ST: Astros @ Braves, 26 February 2009

[moriartp]

Astros
Erstad, RF
Michaels, CF
Berkman, 1B
Lee, LF
Tejada, SS   
Newhan, 2B
Gall, DH
Johnson, 3B
Quintero, C
(Oswalt P)

Them
Schafer, CF
Johnson, 2B
Jones, C, 3B
Kotchman, 1B
Escobar, SS
Francoeur, RF
Ross, C
Jones, B, LF
Norton, DH
(Campillo P)

Box

For those still unaware, this one's on ESPN. Real live Astros baseball. Brings a tear to my eye.

Of course, it won't hold a candle to when we get the first game broadcast by Brown & JD.

[Jacksonian]

For all watching, take a good look at how well Johnson fields 3B.  Defensive improvements are one of the key areas brass will want to see for a move to the bigs.

[Jacksonian]

Just saw that ESPN 360 on the web will carry the game live, FREE.

[JaneDoe]

Just saw that ESPN 360 on the web will carry the game live, FREE.

Thank you!

[Jacksonian]

Thank you!

I watching it while eating lunch in my office right now!  Wheee!

[JaneDoe]

Lazy ass swing by Berkman..


and Erstad was out by a mile on the SB attempt earlier.  I know its ST and all, why is he running?

[BUWebguy]

Four guys to call a ST game? Really?

[matadorph]

Lazy ass swing by Berkman..


and Erstad was out by a mile on the SB attempt earlier.  I know its ST and all, why is he running?

Hit and run gone awry?

[Ty in Tampa]

I'm watching it on MLB.TV and the feed is shitty. Stop and go. Anybody else experiencing this?

[Gizzmonic]

I hear that annoying "Freakin' Freak that's cold" Coke commercial is back for another year. 

[OregonStrosFan]

And Roy strikes out the side on 15 pitches.  End 1: HOU 3, ATL 0

[Jacksonian]

I'm watching it on MLB.TV and the feed is shitty. Stop and go. Anybody else experiencing this?

Nope.  But the ESPN 360 feed has been smooth as glass.

[Ty in Tampa]

Nope.  But the ESPN 360 feed has been smooth as glass.

Wrong ISP.

[OregonStrosFan]

Anyone like some PBP?

[Matt]

Anyone like some PBP?

I would greatly appreciate it.

[OregonStrosFan]

I would greatly appreciate it.

B2: HOU 3, ATL 0

Roy saws off Kotchman who hits a soft grounder to 2B.  1 out, none on.
Escobar:  works Escobar in, then hits him on the 1-1 (?) pitch.  1 out, runner on 1B.
Francouer: 1st pitch grounder down the line to 3B, Johnson ranges right and throws to 1B for the out.  2 outs, runner on 2B.
Ross: Homered to left on a meaty one at the knees.  HOU 3, ATL 2 2 outs, none on.
(?): Flied out.  3 outs.

End 2: HOU 3, ATL 2

[BudGirl]

Anyone like some PBP?

please, pretty please.

how did the astros score 3?

[OregonStrosFan]

T3: Phenom(?) Hanson on the hill for the Braves.

Lee: Takes the 3-1 pitch for a walk. 
Tejada: takes one inside for strike 1, nailed in the back with the 2nd pitch.  None out, runners on 1B and 2B.

[OregonStrosFan]

how did the astros score 3?

Not sure, started watching in B1.

[OregonStrosFan]

T3: Hanson on the hill for the Braves.

Lee: Takes the 3-1 pitch for a walk. 
Tejada: takes one inside for strike 1, nailed in the back with the 2nd pitch.  None out, runners on 1B and 2B.
Newhan: takes on nasty slider on the outside corner for strike 3.  1 out, runners at 1B and 2B. 
Gall: singlew towards the corner in right, Lee scores, Tejada to 3B.  HOU 4, ATL 2 1 out, runners at the corners. 
Johnson: flies out to center on the 2-2 pitch, Tejada tags and scores.  HOU 5, ATL 2 2 outs, runner at 1B.
Q: grounder to 2B, throw to 1B with Gall going on the play. 

Middle 3: HOU 5, ATL 2

[Jacksonian]

please, pretty please.

how did the astros score 3?

Basically, they strung a bunch of hits together. No homers, 1 double IIRC.

[BudGirl]

thanks for the pbp, i'll read it when I get back from my meeting.

[OregonStrosFan]

B3: Roy still on the hill

Norton: Walks on 13 pitches.  None out, runner on 1B.
Schaeffer: roller to Berkman who goes right and throws to 2B for the force.  1 out, runner on 1B.
Johnson: lazy fly to left, Lee catches it in foul territory for the out.  2 outs, runner on 1B.
Jones: Micky Mouse curve ball inside and in the dirt for B1, foul (1-1), foul (1-2), caught looking at strike 2 on a FB down the pipe.

End 3: HOU 5, ATL 2

[OregonStrosFan]

Top 4: Hanson still on the mound

Erstad: hard grounder to 2B for the out.  1 out, none on.
Michaels: grounder to 3B who bobbles and then throws to 1B too late.  1 out, runner at 1B.
Berkman: jam shot to shallow center for a single.  1 out, runners at 1B and 2B.
Saccomanno in to pinch run for Berkman
Lee: struck out swinging.  2 outs, runners at 1B and 2B.
Miggy: swings and misses at 94 MPH FB (0-1), ball low (1-1), flies out to left about 15 feet in front of the track.  3 outs.

Middle 4: HOU 5, ATL 2

Gammons noted Roy and Hanson were having trouble gripping the balls because they weren't rubbed down very well

[OregonStrosFan]

B4: Backe spells Roy, Saccomanno stays in to play 1B for Twinkie

Kotchman: flies out to shallow center on 1st pitch.  1 out, none on.
Escobar: ?, ball high, ball high, nails the high strike (FB) deep to center, Michaels with a nice over the shoulder catch for the out.  2 outs, none on.
Francouer: jam shot fielded by Miggy in shallow left center.  3 outs.

End 4: HOU 5, ATL 2

[OregonStrosFan]

B5: Gonzalez on the hill for Hanson

Newhan: walked.  None out, runner on 1B.
Newhan stole 2B on 1st pitch.  None out, runner on 2B.
Gall: singled in to left center, Newhan scores.  None out, runner on 1B.  HOU 6, ATL 2
Johnson: doubled to the hole in right center, Gall scored from 1B.  None out, runner on 2B.  HOU 7, ATL 2
Q: liner to center, Johnson tags and goes to 3B. 1 out, runner on 3B.
Y. Ramirez: couldn't check his swing on a breaking ball inside and in the dirt.  2 outs, runner on 3B.

Nunez comes in to pitch for Gonzalez

(?) flied out to Francouer in very shallow right.  3 outs. 

Middle 5: HOU 7, ATL 2

Interview with Coop.  Said he thinks Drew Sutton offensively can help the team this year and are going to see if he can play some SS during ST.

[Reuben]

anyone else catch what Coop said in his in-game interview when asked about team speed? "yeah, we've got some guys like Matsui and Bourn at the top of our lineup, and guys like Pence towards the bottom of our lineup, that can really run...etc"
maybe I'm reading too much into it, but hopefully it means he's not seriously considering hitting Pence (or Tejada) 2nd, and will at least put Bourn there to start the year.

[JaneDoe]

Thanks for the PBP,  OSF.

[OregonStrosFan]

B5: Backe in for a second inning of work, Ramirez in right for Erstad

Ross (1-1, HR): lifts the 1-1 (1) pitch into right, Yordanni there for the catch.  1 out, none on.
(?: singled to right.  1 out, runner on 2B.
Norton (?): Struck out swinging.  2 outs, none on.
Schaeffer: popped up to 3B for the 3rd out.

End 5: HOU 7, ATL 2

[OregonStrosFan]

Thanks for the PBP,  OSF.

Always a pleasure JD.  Helps assuage my guilt for sitting at home today watching the game in HD while y'all are out there working...

[pravata]

anyone else catch what Coop said in his in-game interview when asked about team speed? "yeah, we've got some guys like Matsui and Bourn at the top of our lineup, and guys like Pence towards the bottom of our lineup, that can really run...etc"
maybe I'm reading too much into it, but hopefully it means he's not seriously considering hitting Pence (or Tejada) 2nd, and will at least put Bourn there to start the year.

http://www.spikesnstars.com/2009/02/26/bourn-has-to-be-that-guy/

[OregonStrosFan]

T6: Bennett on the hill

Saccomanno: 10ish pitch AB, fouled off a couple of legit pitches but ultimately struck out.  1 out, none on.
Abercrombie: hard liner over SS to the wall in left center for a triple. 1 out, speed on 3B.
Maysonet: struck out looking on a ball low and away.  2 outs, runner on 3B.
Newhan(?- ESPN doing their best Milo impersonations): flied out to CF for the 3rd out.

Middle 6: HOU 7, ATl 2

[matadorph]

Chris Johnson has tattooed every ball.

[Travis]

Long discussion of fantasy baseball by the announcers, huge unintentional comedy value here.

Is there any thought that Abercrombie might be the better 5th outfielder than Michaels?

[OregonStrosFan]

B6: Arias on the hill

(?) Soft grounder between 1B and 2B, Saccomanno comes up for the ball but makes an awkward and low throw to Arias covering the bag.  Arias overruns the bag slightly but reaches back with the glove to tag the bag for the out.  1 out, none on.
Prado: grounded out to 2B.  2 outs, none on.
Freeman: grounded out to SS.  3 outs.

End 6: HOU 7, ATL 2

[Reuben]

http://www.spikesnstars.com/2009/02/26/bourn-has-to-be-that-guy/

Right, clearly he wants Bourn to hit leadoff eventually, I was alluding to the speculation that to start the year he might hit 7th or 8th, with Pence a frequent name mentioned as the possible #2 hitter.

by the way, leave it to ESPN to fuck off for two whole innings and fill it with jokes and fantasy baseball talk. wasn't there a game happening?

[matadorph]

Today's game is really just an excuse for a three-hour ESPN fantasy baseball infomercial.

[Travis]

And now a prolonged discussion of, surprise, the Yankees.

[pravata]

Right, clearly he wants Bourn to hit leadoff eventually, I was alluding to the speculation that to start the year he might hit 7th or 8th, with Pence a frequent name mentioned as the possible #2 hitter.

by the way, leave it to ESPN to fuck off for two whole innings and fill it with jokes and fantasy baseball talk. wasn't there a game happening?

Clearly, but this quote, "Cooper said. “I don’t want to say right out of the chute that he’ll be the guy out front..." takes it out of the realm of speculation.  It is very possible Bourn will not be at the top of the lineup "right out of the chute". 

[matadorph]

OSF, can you keep an eye out for the top three fantasy second basemen on the decline? Thanks in advance.

[OregonStrosFan]

T7: Logan (6' 6" lefty) on the mound

Gall: grounded out to 2B.  1 out, none on.
Sutton (? - announcers have given up on calling the game in favor of talking about the Yankees): flied out to shallow right. 
Towles (hey Jonbloozy, what was it Towles wanted to be if he wasn't a baseball player?): grounded out to short.  3 outs.

Middle 7: HOU 7, ATL 2

[OregonStrosFan]

OSF, can you keep an eye out for the top three fantasy second basemen on the decline? Thanks in advance.

Can tell you it'll be whoever I end up choosing in my 3 fantasy teams this year...

[Gizzmonic]

T7: Logan (6' 6" lefty) on the mound

Gall: grounded out to 2B.  1 out, none on.
Sutton (? - announcers have given up on calling the game in favor of talking about the Yankees): flied out to shallow right. 
Towles (hey Jonbloozy, what was it Towles wanted to be if he wasn't a baseball player?): grounded out to short.  3 outs.

Middle 7: HOU 7, ATL 2

(raises hand) Ooh, ooh!  I know this one!  The answer is: rodeo clown.

[Reuben]

Clearly, but this quote, "Cooper said. “I don’t want to say right out of the chute that he’ll be the guy out front..." takes it out of the realm of speculation.  It is very possible Bourn will not be at the top of the lineup "right out of the chute". 

oh, I was thinking he meant hitting Bourn #2 rather than #1 to start the year, then eventually to leadoff. You're probably right.

[pravata]

oh, I was thinking he meant hitting Bourn #2 rather than #1 to start the year, then eventually to leadoff. You're probably right.

Last season Cooper was notorious for saying one thing and doing the opposite.

[Reuben]

Last season Cooper was notorious for saying one thing and doing the opposite.

case in point, didn't he recently say that he put too much pressure on Bourn last year, and that he wasn't going to do that this year? Then, "he has to be the guy."

[OregonStrosFan]

B7: Perez takes the mound

Infante: easy grounder to SS, Maysonet bobbles it and Infante gets to 1B on the error...
Francouer: singled to left (hung one a bit, but inside).  None out, runners at 1B and 2B.
Boscan- walks.  Bases juiced, none out.
Brandon Jones: laced one to left for an RBI single.  None out, bases loaded.  HOU 7, ATL 3
Matt Diaz: singled into the hole between a diving Maysonet and Johnson.  None out, bases loaded.  HOU 7, ATL 4
Blanco: rbi single past SS into left.  None out, bases loaded.  HOU 7, ATL 5

Coop mercifully takes the ball from Perez and hands the mess over to DeLa Vara

[OregonStrosFan]

B7: DeLa Vara on the hill with none out, bases loaded.

Conrad: grounder to 3B, Johnson steps on the bag and throws to 1B for the 5-4-3 DP.  Runner scores from 3B.  Two outs, runner on 2B. HOU 7, ATL 6
Prado: flied out to CF.  3 outs.


End 7: HOU 7, ATL 6

[pravata]

case in point, didn't he recently say that he put too much pressure on Bourn last year, and that he wasn't going to do that this year? Then, "he has to be the guy."

yeah... "He is the future of our club in that [leadoff] spot. I think we have to back up a step and slowly move him into that. This past year, we might have put a little more pressure on him than we needed to."
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081209&content_id=3707589&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

[OregonStrosFan]

T8: Parr (RHP) on the mound

Ramirez: hard hit grounder to SS, runs hard to the bag but throw gets there just in time.  1 out, none on.
Bogusevic: hard hit grounder up the middle (almost hit pitcher, looked like the ball caught the mound a bit), Conrad ranges right at 2B to make a nice play.  2 outs.
Saccomanno (?): soft liner to 2B for the out.

Middle 8: HOU 7, ATL 6

[Ron Brand]

I hate the Braves.

[OregonStrosFan]

B8: DeLa Vara (LHP)

Freeman: lines a 1st pitch fastball over the wall in right.  Tie ballgame, HOU 7, ATL 7
Infante: tattoed a grounder to 2B.  1 out, none on.
Heyward: walked.  1 out, runner on 1B.
Boscan: tattoed one up in the zone to the gap in left center, Heyward scores from 1B.  HOU 7, ATL 8.  1 out, runner on 2B.
(?): liner to 1B, throw to 2B not in time to get Boscan sleeping.  2 outs, runner at 2B.

Coop to the mound.  No idea what is going on in the game (make that only a slightly better idea of what is going on than the fools at ESPN calling the game - making Milo look like Vin Sculy at this point).

Fulchino (RHP) on the mound.

Diaz: liner to CF for the 3rd out.

End 8: HOU 7, ATL 8

[Noe]

anyone else catch what Coop said in his in-game interview when asked about team speed? "yeah, we've got some guys like Matsui and Bourn at the top of our lineup, and guys like Pence towards the bottom of our lineup, that can really run...etc"
maybe I'm reading too much into it, but hopefully it means he's not seriously considering hitting Pence (or Tejada) 2nd, and will at least put Bourn there to start the year.

Means one of two things: Ed Wade has put some mild influence on Coop or Coop has come to his senses... for now.

[Noe]

Always a pleasure JD.  Helps assuage my guilt for sitting at home today watching the game in HD while y'all are out there working...

You're eating sausage while doing PBP?  Good man!  Looks like betwix you and MRaup... errrr... Harry Carry, we're going to have some serious Gamezone PBP this year!

[Bench]

Means one of two things: Ed Wade has put some mild influence on Coop or Coop has come to his senses... for now.

Noe, what's the other thing?

[Noe]

Long discussion of fantasy baseball by the announcers, huge unintentional comedy value here.

Is there any thought that Abercrombie might be the better 5th outfielder than Michaels?

Outfielder, yes.  Pinch runner, yes. Hitter, no.  Unfortunately, it comes down to what the team needs from a right handed hitting bench player (re: replacement for Mark Loretta).  It isn't Abercormbie and where his strengths lay.

[Travis]

Outfielder, yes.  Pinch runner, yes. Hitter, no.  Unfortunately, it comes down to what the team needs from a right handed hitting bench player (re: replacement for Mark Loretta).  It isn't Abercormbie and where his strengths lay.

That makes sense, thank you.

[Noe]

Noe, what's the other thing?

Line item B, section 5, column X, category 1.

[OregonStrosFan]

T9: Parr still on the hill

Abercrombie: ball high (1-0), swinging strike (1-1), swings at high heat (1-2), behind on the fastball for the strikeout.  1 out, none on.
Maysonet: fouled out of play down the right field line (0-1), called strike (outside corner) (0-2), ball (1-2), ball high and away (2-2), ball low and way (3-2), foul (3-2),  foul (3-2), foul (3-2), lined out to right center about 15 feet in front of the track.  2 outs, none on.
Kata: 3-2 pitch, foul (3-2), singled to right.  2 outs, runner on 1B.
Smith: popped out to 3B on 1st pitch.

Ballgame: HOU 7, ATL 8

[Noe]

Abercrombie: ball high (1-0), swinging strike (1-1), swings at high heat (1-2), behind on the fastball for the strikeout.  1 out, none on.

Does Abercrombie practice striking out?  He's mastered this so well!

[Ron Brand]

Does Abercrombie practice striking out?  He's mastered this so well!

He's practiced it in just about every game I've seen him play.

[Noe]

If Tom Emanski thought he could make money off Baseball Parents selling the art of striking out, Abercrombie would be his next Fred McGriff!

[JimR]

Lazy ass swing by Berkman..


and Erstad was out by a mile on the SB attempt earlier.  I know its ST and all, why is he running?

why the hell not?

[Mr. Happy]

If Tom Emanski thought he could make money off Baseball Parents selling the art of striking out, Abercrombie would be his next Fred McGriff!

On ESPN360, one of the announcers (interpret this term very loosely) said during the game that Abercrombie keeps his hands too low and that he'll never be able to catch up to the high fastball. And he didn't.

[JimR]

who is the Perez that torched it today?

[Hornstros]

Sergio Perez.....either sandwich pick or 2nd round pick from 2006.   Pitched pretty well in the AFL this offseason....apparently that didn't carry over today

[jonbloozy]

Just finished watching the game on the DVR.  It sure is nice to watch live baseball, even if it's spring training.  My wife walked in the room and asked when we get to hear JD again (my reply: not soon enough).

Not to imply that Oswalt doesn't like his balls rubbed, but did anyone else notice that right after Escobar did that fancy bat-flip-catch manuever, he got nailed?   I thought the timing was perfect.

[Lurch]

Just finished watching the game on the DVR.  It sure is nice to watch live baseball... 

Just saying.