pre season and getting whooped

[Fredia]

i know it was one pre season game, but still that bodes well for the season . bad pre seaon=good season
i seem to recall a pre season when the astros could not loose and how it turned out
one game does not equal a preseason but i do think it is a splendid start . splendid

[Mr. Happy]

i know it was one pre season game, but still that bodes well for the season . bad pre seaon=good season
i seem to recall a pre season when the astros could not loose and how it turned out
one game does not equal a preseason but i do think it is a splendid start . splendid

You're in midseason form, Ms. F. Did I miss something? Did you practice over the offseason?

[pravata]

meh, I got nothing either way.  However, there were 2 moments in the 3 innings I heard that I liked.  Moment 1 was Wigginton catches a liner right and holds the ball on the risky throw to 2nd.  Cooper is preaching, make the play in front of you and try not to do anything stupid.  Then Bourn, chopper up the middle, steals, then Loretta loops the single to right scoring him.  Don't care that it was against a minor league pitcher. That was pretty.

[jbm]

I was happy to read that Dewey was stressing adding an effective changeup to Wandy's arsenal, and to Sampson's.  It would be a good addition for both, imo.  I suspect they say these things every spring, but it was nice to read.

[VirtualBob]

I was happy to read that Dewey was stressing adding an effective changeup to Wandy's arsenal, and to Sampson's.  It would be a good addition for both, imo.  I suspect they say these things every spring, but it was nice to read.

Isn't Sampson's "fast" ball about 82??  His sinker is devastating, but unless he develops LaLob, I don't see a change being a huge necessity.

[Frobie]

Someone doing the sports break (or whatever) on KTRH as I was driving to work today said that Oswalt was going to try and "reverse the early season skid" or something like that.  I hope it's not too late.

[Limey]

Someone doing the sports break (or whatever) on KTRH as I was driving to work today said that Oswalt was going to try and "reverse the early season skid" or something like that.  I hope it's not too late.

Maybe they were talking about his propensity to lose the home opener (usually to the Jints).

[tophfar]

Maybe they were talking about his propensity to lose the home opener (usually to the Jints).

It's my one claim to SportsCenter fame.  When Bonds hit that 3 run homer in 2004 of Roy, it almost hit me in the face out there in the RF stands.  The jerk in front of me stuck his hand up and caught the ball.  But you could see us in the SportsCenter highlights of the game, and some friends of mine sent me screencaps of their TV.

[Limey]

It's my one claim to SportsCenter fame.  When Bonds hit that 3 run homer in 2004 of Roy, it almost hit me in the face out there in the RF stands.

Put...the beer...down...

[tophfar]

Put...the beer...down...

Sadly, this is no hyperbole.  There was an afternoon game a few years ago, I was in the club level along the 1st base line.  About 4 friends and I had almost the whole thing to ourselves.  I was just lounging there, beer in one hand, scorecard in the other.  When, I forget who, somone pops one foul right on top of our heads.  I stand up, move about 5 feet to my left for an easy catch. 

Much to my surprise the ball squirts away, and thats when I realize I still had both the beer and the scorecard still in my hands. 

[Duman]

My near catch story involves a woman.  My son and I were sitting in our preferred seats right behind the G-Astros dugout on the 1st base side.  Three seats down from me was a an attractive lady on a date with a guy.  Shortly after the game began, he disappeared for a long time. 

While he was gone, a pop fly came our way.  I move to my left tracking it when movement catches my eye.  The lovely lady is moving to her right to avoid the ball.  My hands are at shall we say an "inappropriate level" as she is heading towards me.  My brain processes the catch the ball but risk the grope verses the drop the hands and let the ball bounce away.  I let the ball bounce.  My son looked at me and said "I could have had that dad if you would have moved out of my way?"  It bounced into the dugout and one of the players gave the ball to my son. 

Turns out the reason the boyfriend was gone so long was that he was arranging to propose to her during the seventh inning stretch.  She said yes. 

I let my son keep the ball.  If she wanted it she should have called it!

[Limey]

Sadly, this is no hyperbole.  There was an afternoon game a few years ago, I was in the club level along the 1st base line.  About 4 friends and I had almost the whole thing to ourselves.  I was just lounging there, beer in one hand, scorecard in the other.  When, I forget who, somone pops one foul right on top of our heads.  I stand up, move about 5 feet to my left for an easy catch. 

Much to my surprise the ball squirts away, and thats when I realize I still had both the beer and the scorecard still in my hands. 

My first ever baseball game was in 1990 in Dallas.  In July.  Still 90+ degrees after 10 o'clock, and still 3 innings to go because it was AL ball.  These are all issues of which I'm aware now, that I wished I'd know then.  Anyway, we're in the upper deck, right behind the plate.  I have a beer and a hotdog...

Yep.  A towering pop foul is coming right down my throat.  I have no time to divest myself of the beer or dog before I am jostled by kids going after the foul.  The ball glances off my head and under the seats in front.  Some little shit gets my souvenir.

Never been anywhere near a foul ball since.

No, there is no YouTube clip of this historic event.

[jbm]

Isn't Sampson's "fast" ball about 82??  His sinker is devastating, but unless he develops LaLob, I don't see a change being a huge necessity.

I remember Sampson's sinking fastball around 89 mph and his curve around 80.  His slider was way too inconsistent, and seemed to hurt him.  Changing speeds effectively on non-breaking balls would really help him, imo.

[Limey]

I remember Sampson's sinking fastball around 89 mph and his curve around 80.  His slider was way too inconsistent, and seemed to hurt him.  Changing speeds effectively on non-breaking balls would really help him, imo.

Speaking of sinking...

[OregonStrosFan]

Just looking at the boxscore. 
FIELDING
Outfield assists: Gutierrez (Lee at 1st base). 
Anyone listenting that could let me know what happened here?  Just curious...

[otterjb]

A non sequitur, (is that possible following a fredia post?):

First baseball on tv of the year, dodgers and braves, and coming back from break into the bottom of the 5th, Peter Gammons is clearly heard saying, "yeah, I took my steriods this morning."

Phone, email, or snail mail your representatives about this national terror that's has now spread to the sanctimoniousness that is the worldwide network!

[tophfar]

The ball glances off my head and under the seats in front.  Some little shit gets my souvenir.

No, there is no YouTube clip of this historic event.

Are you sure this isn't you? 

(stupid MLB has pulled all video of this from almost everywhere.)

[Bench]

Just looking at the boxscore. 
FIELDING
Outfield assists: Gutierrez (Lee at 1st base). 
Anyone listenting that could let me know what happened here?  Just curious...

I'm kind of half listening to the game, but if I recall correctly he was doubled off on a ball he thought would drop in but Gutierrez caught.

[BlownRanger]

I'm kind of half listening to the game, but if I recall correctly he was doubled off on a ball he thought would drop in but Gutierrez caught.

I'm sure no one else envisioned any other POSSIBLE way that an outfielder could get an assist at 1st base when Carlos Lee is involved. 

[billemite]

Just looking at the boxscore. 
FIELDING
Outfield assists: Gutierrez (Lee at 1st base). 
Anyone listenting that could let me know what happened here?  Just curious...

Actually, Lee apparently thought there were 2 outs already and was running on contact. Milo and raymond were joking with the Grocer about it.

EDIT: Not Raymond. The other guy with the nasally voice. Dolan.

[chuck]

The ball was hit very hard and looked for all the world like it was going to drop. I have no idea what Cheo was shouting at Carlos, but I was not at all upset that he would be aggressive. I really think that it was more that he thought it would drop than he misremembered the number of outs. I was very surprised when the outfielder got there.

[billemite]

The ball was hit very hard and looked for all the world like it was going to drop. I have no idea what Cheo was shouting at Carlos, but I was not at all upset that he would be aggressive. I really think that it was more that he thought it would drop than he misremembered the number of outs. I was very surprised when the outfielder got there.

That is entirely possible. Unfortunately, I was only able to listen to the game.

[Ty in Tampa]

@ the atl game today. Gorgeous day.

[JaneDoe]

@ the atl game today. Gorgeous day.

Trying to make us jealous?  Doing a great job.

[strosrays]

My son looked at me and said "I could have had that dad copped a feel if you would have moved out of my way?" 

FIFY

[chuck]

@ the atl game today. Gorgeous day.

Well, thanks for the heads up. I was the guy in section 204. THE guy in 204. As in, the only one.

[Ty in Tampa]

Trying to make us jealous?  Doing a great job.

You've got 6 months of me being jealous.

Well, thanks for the heads up. I was the guy in section 204. THE guy in 204. As in, the only one.

Damn, It was a last minute thing. We were in 215 til the 6th. Then the berm. Backe looked good then fell apart. Fun game.

[chuck]

Damn, It was a last minute thing. We were in 215 til the 6th. Then the berm. Backe looked good then fell apart. Fun game.

Sorry, false alarm, I'm an idiot. I was in Kissimmee where the other half of the team played Washington. Chacon and Paulino both looked good.

[Ty in Tampa]

Sorry, false alarm, I'm an idiot. I was in Kissimmee where the other half of the team played Washington. Chacon and Paulino both looked good.

How long are you in FLA? I'll be at the CLE game in Kissimmee on Thursday and possibly the Yankmee game in Tampa on Friday.

[chuck]

How long are you in FLA? I'll be at the CLE game in Kissimmee on Thursday and possibly the Yankmee game in Tampa on Friday.

I'm here pretty much all month, although I leave the Orlando area on the 6th after the game and return the following Wednesday morning. That means I'll miss two home games - Toronto and another Nats game I believe. Ping me here and I'll let you know where I am and we'll see if we can figure out how to get together. You already have tickets to the game Thursday?

[JaneDoe]

I'm here pretty much all month, although I leave the Orlando area on the 6th after the game and return the following Wednesday morning. That means I'll miss two home games - Toronto and another Nats game I believe. Ping me here and I'll let you know where I am and we'll see if we can figure out how to get together. You already have tickets to the game Thursday?

Oh geez you guys, get a room.

[Mr. Happy]

Oh geez you guys, get a room.

Now now, JD. Your jealousy overfloweth.