Astros versus Shitheads 7/26/09

[Rebel Jew]

A. Pagan cf     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     .315    
L. Castillo 2b    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .299    
D. Wright 3b    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .317    
D. Murphy 1b    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .244    
J. Francoeur rf    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .261    
C. Sullivan lf    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .222    
B. Schneider c    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .208    
A. Cora ss    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .237    
L. Hernandez p


M. Bourn cf    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .287    
K. Matsui 2b    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .252    
M. Tejada ss    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .326    
C. Lee lf    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .304    
G. Blum 3b    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .273    
H. Pence rf    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .293    
I. Rodriguez c    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .265    
C. Coste 1b    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    .254    
B. Moehler p

[Rebel Jew]

JD and BB noting that Moehler has dominated lefties this year (around .219 BAA), but scuffled against righties (.366!).  still, shitheads going with a lefty-heavy lineup

[Rebel Jew]

T1
-Missed the Pagan Out
-Castillo walk
-Moehler getting squeezed on the outside corner, Pudge complains, Moehler gets a call, then Wright chopper to short beats out the DP
-Murphy bounces out

[Rebel Jew]

JD notes that Livan has double digit wins 9 years in a row.

-Bourn flies out to deep right
-Livan getting same tight zone as Moehler, walks Kaz on 3-2 FB away
-Livan throwing lots of changeups, but Tejada can't get good swings on them.  Kaz steals second on curve in the dirt, Tejada maybe got in the way of the throw but it wouldn't have mattered.  Tejada smacks meatball 3-2 curve into the LC gap

1-0 good guys

[Rebel Jew]

Carlos waits on the sinker and hits it in the other gap for another double

2-0 good guys.  Looking like a long day for Livan if Astros keep showing patience... of course, Pence is in the on-deck circle

[Rebel Jew]

Livan getting fucked by this zone.  hits the bottom of the zone with a good sinker, then can't get a call with the same exact pitch.  throws it again, and blum smacks another double to right on another 3-2 count

3-0

[Mr. Happy]

It looks like a west coast GZ today. Livan has nothing.

[94CougarGrad]

Mig the Mess!

Lee the Mess!

Blum the Mess!


Hoo hoo, Redding already warming up...

[Rebel Jew]

timmah warming up for the shitheads

[Mr. Happy]

Clark is nuts.

[94CougarGrad]

Schneider really reached for that'n.

[homer]

Terrible send.

[94CougarGrad]

Who the heck sent The Kid?!?

[Rebel Jew]

livan gets an inexplicable call on an outside 3-1 changeup, Pence pulls a meatball curveball foul, yet another full count and Pence smacks a single up the middle.  Blum thrown out at home by Pagan.  Easy to question the green light against a dying pitcher, but what're you gonna do?

More questionable shit:

Pence caught stealing.

3-0 AStros, but Livan only got one out and that was a deep flyout by Bourn

Do we see Redding start the second?

[MRaup]

Terrible send.

Blum looked like Carlos in slow-mo rounding third.

Have any of y'all that constantly question Clark actually coached 3rd base in a baseball game?

[MRaup]

Why the fuck wasn't Pence already at 2nd?

And then he tries to steal the bag he should've already been at, and is thrown out. Awesome.

[94CougarGrad]

JT, how you feelin' today? Hydrocodone wearing off, or is it contributing to your coherent thoughttage today?

[94CougarGrad]

Why the fuck wasn't Pence already at 2nd?

Noe?

[Rebel Jew]

JT, how you feelin' today? Hydrocodone wearing off, or is it contributing to your coherent thoughttage today?

not much change-- huge cavern where my throat used to be, still can't eat solid foods or talk.  i'm due for another dose of the good stuff pretty soon.  last night full of crazy dreams.  anybody here familiar with the Slint album "spiderland?"  it was like that

[Rebel Jew]

sorry i missed that inning, except for the tapper to first to end the inning.  JD making snappy snarky comments about the strikezone-- Vin Scully sucks

[94CougarGrad]

36 pitches thrown in the 1st by Hernandez.

[Mr. Happy]

Blum looked like Carlos in slow-mo rounding third.

Have any of y'all that constantly question Clark actually coached 3rd base in a baseball game?

Mark, I hear you about being out there. I have coached third before, and it's hard. I just thought that with Blum's hammy and with a hot Pudge coming to the plate, I'd have played it safe.

[JimR]

36 pitches thrown in the 1st by Hernandez.

quite a few of them never reached the catcher.

[Rebel Jew]

-Livan still pitching, still can't get the outside calls.  Pudge goes to yet another 3-2 count (6 of first 7 batters tonight), then swings through an inside sinker (hmmm livan, ump squeezing you on the first 500 outside sinkers you've thrown, i know...)

-Coste just misses solid contact (maybe broke his bat?), bounces out to second
-Moehler strikes out on three pitches

3-0 Good Guys going to the third

[94CougarGrad]

quite a few of them never reached the catcher.

True, and also brilliant.

[MikeyBoy]

At game with kids.I thought blum would score when the ball was hit, great play by cf.

Also, pence with another mental fuck up. Guess he listen to the dumbshits that said the runner shouldn't draw the cut. 

[DVauthrin]

At game with kids.I thought blum would score when the ball was hit, great play by cf.

Also, pence with another mental fuck up. Guess he listen to the dumbshits that said the runner shouldn't draw the cut.  

Hunter Pence is to oil as Baseball IQ is to water.

[94CougarGrad]

Dang! Almost-DP!

JD: That would've been one for the highlight reel.

[Rebel Jew]

Dierker battling gout according to JD, then camera cuts to kids and family in stands gorging on the exact kinds of foods that will give you gout

-Livan smacks a single to left.  Didn't he come real close to setting the all-time MLB record for consecutive hits a few years ago, or am i imagining that?

-Anarchist's Cookbook up for the shitheads.  Hard grounder up the middle, Matsui with a sweet sliding, backhanded (sidearmed across his body) flip to Tejada, but a little to late for the DP

-Pissant to end all pissants destroys a fastball.  Bad jump from hunter, and it falls for a triple.

3-1

-David Wright first pitch opposite field single

3-2

[Reuben]

Is it me or could Pence maybe still have caught that ball by Castillo? Looked like he got there but pulled up right at the end as it bounced one step away from him...

[94CougarGrad]

Check out Brownie making fun of the chubby-faced kid they keep showing on-screen!

"Betcha a Webkin that kid has something else to eat today."

[Rebel Jew]

-Dale Daniel Murphy up for the queens from Queens.  Camera shows that gorging family again, and, of course, the fat kid's a Braves fan.  Murphy falls behind, fouls off a bunch of pitches, and hits a sharp single to Left.  1st and 3rd one out.  Easy-out Franceour up

[Rebel Jew]

-Franceour sac fly to left.

3-3

this game should not be tied

[Reuben]

 Easy-out Franceour up

You're lucky the BBG's only exacted a sac fly for that, sarcasm notwithstanding.

[Rebel Jew]

You're lucky the BBG's only exacted a sac fly for that, sarcasm notwithstanding.

yeah, when he first hit it and carlos didn't seem to react, i thought it was going out.  

[Rebel Jew]

3-3, B3

-Bourn flare to short
-Matsui short fly to left
-Tejada bounces out to pitcher.  Livan now working low and effectively in the zone.  Fuck

[Rebel Jew]

that mlb umpire camps commerical again:

"this is your one chance!"

[SaltyParker]

Is it me or could Pence maybe still have caught that ball by Castillo? Looked like he got there but pulled up right at the end as it bounced one step away from him...

No, he should have caught it. Some kind of awkward spaz type action on that one.

[Bench]

How odd.  I never really thought about a dearth of left fielders in HOF. 

[Bench]

that mlb umpire camps commerical again:

"this is your one chance!"

That's got to be a pyramid scheme of some kind.

[Bench]

Dierker battling gout according to JD, then camera cuts to kids and family in stands gorging on the exact kinds of foods that will give you gout

Too much protein?  Not enough protein?  How does the gout work?

[Rebel Jew]

T4

-Moehler with a good sinker to Schneider, broken bat bouncer to short
-Cora looper over third base
-King Livan up (don't give up a homer don't give up a homer...), bunts through one, fouls off a second bunt, wild swinging strikeout on 0-2
-Anarchist Cookbook up, fat-kid braves fan now gorging on fries and chicken tenders, Moehler has now also seemed to figure out which sides of the plate are being called for strikes gets to 0-2, Cora steals second on a pitch in the dirt, Pagan fights off and lays off a bunch of good pitches before tripling to the hill

3-4

[Mr. Happy]

I hope that we don't look back at this one and wonder whether we let this one get away in the first frame.

[OregonStrosFan]

Have any of y'all that constantly question Clark actually coached 3rd base in a baseball game?

No, nor have I ever managed a MLB team.  Doesn't make me unqualified (right or wrong) to 'question' some of Coopers moves though, nor does it make me unqualified (right or wrong) to 'question' one of Clarks.  There was 1 out.  The Astros were hitting Livan hard (double, double, double, single).  Blum has been hampered by a bum hammy.  The ball was sharply hit.  The center fielder was not playing particularly deep.  In this situation, with 1 out, it was a questionable send (2 outs would've been a different story).



ETA: I'm not one of the ones that has been questioning him though...

[Rebel Jew]

CRIPES ON THE CROPS!

Pissant x1000 bunts, Moehler with the alert play scoops it up and tries to throw home but it gets away from Pudge.  Castillo still at first though

3-5

[Rebel Jew]

Jd already talking about letting a great opportunity get away with this series

[Rebel Jew]

Wright line drive to Bourn on a high fastball.  Merciful end.  LET'S GET SOME RUNS!!!  I'm looking at you Pence

[Reuben]

CRIPES ON THE CROPS!

Pissant x1000 bunts, Moehler with the alert play scoops it up and tries to throw home but it gets away from Pudge.  Castillo still at first though

3-5

Mets broadcasters pointed out that Pudge was standing straight up, behind the plate- did not look like he expected a throw. Moehler actually had time to get him with a good toss though.

[Rebel Jew]

-Lee with a hard single up the middle
-Blum with a hard single up the middle

COME ON HUNTER.  YOU FUCKING OWE US!

[Mr. Happy]

Lee has such a great approach at the plate.

[Bench]

that sucked

[Rebel Jew]

-Randazzo has more fun with the strike zone, calling that low and outside ball he hasn't called all day, Pence lays off a high and outside fastball, lays off a slider in the dirt, then swings wildly at a even higher fastball than the one he earlier laid off, lays off another high fastball, 3-2 count, come on hunter, DOUBLE PLAY

BOOOOOO, gotta foul that off or don't swing at that shit pitch

[Mr. Happy]

Pence is lost at the plate.

[Rebel Jew]

-Pudge lecturing the ump about his hydrocodone strikezone.  goes down looking.

3-5 going to the top of the 5th

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

That mother-fucker behind the plate is a cocksucker ain't he.

[juliogotay]

Too much protein?  Not enough protein?  How does the gout work?

Too much uric acid in the blood. Beef, shellfish and alcohol all contribute. I had it this spring in a big toe and it was extremely painful for about ten days. Then with treatment it goes away gradually. I believe that the uric acid is also a factor in kidney stones. I don't want it again. It was also embarrassing because I associated it with a condition of gluttony.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Pence is lost at the plate.

I missed the first at bat but I haven't seen him have a good PA for several games.

[JimR]

No, nor have I ever managed a MLB team.  Doesn't make me unqualified (right or wrong) to 'question' some of Coopers moves though, nor does it make me unqualified (right or wrong) to 'question' one of Clarks.  There was 1 out.  The Astros were hitting Livan hard (double, double, double, single).  Blum has been hampered by a bum hammy.  The ball was sharply hit.  The center fielder was not playing particularly deep.  In this situation, with 1 out, it was a questionable send (2 outs would've been a different story).



ETA: I'm not one of the ones that has been questioning him though...

here you go again.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I think I an starting to hate Wicca Faery and Fuckin' Santos as much as I do any real steM.

[Rebel Jew]

T5, 3-5

if moehler were ortiz, coop would have pulled moehler by now or have one of our second-rate middle relievers warming up

-randazzo consistently inconsistent at least, giving moehler that same bs inside strike he gave to livan, strikes out murphy
-next met shithead bounces out?
-sullivan single off moehler's glove, probably would have been an easy out looked like it would have gone directly to matsui had moehler not hit it.
-schneider up, strikezone has inverted apparently as Moehler's getting all the inside calls now.  1-1 flare just foul in left would have been an rbi double, two good outside fb's called balls, sullivan steals second and pudge with a bad throw into the outfield, 3-2 count, good sinker knocks the bat out of schneider's hand but fouls it off anyway, fouls off a couple more then takes a sinker out of the zone

1st and 3rd, two outs, and out comes Colonel Loopy to make the pitching change

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

if moehler were ortiz, coop would have pulled moehler by now

Ortiz ain't Cooper's kind of pitcher.

[Rebel Jew]

wesley wright with the much-needed strikeout.  wright looked good last night, and looked good on that at-bat.

B5, Coste, PH, Bourn up

[Rebel Jew]

B5
-Coste strikes out on a pretty dubious call, but wake up AStros and stop bitching-- the ump has switched his zone around
-Kata with a first pitch single to left
-Bourn up, takes first-pitch strike, lays off low and inside slider, swings at low and inside slider, JD rightfully praising Livan's casual approach ("like a guy playing frisbee at the park"), lays off two more of those low pitches (impressive how quickly Livan changes his strategy in the moment based on what works).  Botched hit and run-- Bourn strikes out on high/outside fastball, Kata barely steals second
-Matsui lazy flyout to left

3-5, and we go to the 6th.  Astros not looking good, desperately need some clutch relief pitching or this could quickly turn into a blowout

[Mr. Happy]

wesley wright with the much-needed strikeout.  wright looked good last night, and looked good on that at-bat.

WW needs to work on another pitch, or to work on some movement on his pitch. He's too one-dimensional, IMO. Every pitch looks the same.

[DVauthrin]

I missed the first at bat but I haven't seen him have a good PA for several games.

(idiot fan) You can't be serious, he hit a two-run homer last night.   Hunter, Hunter Pence Yo!

[Mr. Happy]

(idiot fan) You can't be serious, he hit a two-run homer last night.   Hunter Hunter Pence Yo!

In a 10-1 game, the mop up guy doesn't really care about being fine. Hunter is only hitting mistakes right now any way.

[SaltyParker]

WW needs to work on another pitch, or to work on some movement on his pitch. He's too one-dimensional, IMO. Every pitch looks the same.

I believe you are right. He gives up too many home runs.

[Rebel Jew]

T6

-Fulchino on the mound.  Gets behind 3-0 to Livan, comes back with two fastballs.  Great running catch by Coste in foul territory.

-Angel Pagan up, falls behind as he has every at-bat tonight but he probably doesn't care becuase he's been kicking our asses tonight, sure enough gets the count back to 3-2 but grounds out easily to matsui

-has anybody here actually eaten at chick fila in the last ten years?  how nasty is it?

-the great luis castillo strides to the plate, only two more at-bats (hopefully) and we won't have to see this asshole again for a long time.  3-1 bounce out to second

3-5, great inning from Fulchino
Tejada, Lee, Blum up for the stros

[Mr. Happy]

I haven't had a chik fil a in over 15 years.

[SaltyParker]

-has anybody here actually eaten at chick fila in the last ten years?  how nasty is it?

I ate there one time and asked for onions on my sandwich and was told "we don't have onions Sir".
Never been back.

[Rebel Jew]

I haven't had a chik fil a in over 15 years.

do they still have grandys anywhere in this great nation of ours?

[DVauthrin]

In a 10-1 game, the mop up guy doesn't really care about being fine. Hunter is only hitting mistakes right now any way.

Might want to get your sarcasm meter checked.   Just a suggestion.

[SaltyParker]

do they still have grandys anywhere?

All gone in Austin I believe.

[Mr. Happy]

I ate there one time and asked for onions on my sandwich and was told "we don't have onions Sir".
Never been back.

Never knew that they put anything on those sandwiches.

[Mr. Happy]

Might want to get your sarcasm meter checked.   Just a suggestion.

I saw it. I only posted to point out that Gunther is only hitting mistakes right now.

[Rebel Jew]

B6

-Livan is fun to watch if nothing else.  He's throwing everything.  JD predicts Tejada will be hacking on the 3-2, but he takes the Randazzo sinker for strike three
-Lee hits a hard flyout to Pagan in left center
-"the unflappable cuban livan hernandez"  says BB.  Blum up, hard grounder kicked by Livan, Blum jogs to first and he's out.

still just 3-5, but it seems like 3-555555555

[OregonStrosFan]

WW needs to work on another pitch, or to work on some movement on his pitch. He's too one-dimensional, IMO. Every pitch looks the same.

Certainly don't remember seeing this last year from him though.  Any ideas on what is going on differently for him this year vs. last year, or are the 'differences' merely in my noggin?

[DVauthrin]

I saw it. I only posted to point out that Gunther is only hitting mistakes right now.

good deal.   you won't get any argument from me on that.

[Rebel Jew]

T7

-Fulchino still in.  Wright groundout 5-3
-Dale Daniel Murphy up, Fulchino strikes him out with a really good fastball on the low/outside corner
-Francoeur up, shows uncharacteristic patience laying off two good breaking balls out of the zone, then just misses on a low fastball flyout to deep center

STILL JUST 3-5.   what a horrible recording of God Bless American they play at MMPUS!  awful sacharine easy listening production

[Rebel Jew]

Happy birthday Pee-Paw

Pence swings at the first pitch and pops it up past the mound.  Sit the fuck down Hunter

[SaltyParker]

Certainly don't remember seeing this last year from him though.  Any ideas on what is going on differently for his this year vs. last year, or are the 'differences' merely in my noggin?

his numbers were not that good last year (5.01 ERA), I just think everyone was impressed with his live arm and projected him to improve.

[Mr. Happy]

Certainly don't remember seeing this last year from him though.  Any ideas on what is going on differently for his this year vs. last year, or are the 'differences' merely in my noggin?

He occasionally trotted out a slider if I recall. I haven't seen it this season, although he may have used it down in RR.

[Reuben]

Ivan has gone down three times now flailing at 86-mph fastballs from Livan. That last one was right down the pipe.

[Rebel Jew]

-Somehow Livan now has Astros whiffing at his mid-80's fastballs.  Pudge strikes out and looks horrible

-Coste bloop single to shallow center.  The one guy we have today

-Michaels the PH, showing good patience but pops up the sinker

JEEZ LOUISE!!!  Pull your heads out of your asses and hit that sinker!

3-5 yet again, heading to the top of the 8th.

[Mr. Happy]

Ivan has gone down three times now flailing at 86-mph fastballs from Livan. That last one was right down the pipe.

Yep. Pudge looks a little slow today. Actually, I halfway expected to see Q today with the day game following the night game.

[SaltyParker]

He occasionally trotted out a slider if I recall. I haven't seen it this season, although he may have used it down in RR.

I don't think he can control it. His walks are way down this year, but hits against are up.

[Rebel Jew]

seriously, you guys who know two shits about baseball (unlike me), what is the textbook approach on that low sinker in the zone that hernandez keeps throwing?  what are the astros doing or not doing?  do they just need to keep trying to punch it into shallow right like coste did?

[OregonStrosFan]

here you go again.

What do you mean here I go again.  Someone else questioned the call and was called out for it.  Personally I didn't give a shit, but felt it was a questionable send.  I did not criticize it, I questioned it, and I provided my reasoning.  What in the hell is wrong with that, especially in the GZ? 

[Mr. Happy]

I don't think he can control it. His walks are way down this year, but hits against are up.

You're right.

[94CougarGrad]

do they still have grandys anywhere in this great nation of ours?

Several locations up here in north-of-Dallas-land, including here in Denton on Loop 288, 5 minutes from my house. C'mon up and I'll buy you a Chicken-Fried Salted Soy Patty.

[Rebel Jew]

fuck.

cora with a dribbler to short, miggy can't barehand it.  reid hits a hard triple into the gap.  3 triples today for the shitbags!

3-6

[94CougarGrad]

Brownie courteously points out that the big fat doodyheads have gotten 3 triples today.

[Rebel Jew]

Chicken-Fried Salted Soy Patty.

doesn't "chicken-fried" defeat the purpose of getting a soy patty?

[Mr. Happy]

That last pitch by Arias was absolutely filthy.

[Rebel Jew]

-Arias shakes off the triple and strikes out Pagan

3-6, but that is nowhere near being insurmountable.  top of the order up, time to start kicking ass

[Reuben]

  top of the order up, time to start kicking ass

Hell Yes!!

[94CougarGrad]

doesn't "chicken-fried" defeat the purpose of getting a soy patty?

It does if you're eating at the Whole Foods Market cafe'. This, however, is Grandy's, where you couldn't possibly get a chicken-fried STEAK with two sides and a roll for $2.99- unless the patty was something other than steak.

But that's just my theory. Last time I ate at Grandy's, the chicken-fried patty, soy or otherwise, tasted pretty good, other than being heavy on the sodium.

[Alkie]

do they still have grandys anywhere in this great nation of ours?

Wow, did I just flashback something fierce.

Grandy's.  Wow.

[Mr. Happy]

Felliciano had Speedy from the Get-go.

[94CougarGrad]

Brownie courteously points out that the Mess pitchers have gotten 8 strikeouts today, including the one  that Sidearm Feliciano just got against Bourn.

[SaltyParker]

This team is not going to win very many 3-game series with Hampy, Ortiz, and Moehler facing any team

[Rebel Jew]

B8

-Jose Pedro Feliciano in to face Bourn, Bourn overmatched strikes out 2-2 slider against the sidearm lefty

-Matsui hard grounder to the pitcher.  Manuel brings in Green to face Tejada, though Feliciano loooked good and the Astros have quit, Manuel doens't give a shit since he has K-Rod in the pen to close either way.

[Mr. Happy]

This team is not going to win very many 3-game series with Hampy, Ortiz, and Moehler facing any team

Yep.

[94CougarGrad]

C'moooooooooooooon Miggy, for the love of the chubby little Braves kid in the stands.

[94CougarGrad]

Well, Christ on a crutch.

[Mr. Happy]

Miggy missed a hanging slider. Ouch.

[Rebel Jew]

-Miggy hacks away at the high slider and we go to the 9th.

Odds of Astros coming back to win this game in the 9th:
A. 500000-1?
B. 10000000000-1?
C. 8798798798798798-1?
D. fuckfuckfuckin' on heaven's door

[Reuben]

This team is not going to win very many 3-game series with Hampy, Ortiz, and Moehler facing any team

All very decent options for your team's #5 starter.

[94CougarGrad]

C'mon, Arias, we need you to find the strike zo-- there ya go.

[Rebel Jew]

It does if you're eating at the Whole Foods Market cafe'. This, however, is Grandy's, where you couldn't possibly get a chicken-fried STEAK with two sides and a roll for $2.99- unless the patty was something other than steak.

But that's just my theory. Last time I ate at Grandy's, the chicken-fried patty, soy or otherwise, tasted pretty good, other than being heavy on the sodium.

wait, is your theory that they say it's steak but you think it's really soy (or a byproduct of the two)?  or is it advertised as being soy?

[Mr. Happy]

All very decent options for your team's #5 starter.

Yep. We've got three fives in our rotation.

[94CougarGrad]

JD: "C'mon, Luis, we give. Uncle."

[Rebel Jew]

T9

-Castillo hard grounder off Arias? (I missed this, is that what happened?)
-Wright with a double off the hill

3-7

[94CougarGrad]

wait, is your theory that they say it's steak but you think it's really soy (or a byproduct of the two)?  or is it advertised as being soy?

The former. I've always known it to be advertised as chicken-fried steak. It used to be $2.99, and even with the instant just-add-water mashed potatoes, I don't know how it could be steak for that price.

[94CougarGrad]

-Castillo hard grounder off Arias? (I missed this, is that what happened?)

Into center.

[SaltyParker]

wait, is your theory that they say it's steak but you think it's really soy (or a byproduct of the two)?  or is it advertised as being soy?

solent green battered and fried

[94CougarGrad]

Brownie courteously points out that the Astros have been shut out since they got 3 in the bottom of the first, then adds that it's now 8-3, Mess.

[Mr. Happy]

Why not get Sampson some work here?

[SaltyParker]

Why not get Sampson some work here?

Cooper don't ever think of things like that. Just like giving Pudge the day off today

[94CougarGrad]

A DP to end the inning. I'd say that's a bright spot, but the way this game's deteriorated, it's just tired.

[Rebel Jew]

The former. I've always known it to be advertised as chicken-fried steak. It used to be $2.99, and even with the instant just-add-water mashed potatoes, I don't know how it could be steak for that price.

i don't know.  there's some pretty low-quality steak in the world.  ever been to a hospital cafeteria?

[SaltyParker]

i don't know.  there's some pretty low-quality steak in the world.  ever been to a hospital cafeteria?

Some aren't too bad. St. Davids in Austin used to be pretty good.

[Rebel Jew]

B9

-Lee with a long single to start the inning
-Blum up, fouls one off his foot, but he's got lots of armor on his ankle and shoe.  BB notes that everybody in the central has lost or losing today except the loveable jackasses, Blum double play
-Pence up, bases clear, 9th inning blowout, home run time!!!  okay, no homer but a slapdick single off wright's glove.  hunter definitely gets the LVP for this game and series

[SaltyParker]

Yet another meaningful hit for Pence

[94CougarGrad]

i don't know.  there's some pretty low-quality steak in the world.  ever been to a hospital cafeteria?

Yep. Surprisingly, the cafeteria at Cook Children's Hospital in Ft. Worth has good food. People who work in the neighborhood (which has few restaurants to choose from) actually go there for lunch regularly.

"Low-quality steak" makes me think of the Timmy Chan's on Main and Murworth (I think it's Murworth). I never ordered anything but fried wings and fried rice, but still...

[94CougarGrad]

Seriously? That was an out? 

[Rebel Jew]

-Pudge bounces deep on the third base line, Wright fields it and makes a nice play to get the final out.

3-8 loss, 1-2 series loss, FIRST PLACE CUBS tomorrow

[94CougarGrad]

Yeah, well, fuck the Cubs.

[DVauthrin]

Really disappointing to lose this series after the win vs Santana.   Not to mention the lineup the Mets were sending out there every night was brutal because of all their injuries.  

[SaltyParker]

What do you mean here I go again.  Someone else questioned the call and was called out for it.  Personally I didn't give a shit, but felt it was a questionable send.  I did not criticize it, I questioned it, and I provided my reasoning.  What in the hell is wrong with that, especially in the GZ?  

The way they were knocking Livian around, to take themselves out of the rally with two runners put out on the bases is not good baseball. It's as simple as that.

[chuck]

This was one of the more bizarre GZs I have ever read.

[JimR]

What do you mean here I go again.  Someone else questioned the call and was called out for it.  Personally I didn't give a shit, but felt it was a questionable send.  I did not criticize it, I questioned it, and I provided my reasoning.  What in the hell is wrong with that, especially in the GZ? 

horseshit. it was "questionable" to you because he was out. if he were safe, there would have been nary a peep out of you. the throw was perfect, and Pence sat his dumb ass at first watching the play. every now and then, the other side makes a play. hindsight is a wonderful tool for internet experts.

[SaltyParker]

JD said that Blum paused at 3rd., then looked like he was "stuck in the mud". Whatever the reason, these guys (the team as a whole, in this case Clark, Blum and Pence) need to be on the same page. I happen to think Clark is the best 3rd base coach they have had in a while. This time it just didn't work out.

[Andyzipp]

horseshit. it was "questionable" to you because he was out. if he were safe, there would have been nary a peep out of you. the throw was perfect, and Pence sat his dumb ass at first watching the play. every now and then, the other side makes a play. hindsight is a wonderful tool for internet experts.

I disagreed with sending him because Blum has zero acceleration right now.  He wasn't fleet of foot normally, and the hamstring is really, well, hamstringing him.

[MRaup]

I disagreed with sending him because Blum has zero acceleration right now.  He wasn't fleet of foot normally, and the hamstring is really, well, hamstringing him.

Off the crack of the bat, I was sending him too. It wasn't right at Pagan, and to the best of my knowledge, he doesn't exactly have the greatest arm in the world. Blum looked allright until he rounded third, but between the 3rd base bag and home it looked like he completely ran out of gas.

My original comment had a lot more to do with all the bitching about Clark in the last week or so than the one specific play today. Sometimes runners get thrown out. It happens. The real question is why Slapdick Pence was still standing on first while there was a play at the plate.

[Jacksonian]

Off the crack of the bat, I was sending him too. It wasn't right at Pagan, and to the best of my knowledge, he doesn't exactly have the greatest arm in the world. Blum looked allright until he rounded third, but between the 3rd base bag and home it looked like he completely ran out of gas.

My original comment had a lot more to do with all the bitching about Clark in the last week or so than the one specific play today. Sometimes runners get thrown out. It happens. The real question is why Slapdick Pence was still standing on first while there was a play at the plate.

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5763319

See the 2:00 minute mark.  The ball was hit right at Pagan; Blum never hesitated rounding 3rd; the throw was 6 feet up the first baseline; catcher caught the ball with Blum 10 feet from the plate; catcher still beat Blum to the plate by 3 feet; Pence is still an idiot. 

Probably wasn't Clark's greatest decision; questionable, maybe; but defensible esp if Pagan has a crappy or scattershoot arm which is how he looked throwing the ball.

[JimR]

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5763319

See the 2:00 minute mark.  The ball was hit right at Pagan; Blum never hesitated rounding 3rd; the throw was 6 feet up the first baseline; catcher caught the ball with Blum 10 feet from the plate; catcher still beat Blum to the plate by 3 feet; Pence is still an idiot. 

Probably wasn't Clark's greatest decision; questionable, maybe; but defensible esp if Pagan has a crappy or scattershoot arm which is how he looked throwing the ball.

strong throw. perfect hop to the C.

[MRaup]

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5763319

See the 2:00 minute mark.  The ball was hit right at Pagan; Blum never hesitated rounding 3rd; the throw was 6 feet up the first baseline; catcher caught the ball with Blum 10 feet from the plate; catcher still beat Blum to the plate by 3 feet; Pence is still an idiot. 

Probably wasn't Clark's greatest decision; questionable, maybe; but defensible esp if Pagan has a crappy or scattershoot arm which is how he looked throwing the ball.

Okay Mr. Zapruder, now tell me why Pence wasn't on 2nd when the play ended.

[MusicMan]

Okay Mr. Zapruder, now tell me why Pence wasn't on 2nd when the play ended.

Because he found a line of ants by first base.

[JimR]

I disagreed with sending him because Blum has zero acceleration right now.  He wasn't fleet of foot normally, and the hamstring is really, well, hamstringing him.

then he should not be playing.

[Jacksonian]

Okay Mr. Zapruder, now tell me why Pence wasn't on 2nd when the play ended.

The guy on the grassy knoll distracted him.

[Jacksonian]

strong throw. perfect hop to the C.

I was taught that if I threw the ball from CF and it bounced 1/2 way between the mound and homeplate it was a bad throw.  Hitting the grass slows the ball down and then having to travel 30 feet or so made the throw useless.  10 feet in front of the catcher was best but not so close you short hop the catcher.

[Andyzipp]

then he should not be playing.

Why can't Maysonet get a start?  no idea.

[JimR]

Why can't Maysonet get a start?  no idea.

i think Blum et al think he is well.

probably b/c Maysonet is too young for Coop's tastes.

[Andyzipp]

i think Blum et al think he is well.

probably b/c Maysonet is too young for Coop's tastes.

Watching him run, he's not 100%, or he's scared to find out.

[MikeyBoy]

Pagan was playing deep and has a questionable arm, along with the fact that the Astros had already put up three runs in the first inning with still only one out, make Clark's decision defensible. Blum just looked like he was running in sand and his slide was terrible. Pagan came in hard and made an accurate throw, props to him.

[Mr. Happy]

Clark's done a very good job there. I feel for third base coaches anyway, because every Tom, Dick and Harry Fan thinks that he is wrong all of the time. I wouldn't mind Clark actually managing the club one day.