' You know, that's a vet happening to tell a vet," Brocail said. "It shows that Spanish and the American guys can relate. That's not a problem here because everybody speaks English. He just let me know, 'Hey, listen, I'm going to be up the middle on that play,' which makes my job easier because I can go ahead and pull off to go back up the base and not have to worry. If it's a double play situation it's a boom-boom and I don't have to jump for a ball or go out of my way to stop the ball from going through.

Communication is the biggest frigging thing we got going as a team."

Added Tejada: "He knows the next time it happens because we almost got it wrong. If I don't make the play the guy almost scores, and we don't want that to happen. We got to get the out. Sometimes if we don't communicate with the pitcher where we are they want to make every play that they can."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/ortiz/5677926.html

[toddthebod]

I thought this post was going to be about his insane defensive play last night.

Let no one say he can't play defense. 

I'm sold.

[JimR]

Tejada is an Astro. much, much better than advertised.

[JackAstro]

He's an endearing son of a bitch, no doubt.

[Mr. Happy]

Tejada is an Astro. much, much better than advertised.

Very much agree. I like it that he seems to be playing to prove something to himself.

[Don]

Truly inspired play last night on all sides of the game. Very enjoyable to watch.

[Ebby Calvin]

Truly inspired play last night on all sides of the game. Very enjoyable to watch.

Yes, but is Tejada really an upgrade over Everett?  I can't help thinking that AE would've made that walk-off homer look routine.

[Fredia]

said like a true smart ass.. well done

[MusicMan]

Can we set a rule that every smart-ass "would we really still want Everett over Tejada" remark has to be accompanied by documentation of the poster praising the Tejada deal?

[pravata]

Yes, but is Tejada really an upgrade over Everett?  I can't help thinking that AE would've made that walk-off homer look routine.

Was the fact that Tejada is a better hitter than Everett ever in question?

[otterjb]

He plays with serious passion for the game and it doesn't seem to be an out of control, just focused and intense. That's gotta be somewhat infectious for the rest of the team.

[Noe]

Was the fact that Tejada is a better hitter than Everett ever in question?

The thing is: Tejada hits in the 6 hole, the last player on Houston's team who had a strangle hold on that position was: Morgan Ensberg (followed by Ty Wiggington).  Ergo, the question should be: Is Miguel Tejada a better hitter than Morgan Ensberg (and Ty Wiggington)?  See, now you're seeing what having a good middle of the order will do for a club that it didn't do the last few years.  AE and Brad Ausmus hitting 7 and 8 were hamstrung trying to do more than they were capable of doing in said position because of the failure of #5 and #6 hitters in the recent team history (Lane, Preston Wilson, Morgan Ensberg - except for 2005).

So any question involving "Tejada" and "Everett" should center around defense only.  So is Tejada a better fielder than Adam Everett?  No, but he's a bad fielder at shortstop so it's not a huge drop-off as one might of thought earlier.

[toddthebod]

Noe.  You meant 5 hole, right?

[Noe]

Noe.  You meant 5 hole, right?

Yes, same thing applies regardless.

[Duman]

Enjoy the honeymoon!  Some last longer than others, I hope this is a long one.

[legs_of_eggs]

I can see why he still plays in the Dominican world series in the offseason.  He's loyal and dedicated to his craft. He's an all-around ballplayer and couldn't be happier to have him.

[Gizzmonic]

Tejada is heads-up.  He's well on the way to making me forget his gay hopscotch dance that he used to do with Melvin Mora.

One question though: how is he going to keep this pace up all year?  And no, I'm not making some steroids/HGH reference.  How does he play (nearly) 162 games at shortstop, directing traffic through the infield, making smart moves on the basepaths, and raking through the batter's box?   

[hostros7]

Well, considering he did it from basically 1999 - 2006, including all 162 games from 2001 - 2006, I'm thinking he at least has an outside shot.   

http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/tejadmi01.shtml

[TheWizard]

So any question involving "Tejada" and "Everett" should center around defense only.  So is Tejada a better fielder than Adam Everett?  No, but he's a bad fielder at shortstop so it's not a huge drop-off as one might of thought earlier.

Can you clarify what you meant by that?  Its probably just me reading it wrong, but I don't get what you meant by "its not a huge drop-off as one might have thought" because he is a bad fielder?  Were you saying Tejada is a bad fielder?

[SaltyParker]

Can you clarify what you meant by that?  Its probably just me reading it wrong, but I don't get what you meant by "its not a huge drop-off as one might have thought" because he is a bad fielder?  Were you saying Tejada is a bad fielder?

good question. I had read that as a typo, omitting the word not, but that's an assumption

[JimR]

Can you clarify what you meant by that?  Its probably just me reading it wrong, but I don't get what you meant by "its not a huge drop-off as one might have thought" because he is a bad fielder?  Were you saying Tejada is a bad fielder?

he omitted "not."

[austro]

Can you clarify what you meant by that?  Its probably just me reading it wrong, but I don't get what you meant by "its not a huge drop-off as one might have thought" because he is a bad fielder?  Were you saying Tejada is a bad fielder?

You know how a high-performance race car will sometimes drop a valve or throw a gear tooth? Sometimes when Noe gets going real good, he'll drop a word or two.

[Noe]

You know how a high-performance race car will sometimes drop a valve or throw a gear tooth? Sometimes when Noe gets going real good, he'll drop a word or two.

And when I proof read, my brain inserts the missing word for me and I fail to go back and insert it.  It happens.

[homer]

And when I proof read, my brain inserts the missing word for me and I fail to go back and insert it.  It happens.

Speed kills.

[rgs]

WSD

Word Skipping Disorder

[JimR]

WSD

Word Skipping Disorder

Premature Articulation.

[Andyzipp]

Premature Articulation.

Outstanding!

[MusicMan]

Outstanding!

Not for those afflicted with it.

[Noe]

WSD

Word Skipping Disorder

Look here Clarkie.  That was damn good and you better stop now while you're ahead.  I'm a pope damnit! P-o-p-e! Pope!  You got that?  Good.  Now keep on not sucking if you don't mind.  That is all!

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Speed kills.

I thouht it was "speed doesn't slump"?

[Andyzipp]

Look here Clarkie.  That was damn good and you better stop now while you're ahead.  I'm a pope damnit! P-o-p-e! Pope!  You got that?  Good.  Now keep on not sucking if you don't mind.  That is all!

The first rule of Pope Club is you don't talk about Pope Club!

[Noe]

The first rule of Pope Club is you don't talk about Pope Club!

I thought it was something about showering together.  BTW - when are we gonna have a woman pope around here?  Just saying...

[MusicMan]

I thought it was something about showering together. 

I hereby resign.

[AtascAstro]

Expository Dysfunction

The TV tells me there's a pill that you can take for ED.

[JaneDoe]

I thought it was something about showering together.  BTW - when are we gonna have a woman pope around here?  Just saying...

Ummm....Budgirl is already.

[Andyzipp]

Ummm....Budgirl is already.

She doesn't show up for the showers.  Something about seeing pravata without his pants and Hudson with his.

[tophfar]

She doesn't show up for the showers.  Something about seeing pravata without his pants and Hudson with his.

Noe, why does HH have pravata's pants?

[Lefty]

She doesn't show up for the showers.

[insert tub girl joke here]

[BudGirl]

Thanks Noe.  All the useless posts I make and you don't even notice.  You probably didn't notice this one either.

[BudGirl]

She doesn't show up for the showers.  Something about seeing pravata without his pants and Hudson with his.

Truer words were never spoken.

[JimR]

Thanks Noe.  All the useless posts I make and you don't even notice.  You probably didn't notice this one either.

did someone just say something?

[pravata]

Noe, why does HH have pravata's pants?

I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation.

[JaneDoe]

I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation.

This one I gotta hear.

[HudsonHawk]

This one I gotta hear.

We were going to the bingo parlor...down at the YMCA...

[pravata]

This one I gotta hear.

Oh, I dont know what it is, but I'm certain there is one.

[Noe]

Thanks Noe.  All the useless posts I make and you don't even notice.  You probably didn't notice this one either.

Oh my bad.  I never see you at the meetings, but that may be because I rarely attend the meetings once the motion was carried that we no longer should wear funny hats.  What is the use being a pope if not for the funny hat?

[Noe]

Oh, I dont know what it is, but I'm certain there is one.

That's because you are Illuminati.  You sir can deem the wearing of pants as you wish for anyone and any reason.  You never have to explain yourself on such trivial matters.

[BudGirl]

Oh my bad.  I never see you at the meetings, but that may be because I rarely attend the meetings once the motion was carried that we no longer should wear funny hats.  What is the use being a pope if not for the funny hat?

I don't show up for the meetings because they are apparently taking place in showers. 

[Noe]

I don't show up for the meetings because they are apparently taking place in showers. 

First rule of Pope Club.  Ya'know... maybe being a SnS Pope isn't the greatest achievement one can wish for in life.  Maybe.

[MusicMan]

Ya'know... maybe being a SnS Pope isn't the greatest achievement one can wish for in life.  Maybe.

Dammit, Noe, I don't have time to be reprioritizing my life!

[JimR]

I don't show up for the meetings because they are apparently taking place in showers. 

but the water is not running.

[BudGirl]

but the water is not running.

I'm still going to play shy and decline.

Thanks for the invite though.

[Outlawscotty]

but the water is not running.

is the soap dropped??

[JimR]

is the soap dropped??

with a bunch of Popes? repeatedly.

[Outlawscotty]

with a bunch of Popes? repeatedly.

Yikes!   Feel free to reduce my number of posts and restart my count.  I'll deal with Clark status again. 

[Ty in Tampa]

I thought popes used soap on a rope.

[Jacksonian]

I thought popes used soap on a rope.

Peter shaped.

[Outlawscotty]

Peter shaped.

LALALALALALALALALAICANTSEETHISLALALALALALALA

[Duman]

I am not sure if that sound I hear is SPACK coming or fire from above. 

[Andyzipp]

I am not sure if that sound I hear is SPACK coming or fire from above. 

Where do you think they get the soap shaped like St. Peter?  That is what we're talking about, right?

[BudGirl]

Where do you think they get the soap shaped like St. Peter?  That is what we're talking about, right?

You guys get that soap from Spack?

[Jacksonian]

Where do you think they get the soap shaped like St. Peter?  That is what we're talking about, right?

They?  Don't be tryin' to disassociate yourself.

[Mr. Happy]

Where do you think they get the soap shaped like St. Peter?  That is what we're talking about, right?

Just. Please. Tell. Me. That. There. Is. No. Glory. Hole.

[Andyzipp]

Just. Please. Tell. Me. That. There. Is. No. Glory. Hole.

Seems to be quite a bit of disillusionment about being a Pope around here today.

We can't even put in print what Noé, Raup and pravata do in their meetings.

[Taras Bulba]

Seems to be quite a bit of disillusionment about being a Pope around here today.

We can't even put in print what Noé, Raup and pravata do in their meetings.

It's in a circle and they're all right handed.

[MusicMan]

You people have driven me back to my tax returns.

Thanks a lot.

[Noe]

Seems to be quite a bit of disillusionment about being a Pope around here today.

We can't even put in print what Noé, Raup and pravata do in their meetings.

Okay, see... one meeting, lots of shiner and we break out the funny hats.... and now, it's something that people think is done at *every* meeting.  Besides, I thought pravata was a great dance partner.

[homer]

I am not sure if that sound I hear is SPACK coming or fire from above. 

Spack needs to drop the hammer on this Lemon Party.

[Spack McGrimm]

I hate funny hats.