Astros @ Phillies 4/2/11

[Mr. Happy]

The lineups:

Houston AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG

Bourn, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
Sanchez, An, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
Pence, RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
Lee, C, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Hall, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Johnson, C, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Wallace, B, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
Towles, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Rodriguez, W, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Philadelphia AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG

Victorino, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Polanco, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Rollins, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
Howard, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .667
Francisco, B, RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
Ibanez, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Ruiz, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
Valdez, W, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
Lee, Cl, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

[Mr. Happy]

In other news around the NL Central, the Padres dropped a six spot on the Turdinals to take a 9-3 lead. The Piroots bully imploded against FTC, losing 5-3.

[pots]

nice on demand is Astros announcers again

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Butler leads VCU 34 - 28 at the half.

[chuck]

This better be good, I'm missing Kings of Leon.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Cliff Lee after Roy Halliday before Roy Oswalt. That's pretty fucking tough.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

This better be good, I'm missing Kings of Leon.

Don't they do that one song, "You're Sexy on Fire?"

[OregonStrosFan]

This MLB.TV / Roku thing looks like it is going to work out pretty well!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

C'mon Wandy!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Astros 1st
Cliff Lee pitching:
Michael Bourn :   Strike looking, Ball, Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Ball, Bourn grounded out to second.
Angel Sanchez :   Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Ball, Sanchez struck out swinging.
Hunter Pence :   Strike swinging, Ball, Foul, Foul, Ball, Pence struck out swinging.
End of Inning (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Victorino flied out to right.
Polanco singled to right.
Rollins singled to left, Polanco to second.
Howard singled to right, Polanco scored, Rollins to third.

These hits have eyes.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Didn't think I'd ever see Moe Bandy behind the plate again.

[Mr. Happy]

Victorino flied out to right.
Polanco singled to right.
Rollins singled to left, Polanco to second.
Howard singled to right, Polanco scored, Rollins to third.

These hits have eyes.

That 2B had more than eyes.

[Ron Brand]

That 2B had more than eyes.

Yeah, I started watching Lee slogging after it and thought, "Fuck, he'll never get there," but it carried all the way to the wall. Double all the way.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Francisco struck out looking.  Mother fuck... Ibanez smacks a double to the LF wall, slow footed Lee has no chance, scores Rollins and Howard. Ruiz flies out to left to end the onslaught.

Phillies 1st
Wandy Rodriguez pitching:
Shane Victorino :   Strike looking, Victorino flied out to right.
Placido Polanco :   Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Polanco singled to right.
Jimmy Rollins :   Foul, Ball, Ball, Ball, Rollins singled to left, Polanco to second.
Ryan Howard :   Howard singled to right, Polanco scored, Rollins to third.
Ben Francisco :   Ball, Foul, Ball, Foul, Foul, Francisco struck out looking.
Raul Ibanez :   Strike looking, Strike swinging, Ball, Ibanez doubled to deep center, Rollins scored, Howard to third.
Carlos Ruiz :   Strike looking, Strike looking, Ball, Ruiz flied out to left.

[Ron Brand]

Cliff Lee is taking no prisoners tonight.

[Mr. Happy]

Cliff Lee looks pretty tough today. We're not seeing that offspeed pitch.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Lee grounded out to third.
Hall struck out swinging.
CJ hit by pitch. Man on first. Wallace at bat.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Astros 2nd
Cliff Lee pitching:
Carlos Lee :   Ball, Foul, Lee grounded out to third.
Bill Hall :   Ball, Foul, Foul, Hall struck out swinging.
Chris Johnson :   Ball, Strike swinging, Foul, Johnson hit by pitch.
Brett Wallace :   Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Wallace grounded into fielder's choice to third, Johnson out at second.
End of Inning (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Phillies 2nd
Wandy Rodriguez pitching:
Wilson Valdez :   Strike looking, Strike swinging, Valdez grounded out to second.
Cliff Lee :   Foul, Strike looking, Lee struck out swinging.
Shane Victorino :   Ball, Victorino flied out to right.
End of Inning (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

Astros 3rd
Cliff Lee pitching:
J.R. Towles :   Ball, Towles grounded out to third.
Wandy Rodriguez :   Strike looking, Foul, Rodriguez struck out looking.
Michael Bourn :   Strike looking, Ball, Bourn grounded out to first.
End of Inning (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

Phillies 2 Astros 0

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Butler 44 VCU 43 with 11:53 left.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Polanco popped out to second.
Rollins singled to left center.
Howard at bat

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Wandy Ks Howard. 2 out 1 on.

[subnuclear]

Some nice Ks by Wandy.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Phillies 3rd
Wandy Rodriguez pitching:
Placido Polanco :   Strike looking, Strike looking, Polanco popped out to second.
Jimmy Rollins :   Ball, Rollins singled to left center.
Ryan Howard :   Ball, Pickoff attempt, Pickoff attempt, Ball, Strike looking, Foul, Howard struck out swinging.
Ben Francisco :   Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Francisco struck out swinging.
End of Inning (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)

End of three Phills 2 Astros 0

[Ron Brand]

Wandy has the sharp bender working tonight. Makes that fastball faster. He's been able to get the Phillies to bite on the high fastball for Ks.

[Mr. Happy]

Some nice Ks by Wandy.

Elevating that average heater ahead in the count has worked, as it usually does.

[Ron Brand]

Grip it and rip it, FOTF.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I believe in Angel Sanchez

[Ron Brand]

Wow, Philly Keystone Kops in the OF!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

El Kabong with a run scoring triple!!!

[Ron Brand]

El Kabong with a run scoring triple!!!

I was surprised but he's good for one most seasons.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

That ball was hit to the one spot in the park where it needed to be hit for him to make it that far.

[Mr. Happy]

Hall tries to be a hero and fails.

[Ron Brand]

Damn, Bill Hall was badly overmatched on that AB.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Hall Ks and Johnson hits a comebacker to Lee to end the inning.

[Mr. Happy]

Damn, Bill Hall was badly overmatched on that AB.

Lee carved him up. Bill Hall has a tendency to look real bad.

[Ron Brand]

Lee carved him up. Bill Hall has a tendency to look real bad.

Lee's tough in a Greg Maddux kind of way but it sure looked like Hall was just guessing wrong on every pitch.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Butler looks comfortable with a 58 to 52 lead with 4:43 left.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Astros 4th
Cliff Lee pitching:
Angel Sanchez :   Sanchez singled to center.
Hunter Pence :   Strike looking, Foul, Pence struck out swinging.
Carlos Lee :   Ball, Strike looking, Lee tripled to deep center, Sanchez scored.
Bill Hall :   Strike looking, Strike looking, Foul, Foul, Foul, Ball, Hall struck out swinging.
Chris Johnson :   Strike looking, Johnson grounded out to pitcher.
End of Inning (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)

[Ron Brand]

I can't believe Thunder Pants still wears those stupid Power Balance necklaces.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Well fuck.

[Ron Brand]

Wallace took his eye off the throw.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I can't believe Thunder Pants still wears those stupid Power Balance necklaces.

No shit. He should wear the get-a-good-jump-on-a-fly-ball necklace.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Butler winning 65 to 57 with 35.2 left and going to the line.

[Rebel Jew]

No shit. He should wear the get-a-good-jump-on-a-fly-ball necklace.

indeed. he's been frustrating to watch today in the field and at the plate, as usual.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Phillies 4th
Wandy Rodriguez pitching:
Raul Ibanez :   Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Ball, Ball, Foul, Ibanez walked.
Carlos Ruiz :   Strike looking, Strike looking, Ruiz hit by pitch, Ibanez to second.
Wilson Valdez :   Strike looking, Strike swinging, Valdez struck out swinging.
Cliff Lee :   Strike looking, Lee sacrificed to catcher, Ibanez to third, Ruiz to second.
Shane Victorino :   Strike looking, Victorino singled to right, Ibanez and Ruiz scored.
Placido Polanco :   Pickoff attempt, Strike looking, Polanco safe at first on shortstop Sanchez throwing error, Victorino to second.
Jimmy Rollins :   Strike looking, Ball, Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Rollins flied out to deep center.
End of Inning (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error)

End of 4 Philly 4  Astros 1

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Butler is back in the Championship game. Amazing. Small school.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Astros 5th
Cliff Lee pitching:
Brett Wallace :   Wallace lined out to first.
J.R. Towles :   Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Strike swinging, Foul, Towles flied out to right.
Wandy Rodriguez :   Ball, Strike looking, Foul, Foul, Rodriguez struck out looking.
End of Inning (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Shit! Goddamn! Fuck!

[Alkie]

Myers can make 81 starts this season, yes?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Fuckshit!

[Rebel Jew]

Butler is back in the Championship game. Amazing. Small school.

not hard to see this as a permanent shift in college basketball. the early entries to the nba mean the big schools aren't good enough anymore to dominate in a tournament format.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Del Rosario in for Wandy

[Alkie]

not hard to see this as a permanent shift in college basketball. the early entries to the nba mean the big schools aren't good enough anymore to dominate in a tournament format.

I wish that were true.

Still been 20 years since a mid major won the thing.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

7 to 1 Shit fuck

[Rebel Jew]

I wish that were true.

Still been 20 years since a mid major won the thing.

Sure, but they don't dominate the elite 8 and final four like they used to. Just look at the last several years. It's not just Butler.

[Ron Brand]

I hope we aren't sitting around talking about soccer or rugby or some shit like that next Friday.

[Alkie]

Sure, but they don't dominate the elite 8 and final four like they used to. Just look at the last several years. It's not just Butler.

I'll be damned, I looked it up to try to sort-of prove you wrong and this was the first time since 1979 that two non-BCS schools made the Final Four.

Good.  I hope this happens every year.

[Alkie]

I hope we aren't sitting around talking about soccer or rugby or some shit like that next Friday.

Learn how to hit and close out a game and we won't have to.

Hippie.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Phillies 5th
Wandy Rodriguez pitching:
Ryan Howard :   Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Howard singled to center.
Ben Francisco :   Ball, Ball, Francisco doubled to deep center, Howard scored.
Raul Ibanez :   Ball, Strike looking, Ibanez singled to right, Francisco scored.
Carlos Ruiz :   Ball, Foul, Ruiz grounded out to third, Ibanez to second.
Wilson Valdez :   Valdez singled to right, Ibanez scored.
Cliff Lee :   Ball, Foul, Foul, Ball, Lee grounded out to third, Valdez to second.
Shane Victorino :   Strike looking, Ball.
John Mayberry :   Strike swinging, Mayberry struck out swinging.
End of Inning (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Sanchez is on a pace to hit about .550 for the year.

[loganck]

Sanchez is on a pace to hit about .550 for the year.

Sure.  and Lee will hit 81 triples.

Nice.  7-3

[Alkie]

Single/double shy.

[subnuclear]

Lee is fat and sucks.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Kabong with a 2 run shot. Astros 3  Phillys 7

[Rebel Jew]

I'll be damned, I looked it up to try to sort-of prove you wrong and this was the first time since 1979 that two non-BCS schools made the Final Four.

Good.  I hope this happens every year.

who knows, maybe the powerhouse programs will start recruiting a few less one-and-done guys and things will turn back the other way. you don't see as many matchups where one team just seems so much bigger and faster than the other. it  seems like the average size, strength, and skill-level of college basketball players has evened out relative to the top guys. everybody's got an athletic swingman, point guard with size, big men who aren't just big, etc.

[Alkie]

Lee is fat and sucks.

Seriously.  Did you see how slowly he tossed the bat and barely trotted after that shot?

Hippie.

[Ron Brand]

Lee has already surpassed last year's April HR total.

[JaneDoe]

Lee is fat and sucks.

You must do this again.  About 60 or so times this season.

[Ron Brand]

Seriously.  Did you see how slowly he tossed the bat and barely trotted after that shot?

Hippie.

About time you showed up, you fairy.

[Alkie]

About time you showed up, you fairy.

Me or Lee?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Astros 6th
Cliff Lee pitching:
Michael Bourn :   Foul, Ball, Strike swinging, Ball, Foul, Ball, Foul, Bourn struck out swinging.
Angel Sanchez :   Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Foul, Ball, Sanchez singled to right.
Hunter Pence :   Strike swinging, Foul, Pence grounded out to second, Sanchez to second.
Carlos Lee :   Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Lee homered to left, Sanchez scored.
Bill Hall :   Strike swinging, Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Foul, Foul, Ball, Hall struck out looking.
End of Inning (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)

[Ron Brand]

Me or Lee?

There would have to be some big fucking wings on Carlos.

[Ron Brand]

Or tiny, very magical ones.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Think I'm gonna walk down to the river for the sunset.

[Ron Brand]

Think I'm gonna walk down to the river for the sunset.

Nice.

[Ron Brand]

Melancon works a scoreless frame and after 6 it's 7-3 Phillies.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Hey, I can pick up my wireless down here!

Phillies 6th
Mark Melancon pitching:
Placido Polanco :   Ball, Polanco singled to left.
Jimmy Rollins :   Strike looking, Strike looking, Rollins struck out swinging.
Ryan Howard :   Foul, Ball, Foul, Foul, Ball, Howard struck out swinging.
Ben Francisco :   Ball, Francisco grounded out to shortstop.
End of Inning (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

The trade off is now I have to suffer DoRay.

[Ron Brand]

The trade off is now I have to suffer DoRay.

Well, you won't hear much about the game.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Astros 7th
Cliff Lee pitching:
Chris Johnson :   Foul, Ball, Foul, Johnson struck out looking.
Brett Wallace :   Strike looking, Ball, Strike swinging, Wallace struck out swinging.
J.R. Towles :   Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Ball, Towles grounded out to third.
End of Inning (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)

[Ron Brand]

Low-risk situation for Aneury Rodriguez' debut.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Ibanez walks. Ruiz works the count full.

[Alkie]

Think I'm gonna walk down to the river for the sunset.

Give it a year; you'll end up in NYC.

[Ron Brand]

CJ has been dancing around like Spider all night.

[Ron Brand]

Give it a year; you'll end up in NYC.

...where you can watch the sunset from the roof.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

...where you can watch the sunset from the roof.

...if your unit faces west.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Phillies 7th
Aneury Rodriguez pitching:
Raul Ibanez :   Ball, Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Foul, Foul, Foul, Ball, Ibanez walked.
Carlos Ruiz :   Pickoff attempt, Ball, Foul, Ball, Strike swinging, Ball, Foul, Ruiz doubled to left, Ibanez scored.
Wilson Valdez :   Valdez lined out to second
Ross Gload hit for Cliff Lee.
Ross Gload :   Ball, Strike looking, Foul, Gload grounded out to second, Ruiz to third.
John Mayberry :   Foul, Foul, Ball, Mayberry popped out to shortstop.
End of Inning (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)

End of 7 8 to 3 not in favor of the Astros

[Ron Brand]

Hey Allie - "better ingredients, better pizza, Papa John's."

Ah hahahahahahahahaha...

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Nice time for Lee to get a double

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

It would be, I mean.

[JaneDoe]

Nice time for Lee to get a double

NO, no.  Didn't you learn from subnuclear?

Lee is fat and sucks.

[Alkie]

Double shy.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Guess he'll have to get the double next ab.

[Alkie]

Hey Allie - "better ingredients, better pizza, Papa John's."

Ah hahahahahahahahaha...

Say, pizza sounds good.  I may order a Papa Johns right now.

[pots]

I'm trying not to rip on him so much, but Lee is less then useful at this point.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Astros 8th
Joe Inglett hit for Aneury Rodriguez
Danys Baez pitching:
Joe Inglett :   Inglett grounded out to first.
Michael Bourn :   Ball, Strike swinging, Foul, Ball, Ball, Bourn struck out swinging.
Angel Sanchez :   Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Sanchez safe at first on 3rd baseman Polanco throwing error.
Hunter Pence :   Strike looking, Pence singled to left, Sanchez to second.
Carlos Lee :   Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Ball, Foul, Ball, Foul, Lee singled to center, Sanchez scored, Pence to third.
Bill Hall :   Ball, Hall grounded into fielder's choice to third, Lee out at second.
End of Inning (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error)

[Alkie]

Say, gents...

I'm looking at the roster for the first time this year and, uh, a certain pitcher is missing.

What gives?

[Ron Brand]

Ding dong.

[Alkie]

Ding dong.

Ho ho?

[Ron Brand]

Say, gents...

I'm looking at the roster for the first time this year and, uh, a certain pitcher is missing.

What gives?

That cheap fucker wouldn't meet his price and he thinks Ryan is washed up.

[Ron Brand]

Ho ho?

Fulchino took one to the cup.

[pots]

Nice stop a ball with your nuts, then turn around and strike out Howard

[Alkie]

Nice stop a ball with your nuts, then turn around and strike out Howard

Is god, not man.

[Ron Brand]

The Phillies have figured out that if they hit it to the fielders they win.

[JaneDoe]

Ding dong.

Ho ho?

Twinkie.  They never decompose, they just go to St. Louis to die. 

[chuck]

Say, gents...

I'm looking at the roster for the first time this year and, uh, a certain pitcher is missing.

What gives?

Clemens is in dutch with the feds and Drayton won't touch him.

The Astros would be OK if they could keep their opponents generally in the area of single digits.

[Ron Brand]

That liner might turn Fulchino into Captain Hammer. Ow.

[Ron Brand]

Twinkie.  They never decompose, they just go to St. Louis to die. 

Very nice.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Phillies 8th
Jeff Fulchino pitching:
Placido Polanco :   Polanco singled to center.
Jimmy Rollins :   Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Rollins grounded out to pitcher, Polanco to second.
Ryan Howard :   Strike swinging, Strike looking, Ball, Howard struck out swinging.
Ben Francisco :   Strike looking, Francisco singled to right, Polanco scored.
Raul Ibanez :   Ball, Ibanez grounded into fielder's choice to second, Francisco out at second.
End of Inning (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)

9 to 4

[Alkie]

The Astros would be OK if they could keep their opponents generally in the area of single digits.

If you had told me this lineup would get 4 runs in both Halladay and Lee's starts, I'd have been feelin' pretty good.

Dammit.

I hope we fucking pound Oswalt.

[chuck]

If you had told me this lineup would get 4 runs in both Halladay and Lee's starts, I'd have been feelin' pretty good.

Thass what I'm sayin.

[JaneDoe]

The Astros would be OK if they could keep their opponents generally in the area of single digits.

yep

[Ron Brand]

Damn. I thought Michaels had him.

[Ron Brand]

Shitefeck.

[Mr. Happy]

Shitfuck.

[Ron Brand]

Fifth straight opening series loss for the Good Guys.

[pots]

Bah, oh well.  Get em tomorrow

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Jose Contreras pitching:
Chris Johnson :   Ball, Foul, Strike swinging, Ball, Johnson singled to center.
Brett Wallace :   Ball, Strike swinging, Ball, Wallace flied out to left.
J.R. Towles :   Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Towles singled to center, Johnson to second
Jason Michaels hit for Jeff Fulchino.
Jason Michaels :   Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Michaels struck out swinging.
Michael Bourn :   Strike swinging, Strike looking, Ball, strike out looking

Game fucking over

[JaneDoe]

Fifth straight opening series loss for the Good Guys.

At least they are consistent?

[Ron Brand]

At least Caballo had a good game.

[Ron Brand]

At least they are consistent?

Like the French.