Brew Crew @ Astros May 3, 2008

[OregonStrosFan]

SnS Series Preview (strosrays)
Molony Game Preview
MLB Gameday Press Pass / Pregame Notes
MLB Gameday PBP

Roof open at Minute Maid Park
Astros Pitching: <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6965>Backe[/url]

Astros Lineup:

Bourn, CF    
Matsui, 2B    
Tejada, SS    
Berkman, 1B    
Lee, LF    
Pence, RF    
Wigginton, 3B    
Towles, C
Backe, P

Brewers pitching: M. Parra (LHP)

Brewers lineup:

R. Weeks, 2B    
M. Cameron, CF    
R. Braun, LF    
P. Fielder, 1B    
C. Hart, RF    
B. Hall, 3B    
J.J. Hardy, SS    
M. Parra, P    
J. Kendall, C

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Tejada is wonderful. He continues to impress me. 

[OregonStrosFan]

Guys been outstanding.  Had to get something out at work yesterday so missed most of the game and didn't find out about the 'called shot' until late.  Very cool!

[JaneDoe]

Well, crap. Leadoff homer for Weeks.

[otterjb]

What's the story with the called shot? Missed the game...haven't read up.

Fuckinboschaka. Balls. Shit. Fuck. Weeks with the bomb.

[mihoba]

An 0-2 hanging offspeed train shot. Not a good start Backe.

[JaneDoe]

What's the story with the called shot? Missed the game...haven't read up.

Fuckinboschaka. Balls. Shit. Fuck. Weeks with the bomb.

Summary:
Last night was a Muscular Distrophy moneyraiser.  Citgo paid $10,000 for each HR.  Tejada visited with a boy before the game and promised a HR.  He delivered.  So did Pence (twice), Berkman and Lee.  (Tejada, Berkman and Lee were back to back to back.)

[OregonStrosFan]

Top 1: Backe pitching (Roof open at MMPUS, looks like a gorgeous evening there in Houston)

Week: Home run off the train in left. MIL 1, HOU 0 (fb, cs, fb, fb, bip)
Cameron: singled into left.  1 on, none out. (b, bip)
Braun: grounded into 6-4-3 DP. 2 outs, none on (ss, bip)
Veggie Tales: grounded out to Berkman (cs, bip)

Middle 1: MIL 1, HOU 0

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

What's the story with the called shot? Missed the game...haven't read up

He told some sick kid before the game he'd hit a home run for him, then went out and hit a home run for the kid.

[mihoba]

Amazing how a DP ball can change things.

I hope the Parra that Jim talked about from his Cactus league report doesn't show up tonight.

[OregonStrosFan]

He told some sick kid before the game he'd hit a home run for him, then went out and hit a home run for the kid.

2+ minute video on JdJO's blog about it.  http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2008/05/tejadas_gesture.html

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Lance could very well go down as one of the best five or six switch hitters ever.

[otterjb]

Summary:
Last night was a Muscular Distrophy moneyraiser.  Citgo paid $10,000 for each HR.  Tejada visited with a boy before the game and promised a HR.  He delivered.  So did Pence (twice), Berkman and Lee.  (Tejada, Berkman and Lee were back to back to back.)

Pretty cool.

[JaneDoe]

2+ minute video on JdJO's blog about it.  http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2008/05/tejadas_gesture.html

Thanks for the link.

[OregonStrosFan]

Bottom 1: Parra (LHP)

Speed: struck out on 3 pitches. (foul bunt attempt, cs, cs) 1 outs, none on.
2-hole: walked on 4 pitches. Runner on 1B, no outs.
George Herman, JR: slow grounder to short, Kazuo out at 2B. 2 outs, Tejada on 1B.
Twinkie: singled into center.  2 outs, runners on 1B and 2B (b, b, cs, cs-pretty low, throw over, bip)
El Caballo: walked on 4 pitches.  2 outs, bases loaded.
Spaz: inning killer popup into shallow RF. 3 outs. (b-high, bip).

End 1: MIL 1, HOU 0

[mihoba]

Lance could very well go down as one of the best five or six switch hitters ever.

With a minimum of 3000 at-bats, there is only one switch-hitter with a higher career OPS. I doubt I have to mention who it is, but Lance could become #1 on that list with a good year.

Lance is #16 all-time in OPS, slightly behind Musial, DiMaggio, and of course Mantle.

[OregonStrosFan]

Top 2: Backe pitching

Hart: lined just out of Tejada's reach into left. None out, runner on 1B. (cs, bip)
Hall: walk. None out, runners on 1B and 2B (b, throw over, throw over, ss, b, b, b)
Hardy: grounded to Wigginton for 5-3 DP. 2 outs, runner on 2B (s, fb-grounder out of play left, fb-grounder out of play left, bip).
Parra (pitcher batting in 8th): slowly hit ground ball towards 3B, Wigginton charged and made a nice pickup and throw to get Parra out at 1B.  3 outs.  (b, fb, b, bip)

Middle 2: MIL 1, HOU 0

[JaneDoe]

Hey the 3Bman just got off the DL with a broken finger.  Let's hit it to him!

[OregonStrosFan]

Thanks for the link.

Your welcome.  Since JdJO is the one that introduced me to the former OWA in his blogs, figure it appropriate to give him some hits here and again out of courtesy...  Not to worry though, no jealousy of the man-love going on between he and Noe though...

[JimR]

not watching. did Pence pull off the pitch on the popup?

[OregonStrosFan]

Bottom 2: Parra pitching

Wigginton: flied out to center. 1 out, none on. (b, b, bip)
Towles: struck out swinging. 2 outs, none on. (cs, cs, b, ss)
Backe: flied out to center (cs, b, fb, b, bip)

End 2: MIL 1, HOU 0
Parra pitch count through 2 innings: 32 (16/16)
Backe pitch count through 2 innings: 27 (19/8)

[JaneDoe]

What a catch by Pence!

[Anit]

after re-watching that play, im relatively sure that ball hit the ground first..but it was extremely close

oh well!

[OregonStrosFan]

Top 3: Backe pitching

Kendall: grounded out to Wigginton. 1 out, none on. (cs, bip)
Weeks: sinking popup into the gap in right center, Bourn can't get to it, PENCE!!! makes a great play for the out.  2 outs, none on. (cs, b, bip)
Cameron: strikeout on foul tip. 3 outs. (cs, b, b, b, cs, ft)

Middle 3: MIL 1, HOU 0
Backe pitch count through 3: 38 (26/12)

[JaneDoe]

Love it that Matsui has the 1st to 3rd on a single type of speed.

[otterjb]

Come on Vending Machine. Let's get 1 at least.

[otterjb]

Berkman's blazing speed nixes the double play. Doh! CS.

[JaneDoe]

Hey Berkman--slow kills.

[OregonStrosFan]

Bottom 3: Parra pitching

Bourn: struck out looking. 1 out, none on. (cs, b, cs, b, cs- breaking ball in the center of the plate).
Kazuo: walk - on 5 pitches this time... 1 out, KazMat on 1B. (b, cs, b, b, b)
Tejada: looping liner single into right center, KazMat to 3B. 1 out, runners on 1B and 3B. (bip)
Berkman: RBI grounder into the hole b/w 2B and 3B, Tejada out at 2B. MIL 1, HOU 1. 2 outs, Berkman at 2B. (b-high and away, ss- nice breaking pitch, b-low outside, fb- bouncer out of play down 3B line, bip).
Lee: Berkman (going on movement?) gets thrown out trying to steal 2B. 3 outs.

End 3: MIL 1, HOU 1
Parra pitch count through 3: 48 (24/24)

[OregonStrosFan]

not watching. did Pence pull off the pitch on the popup?

Didn't catch it, sorry.  Great 'From the Dugout' today though!

[OregonStrosFan]

Top 4: Backe pitching

Braun: struck out looking. 1 out, none on. (b, fb, ss, cs)
Veggie tales: tapper in front of home plate, Fielder doesn't move a lick because he thinks its foul.  Towles throws to 1B for the out (instead of tagging PF?). 2 outs, none on. (bip)
Hart: flied out to Pence in right center. 3 outs. (cs,cs,bip)

Middle 4: MIL 1, HOU 1
Backe pitch count through 4: 46 (33/13)

[JimR]

I need to stop watching. I never see Pence do anything good.

[JaneDoe]

after re-watching that play, im relatively sure that ball hit the ground first..but it was extremely close

oh well!

You could be right.  One angle on the Gameday replay looks a little suspicious. 

[JimR]

Why didn't Pence admit it bounced?

[OregonStrosFan]

Bottom 4: Parra pitching

Lee: singled into left past diving SS. None out, Lee on 1B (cs, b, b, fb, bip)
Pence: slow chop grounding into 4-6-3 DP. 2 outs, none on. (throw over, cs, b-pitch inside almost got Pence with it, ss- chased in the dirt, bip)
Wigginton: slow chop single to Hall at 3B. 2 outs, Wigginton on 1B. (b, ss, ss, b-in the dirt, b-low, bip)
Towles: slow chop to SS. 3 outs. (throw over, ss, c, fb-Wigginton running on the play, bip)

End 4: MIL 1, HOU 1
Parra pitch count through 4: 67(36/31)

[otterjb]

"Bob Uecker played the Tuba?" - Cooper

[otterjb]

and JD with: "Bob Uecker said that he helped the Braves win the pennant that year by getting hepatitis."

[JaneDoe]

Why didn't Pence admit it bounced?

Have you seen the play?  IF it bounced, it was right in front of the glove and bounced in immediately, Pence rolled over and raised the glove and Lo and Behold, the ball was in his glove.  Really hard to tell if it bounced or not.  I'll go with the not.

[OregonStrosFan]

"Bob Uecker played the Tuba?" - Cooper

can't ever get enough Uecker stories...

[otterjb]

Really needed that 2nd out with no runs scored. Nice.

[otterjb]

Whew. Backe the bulldog. Getting through.

[OregonStrosFan]

Top 5: Backe pitching - pitch count through 4- 46 (33/13)

Hall: liner to Tejada who goes up high to make a great play. 1 out, none on. (cs, s, bip)
Hardy: walk. 1 out, runner on 1B. (b, b, b, cs, cs, fb, fb, b)
Parra: singled into right with the runner going. 1 out, runners on 1B and 3B. (fb, b, throw over, bip)
Kendall: 1st pitch popup to Berkman in foul territory. 2 outs, runners on 1B and 3B.
Weeks (HR, flyout): lined out to Lee on the warning track. 3 outs. (b-in the dirt, bip)

Middle 5: MIL 1, HOU 1
Backe pitch count through 5: 63 (44/19)

[OregonStrosFan]

Am going to have to turn over PBP after the end of the 5th.  Any takers?

[Anit]

backe goes yard!

[JaneDoe]

Backe gets his 3rd career home run.

[otterjb]

to quote the song

America: FUCK YEAH!

[Anit]

backe and bourn go back to back!

[JaneDoe]

Bourne goes back to Backe!

Who'd a thunk it?

[otterjb]

The Apocalypse has arrived.

Mucho bueno.

[OregonStrosFan]

to quote the song

America: FUCK YEAH!

NICE!!!

[JaneDoe]

Love that Killer B-L-T sign.

[JaneDoe]

Run Matsui Run!

SB #4

And Tejada doubles him in.  The dude just hits the dang ball.

[Anit]

this team is fun to watch

[Matt]

Braun looks awful out there in left field.

[mihoba]

Break out the lumber!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Four runs in, no outs. Pitching switch. Pence coming up. Coach, look away.

[JaneDoe]

6 game hitting streak by Astros pitchers after Backe's HR.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

[otterjb]

Spaz getting his AAA training on the fly.

Experience will get him to where he needs to be. Eventually.

Nice...Pence with the ribeye.

[JaneDoe]

Four runs in, no outs. Pitching switch. Pence coming up. Coach, look away.

Thanks for looking away Coach.  RBI single Pence after a PB that moved the runners up.

[JaneDoe]

Oh please not the wave--not on TV.  Don't encourage them.

[OregonStrosFan]

Bottom 5: Parra pitching

Backe: Home run into the Crawford boxes - 6 game hit streak by Astros pitchers. MIL 1, HOU 2. None on, none out. (fb, fb, b, b, fb, bip on hanging curve).

Bourn: Home run just over the fence in right - Bourn sitting dead red on that pitch. MIL 1, HOU 3. None out, none on. (b, b, b, cs, bip).

Matsui: lined single into left, Braun dives for the ball but just can't make the play. None out, runner on 1B. (b-shows bunt, ss, fb, b, bip)

Tejada: RBI double lined of the wall in left that had to be played by the SS, Kazuo scores. MIL 1, HOU 4. None out, Tejada on 2B. (throw over, Mazui steals 2B, Parra turns back towards 2B, bip)

Berkman: singles into left, Tejada to 3B.  None out, Tejada at 3B, Berkman on 1B. (bip)

Lee: Tejada scores on ball in the dirt, Berkman to 2B, Lee walks. MIL 1, HOU 5. None out, Berkman on 2B, Lee on 1B. (pitchers up in the MIL bullpen, b, b, ss- nice cut at a high fastball, cs- appeal to 1B says he went around, ball in the dirt, b)

Pitching change: Parra out, Dave Bush (RHP) on the mound.

Pence: passed ball moves Berkman to 3B and Lee to 2B singled into left past diving 3B, Berkman scores, Lee to 3B. MIL 1, HOU 6. None out, Lee at 3B, Pence at 1B. (fb- fastball down the middle, b, bip)

Wigginton: tapper to 3B right at the line, Lee stays at 3B, Pence to 2B. 1 out, Lee at 3B, Pence at 2B (ss, b, looked at 3B then 1B no throw, bip).

Towles: struck out swinging. 2 outs, Lee on 3B and Pence on 2B (cs, ss, fb, b, fb, b, Towles calls time, ss).

Backe: grounded out to short. 3 outs, Astros bat around and score 5. (cs, b, b, fb- straight back, bip).

End 5: MIL 1, HOU 6

Last inning of PBP. Next?

[OregonStrosFan]

Need someone to pick up PBP.  Ms. Doe?

[JaneDoe]

Need someone to pick up PBP.  Ms. Doe?

Sorry had to put a sand encrusted 3 yr old in the tub.

Will try.  Won't be nearly as comprehensive as your coverage.

[OregonStrosFan]

Backe looked gassed.  Long layoff in the top of the inning zapped him a bit...

[JaneDoe]

Cameron walks on 4 pitches.
Braun walks on 4 pitches.
Villareal gets up in the bull pen.
Fielder pops to SS. 1 out, men on 1st and 2nd.
Hart singles to CF on a 1-1 count. Cameron scores. Braun to 2nd.
Hall strikes out swinging. 2 out. Men on 1st and 2nd.
Hardy walks. Bases loaded. 2 out.
Tony Gwynn is announced as a pinch hitter for the pitcher. Coop takes Backe out of the game. Villareal in.
Gwynn grounds to Berkman, tosses to Villareal.  3 outs.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Backe walks a couple, gets an out, gives up a single and a run, another out, walks the bases loaded. Villareal in, induces a ground out Lance to Oscar covering first. Astros 6 Brewers 2

[mihoba]

Backe looked gassed.  Long layoff in the top of the inning zapped him a bit...

Not just a long layoff, but batting twice in the inning.

Backe bared down after the leadoff homer. Good job Brandon.

Villarreal bails him out of the bases loaded jam with one pitch!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I'd like to see more of Bourn bunting.

[mihoba]

Thata way Bourn! Bunt single to lead off.

[moriartp]

Well done, Mike! Keep 'em coming.

[believin]

I hope we see a lot more of Bourn bunting to get on base.  He executed that nicely.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

This offense is really fun.

[mihoba]

I wanna see a double steal. Kendall might be surprised.

[OregonStrosFan]

I wanna see a double steal. Kendall might be surprised.

Was thinking that too.

[cougar]

"Berkman's in the middle of that Lee/Tejada sandwich."

I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.

Well that was an unfortunate end to a promising beginning.

[JaneDoe]

Brewer pitching change: Mitch Stetter replaces Dave Bush.

Bourn squares around and drops down a beauty.  Bunt single.  Only needs a double and a triple for the cycle.
Matsui singles to LF. 1st and 2nd, no outs.
Tejada bloops to shallow CF, dropped by Hardy who throws to 2nd, safe, throw to 3rd and Bourn is out. Score it 6-4-5.Darnit.
Berkman grounds to 3B, who steps on the bag, throws to 1st for the DP.

Had a chance for a big inning go by the wayside.

[mihoba]

"Berkman's in the middle of that Lee/Tejada sandwich."

Some fans had a sign "BLT killer sandwich" or something similar.

Berkman is the bacon.

[Craig]

Love that Killer B-L-T sign.

That was awesome. Those gals with the sign should post here.

This also gives us some obvious new nicknames:

Lance Bacon, Carlos Leettuce, and Miggy Tomato.

[JaneDoe]

Villareal stays in. Geary and someone up in the bullpen.

Kendall pops to shallow LF. Pence, Berkman, Matsui converge. Matsui catches it sorta over his shoulder after slightly overrunning it.  Looks like Pence coulda had it, but he stayed back with the Puma and the Fissure closing in.
Weeks strikes out swinging on a good sinker.
Cameron strikes out swinging.

Nice inning by Villareal.

[cougar]

Some fans had a sign "BLT killer sandwich" or something similar.

Berkman is the bacon.

Yeah I saw the sign and got the reference, just something about a Berkman/Lee/Tejada sandwich is....disturbing.

NTTAWWT.

[Craig]

Yeah I saw the sign and got the reference, just something about a Berkamn/Lee/Tejada sandwich is....disturbing.

NTTAWWT.

It comes with extra mayo.

[moriartp]

Yeah I saw the sign and got the reference, just something about a Berkamn/Lee/Tejada sandwich is....disturbing.

NTTAWWT.

Call me a bigot, but I think in this case there is something wrong.

It comes with extra mayo.

And now I just don't know what to say. Well played.

[JaneDoe]

Stetter stays in to pitch.

Lee grounds out 5-3. 1 out.
Pence pops out to the poster child for anti-vegetarianism.
Wigginton flies out to right field.

That went quick.

[cougar]

Call me a bigot, but I think in this case there is something wrong.

Me too, I was just trying to cover my bases.

Ewww, Craig.

*goes to pour bleach directly onto brain*

[mihoba]

Villarreal struggled early in the season, but he has been top notch the last few weeks.

[Craig]

If J.R. Towles is colorblind, how does he know when Coop gives him the green light?

[Matt]

If J.R. Towles is colorblind, how does he know when Coop gives him the green light?

I think he just looks for the brown light. Or listens for the brown note.

[Matt]

Wright got all up in Fielder's kitchen and took a shit in the fridge.

[otterjb]

Berkman, aka "the bacon", with laying on the bed, legs crossed, knee up, elbow behind the head, smiling.

With his arm around the Zipp?

[JaneDoe]

Braun works a leadoff walk.  Coop visits the mound and signals for the Wright man for the job to face the lefty Fielder.
Fielder flies to Carlos Leetuce.  His broken bat flies to the dirt between 1st and 2nd, retrieved by Lance Bacon.
Brocail warming up in the bull pen.
Hart flies to Pence in the RF corner.
Hall repeats Hart. Braun stranded at 1st.

Wright continues to impress.

[JaneDoe]

Villarreal struggled early in the season, but he has been top notch the last few weeks.

Yep, don't cringe as much as I used to when he gets the call. 

Wright just has to be the Rule 5 pick up of the year so far.

[Noe]

Yep, don't cringe as much as I used to when he gets the call. 

Wright just has to be the Rule 5 pick up of the year so far.

Life imitating art.

Last time I saw a 12 year old take the major league mound and get major leaguer hitters out consistently, the kid was in the movies screaming "Pitcher's got a big butt!" to Terry Forrester (or a reasonable facimile thereof).

[JaneDoe]

Mota comes in to pitch.

I Towles you so flies to the warning track in right. 1 out.
Erstad PH for the Wrighting on the wall and flies to Braun in LF.
Bourn strikes out for the third time today.

Going to the top of the 9th...........................Papa Grande' time!!

[otterjb]

Only one more needed for Valverde.

[JaneDoe]

Erstad stays in for Leetuce in LF.

Hardy pops to Towles. 1 out.
Craig Counsell pinch hits for Mota and grounds out Tomato to Bacon. 2 out.
Kendall sharp liner to Matsui. 3 outs.

ASTROS WIN!! ASTROS WIN AGAIN!!

[mihoba]

Nice win, quite enjoyable.

I'm off to make a BLT.

[otterjb]

Awesome. The bumps are there, but like a good stock, the Stros are trending upward.

[jonbloozy]

ASTROS WIN!! ASTROS WIN AGAIN!!

That game made me hungry, thanks for the PBP

[JaneDoe]

That game made me hungry, thanks for the PBP

Your welcome.  Thanks to OregonStrosFan who put in a quality start.  All I did was get the hold.

[Ty in Tampa]

Go Astros!

[JaneDoe]

Nice to get some wins against a Central division foe.  Hope for another one tomorrow. 

[JimR]

Have you seen the play?  IF it bounced, it was right in front of the glove and bounced in immediately, Pence rolled over and raised the glove and Lo and Behold, the ball was in his glove.  Really hard to tell if it bounced or not.  I'll go with the not.

so, just like the Brewers play, right? Pence sold the umpire on the catch?

[JaneDoe]

so, just like the Brewers play, right? Pence sold the umpire on the catch?

Nope, didn't hide anything from the ump. Didn't have to pull it in with his free arm and hold it up in his non-glove hand. 
Its on MLB Gameday videos.  Go look at it and see.
I think Pence thought that he caught it. (not that it matters what I think) Nothing to "sell" the ump if you really believe you caught it.

Watch it and tell me if you think he caught it or it bounced.  Anit noticed it, not me.  I originally thought he caught it.  After the replay I am not so sure.

[JimR]

Nope, didn't hide anything from the ump. Didn't have to pull it in with his free arm and hold it up in his non-glove hand. 
Its on MLB Gameday videos.  Go look at it and see.
I think Pence thought that he caught it. (not that it matters what I think) Nothing to "sell" the ump if you really believe you caught it.

Watch it and tell me if you think he caught it or it bounced.  Anit noticed it, not me.  I originally thought he caught it.  After the replay I am not so sure.

don't be silly, JD. EVERY ballplayer tries to sell catches that bounce.

[JaneDoe]

On the postgame interview, Pence just said "I caught the ball". 

If he didn't, he did a great selling job. 

[JimR]

On the postgame interview, Pence just said "I caught the ball". 

If he didn't, he did a great selling job. 

of course, he did. so did the Brewers CF. they ALL do it.

[94CougarGrad]

Let me just say... this was a great game to go to!