SpikesnStars/1560 the Game - Show Thread 5/9

[Andyzipp]

SpikesnStars will be back on the air Saturday, May 9th at 10:00 am.

Broadcaster: 1560 The Game, click the "Listen Live" icon during the show segment
Host: David Nuno (Noon-yo)
Co-Host: Rodney Waites
SnS Host: Andyzipp
Podcast Page: Gametime with David Nuno
Podcast Archives: Gametime Show archives, including SnS shows
Show Webcam: Live webcam streaming of the show

Call In Number: 713-439-1560


Please list the topics you'd like to discuss here in this thread.

I'll be monitoring it during the show, so call in if you can, but please post topics and comments now and during the show.

Topics Du Jour:

• En Fuego: Quien es mas locked in: Lance Berkman or the entire freaking National League?
• Brandon Backe: Is it against the Ball product's religion to go more than 5 innings?  Backe: true #3 or just another journeyman in the making?
• Yackball: Zipp, why do Houston pitchers feel so generous with opposing hitters and put them on a tee for the massive homeruns?
• Dumbass Cove: Why is it so hard for field level seat sitting fans to keep their hands off of fair balls coming right at them?  And did Houston really have a LoDuca heckler at the game this week?  Must have been a transplanted Phillie Phan.
• Dear Drayton: Zipp, is it true that Drayton McLane will walk around the stadium and listen to fan's opinions about the team?  If so, how soon can we convince him that Mark Raup still has a little in the left arm worthy of a major league bullpen gig?
• Trader WadeSmith?: Any idea if pitching trades are on the radar this trading deadline or is the radar out for repairs?
• CooperWatch 2008: With Cecil Cooper's admittance to being just a tad emotionally involved in all things managerial, is it time to replace the greenies in the clubhouse with tranquilizers for the Skipper?  Have him drink out of the Tom McCraw coffee pot.
• Toiling Towles: What happened to the kid who came up last September and hit everything in sight?  What is the best thing for the kid: keep putting him out there or the Chris Burke treatment circa same time last year?
• The NL Central Contenders: Jakes, Cubs and Brew Crew... is that it?  Name the best bullpens and defense in the Central while you're at it.
• Berkwell or Bagman: Lance Berkman has similar numbers at this point of the season to Jeff Bagwell's MVP 1994 season.  Strange but true.

Bonus topic:

• Name the PissAnt or AstroKillah: If you could name one player in the major league, either active or from the past, that generally was a huge annoyance to the local nine, who would that be?

[MusicMan]

- When was the last time you saw a hitter as locked in as Lance Berkman?
- Can Brandon Backe be more than a 5-inning pitcher?
- Is there something systemic to the pitching staff's approach right now that is resulting in all the longballs, or is it just a combination of mistakes and not-so-good pitchers?

[pravata]

Can we say Dumbass Cove on the radio?  Two incidents this week, on Tues. a guy in Dumbass Cove got thrown out of the building for interfering with a ball in play, the very next inning, his buddy reached over for a ball that just went foul.  Then the incident with Lo Duca, should Mclane pay as much attention as he does to fans who are this stupid?

Also, running, how smart base running has changed the Astros.

[JimR]

potential pitching options at the deadline

replacing the greenies in the clubhouse with tranquilizers for the Skipper

should Towles be sent down to work out his problems or work them out in Houston

[MusicMan]

should Towles be sent down to work out his problems or work them out in Houston

Tough call.  Either Q or Ausmus are your options, and I don't think they want to reward Q's attitude.

[Noe]

Crasnick of ESPN hosted a chat this week and the topic was: "Who will win the NL Central: the Cardinals, the Brewers or the Cubs?".  When confronted by some Houston Astros fans, Crasnick went with the "look at Houston's starting rotation" card.  So in essence, his contention is that he would rather ignore all facets of a team and concentrate on just the starting five to name a team a contender.  The questions that this sort of thinking brings to bear are:

• What is the symbiotic relationship between pitching and defense and who has the best defense in the NL Central?
• What part does a bullpen play on a contending team?
• Best closer in the NL Central: Valverde, Gagne, Wood, Isringhausen, Cordero or Matt Capps? If the top three teams are Milwaukee, Chicago and St. Louis, would it stand to reason they should have the top three bullpens and closer in the division?

[Noe]

Tough call.  Either Q or Ausmus are your options, and I don't think they want to reward Q's attitude.

The follow up question then becomes: Is the major leagues the best place for Towles to learn how to work his way through a tough stretch?  If so, why was Adam Everett, Morgan Ensberg and Luke Scott sent down to AAA after 100 ABs in April to work on their offense?  Why is Towles and Bourn any different?

I'll hang up and listen...

[MusicMan]

Why is Towles and Bourn any different?

I'll hang up and listen...

There's a new sherriff in town.  And a lot fewer alternatives.

[JimR]

Tough call.  Either Q or Ausmus are your options, and I don't think they want to reward Q's attitude.

just watching Towles hit, i am wondering what his attitude is.

[Andyzipp]

just watching Towles hit, i am wondering what his attitude is.

Is baffled an attitude?

[MusicMan]

He's certainly baffled.  I don't know him well enough to know if a demotion would crush what is clearly a flagging confidence.  I'll trust the club to make the right call there.

[Noe]

There's a new sherriff in town.

Pam Gardner?

[JimR]

Is baffled an attitude?

his body language says more than baffled.

[MusicMan]

Pam Gardner?

THE SHERRIFF'S A WOMAN!!

[Noe]

He's certainly baffled.  I don't know him well enough to know if a demotion would crush what is clearly a flagging confidence.  I'll trust the club to make the right call there.

He's had little to no AAA experience.  He basically went from AA to a couple of weeks in AAA to the majors.  What have you seen in his game that you think merits such a meteoric rise in the ranks?  The fact that he sucks less than everyone else (Ausmus included)?  Is that how an organization runs it's baseball operations?  If catching was a problem going in to the season, they had every chance to correct that this offseason by signing someone good enough to split time with Ausmus at minimum.

Towles is making the baseball men look very bad right now in their decision making.  For the good of the kid, stop the madness and send him down to get his game in order so he can be a good major league contributor.  But this sort of PR bullshit type of move started last year.  It's continuing on this year and it is eventually going to hurt this club.  You do the right thing for the right reasons if you're running a baseball operation.  Business is another thing altogether.

[Noe]

THE SHERRIFF'S A WOMAN!!

"Smile when you say that, pilgrim" - Calamity Jane

[pravata]

Cooper said that as long as the team is scoring runs and Towles and Bourn don't bring their struggles at the plate into the field, they'll play.  That passed ball last night suggests that Towles may be thinking of something else besides catching.

[pravata]

He's had little to no AAA experience.  He basically went from AA to a couple of weeks in AAA to the majors.  What have you seen in his game that you think merits such a meteoric rise in the ranks?  The fact that he sucks less than everyone else (Ausmus included)?  Is that how an organization runs it's baseball operations?  If catching was a problem going in to the season, they had every chance to correct that this offseason by signing someone good enough to split time with Ausmus at minimum.

Towles is making the baseball men look very bad right now in their decision making.  For the good of the kid, stop the madness and send him down to get his game in order so he can be a good major league contributor.  But this sort of PR bullshit type of move started last year.  It's continuing on this year and it is eventually going to hurt this club.  You do the right thing for the right reasons if you're running a baseball operation.  Business is another thing altogether.

this fits with my Dumbass Cove question.

[MusicMan]

He's had little to no AAA experience.  He basically went from AA to a couple of weeks in AAA to the majors.  What have you seen in his game that you think merits such a meteoric rise in the ranks?  The fact that he sucks less than everyone else (Ausmus included)?  Is that how an organization runs it's baseball operations?  If catching was a problem going in to the season, they had every chance to correct that this offseason by signing someone good enough to split time with Ausmus at minimum.

Towles is making the baseball men look very bad right now in their decision making.  For the good of the kid, stop the madness and send him down to get his game in order so he can be a good major league contributor.  But this sort of PR bullshit type of move started last year.  It's continuing on this year and it is eventually going to hurt this club.  You do the right thing for the right reasons if you're running a baseball operation.  Business is another thing altogether.

I'm not sure this is a business decision.  I say Towles is the least bad of the alternatives, and I agree that counting on him to replicate September's performance - with no backup plan - would have been akin to turning over CF to Anderson with no backup plan.  But that's their bed, and I'm not convinced sending him down does anything to make the bed better.

[VirtualBob]

He's had little to no AAA experience.  He basically went from AA to a couple of weeks in AAA to the majors.  What have you seen in his game that you think merits such a meteoric rise in the ranks?  The fact that he sucks less than everyone else (Ausmus included)?  Is that how an organization runs it's baseball operations?  If catching was a problem going in to the season, they had every chance to correct that this offseason by signing someone good enough to split time with Ausmus at minimum.

Towles is making the baseball men look very bad right now in their decision making.  For the good of the kid, stop the madness and send him down to get his game in order so he can be a good major league contributor.  But this sort of PR bullshit type of move started last year.  It's continuing on this year and it is eventually going to hurt this club.  You do the right thing for the right reasons if you're running a baseball operation.  Business is another thing altogether.

Agreed.  And as to "rewarding Q's attitude", I'm not sure that should enter into the decision at all.  Make the best baseball decision and go with it.  To the extent that Q's "attitude" affects his (or others') play, then it factors in; to the extent that they want to 'send him a message", they should try e-mail.

[homer]

THE SHERRIFF'S A WOMAN!!

Up yours, woman!

[HudsonHawk]

I'm not sure this is a business decision.  I say Towles is the least bad of the alternatives, and I agree that counting on him to replicate September's performance - with no backup plan - would have been akin to turning over CF to Anderson with no backup plan.  But that's their bed, and I'm not convinced sending him down does anything to make the bed better.

Q is better than Towles.  He would help the bed. 

[Duman]

He's had little to no AAA experience.  He basically went from AA to a couple of weeks in AAA to the majors.  What have you seen in his game that you think merits such a meteoric rise in the ranks?  The fact that he sucks less than everyone else (Ausmus included)?  Is that how an organization runs it's baseball operations?  If catching was a problem going in to the season, they had every chance to correct that this offseason by signing someone good enough to split time with Ausmus at minimum.

Towles is making the baseball men look very bad right now in their decision making.  For the good of the kid, stop the madness and send him down to get his game in order so he can be a good major league contributor.  But this sort of PR bullshit type of move started last year.  It's continuing on this year and it is eventually going to hurt this club.  You do the right thing for the right reasons if you're running a baseball operation.  Business is another thing altogether.

Let's balance the discussion with his development behind the plate.  Is he showing growth there ( I don't get to watch Hou games so I can't say)?  You send him down, are you going to send his tutor down too?  His spot on the roster is about development behind the plate not development at the plate.  Unless his hitting starts impacting his defensive development, I say you leave him be.

[Noe]

Let's balance the discussion with his development behind the plate.

Fair enough...

Is he showing growth there ( I don't get to watch Hou games so I can't say)?

He is not that great a receiver overall, just kind of average right now.  He does some things well, others he has some quirks that hinder him as a receiver.  His throwing is suspect, he has a bit of a jerky way of receiving a pitch and his game calling is a bit off at times.  He does block the ball well, he controls the game well, goes out to talk to pitchers when he has too, has proper mechanics when blocking the plate.

You send him down, are you going to send his tutor down too?  His spot on the roster is about development behind the plate not development at the plate.  Unless his hitting starts impacting his defensive development, I say you leave him be.

Fair enough, but my question then remains the same... is the majors the *best* place to improve his game behind the plate?  And Ausmus is his tutor on how to handle everyday *major league* duties.  Not to tutor him on how to be a good catcher.  He either is or is not right now.  I think Q is a better reciever and can split time with Ausmus.  However, if pitcher hate throwing to Q, there isn't much you can do to change that.

But again, let me say this clearly: The Houston Astros made this decision on Towles and painted themselves into a corner.  Saying that he has to improve in hitting is only a half the equation... his defense needs to improve as well and if he does not, pitchers will start to complain about it.  I think he can be a good receiver, but he was basically called up from AA, had a great September and now he's the everyday major league catcher for this team.  Why?  Was this a sound baseball decision?  That is in question in my mind but it sells great to fans who cheered wildly for him last September.

But remember: fans are fickle.  The same ones who tell McLane that Towles is the messiah will turn around and tell him that Towles sucks and they're never coming back to watch a team that has a catcher who can't hit better than they can!  My point is that this is not fair to the kid because no one has chosen to look at catching as a defensive position in the last decade.  We know it is here in this place, but McLane doesn't listen to us.  He doesn't listen to baseball people in his employ exclusively either.  If you like Towles and see the potential in him, you should be worried right now about his future.

[JimR]

no. he is getting worse. i think, like pravata, that his woeful hitting is affecting everything.

[JimR]

Fair enough...

He is not that great a receiver overall, just kind of average right now.  He does some things well, others he has some quirks that hinder him as a receiver.  His throwing is suspect, he has a bit of a jerky way of receiving a pitch

BINGO! i hate the way he receives the pitch. many times he does not bring the pitch into the center of his body; he pushes low pitches down and raises up on high pitches; he leans in or out if the pitch is headed in that direction.

he does not help his pitcher by the way he receives the ball, imo. i wondered if i was imagining that or if someone else saw it too.

[JimR]

Q is better than Towles.  He would help the bed. 

i think so, too, HH. right now, i do not think it is even close.

[MusicMan]

i think so, too, HH. right now, i do not think it is even close.

I would not doubt that Q could perform better; I just was wondering how much his attitude had put the club off.

[HudsonHawk]

BINGO! i hate the way he receives the pitch. many times he does not bring the pitch into the center of his body; he pushes low pitches down and raises up on high pitches; he leans in or out if the pitch is headed in that direction.

he does not help his pitcher by the way he receives the ball, imo. i wondered if i was imagining that or if someone else saw it too.

I notice it all the time.  He cost Backe several strikes, IMO, last night.  "Framing" pitches is about funnelling the ball towards the center of your body.  He does not do that well. 

On a side note, I REALLY do not like that Nieve guy the Nats ran out there after LoDuca got hurt. 

[MusicMan]

On a side note, I REALLY do not like that Nieve guy the Nats ran out there after LoDuca got hurt. 

[Barkley]That guy is turhible[/Barkley]

[HudsonHawk]

I would not doubt that Q could perform better; I just was wondering how much his attitude had put the club off.

Whether or attitude or what, I think it's clear that Q is in RR and Towles in Houston for reasons other than skill at this point.  Right or wrong, that's the direction the Astros have gone.

[HudsonHawk]

[Barkley]That guy is turhible[/Barkley]

You know, you guys make fun of Barkley saying "turhable", but my Dad says the same thing.  He also says "hurrikin".  Must be a hillbilly thing.

[Noe]

You know, you guys make fun of Barkley saying "turhable", but my Dad says the same thing.  He also says "hurrikin".  Must be a hillbilly thing.

Barkley is from Alabama, so maybe it's a deep south thing?

[HudsonHawk]

Barkley is from Alabama, so maybe it's a deep south thing?

Probably.  My Dad's side of the family is from West Florida, which pretty much sounds exactly like Alabama.

[MusicMan]

Deep South thing.  I heard it not infrequently in Atlanta.

[OregonStrosFan]

- Can Brandon Backe be more than a 5-inning pitcher?

In conjunction with this question:
-How has Backe looked post TJ surgery compared to pre-TJ surgery? 
-Is 13 games pitched (5 in '07 and 8 in '08) post TJ surgery sufficient to give an indication of his 'actual' post-surgery skills, or will it be later this year / next year before that is known?

[pravata]

In conjunction with this question:
-How has Backe looked post TJ surgery compared to pre-TJ surgery? 
-Is 13 games pitched (5 in '07 and 8 in '08) post TJ surgery sufficient to give an indication of his 'actual' post-surgery skills, or will it be later this year / next year before that is known?

Was Backe ever anything other than hopes and wishes?

[Noe]

Bonus topic:

• Name the PissAnt or AstroKillah: If you could name one player in the major league, either active or from the past, that generally was a huge annoyance to the local nine, who would that be?  Basically, who is the player you love to hate the most?

My answer: Pete "Greenies" Rose, closely followed by Lenny "Cheatin'" Dykstra!

[OregonStrosFan]

- When was the last time you saw a hitter as locked in as Lance Berkman?

Bagwell, 1994: .368/.451/.750
Berkman, 2008: .368/.449/.752

Thoughts on Bagwell '94 vs. Berkman '08. Comparable?