4/3/08: HOU at SD (Game 4)

[ValpoCory]

No Bourn.  Cheito batting 7th.

 Houston     Season Avg
H. Pence rf    .286    
M. Loretta 2b    .143    
L. Berkman 1b    .333    
C. Lee lf        .154    
M. Tejada ss    .273    
T. Wigginton 3b    .182    
J. Cruz Jr. cf    .000    
J.R. Towles c    .143    
S. Chacon p    .000    

 San Diego     Season Avg
S. Hairston cf    .250    
T. Iguchi 2b    .385    
A. Gonzalez 1b    .286    
K. Kouzmanoff 3b    .231    
P. McAnulty lf    .500    
K. Greene ss    .462    
J. Bard c    .500    
J. Gerut rf    .500    
R. Wolf p    .000    

[Craig]

Pre-game show had a highlight from the Cubs-Brewers game. Rickie Weeks was coming home to score, with Geovany Soto standing up the line to take a throw from FukU, and Weeks just wiped out Soto and scored. And then a follow-up runner scored.

[Craig]

Padres take a 2-0 lead in the first. Hairston doubles down the line and chases a ballgirl off her stool. Then Kouz hits a 2-run homer to left.

They're worried about rain again but it never rained last night after all that build-up.

[das]

Padres take a 2-0 lead in the first. Hairston doubles down the line and chases a ballgirl off her stool. Then Kouz hits a 2-run homer to left.

They're worried about rain again but it never rained last night after all that build-up.

Chacon looks RUSTY.  He's falling off to the right.  Does he normally do that?

[Craig]

End of 1, Padres lead 2-0.

I'm in and out of the room so I can't see every pitch, but I'll update as best I can.

[JGrave]

Anyone else using MLB Audio and not getting any feed?

Cocksuckin' motherfuckers...

[Craig]

Top 2nd

Lee strikes out swinging, Tejada flies out to left, Wigginton singles to right.

Cruz up.

[Craig]

Wigginton steals second, but Cruz pops out to the first baseman.

End top 2nd.

[Craig]

The commercials on FSN Houston are way too goddamn loud.

Tejada fouled another won at the ballgirl, but a fan caught it and went up several rows to give the ball to a kid.

Home plate umpire is wearing mirrored shades under his mask.

[Limey]

Padres take a 2-0 lead in the first. Hairston doubles down the line and chases a ballgirl off her stool. Then Kouz hits a 2-run homer to left.

They're worried about rain again but it never rained last night after all that build-up.

It never rains in Californya..

[Craig]

Bottom 2nd

Bard grounds out to Loretta.

Jody Gerut also grounds out to Loretta.

Wolf singles over Tejada.

[Craig]

Hairston walks to put runners on first and second

Iguchi up. Last AB he whined about being grazed on the arm but ump wasn't buying it.

Iguchi walks to load the bases. Adrian Gonzales up.

[JimR]

Chacon is all over the place.

[Craig]

Gonzalez grounds out to Chacon to end the sloppy inning.

2-0 Padres after 2.

[JimR]

Pence likes chin-high pitches.

[mihoba]

2nd base ump missed the call on Towles in my eyes. Guess who it was? Angel fuckin Hernandez. Blind bastard.

[Limey]

Someone please tell me that Chacon bunted into a FC.  Yahoo just says "grounded".

[JimR]

Someone please tell me that Chacon bunted into a FC.  Yahoo just says "grounded".

yes. Towles did not slide and was out by an eyelash.

[Limey]

yes. Towles did not slide and was out by an eyelash.

Thanks.  Towles has been watching too much Mythbusters.

[Ty in Tampa]

Cool, rockin'!

[Craig]

Towles works a walk
Chacon bunts in front of the plate, Towles out at 2nd. One out
Pence grounds to short, Chacon out at 2nd, Pence safe at first, two out.
Loretta doubles into the leftfield corner, Pence scores, 2-1 Padres two out


I'm going to have to leave, if anyone else wants PBP.

[Limey]

Cool, rockin'!

Was CrashTest running on the pitch or just using his spazzy-speed?

[JimR]

Thanks.  Towles has been watching too much Mythbusters.

tiptoed into second and was reaching for the bag with his foot. not busting his ass either, i suspect.

[BudGirl]

It was two outs, so he should have been running on contact.

[JimR]

It was two outs, so he should have been running on contact.

no out. Chacon was bunting him over...or trying to.

[Limey]

It was two outs, so he should have been running on contact.

Good point.  The dark recess of my brain that is slooshing with beer and dedicated to baseball, is not yet working this season.  Could be something to do with me having seen about 3 innings so far in '08.

[Limey]

no out. Chacon was bunting him over...or trying to.

I think BG was answering my Pence question.

[Ty in Tampa]

I didn't see the count but there were 2 outs. Spazzy speed had him jumping up and down in the on-deck circle as Lo was stopping on 2nd.

[JimR]

I think BG was answering my Pence question.

ah, ok. i think Pence was running on the pitch.

[BudGirl]

no out. Chacon was bunting him over...or trying to.

i was replying to Limey.

[BudGirl]

so can anyone take over the pbp?  i can't as i am at work. 

[mihoba]

JD just commented that Towles made a good adjustment on a pitch in the dirt, moving his feet and staying in front of it instead of attempting a backhand.

[SaltyParker]

Chacon with 4 BBs thru 3 innings.

[mihoba]

so can anyone take over the pbp?  i can't as i am at work. 

I guess I could do an inning or so.

[Tralfaz]

Anyone else using MLB Audio and not getting any feed?

Cocksuckin' motherfuckers...

Yep, it was down yesterday too.

[mihoba]

Flapjack fouled out
Tejada pop to shallow right, Iguchi drifts back and snags it. 2 down
Wiggy can-o-corn to shallow left center, side retired.

[JimR]

popping lots of pitches up

[Matt]

Yesterday on MLB extra innings the Yankees game ran late and I didn't get the Astros game for a good 15 minutes after it started.  Is this the norm on Extra Innings?  Why don't they just play it on one of the other channels with nothing on it?

[mihoba]

Chacon on the hill

Wolf steps in: ball, ball, called strike, called strike, tapper to Chacon, underhand to Twinkie, 1 down

Hairston: ball, ball, ripped to left center, single

Iguchi: bouncer up the middle, Tejada scoops it by the bag, steps on second, throw to first, easy DP. Side retired.

[JimR]

Yesterday on MLB extra innings the Yankees game ran late and I didn't get the Astros game for a good 15 minutes after it started.  Is this the norm on Extra Innings?  Why don't they just play it on one of the other channels with nothing on it?

ask Noe

[chuck]

Cruz singles to LF on the first pitch of the inning.
Towles - Ball low, check swing bouncer back to the mound for an easy DP. (The Pads' first DP of the year.)
Chacon - Ball, ball, ball, ball. Chacon walks. 76 pitches for Wolf to this point.
Pence - Curve catches the outside corner for a strike, ball, ball, check swing strike, called strike.

[mihoba]

Wolf pitching

Chieto: rips a single to left on a first pitch inside FB

Towles: ball in the dirt, high FB, check swing tapper to Wolf, fires to second, on to first, DP. 2 down.

Chacon: ball, ball, ball, ball. walk.

Pence: slow curve drops in for a strike, FB high and inside for a ball, another slow curve for ball two, FB on the hands-check swing strike, called strike three. Side retired.

[JimR]

good grief, Pence. horrible AB.

[Limey]

76 pitches for Wolf to this point.

68 for Chacon in one inning less.  Must be the afternoon start.

[mihoba]

Chacon on the hill

Gonzalez: change/slider for a strike, curve drops in for strike two, low inside FB fouled back, slider inside for ball one, FB inside for ball two, slider popped to short, one down.

Kouzmanoff: high slider for called strike, ball, slider that Kouz waved at and missed, high FB for ball two, curve drops on the inside corner, got him looking, two down.

McAnulty: ball, ball high, ripped on the ground to Twinkie, on to first unassisted, side retired.

[chuck]

Gonzales - strike, strike, foul, ball, ball, bloop to SS. One out.

Kouzmanoff - strike, ball, strike, ball, rung him up on a beautiful inside curve ball. Just froze him.

McAnulty - ball, ball, sharp GB to 1B, Berkman handles the PO himself.

[mihoba]

Take it away, Chuck. PBP.

[chuck]

I don't see how the Astros could be anything but thrilled at Chacon's performance today. Sure, you'd like fewer walks. But overall he's been very effective.

[Limey]

68 for Chacon in one inning less.  Must be the afternoon start.

...and then he has his first clean inning of the game.  Good for him.

[JimR]

I don't see how the Astros could be anything but thrilled at Chacon's performance today. Sure, you'd like fewer walks. But overall he's been very effective.

very pleased if not thrilled. he has battled his control but has made some pitches.

[Limey]

I don't see how the Astros could be anything but thrilled at Chacon's performance today. Sure, you'd like fewer walks. But overall he's been very effective.

He seems to be getting more on the ground than in the air.  Coupled with the walks, has him looking Hamptonesque today.

[JimR]

Berkman's RH swing is so ugly.

AND, another SB.

[Limey]

Berkman's RH swing is so ugly.

AND, another SB.

Fat boy runnin'!!

[geezerdonk]

The Bruceville-Eddy jack rabbit - he's running wild.

[chuck]

Take it away, Chuck. PBP.

I was under the impression that you would be unable to continue.

Loretta - ball, foul, foul down the RF line into the Astros pen just out of reach, ball, soft liner just over the third baseman into LF for a hit.

Berkman - foul, weak tapper back to the mound, 1-4, Berkman safe at first. One out.

Lee - ball low (Lee pulls back a bunt), the lightning fast Berkman swipes second, foul, ball, foul, foul, swinging strike out at a fastball up at about the brim of his batting helmet.

Tejada - strike, ball, strike, ball, foul, foul, high pop down the 1B line, off of Wolf's glove called foul - ruled that the ball was touched in foul territory, ball, reaching for a FB off the plate rolls to 2B for the force 4-3.

[mihoba]

I was under the impression that you would be unable to continue.

That was Craig. I volunteered to do a couple of innings, and announced the same. That's cool though, I just don't wanna waste my time with duplication. Just try to post in the future when you want to take over. Easier that way.

[chuck]

Greene - ball, strike, foul, ball, fly out to LF. One out.

Bard - strike, foul, foul, ball (nice pitch, juuust low and away), ball, whiffs at a FB high and away. Nice pitching. Two outs.

Gerut - first pitch flies out to RF.

[Ty in Tampa]

"Chacon.........Chacon..........Chacon, let me rock ya. Let me rock ya, Chacon!"

[remy]

Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz!!! Way to go Towles, just what the doctor ordered.

[OregonStrosFan]

Aggressive baserunning pays off again.  SWEET!

[Mr. Happy]

very pleased if not thrilled. he has battled his control but has made some pitches.

I'm thrilled that he made it into the sixth inning.

[hostros7]

How many pitches did he throw?

[chuck]

Enrique Gonzalez (RHP) pitching.

Wigginton - strike, strike, ball, ball, ball, strike called, Wigginton does not like it at all. First FB of the at bat. One out.

Cruz - strike, ball, strike, ball, ball, ball four for a walk. Breaking ball just outside.

Towles (Blum on deck) - ball, Cruz running, slicing shot down the LF line for a double, run scores, game tied. One out, Towles on second.

Blum - ball, foul out to 3B. Two outs, Towles on second.

Pence - strike, bouncer to second, 4-3 FC.

Middle of the 7th tied at 2. Pitcher's spot to lead off for SD.

[Ty in Tampa]

How many pitches did he throw?

Chacon finished with 94.

[BudGirl]

Blum - ball, foul out to 3B. Two outs, Towles on second.

Pence - strike, bouncer to second, 4-3 FC.

If Towles is on second, how is Pence's out a FC?

[remy]

God damn, I can't believe he got 3 bases out of that.

Ugh, Goochie gives them the lead again.

[hostros7]

He has been all over the ball this series.

[MRaup]

God damn, I can't believe he got 3 bases out of that.

Ugh, Goochie gives them the lead again.

Hairston is well on his way to Astro Killah Status.

[Limey]

God damn, I can't believe he got 3 bases out of that.

Ugh, Goochie gives them the lead again.

That didn't last long.

[OregonStrosFan]

How many pitches did he throw?

Chacon's line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR
94 pitches (51 strikes, 43 balls)

MLB Gameday

[Ty in Tampa]

Hairston is well on his way to Astro Killah Status.

He's already at 'fuck that motherfucker' status.

[MusicMan]

Wow, they made that DP look easy.  Gonzolez must be sloooooow.

[remy]

Sweet little 3-6-3.

Let's score some fuckin runs boys.

[chuck]

94 pitches for Chacon, 51 for strikes.

Villareal pitching for the Astros.

Crabbe (ph) - ball, FO to LF, one out.

Hairston - strike, smash to right center just out of Cheito's reach, one bounce to the fence, Hairston slides into third as the relay throw is wide.

Iguchi - smash up the middle scores Hairston from third. Iguchi on first with one out.

Gonzalez - ball, foul, foul, ball, foul (runner moving), chopper to Berkman, 3-3 DP.

End of 7, 3-2 Padres.

[Hornstros]

I'm having to watch the game via live updates cause i'm at work.  Would that triple have been a double if Bourn was playing CF or been a hit at all??  Or would it have been a triple regardless of the CFer?  Didn't see the play so i was just curious

[guitarcec]

I'm having to watch the game via live updates cause i'm at work.  Would that triple have been a double if Bourn was playing CF or been a hit at all??  Or would it have been a triple regardless of the CFer?  Didn't see the play so i was just curious

i was thinking Bourn would have caught that ball - no question.

[mihoba]

Flapjack admired that just a bit too long. Made it close at second.

[remy]

I'm having to watch the game via live updates cause i'm at work.  Would that triple have been a double if Bourn was playing CF or been a hit at all??  Or would it have been a triple regardless of the CFer?  Didn't see the play so i was just curious

It's hard to say, but one thing for sure is the throw to third from the cutoff man was weak and way offline.

[pravata]

It's hard to say, but one thing for sure is the throw to third from the cutoff man was weak and way offline.

Tejada?

[chuck]

Heath Bell (RHP) pitching.

Loretta - skies the first pitch to CF for a fly out. One out.

Berkman - ball, foul, ball, ball, fly out to LF. Two out.

Lee - ball, smashes a high FB over the LF head into the base of the wall in left, rolls into second for a double.

Brocail warming in the pen.

Tejada - strike, ball, strike, ground out to second, Iguchi ranging over to make the play with Bell  covering first. Three out.

[chuck]

If Towles is on second, how is Pence's out a FC?

You're right. A play on Towles would be a FC.

I think Bourn would have caught Hairston's hit to center, but it would depend on where he was positioned. Cheito was a step away. I think the relay throw was Tejada's.

[chuck]

Villareal pitching.

Kouzmanoff - ball, 6-3. One out.

McAnulty - foul, ball, shot back up the middle, a ducking Villareal's glove gets a little piece of the ball, fielded by Loretta, no play. Man on first.

Greene - ball, strike, ball, pop to second. Two outs, runner on first.

Bard - runner going, liner to CF caught by Cruz. Three outs.

End of 8, 3-2 Padres, Hoffman coming in.

[chuck]

Hoffman pitching.

Wiggington - strike, ball, strike (Wiggy doesn't like that one, either), GO 6-3. One out.

Cruz - strike, grounder to first, pitch to Hoffman covering. Two outs.

Towles (Erstad on deck) - strike, ground ball to thrid, 5-3. Three outs.

Padres win 3-2.

[remy]

Well, shit.  Fuck the fucking west coast.

Any stat freaks out there care to figure out the last time the Astros had a winning (or even .500) west coast road trip?

[Twoniner]

  Good start for Chacon.  Bats were stuck in getaway mode.

[Limey]

Well, shit.  Fuck the fucking west coast.

Any stat freaks out there care to figure out the last time the Astros had a winning (or even .500) west coast road trip?

No worse than opening with the Giants at MMPUS.

[BudGirl]

Great job by Chacon.  The only starter to go 6 innings.  Time to go to Chicago and make cubbie fans cry.