Dodgers @ Astros, 7/2/2008

[mihoba]

Brooklyn Los Angeles

M. Kemp CF
A. Ethier RF
R. Martin C
J. Kent 2B
J. Loney 1B
B. DeWitt 3B
D. Young LF
L. Maza SS
H. Kuroda P

Houston

M. Bourn CF
H. Pence RF
L. Berkman 1B
C. Lee LF
M. Tejada SS
G. Blum 3B
D. Newhan 2B
J.R. Towles C
R. Hernandez P

[mihoba]

Bluebonnet with an RBI double in the first. JaneDoe, you know what to do, please make it quick.

[austro]

When was the last time an Astro starter had a 1-2-3 first inning?

[Jacksonian]

Somebody send a note to Wade and let him know he needs to keep Hernandez healthy because, damn, his shit is nasty.  Better command (and no Jeff Kent) and he's your guy behind Roy.

[austro]

As far as I'm concerned, they can walk Kent for the rest of the series.

[mihoba]

JD and Brownie have Sophie and Abby Ausmus in the booth, with Dad in the dugout with the headphones on.

The girls are asking Dad questions. Talking about the big fire in San Diego, etc.

Well spoken little girls. They stayed the entire half-inning. Dad said because the Dodgers scored a run when they were in the booth, they can not go back up there.

[austro]

They sounded amazingly composed and confident for what? 10 or 11 years old?

[mihoba]

They sounded amazingly composed and confident for what? 10 or 11 years old?

That sounds about right, but I'm not sure.

[Craig]

They sounded amazingly composed and confident for what? 10 or 11 years old?

I liked when they were asked how the San Diego fires affected them and one said something like, "We were going to go to Chili's but the fires were in that direction, so we went to Honolulu instead."

[WakePhil]

They sounded amazingly composed and confident for what? 10 or 11 years old?

I was impressed too, reminded me of Biggio's older kid (Connor?). Confidence obviously running in both families.

[austro]

I liked when they were asked how the San Diego fires affected them and one said something like, "We were going to go to Chili's but the fires were in that direction, so we went to Honolulu instead."

Yeah, that was pretty funny. And Brad in the dugout shaking his head telling them that he appreciated their honesty.

[WakePhil]

Probably not the first impression Towles wanted to make upon his return. Passed ball, almost bats into a DP, and gets stolen on plus error and the run scores as a result...

Hope he can turn it around with some good ABs

[JimR]

Towles needs to be where I am-in RR

[mihoba]

meat.
ball.

[Jacksonian]

Towles needs to be where I am-in RR

Does Manzella look clueless at the plate?

[Jacksonian]

meat.
ball.

5 innings pitched, 5 extra-base hits.

[austro]

5 innings pitched, 5 extra-base hits.

That homerun was hit far enough to count for 2 XBH.

[Bench]

Towles needs to be where I am-in RR

I agree, but is there actually anyone else who can fill in for an injured Q?

[WakePhil]

Newhan's swing looked like Beltran right there. Especially the way he set his feet after the follow through.

[austro]

Towles crushes one all the way to the grass behind second base!

[WakePhil]

Towles crushes one all the way to the grass behind second base!

Yeah, they had the tale of the tape on that one for 131 feet

[austro]

Excellent fucking deal: Newhan gets picked off second, and then Erstad doubles into the left field corner. (And Towles is held at third, to boot.)

[austro]

Well, that's quite a feat: 3 consecutive batters go single-single-double, and you get no runs out of it.

[JimR]

Manzella? No, not clueless.

House could be a backup catcher. Was the point to develop Towles or not?

Be patient with Runelvys.

[Bench]

Manzella? No, not clueless.

House could be a backup catcher. Was the point to develop Towles or not?

Be patient with Runelvys.

I think the problem is that the Astros feel that Ausmus shouldn't be the every day catcher, and from what I've seen House can't be that either.

[WakePhil]

I think the problem is that the Astros feel that Ausmus shouldn't be the every day catcher, and from what I've seen House can't be that either.

I was going to say the same.

Jim, you think Ausmus should get Q's starts instead of JR. Will the short stint in the MLB really stunt his development that much if he's getting the starting job?

[Bench]

I was going to say the same.

Jim, you think Ausmus should get Q's starts instead of JR. Will the short stint in the MLB really stunt his development that much if he's getting the starting job?

I think talent wise Ausmus should have been getting Q's starts before Q was injured. That's what makes me believe that Astros really don't want to send Brad out there every day.

[JimR]

Towles is hardly better now than when he was sent down. He is not that much better than House at the moment. He needs to play every day in a league he can handle.he was not promoted; Q got hurt. I am not watching tonight, of course. Does he look a lot better to you?

[austro]

I think talent wise Ausmus should have been getting Q's starts before Q was injured. That's what makes me believe that Astros really don't want to send Brad out there every day.

Imagine where we are if Ausmus gets hurt. I think that nightmare is a significant part of why they're reluctant to trot Brad out there everyday (or even 3 out of every 5).

[WakePhil]

I think talent wise Ausmus should have been getting Q's starts before Q was injured. That's what makes me believe that Astros really don't want to send Brad out there every day.

It was surprising to hear Ausmus talk about his role during the game today. He was pretty frank about the fact that his career his behind him and he was here to help. Sounded defeated. I don't know if that's his realization or Astros management that has told him his career as a starter is over.

[MRaup]

It was surprising to hear Ausmus talk about his role during the game today. He was pretty frank about the fact that his career his behind him and he was here to help. Sounded defeated. I don't know if that's his realization or Astros management that has told him his career as a starter is over.

Or maybe he just knows what his role is on the team?

[mihoba]

It was surprising to hear Ausmus talk about his role during the game today. He was pretty frank about the fact that his career his behind him and he was here to help. Sounded defeated. I don't know if that's his realization or Astros management that has told him his career as a starter is over.

Definitely close to the end of the road for Brad.

[WakePhil]

Towles is hardly better now than when he was sent down. He is not that much better than House at the moment. He needs to play every day in a league he can handle.he was not promoted; Q got hurt. I am not watching tonight, of course. Does he look a lot better to you?

He looks no better or worse to me, so I agree that he needs more time in AAA playing everyday, but I don't think a 15 day job as starter with the big club will hurt. As long as they let Towles continue to develop down there when Q is back, I don't see how it can hurt his development too much.

[WakePhil]

Or maybe he just knows what his role is on the team?

He knows his role for sure, that's what he signed up for. The resignation in his voice is what surprised me most I guess. You rarely hear athletes talk that way while they are still playing.

Definitely close to the end of the road for Brad.

I'm afraid he hurdled the road block a little while ago. I like the guy, but his time as a starting catcher has been extended by the ineptitude of the Astros to develop one.

[WakePhil]

Great catch by Blum there.

[JimR]

Ok, I give up talking to you.

Ausmus is not "defeated." He is realistic, honest and knows his role. Pretty refreshing among all the denial.

[WakePhil]

I guess I said it wrong there. I didn't view it negatively, I also appreciated the honesty. I was just surprised because its unusual as you said. "defeated" was the wrong term.

[JimR]

I think most folks are a bit sad when they know it is coming to an end, no matter what league they are in.

[MRaup]

Well, a silver lining for the shitburger this offense is serving up tonight, Polish Pellet with 2 innings of 2 hit relief. Looked pretty good for the most part. Welcome back Dave.

[Bench]

I think most folks are a bit sad when they know it is coming to an end, no matter what league they are in.

That's certainly true.

[WakePhil]

Hell, doesn't need to be a league. It sad when you realize you can't do anything as well as you used to.

As hard as that must be for Ausmus, at least he has come to that realization (cough Henderson) and he'll likely end it on his terms. That has to be better than leaving injured like Bagwell or likely Smoltz. Still can't be easy when you've got nothing to blame but age.

[austro]

On a happier note, the Rays have just taken the lead against the Sawks, and they're threatening to add on.

[JimR]

Hell, I was sad when my kids' sports careers ended. That is the passage of time, and sometimes it sucks.

[WakePhil]

On a happier note, the Rays have just taken the lead against the Sawks, and they're threatening to add on.

I was going to go with a happier route by mentioning Bourn and Lee getting after each other an inning or two ago. That was pretty funny, mostly seeing how small Bourn looks next to him. He looked like a Pomeranian going after a Golden Retriever.

[WakePhil]

Speaking of a career that hasn't past by quite yet. Not baseball related:

Phelps won the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. swimming trials Wednesday night, though he looked a bit dejected after failing to break his own world record.

Guy is ridiculous.

[austro]

Hell, I was sad when my kids' sports careers ended. That is the passage of time, and sometimes it sucks.

True, but the flip side is that you also get to watch your kids (or other folks' kids) at the beginning of their careers, and because of your experience you know the joy they're experiencing, and you know what other experiences await them, even though they don't. That is one of the great joys I derive every spring when I go watch the Texas Relays and the state HS track meets: it reminds me of the tremendous fun I had in that sport, and it makes me happy that those kids are getting the same chance.

[MRaup]

Hunter Pence has had some fucking horrendous at bats tonight.

[austro]

Hunter Pence has had some fucking horrendous at bats tonight.

I don't know if you saw the first AB, but he had a "swing" that would have put a T-baller to shame.

[mihoba]

I don't know if you saw the first AB, but he had a "swing" that would have put a T-baller to shame.

Followed quickly by JD saying that maybe Erstad should have started against Kuroda (and his badass slider).

[JimR]

Pence is one of many who needs to buy a sack of clues.

I never stressed winning on my non-HS teams. Every player played at least half the game, using the clock. I told their parents to ignore W-L; judge the season by how much your kid improves. They usually did, and we were tough in the second half.

[austro]

Sampson looked good. I think he can be very valuable in this role.

[Bench]

Hell, doesn't need to be a league. It sad when you realize you can't do anything as well as you used to.

I figured that was his point.

[MRaup]

Wow Lance. Way to make Hunter not look horrible.

THAT was a fucking miserable AB.

[OregonStrosFan]

Love those train track shots!

[Bench]

Wow Lance. Way to make Hunter not look horrible.

THAT was a fucking miserable AB.

He's looked lost most of tonight.

Caballo, on the other hand, has been a horse of a different color tonight.

[BudGirl]

Ok, I give up talking to you.

Ausmus is not "defeated." He is realistic, honest and knows his role. Pretty refreshing among all the denial.

agree

[mihoba]

"It's time to play baseball now."

Thanks for that, Coop. He told the media, but the team didn't get that memo.