04/11/2011: Astros vs. FTC

[OregonStrosFan]

If the hate ain't flowin' yet, here is your primer! Lineups below via McTaggart.

Your 2011 Houston Astros

CF Michael Bourn
SS Angel Sanchez
RF Hunter Pence
LF Carlos Lee
1B Brett Wallace
3B Chris Johnson
2B Joe Inglett
C Humberto Quintero
RHP Nelson Figueroa

FTC

SS Starlin Castro
2B Darwin Barney
CF Marlon Byrd
3B Aramis Ramirez
1B Carlos Pena
LF Alfonso Soriano
RF Tyler Colvin
C Geovany Soto
RHP Ryan Dempster

[Mr. Happy]

Like Inglett in the lineup today.

[Ebby Calvin]

Like Inglett in the lineup today.

How many more starts until he becomes a fully-fledged Ingle?

[Mr. Happy]

Per Fuckhouse tweet, the Inglett start is just part of a plan to get bencvh players each a start in the first 7-10 days. No news here.

[jbm]

Looks like no tv on twc in Austin. Tennis??  Borg v Courier???

This really sucks. Is it going to be like this all year?

[Lurch]

Looks like no tv on twc in Austin. Tennis??  Borg v Courier???

This really sucks. Is it going to be like this all year?

should improve once NBA season ends.   Fingers crossed for EI channel on dtv tonight in austin or we are sol too

[Craig]

I don't think I'm getting tonight's game on Dish Network, though there are four different slots for the Rockets and Mavericks.

[hostros7]

Looks like a woeful crowd tonight.  Few thousand ppl, mostly turds in blue

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Fuck the Cubs.

[Ron Brand]

Looks like we've found our #6 starter.

Fuck the Cubs.

[MusicMan]

Paging Mr. Lyles... Mr. Jordan Lyles, please pick up the white courtesy phone...

[chuck]

JD is explaining why it was a good idea for Q to swing at what was surely a ball. He's encapsulating it perfectly. It shouldn't be such a remarkable thing for your color guy actually to know something about baseball but apparently it is. JD is a treasure.

If they'd do away with the idiot in the stands segment it would be a perfect broadcast.

[Mr. Happy]

We look like dogshit thus far.

[OregonStrosFan]

We look like dogshit thus far.

How so (haven't been watching, though I 'pre'sume it would be fair to 'ass'ume Figgy has looked like crapola...)?

[Mr. Happy]

Figgy being Figgy. 5-0 FTC Bottom 4

[Mr. Happy]

WTF We scored. 5-1

[MusicMan]

WTF We scored. 5-1

Downs' bat died a hero on that one.

[Mr. Happy]

Wallace is proving to have a decent eye this year.

[Mr. Happy]

CJ is lost at the plate. Here comes ths snake on 1-2.

[MusicMan]

Grrrr.  Inglet rolls over on the first pitch to end the threat.

[Mr. Happy]

Shitfuck! Let that motherfucker off the hook.

[strosrays]

Pretty funny.  The headline on astros.com right now says 'Astros chipping away at defecit.'  They've scored one run all game, and that was several innings ago.

[Bench]

Hall with more of a tomahawk than a chip.

[MusicMan]

Pretty funny.  The headline on astros.com right now says 'Astros chipping away at defecit.'  They've scored one run all game, and that was several innings ago.

No, Hall just gave folks a free chicken sammich.

[JaneDoe]

No, Hall just gave folks a free chicken sammich.

And not just ANY chicken sammich......Chick-Fil-A baby.......

[MusicMan]

And Bourn goes back-to-back, but initially rules a double on the field.  Replay coming up.

[Bench]

No, Hall just gave folks a free chicken sammich.

Houston's gotta eat!

[chuck]

You'll all say I'm full of shit but prior to Hall's HR I was about to say that I'm not at all sure that the Astros are yet out of this thing.

[Bench]

And Bourn goes back-to-back, but initially rules a double on the field.  Replay coming up.

Shockingly that was the correct call.

[MusicMan]

Hit off the top of the wall and onto the field.  Don't think this is getting overturned.

[JaneDoe]

So close to back-to-back.....

[strosrays]

You'll all say I'm full of shit but prior to Hall's HR I was about to say that I'm not at all sure that the Astros are yet out of this thing.

Negativity can be a powerful thing.

[Alkie]

You know who can slurp my cum?   The Cubs announcers.

[OregonStrosFan]

Shit, just steal 3rd and home if they won't give it to you...

[Alkie]

HA.

[MusicMan]

When it rains it FUCKING POURS ANGEL SANCHEZ.

[Bench]

That's how you do it. 

[JaneDoe]

No replay needed.....

[Alkie]

Fuck you Jobu.

[MusicMan]

Fuck you Jobu.

Jobu fucks the Cubs.

[OregonStrosFan]

When it rains it FUCKING POURS ANGEL SANCHEZ.

MLB.TV is WAY behind...

WAY TO GO MR. SANCHEZ SIR!!!

[chuck]

Angel invencible! Que xopa, manito, dale!

[Alkie]

U walk Pence.

U foo.

[strosrays]

A long at-bat leading to a walk?  Who was pinch-hitting for Gunther?

[Alkie]

Please, for the love of all that is holy, get a basehit so I can email my Cub friend.

[strosrays]

A DP I'm guessing?  I'm having to follow this on Gameday.

[strosrays]

OK never mind

[chuck]

... my Cub friend.

?

[OregonStrosFan]

A DP I'm guessing?  I'm having to follow this on Gameday.

There was 1 out in the inning prior to the HRs. Wallace flew out to Soriano for out #2. CJ with a squibler to 2B who threw to 2B for the force.

[pots]

?

Everybody has one.  They are like pets

[strosrays]

Everybody had one.  They are like pets George Will

Fixed

[MusicMan]

George Will is way, way to snobbish to be a Cub fan.  He's a Jake fan if there ever was one.

[Alkie]

Everybody has one.  They are like pets

Exactly.

Some friend that was born and/or grew up in a place with no tie to a real team and who had cable.

And no balls.

[strosrays]

George Will is way, way to snobbish to be a Cub fan.  He's a Jake fan if there ever was one.

He wrote a whole book about it.  I was taking a lot of Quaaludes at the time (Rx), which is why I read it in the first place.  Piece of crap.  George and his book.

[MusicMan]

Exactly.

Some friend that was born and/or grew up in a place with no tie to a real team and who had cable.

And no balls.

And growing up when we did, a kid's access to cable was enough reason to be his friend.

[strosrays]

And growing up when we did, a kid's access to cable was enough reason to be his friend.

It's how we got a lot of nitwit Braves fans, too.

[pots]

Nice Hall is now 7 for 8 against Marshall. 

[Alkie]

It's how we got a lot of nitwit Braves fans, too.

Lo mismo.

[Craig]

George Will is way, way to snobbish to be a Cub fan.  He's a Jake fan if there ever was one.

A few years ago when I went to a game at Wrigley, George Will was the guest singer for the seventh inning stretch. I missed it because I was peeing in a trough.

[pots]

beware pitch out

[pots]

Come on Michael contact

[JaneDoe]

Come on Michale contact

Fredia?  Is that you in diguise?

[chuck]

No worries, friends, up strides Angel invencible.

[chuck]

I find it hilariously sad that George Will is what passes for an intellectual in modern US America.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

C'mon Angel

[Alkie]

I find it hilariously sad that George Will is what passes for an intellectual in modern US America.

Only for 46% of America.

[MusicMan]

motherfuckingcocksuckingsonofafuckingbitch

[chuck]

PUTA

[MusicMan]

I find it hilariously sad that George Will is what passes for an intellectual in modern US America.

No, what's sad is that Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann pass for intellectuals.

[MusicMan]

That's on Bourn.  No excuse for not putting the ball in play in that scenario.

[rifraft]

No, what's sad is that Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann pass for intellectuals.

Really?  

[JaneDoe]

That's on Bourn.  No excuse for not putting the ball in play in that scenario.

+1

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

No, what's sad is that Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann pass for intellectuals.

I swear to crap, do not get this started.  We have more important things to focus on.  Like fucking the Cubs.

[MusicMan]

I swear to crap, do not get this started.  We have more important things to focus on.  Like fucking the Cubs.

chuck started it!
/firstgrade

[OregonStrosFan]

I hate it when the damn Cubs come to town. Was in the other room and from the crowd reaction (cheers) I though Mr. Sancez had gotten an RBI. Should have know it was a FTC strikeout...

[pots]

Darwin Barney

[JaneDoe]

I swear to crap, do not get this started.  We have more important things to focus on.  Like fucking the Cubs.

+1,000,000,000,000,000

[MRaup]

Matt Belisle tonight: 2/3 an inning (2nd and 3rd outs of the 7th), 1 hit, 1 K, got the Win.

[chuck]

No, what's sad is that Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann pass for intellectuals.

Why the fuck do you pair these two? One is a fucking nutcase who lies, cries and by choice believes in a total load of motherfucking nonsense. The other deals in the real world but has a style you find abrasive. They are fundamentally different.

[strosrays]

OK, I'm a YDD.  I'll take one for the team, and do Ann Coulter.  Which one of you conservative fellows is going to take on Rachel Maddow?

[chuck]

chuck started it!
/firstgrade

Point of order. Will is a milqetoast Washington insider. Your two examples are neither.

[OregonStrosFan]

Matt Belisle tonight: 2/3 an inning (2nd and 3rd outs of the 7th), 1 hit, 1 K, got the Win.

Sweet! BTW, what is Belisle's repertoire / how fast?

[hostros7]

Pence:marmol slider::Dennis quaid:mountain of yayo

/preemptive

//tired of sheen references

[pots]

Time for some Marmolade

[MusicMan]

OK, I'm a YDD.  I'll take one for the team, and do Ann Coulter.  Which one of you conservative fellows is going to take on Rachel Maddow?

Wouldn't a conservative lady have to take on Rachel?

[chuck]

OK, I'm a YDD.  I'll take one for the team, and do Ann Coulter.  Which one of you conservative fellows is going to take on Rachel Maddow?

Dude, I watched the Maddow show for the first time the other day and was appalled. That shit is supposed to be entertaining? Jesus.

[MusicMan]

Oh thank God, Simon Cowell is back on TV.

[Ron Brand]

Never seen it, but I'd hit Rachel long before Coulter. Ann Coulter is like looking at The Cryptkeeper's high school picture.

[MusicMan]

I'll take "The Penis Mightier" for $800, Trabek.

[Ron Brand]

Dude, I watched the Maddow show for the first time the other day and was appalled. That shit is supposed to be entertaining? Jesus.

You've got to turn the TV off, dude.

[Ron Brand]

I'll take "The Penis Mightier" for $800, Trabek.

"Famous Titties" for $600.

[OregonStrosFan]

OK, I'm a YDD.  I'll take one for the team, and do Ann Coulter.  Which one of you conservative fellows is going to take on Rachel Maddow?

Can't help you there, but I will step up for Kirsten Powers...

[Ron Brand]

Marmol needs arm surgery.

Bastard.

[OregonStrosFan]

Damn, Marmol is just filthy at times... C'mon Carlos!!!

[strosrays]

Dude, I watched the Maddow show for the first time the other day and was appalled. That shit is supposed to be entertaining? Jesus.

For some reason, she reminds me of SpongeBob.

[hostros7]

Oh thank God, Simon Cowell is back on TV.

I was so sad to learn he was actually good at what he does and a self-made guy and not just a token quasi-gay token pompous Brit actor with no talent.  Who knew

[rifraft]

Live look in on Gameday, I'm appalled by how few people are at the game.

[MusicMan]

Live look in on Gameday, I'm appalled by how few people are at the game.

Get used to it.

[OregonStrosFan]

He's nasty enough without giving him pitches a foot off the outside corner of the plate (might be exaggerating a tad...). GEEZ!!!

C'mon BRETT!

[Ron Brand]

Come on, Wallace.

[Ron Brand]

Wallace, you magnificent bastard.

[hostros7]

Wallace is going to be a player if he can bring that same approach consistently.  

[MRaup]

Sweet! BTW, what is Belisle's repertoire / how fast?

Throws in the low 90s, tops out around 92 maybe 93 at his best. Has good movement on his fastball when he throws his two seamer, and throws a nice overhand curve.

[Ron Brand]

Come on, Michaels!

[MusicMan]

If Wallace were here, he'd consume the Cubs with fire from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse.

[OregonStrosFan]

There we go Mr. Wallace sir!!! Great AB!

C'mon Michaels.

[Ron Brand]

Inglett, you are due.

[OregonStrosFan]

Good eyes there Mr. Michaels.

C'mon Inglett!

[Ron Brand]

Shitefeck.

[JaneDoe]

dadgumit

[Ron Brand]

Get 'em tomorrow, guys.

[OregonStrosFan]

SHIT!

[OregonStrosFan]

Get 'em tomorrow, guys.

Nice to have at least made the back end of the scrub bullpen throw some pitches tonight!

[MusicMan]

Glass half-full:

I wouldn't have expected the offense to have 4 runs in this many games so far.
If the pitchers can stop crapping the bed, we'll be on to something.

[Mr. Happy]

Fuck you, Marmol.

[chuck]

Quite a bit to like in that game.

[HudsonHawk]

Quite a bit to like in that game.

Other than starting pitching. And situational hitting.

[Ron Brand]

Other than starting pitching. And situational hitting.

12 LOB.
Figgy with the nifty 10.21 ERA.

[roadrunner]

3rd smallest crowd in MMP history.

The weather was beautiful, though.

[Alkie]

3rd smallest crowd in MMP history.

And that's only because of the Cubs fans.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

The countdown to Justice's "It's time for Jordan Lyles" column begins now.  Over/under is Friday.

[AtascAstro]

12 LOB.
Figgy with the nifty 10.21 ERA.

and every sCrub run was scored with 2 outs, the 2nd and 4th had two outs before there was even a baserunner. 

[AtascAstro]

And that's only because of the Cubs fans.

I wonder how close Thursdays game vs the Fathers will come to the all-time mark.

[hostros7]

I wonder how close Thursdays game vs the Fathers will come to the all-time mark.

Are we talking tickets sold or actual asses in seats?  The former probably won't get much worse since a lot are pre-sold season and corporate tickets.  The latter projects to get much, much worse.  It's the second home series of the season, against the motherfucking Cubs, and no one is there.

[jbm]

The countdown to Justice's "It's time for Jordan Lyles" column begins now.  Over/under is Friday.

I assume that there is no way Lyles is brought up.  They will cycle through more Figueroa types before Lyles comes up.  It's understandable considering service time and if they feel that Lyles needs more work down there. 

What I don't understand is why they didn't just publically state at the beginning of spring training that "He will be in AAA to start the year, regardless."  While the promise of him making it may have created a minor buzz in ST, it also created unrealistic expectations from some fans, and it ultimately created confusion as he arguably earned the spot in ST but was sent down anyway. 

[austro]

I thought that I read somewhere that there was no way he'd be up before the end of May so that they could avoid super-two issues down the road. Or was that just a hallucination?

[HudsonHawk]

I thought that I read somewhere that there was no way he'd be up before the end of May so that they could avoid super-two issues down the road. Or was that just a hallucination?

I seriously doubt they'd bring up Lyles before then, for just the reason you mention.  He'd still have Bud Norris in front of him in the rotation, so it's not like he'd be the missing link to the pennant.

[Ron Brand]

Are we talking tickets sold or actual asses in seats?  The former probably won't get much worse since a lot are pre-sold season and corporate tickets.  The latter projects to get much, much worse.  It's the second home series of the season, against the motherfucking Cubs, and no one is there.

Tickets sold. They NEVER release the AIS data.

[Ron Brand]

I seriously doubt they'd bring up Lyles before then, for just the reason you mention.  He'd still have Bud Norris in front of him in the rotation, so it's not like he'd be the missing link to the pennant.

I hope you two are right, he needs some time in AAA before he starts the clock by facing MLB hitters.

Mills said last night something to the effect of 'that's not the Figgy we know, he'll get it together' or something similar, implying that he's going to get a good, long look before Lyles is brought up if he has any say in it. If it's Pam trying to market A New Star then all bets are off.

[MusicMan]

He'd still have Bud Norris in front of him in the rotation, so it's not like he'd be the missing link to the pennant.

I'm starting to believe that "Bud Norris" is just an Anglicized version of "Octavio Dotel".

[jbm]

I thought that I read somewhere that there was no way he'd be up before the end of May so that they could avoid super-two issues down the road. Or was that just a hallucination?

Well I read a guy in the Chronicle this morning hint at that, but I don't remember hearing it from the organization. 

If they haven't already, the Astros are probably going to have to state it publically at some point, and since it appears that they felt this way before ST, they should have just stated it then.

[roadrunner]

And that's only because of the Cubs fans.

Oh, by the way, the bar right across the street from MMP (the Balcony or whatever's upstairs next to the BUS) is a Cubs bar now.  Not even kidding.  Cubs gear everywhere, the bartender was wearing a Cubs jersey, etc.  It's disgusting.

[Ron Brand]

Oh, by the way, the bar right across the street from MMP (the Balcony or whatever's upstairs next to the BUS) is a Cubs bar now.  Not even kidding.  Cubs gear everywhere, the bartender was wearing a Cubs jersey, etc.  It's disgusting.

That's really offensive. A piece of shit like that should be dealt with. With extreme prejudice.

[Limey]

That's really offensive. A piece of shit like that should be dealt with. With extreme prejudice.

I have a few molotov cocktails left over from election night...

[Ron Brand]

I have a few molotov cocktails left over from election night...

I didn't figure you as one for restraint. Why are they left over?

[MusicMan]

I didn't figure you as one for restraint. Why are they left over?

He figured the exchange rate wrong.

[Ron Brand]

He figured the exchange rate wrong.

Isn't there an app for that?

iMolotov?

[Mr. Happy]

I'm starting to believe that "Bud Norris" is just an Anglicized version of "Octavio Dotel".

This. This right here.

[BizidyDizidy]

I'm starting to believe that "Bud Norris" is just an Anglicized version of "Octavio Dotel".

Worse possible outcomes than Dotel.

[MusicMan]

Worse possible outcomes than Dotel.

Certainly.  But these consistent 5th/6th inning meltdowns remind me too much of 2000.

[Ron Brand]

Certainly.  But these consistent 5th/6th inning meltdowns remind me too much of 2000.

It's Lima Time, baby!

I miss that guy.

[EasTexAstro]

Oh, by the way, the bar right across the street from MMP (the Balcony or whatever's upstairs next to the BUS) is a Cubs bar now.  Not even kidding.  Cubs gear everywhere, the bartender was wearing a Cubs jersey, etc.  It's disgusting.

Keep them in one place. Just make sure they don't try to take over FS.

[austro]

Keep them in one place.

Nuke 'em from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

[Mr. Happy]

Certainly.  But these consistent 5th/6th inning meltdowns remind me too much of 2000.

Or not even getting to the fifth inning. Those are bullpen killers.

[AtascAstro]

Mills said last night something to the effect of 'that's not the Figgy we know, he'll get it together' or something similar

This opinion isn't completely without merit, it just requires the same kind of happy fortune that we are depending on for...well everybody wearing an Astros uniform.  All of his trouble came with 2 outs, one could see hope in that if hope is all you've got left anyway.

Either way...we'll be getting more Figgy pudding.  Here's hoping he finds that elusive 3rd out.

[Limey]

He figured the exchange rate wrong.

Litres instead of pints.  It's easy to do when hopped up on hope and change.