Astros @ Jakes, 4/25/2008

[mihoba]

The visiting Houston starting nine:

1 Kaz Matsui 2B
2 Darren Erstad CF
3 Miguel Tejada SS
4 Lance Berkman 1B
5 Carlos Lee LF
6 Geoff Blum 3B
7 Hunter Pence RF
8 JR Towles C
9 Shawn Chacon P (0-0, 2.77)

Co-ards

1 Skip "the newest pissant' Schumaker CF
2 Rick 'grab your' Ankiel RF
3 Albert 'whiny bitch' Pujols 1B
4 Chris 'chip off the block' Duncan LF
5 Troy 'semi' Glaus 3B
6 Adam 'senator' Kennedy 2B
7 Yadier 'squatting' Molina C
8 Braden 'throw a' Looper P (3-1, 5.49)
9 Braden Looper Brenden 'who the fuck?' Ryan SS

Est. half hour rain delay.

[legs_of_eggs]

Come on put a roof over that damn field

[BUWebguy]

Any update on start time?

[matadorph]

Come on put a retractable roof over that damn field

[mihoba]

Any update on start time?

I'm sure .093 wants the field completely dry so his lover won't slip and have a boo-boo.

Half an hour ago they said the rain stopped? Fucking Jakes...

[dalillama]

Est. half hour rain delay.

st. louis weather man = retard.

[jonbloozy]

Guess FSN SW chose the other Texas team.  Stros were supposed to be on, but I'm recording the wrong team . . . again.  I tuned in for a sec to see if the game started and saw the stRangers and heard some comment about "getting their nuts hot." 

Will appreciate any PBP.

[mihoba]

They switched over to the stRangers during the rain delay.

[jonbloozy]

Think they'll switch back?

[SaltyParker]

70 minutes late and apparently we are still not close. I noticed the yahoo scoreboard took down the starters that were posted, whatever that means.

[matadorph]

So, the NFL Draft is tomorrow. Dunno 'bout ya'll but I'm hoping Chris Williams falls to the Texans.

[Limey]

Well lookie here!  An actual rainout in STL!

Hey La Guiness!  Roy will still pitch even if you call this game!

[jonbloozy]

Been following the RR v NO game.  Muecke and Saccomanno work well together.

[matadorph]

Well lookie here!  An actual rainout in STL!

Hey La Guiness!  Roy will still pitch even if you call this game!

did they call the game?

[SaltyParker]

Been following the RR v NO game.  Muecke and Saccomanno work well together.

I was checking out last nights game on gameday when Runs Hernandez was pitching. Seemed like he gave up 9 runs or so in about 4 innings. No future for that guy.

[Greg M]

did they call the game?

Inquiring minds wanna know...

Yahoo still has it listed as a delay.  Anybody else have more info?

[jonbloozy]

I was checking out last nights game on gameday when Runs Hernandez was pitching. Seemed like he gave up 9 runs or so in about 4 innings. No future for that guy.

I was listening to the replay today at work.  Seems like the 1st inning lasted forever.  Zephyrs may have some good hitters, but Hitelvys didn't seem to have anything.

[dalillama]

Inquiring minds wanna know...

Yahoo still has it listed as a delay.  Anybody else have more info?

chron.com says maybe around 9:15.

[jonbloozy]

chron.com says maybe around 9:15.

Gameday says warmup

[SaltyParker]

I was listening to the replay today at work.  Seems like the 1st inning lasted forever.  Zephyrs may have some good hitters, but Hitelvys didn't seem to have anything.

Apparently hasn't had anything all season, has an 11.37 era

[legs_of_eggs]

So, the NFL Draft is tomorrow. Dunno 'bout ya'll but I'm hoping Chris Williams falls to the Texans.

IF they can get Chris Williams that'd be ideal, or even if they traded up to the Broncos 12th slot and got him.  I'd rather trade back for more picks though.

[MikeyBoy]

st. louis weather man = retard.

We need a real meteorologist? Where the hell is das?

[dalillama]

play ball!!!

[juliogotay]

play ball!!!

I have a hard time staying up for these West Coast start times.

[MikeyBoy]

Yep...it looks like they should get the game played.

(LINK)

[Greg M]

I have a hard time staying up for these West Coast start times.

It's Friday night you old man.

[jonbloozy]

Apparently hasn't had anything all season, has an 11.37 era

I'm biased, but I think Muecke, Nieve, and Miller have all done pretty well (aside from those called up).  There aren't a whole lot of runs being scored, so who knows what that may do to the pitching.  YRamirez needs to hit and VDiaz needs to be more consistent.  

ETA The Real Game is On, will continue on the Bus Ride

[juliogotay]

Erstad is doing a good job.

[mihoba]

So, the NFL Draft is tomorrow. Dunno 'bout ya'll but I'm hoping Chris Williams falls to the Texans.

I wish they would trade up and get McFadden.

[Greg M]

Erstad is doing a good job.

Great pickup.

[SaltyParker]

all these walks by chacon = bad news

[Desperado]

Hot damn, huge out there on Pooholes.

[Greg M]

Walks the bases loaded.  20 pitches, 6 strikes.

[Greg M]

Nice called 3rd strike on Glaus.

[Greg M]

WTF was that?

[Desperado]

....

[remy]

I'll be god damned.

[dalillama]

nice brain fart blum.

[Savage]

Dude.

[Desperado]

Hey, I like when their pitcher bats eighth.

[Greg M]

Nice job by Chacon after those walks.  Time for some Astros hitting.

[jonbloozy]

End 1

Matsui grounds out
Erstad doubles
Miggy pops out to Ass-Glove
Twinkie sells his bench goodies to the LF, 3 out

The newest pissant walks
Grab your Ankiel walks
Ass-glove pops to (nevermind, I can't do it), 1 out
Chip-off-the-block walks
Chacon K's Semi-glaus
Chappaquiddick reaches on roller to Blum, quick flip to Matsui that missed to RF, 2 runs score
Looper wants some bench goodies, too, 3 out

[SaltyParker]

End 1

Matsui grounds out
Erstad doubles
Miggy pops out to Ass-Glove
Twinkie sells his bench goodies to the LF, 3 out

The newest pissant walks
Grab your Ankiel walks
Ass-glove pops to (nevermind, I can't do it), 1 out
Chip-off-the-block walks
Chacon K's Semi-glaus
Chappaquiddick reaches on roller to Blum, quick flip to Matsui that missed to RF, 2 runs score
Looper wants some bench goodies, too, 3 out

bottom line: 2 runs on no hits

[Limey]

Hey, I like when their pitcher bats eighth.

That was absolutely beautiful.  The Jakes' big inning is undone because the Astros could walk the #7 hitter to get to the pitcher.  

Fucking genius!

[The Third Man]

That was absolutely beautiful.  The Jakes' big inning is undone because the Astros could walk the #7 hitter to get to the pitcher. 

Fucking genius!

You don't get it, man. LaGenius batting the pitcher 8th messed with Blum's head, enabling the error. Get with the program!

[mihoba]

You don't get it, man. LaGenius batting the pitcher 8th messed with Blum's head, enabling the error. Get with the program!

Plus, a position player gets to lead off the 2nd! Brilliant!

[Limey]

Ugh!  Back-to-back over-caffeinated Jakes.

I shall start calling them "Tweak"

[T. J.]

I am so, so, so spoiled on HDTV, that I almost (but still will) can't watch in SD.  Everybody is so....fuzzy.

[T. J.]

Towles should've grabbed that one, dontcha think?

[MikeyBoy]

Towles should've grabbed that one, dontcha think?

Yep. As JD said, Towles should have called off Chacon.

[The Third Man]

Is this the Billy Bob Thorton version of "The Bad News Bears?"

[Greg M]

Atta boy Shawn.  Making it interesting.

[mihoba]

*whew*

[T. J.]

Is this the Billy Bob Thorton version of "The Bad News Bears?"

I refuse to believe that movie ever happened.

[MikeyBoy]

Chacon doing a good job of fighting through his wildness.

[jonbloozy]

End 2

Lee grounds to semi-Glaus, 1 out
Blum grounds to who the fuck?  2 out
Pence grounds to Chappaquiddick, 3 out

Who the fuck grounds to Miggy? 1 out
The newest pissant hits a liner to Blum, 2 out
Grab your Ankiel singles past Matsui
Ass-glove gives a little tappy to Hands Chacon
Chip-off-the-block takes a walk, bases loaded
Chacon K's Semi-Glaus again

Astros 0, Co-ards 2

[Limey]

Fuck the Jakes!

[SaltyParker]

61 pitches for Chacon thru 2

[Greg M]

I like not having to see Edmonds any more on the Jakes. 

[SaltyParker]

Chacon doing a good job of fighting through his wildness.

Best find the strike zone because 2.5 walks per inning ain't gonna cut it.

[Savage]

I am forced to listen to the St. Louis broadcast.  They just had a 5 minute discussion about how invalid the MVP voting is because the Cubs' Marmol had a vote in the top 10 for MVP and they should forget the voting and just give it to Philly's favorite player "like they always do."  Fuckin' whiners.

[The Third Man]

Troy Glaus is out of the game.

[BatGirl]

Troy Glaus is out of the game.

the hill must be too sandy for him after all of that rain...

[austro]

Yep. As JD said, Towles should have called off Chacon.

I wonder if that's a "rookie acceding to the veteran" kind of thing. Next year is probably a different thing.

[Limey]

I like not having to see Edmonds any more on the Jakes. 

Fuck Jim Edmonds.  Right in his ear.

[austro]

Boy, that ball may have been fair, but it sure could have been called foul just as easily.

[MikeyBoy]

Fuck Jim Edmonds.  Right in his ear.

LaRussa, is that you?

[Limey]

LaRussa, is that you?

Fuck Tony La Russa.

[jonbloozy]

End 3

Towles K's, 1 out
Chacon challenges Looper for a grounder, 2 out
Chip-off-the-block fly-out for Matsui, 3 out

Chappaquiddick flies to Pence!  1 out
Looper sac bunt to Twinkie, 2 out, runner to 2nd
Molina singles to Blum, throw might have hit runners foot, advances to 2nd
Who the fuck flies to Pence!?  3 out

Astros 0, Them 2

[mihoba]

Vince Coleman has the rookie SB record w/ 110 for the Cards in 1985 per the Aflac trivia question.

[Limey]

Fuck Braden Looper.

[austro]

Vince Coleman has the rookie SB record w/ 110 for the Cards in 1985 per the Aflac trivia question.

Yup. My Astros page-a-day trivia calendar pays off.

[Desperado]

Braden fucking Looper? Seriously?

[Limey]

Pooholes elbow trouble is arthritis.

[mihoba]

Fuck Braden Looper.

Fuck all the co-ards.

[Desperado]

Is it wrong that I sortakinda want Pujols's elbow to blow out?

[pravata]

Pooholes elbow trouble is arthritis.

fuck arthritis.

[BUWebguy]

Yup. My Astros page-a-day trivia calendar pays off.

Your Astros calendar has a question about Vince Coleman??

[SaltyParker]

fuck arthritis.

I'll second that.

[The Third Man]

On a pleasant note, one of the Fucktardinals announcers said that Lance Berkman was one of his favorite players during his last at bat.

[chuck]

I'd like to issue an honorary fuck you to Preston K. Wilson.

[jonbloozy]

Chip-off-the-block fly out for Erstad, 1 out
Miggy grounds to who the fuck?  2 out
Twinkie sells his bench goods to Chappaquiddick, 3 out

The newest pissant grounds to Miggy, 1 out
Chacon makes him Grab-His-Ankiels for a K, 2 out
Ass-Glove smirks his way on-base with a BB
Chip-off-the-block fly out to Pence!  3 out

[Desperado]

I'd like to issue an honorary fuck you to Preston K. Wilson.

I'll second that.

[SaltyParker]

Looper making it look too easy

[mihoba]

Man, I had a double meat Whataburger w/ cheese yesterday. Damn it was good.

Oh, and fuck the Tony .093 LaGenius  fuckin' Jakes.

[BatGirl]

So, the NFL Draft is tomorrow.

http://www.dickipedia.org/dick.php?title=Mel_Kiper%2C_Jr.

[pravata]

Looper making it look too easy

fuck making it look too easy

[jonbloozy]

End 5

El Caballo flies out to the newest pissant, 1 out
Blum grounds to Chappaquiddick, 2 out
Pence! grounds to who the fuck?

I would walk 500 . . . flies to Erstad
Chappaquiddick flies to a horse
Yada-Yada flies to a horse

Chacon pitch count: 96

Astros: 0 R, 1 H, 1 E
Co-ards: 2 R, 4 H, 0 E

[mihoba]

Okay, JD called it, a bloop and a blast. I'm waiting patiently.

Fuckin' Jakes. I really, really dislike that team. Enormously.

[Limey]

C'mon Tony.  You know you don't want to lead off with the pitcher...

[Savage]

http://www.dickipedia.org/dick.php?title=Mel_Kiper%2C_Jr.

Zuckerberg is my favorite

[MikeyBoy]

Fuck 15 straight outs for Looper.

[mihoba]

There's the ninja bloop.

[Limey]

Tejada bloop, then a Hong Kong Puma chop!  Ai-Ya!

[mihoba]

Looper is gonna be gassed after that. Fucker.

[Limey]

Go on Tony, run your pitcher some more!

[T. J.]

Pretty, pretty, pretty.

[austro]

Your Astros calendar has a question about Vince Coleman??

Yup. I'd say about one out of every three pages is some generic baseball trivia completely unrelated to the Astros.

[jonbloozy]

End 6

On a grounder, who the fuck throws Towles out?  1 out
Chacon K's (2 K for Looper)  2 out
Matsui lines to CF for a single (it's the bok choy)
Erstad flies to the newest pissant, 3 out

Looper with a blooper to Erstad, runner on 1st
Who the fuck flies to Erstad?, runner on 1st going, throw back to Twinkie hits the runner, 1 out
Another chip-off-the-block DP - Matsui-Miggy-Twinkie, 3 out

Houston 0, Them 2

[Limey]

New Busch: Home of the Loosest Sluts.

[mihoba]

Make him pay Lance.

[remy]

Make him pay Lance.

Made them pay double.

[T. J.]

Fuckshitshitfuck.

[Limey]

Tip o' the cap to Chacon.  Struggled early, but really sacked up to go 6.  Don't care what happens from here, but thatcwas some tough shit.

[austro]

New Busch: Home of the Loosest Sluts.

What did I miss? I was checking out the Stewart A. Smith Shouting Show.

[The Third Man]

Word, Limey. Chacon showed a lot tonight in fighting through all of the adversity.

[jonbloozy]

End 7

Miggy walks 500 . . .
Twinkie GIDP, 2 out
El Caballo grounds to Chappaquiddick, 3 out

Grab-your-Ankiel flies to a horse
Ass-Glove flies to Erstad
Chip-off-the-block flies to Matsui

Good 0, Bad 2

[mihoba]

BFiB crying yard on Pujols fly to Erstad.

Chacon hung tough.

[Limey]

Word, Limey. Chacon showed a lot tonight in fighting through all of the adversity.

And then had a comfy 1-2-3 through the heart of the (fuck 'em) Jakes order.

[jonbloozy]

The Cha-Cha-Cha-con line:

7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 3 SO, 2.45 ERA

[The Third Man]

Rally time after Pence's single. Let's do it, 'Stros!

(Edit: Fuck the Cards)

[remy]

Time to bust up their pen.

[mihoba]

Chieto is now 0-12 batting lefthanded. (4 walks)

Fuck the Jakes

[Limey]

Chieto is now 0-12 batting lefthanded. (4 walks)

I think he might need a start to get a few at-bats in a row.

[SaltyParker]

I think he might need a start to get a few at-bats in a row.

had one yesterday (0-4)

[jonbloozy]

End 8

Pitcher change: Ryan "Ben" Franklin replaces Alice Looper

Blum flies to Grab-Your-Ankiels, 1 out
Pence! with a single up the middle (8 game hitting streak)
Towles flies to RF, 2 out
Jose "Carnival" Cruz PH for Cha-Cha-Cha, 3-2 count, grounds to Chappaquiddick, 3 out


Pitcher change: Wesley "What, I forgot my ID!" Wright replaces Shawn Chacon

I would walk 500 . . . flies to a horse, 1 out
Chappaquiddick K's, 2 out
Yada-Yada BB
Brian "Ziggy" Barton K's, 3 out


US of A: 0, Axis of Evil: 2

[Twoniner]

Chieto is now 0-12 batting lefthanded. (4 walks)

Chieto 8 for 54 the last 3 years prior to this pinch hitting.   He ain't a pinch hitter.

[remy]

Why haven't we gotten "X-mo" cameras at MMP yet?

[mihoba]

Fuck Izzy. Fuck the Co-ards.

Time to score some runs.

[BatGirl]

Chieto 8 for 54 the last 3 years prior to this pinch hitting.   He ain't a pinch hitter.

who should they have gone with there, in your opinion?

[Desperado]

Let's go Astros!

[remy]

Gah, storm just knocked out the satellite with 1 out in the 9th.

[mihoba]

who should they have gone with there, in your opinion?

I suggest Ty Cobb, just so he could spike the smirking firstbaseman.

[mihoba]

Erstad slashed a liner to left, 1 on 1 out.

[remy]

Erstad slashed a liner to left, 1 on 1 out.

Thank you!

[SaltyParker]

who should they have gone with there, in your opinion?

Victor Diaz

[Desperado]

TEJADA TRIPLE!

[mihoba]

Tejada takes three straight inside pitches, takes a pair of cutters for strikes, then lines a gapper triple to right center!! 2-1 ballgame

[remy]

Holy shit!  Stay offline satellite, STAY OFFLINE!

[matadorph]

that guy is so fucking awesome.

YESSSSSSSSS

[chuck]

Motherfucker, Tejada is a baseball player.

[Desperado]

Come on, Lance...


SEE, you don't need to fake a HBP!

[mihoba]

Jakes are jumping all around the infield, running in for the pitch. Long fly to left, sac fly, tie game!!

[matadorph]

Way to go Twinkie!

Great job of hitting.

[BatGirl]

yes!!!

[remy]

Yessssssss

[Desperado]

EL CABALLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[chandler44]

Lee!!!!!!!!

[mihoba]

Lee smashes it to left@!!!! 3-2!!

[matadorph]

OOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

[guitarcec]

ah!!! Lee is huge!!!

[Lurch]

Ho Lee Shit!

[matadorph]

So great to hear the BFiBoooooos

[mihoba]

BFiB are booing... the few that are left anyway.

[Limey]

[Understatement] That was worth waiting for. [\Understatement]

Oh, and fuck the BFiBs...they're booing their beloved team.

[Colt 45]

So great

[chuck]

That was a hell of an effort by Lance with two strikes going the opposite way.

Carlo'Lee fucking unloaded on that one.

[BatGirl]

valverde warming up

[remy]

HOLY FUCKIN SHIT!  I can't believe this all started happening the INSTANT that my satellite got knocked out.  Amazing!!

[matadorph]

I looked down at my screen and missed Lee's HR.

At least I heard it.

[T. J.]

Almost went to bed before the 9th.  Baseball proves once again why you can never quit watching.

[Colt 45]

HOLY FUCKIN SHIT!  I can't believe this all started happening the INSTANT that my satellite got knocked out.  Amazing!!

Cable baby

[Limey]

Qui es mas feliz?   Blum or Chacon?

[Gleek]

HOLY FUCKIN SHIT!  I can't believe this all started happening the INSTANT that my satellite got knocked out.  Amazing!!

Go rip that fucking dish off your house!

[Desperado]

HOLY FUCKIN SHIT!  I can't believe this all started happening the INSTANT that my satellite got knocked out.  Amazing!!

This is why baseball fans are superstitious.

[jonbloozy]

Mid 9
Pitcher change: Jason "Herring" Isringhausen replaces Ben Franklin

Matsui K's, 1 out
Erstad singles over 3B 500 . . .
Miggy, 3-2 count, TRIPLES, scores Erstad - US 1, evil empire 2
Twinkie sac fly to LF, Miggy tags and scores easily, 2 out - US 2, evil empire 2
EL CABALLO HR!!! (3rd off of Herring) US 3, evil empire 2
Blum grounds out to an Ass-Glove, 3 outs (fans booing the Herring)

[mihoba]

That was a hell of an effort by Lance with two strikes going the opposite way.

Carlo'Lee fucking unloaded on that one.

Yep and yep. After falling in a 0-2 hole and arguing with the ump twice, Berkman came through.

[chuck]

Let's see what sort of excitement this half inning brings.

[Colt 45]

Let's see what sort of excitement this half inning brings.

3 up, 3 down

[matadorph]

Damn. Helluva play by Tejada.

[gwat]

Qui es mas feliz?   Blum or Chacon?

Blum.

[matadorph]

definitely Blum.

[Limey]

Need a strikeout here, then a DP

[Desperado]

god damnit.

[Limey]

Now need K, Out, IBB, Out

[matadorph]

great play by Matsui.

[Desperado]

2 K's please

[matadorph]

need K/IBB/anything

[chandler44]

Nice K!

[Desperado]

great job Ankiel.

[matadorph]

HUUUGE K!!!!

[T. J.]

Valverde likes to go up ieye-level for the K, I've noticed.

[chuck]

These fans are booing Pujols. Motherfuckers will boo anything.

[matadorph]

Shut the fuck up BFiB

[Colt 45]

Take that Phil.

[Desperado]

Brownie just called Princess Albert 'Cinderella'.

[matadorph]

Cmon Joey

[mrpink]

These fans are booing Pujols. Motherfuckers will boo anything.

That's sarcasm, right?

[Gleek]

Brownie just called Princess Albert 'Cinderella'.

Do-ray just said something about him turning into a pumpkin because it's midnight...  eerie.

[chandler44]

Great win!

[remy]

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!  My nerves are shot.  How about yall?

[matadorph]

WOOOOO HOOOOOO

What a win!

I can breathe now.

[pravata]

Fuck Isringhausen

[T. J.]

Hell yeah.  What a 9th.  Let's win two today.  G'night (G'morning?) all.

[Gleek]

Great game.

[Twoniner]

Best win in recent memory.  Wow.

[Limey]

Buschwacked!

The Jakes got fucked.  

[SaltyParker]

Wright now 3-0

[gwat]

Good for Carlos Lee. Good for Chacon. Good for us.

[Craig]

Great comeback! Fuck the Jakes!

[Colt 45]

great game

[matadorph]

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!  My nerves are shot.  How about yall?

Yes, I feel like I did watching the Rockets game last night. And it's only April

That was a really big win for the team and an even bigger save for Valverde.

[jonbloozy]

End 9

Pitcher change: Papa Grande replaces the kid

Who the fuck singles to Tejada?
The newest pissant grounds to Matsui.  Who the fuck is on third?  1 out
Jose makes him Grab-His-Ankiels on that K, 2 out
Ass-Glove I. B. B. (you get to pick what the letters stand for)
Chip-off-the-block pop to Miggy.  3 out.  GAME.

ASTROS: 3, the other group: 2

US: 3 R, 6 H, 1 E
Them: 2 R, 6 H, 0 E

[BatGirl]

that felt great!
can't wait to see backe tomorrow.

[matadorph]

The Astros are a .500 team again.

[chuck]

Wesley "W" Wright.

The only thing that could possibly add to the enjoyment I got out of that game is the knowledge that there are plenty of drunk, cold, wet and angry 3rds fans about to pinball their way home.

[pravata]

The best part was IBB Pujols.  Take your base dickless, baseball is a team game.

[matadorph]

The best part was IBB Pujols.  Take your base dickless, baseball is a team game.

Too many best parts. Chacon's solid performance? The Tejada triple to score Erstad? The Lee HR? Valverde blowing out Ankiel?


I can't make up my mind.

[gwat]

So far, Chacon has been the steal of the spring. I would have never thunk it.

[BatGirl]

hey...
i like jd without the facial hair!

i do, however, think he could get away with growing some serious sideburns.

[DVauthrin]

Tejada hustling out of the box and getting to 3rd on his gapper was the key to the whole rally.    Very biggio esque.    

[remy]

Too many best parts. Chacon's solid performance? The Tejada triple to score Erstad? The Lee HR? Valverde blowing out Ankiel?


I can't make up my mind.

If Kaz doesn't make a great stop  of that grounder in the 9th from going up the middle, the game might have been tied right there.

[DVauthrin]

If Kaz doesn't make a great stop  of that grounder in the 9th from going up the middle, the game might have been tied right there.

Him and bourn make this an elite defensive team, which will help mask some of the pitching deficiencies on the team.    That fact plus this offense will put them in contention all year.   

Btw, erstad's solid approach with 2 strikes in the 9th needs praise as well.

[SaltyParker]

Pence extends his streak and gets his average above .270

[pravata]

Him and bourn make this an elite defensive team, which will help mask some of the pitching deficiencies on the team.    That fact plus this offense will put them in contention all year.   

Almost like someone planned it that way.

[remy]

It was really fun watching Coop in the dugout during that 9th inning.  I get the sense he likes winning.

[matadorph]

Almost like someone planned it that way.

heh

[matadorph]

The saberskepticians can kiss my ass. This team is solid.

[DVauthrin]

Almost like someone planned it that way.

I agree, WadeSmith looks very bright.    Chacon for 2 mil is a great bargain as well.    The guy can post a mid 3-low 4 era with this defense behind him.     Also, wesley wright continues to look solid.

[mihoba]

End 9

Pitcher change: Papa Grande replaces the kid

Who the fuck singles to Tejada?
The newest pissant grounds to Matsui.  Who the fuck is on third?  1 out
Jose makes him Grab-His-Ankiels on that K, 2 out
Ass-Glove I. B. B. (you get to pick what the letters stand for)
Chip-off-the-block pop to Miggy.  3 out.  GAME.

ASTROS: 3, the other group: 2


US: 3 R, 6 H, 1 E
Them: 2 R, 6 H, 0 E

Good job on the PBP, much appreciated.

[pots]

Oh yeah baby!!!!!!   Just got done watching the game on tape delay (wife wanted to go to bed at 11 so I had to tape 3rd inning on).  I didn't make it through the whole night sleeping.  What a game!   My heart has just finally come out of the throat after Ryan was sitting on third with 1 out.  Cheated and removed a lot of the suspense by fastforwarding the minute delay between Valverde pitches.  Wow what a finish.  Great game.  Sleep will have to wait till the excitement wears off

[JimR]

(wife wanted to go to bed at 11 so I had to tape 3rd inning on). 

uh, why does part 1 require part 2?

[pravata]

I agree, WadeSmith looks very bright.    Chacon for 2 mil is a great bargain as well.    The guy can post a mid 3-low 4 era with this defense behind him.     Also, wesley wright continues to look solid.

He does, but it's because of his overall strategy, and not the specific people he was able to acquire.  He wanted speed, better defense, some more hitting and he approached every available pitcher to see if they would join the Astros.  Chacon is a product of that strategy.  He didnt specifically target Chacon.

[Bench]

uh, why does part 1 require part 2?

No "safe word" on Friday nights, I'm guessing.

[matadorph]

No "safe word" on Friday nights, I'm guessing.

we have a nominee.

[Limey]

The best part was IBB Pujols.  Take your base dickless, baseball is a team game.

Nah.  I still think the best part was the 1st inning onslaught being stymied because the pitcher came up 8th.

[Noe]

Nah.  I still think the best part was the 1st inning onslaught being stymied because the pitcher came up 8th.

That was a gift by LaRussa to Cooper.  Unknowingly of course, but definitely a by-product of LaRussa's genius.

[DVauthrin]

He does, but it's because of his overall strategy, and not the specific people he was able to acquire.  He wanted speed, better defense, some more hitting and he approached every available pitcher to see if they would join the Astros.  Chacon is a product of that strategy.  He didnt specifically target Chacon.

Of course.    His thought process was our defense can make any pitcher better, and our offense can allow any pitcher to relax a little knowing he should get ample run support over the course of the year.