Astros at Reds, 5/4/11

[MusicMan]

Astros:
CF Bourn
LF Bourgeois
RF Pence
1b Wallace
3b Johnson
2b Hall
SS Barmes
C  Towles
P Aneury Rodriguez

[Limey]

I wonder which lucky Queen City resident has been detailed as the fan who has to show up today.  There are so many empty chairs it should be broadcast on C-SPAN.

[MusicMan]

Dear my20pixels:

Damn you for making me encounter "Are You Smarter Than Jeff Foxworthy" while waiting for the game.

[Gizzmonic]

Bourn Ks on 3 pitches. Crappy.

[Limey]

Maybe they need to serve stronger coffee in the Astros' locker room.

[sporadic]

MLB Gamecast just lowered Cincy's chance of winning from 55% to 54% after that dominant inning by Rodriguez.

[Rebel Jew]

Alright! Got an hour break and mlb.tv on the computer. Apparently there's no home feed of the game so it's all noodle chili and you guys.

[Limey]

Is it still dark in Cincy?  It doesn't appear that the hitters on either team can see the ball.

[ValpoCory]

Finally a hit. 

[Limey]

Alright! Got an hour break and mlb.tv on the computer. Apparently there's no home feed of the game so it's all noodle chili meat soup with chocolate and you guys.

FIFY

[Limey]

Finally a hit. 

And in the flurry of swinging strikeouts, whodathunkit'd be Hall to get it?

[Limey]

BTW, how does one "double to shallow right" in the majors*?


* When not playing against the Astros.

[austro]

BTW, how does one "double to shallow right" in the majors*?

Right on the line behind 1st, I'd guess.

[Rebel Jew]

I wonder which lucky Queen City resident has been detailed as the fan who has to show up today.  There are so many empty chairs it should be broadcast on C-SPAN.

Who's going to show up to a baseball game at noon on a Wednesday? Are people really going to skip work or pull their kids out of chocolate chili school because they have tickets to Reds-Astros?

[subnuclear]

Who's going to show up to a baseball game at noon on a Wednesday? Are people really going to skip work or pull their kids out of chocolate chili school because they have tickets to Reds-Astros?

retirees, people who work nights and weekends, unemployed people, people who can do all their work from their phone, professional criminals and gamblers.

[MusicMan]

Right on the line behind 1st, I'd guess.

It was a solid line drive down the right field line.

[Rebel Jew]

retirees, people who work nights and weekends, unemployed people, people who can do all their work from their phone, professional criminals and gamblers.

So basically Chuck

[Gizzmonic]

retirees, people who work nights and weekends, unemployed people, people who can do all their work from their phone, professional criminals and gamblers.

But enough about Pete Rose.

[sporadic]

yipee Ki A motherfucker, rodeo clown with a double

[OregonStrosFan]

So basically Chuck

SFN!

[Gizzmonic]

Stay hot Jason Bourgeois!

[MusicMan]

Take your time getting well, Carlos.  I like having Boojwah in the lineup.

[Rebel Jew]

It's the Bourgeouis-Towles show in Houston.

[roadrunner]

Who would've guessed the offense would be the strength of this team?  Especially with Lee being abysmal.

[Gizzmonic]

Who would've guessed the offense would be the strength of this team?  Especially with Lee being abysmal.

It's pretty surprising.  A pessimist might say they've also faced a lot of shitty pitching so far.

[pots]

It's pretty surprising.  A pessimist might say they've also faced a lot of shitty pitching so far.

Not sure that is true.  Any facts to back that up?

[MusicMan]

Get Hunter Pence the fuck off this team.  He's embarrassing.

[Gizzmonic]

Not sure that is true.  Any facts to back that up?

Nope, just my own pessimistic view.

[Rebel Jew]

Goddammit Pence! I hope that doesn't affect his UZR

[subnuclear]

It's pretty surprising.  A pessimist might say they've also faced a lot of shitty pitching so far.

They've faced PHI, FLA and SDP all of whom are pretty good pitching teams and hit them well enough. If their bullpen were as good as last year, I think they would be at least at .500.

[pots]

One thing is for sure, batters won't get too comfortable with Annie on the mound

[Rebel Jew]

Impressive pitching from Rodriguez. It's gotta be tough when you're a rookie and the team leader is trying to give the game away to the other team, but he fought through it.

[Gizzmonic]

They've faced PHI, FLA and SDP all of whom are pretty good pitching teams and hit them well enough. If their bullpen were as good as last year, I think they would be at least at .500.

Yeah, I'm just thinking of recent exploits vs. the Cards, Brewers, and Reds.

[Limey]

BTW people, the Astros scored two before Fat Arse Wallace g'd into a dp.  2-0 Astros into the 4th.

[pots]

Yeah, I'm just thinking of recent exploits vs. the Cards, Brewers, and Reds.

I was under the impression that the 3 pitchers the Astros faced against the Cards were among the league leaders in ERA.  True they beat up the pen, but they had to get to the pen first.

[Limey]

Goddammit Pence! I hope that doesn't affect his UZR

'Splain?

[MusicMan]

'Splain?

Pence made another Crazy Ivan on a deep fly ball, missing it completely for a triple.

[Limey]

Pence made another Crazy Ivan on a deep fly ball, missing it completely for a triple.

He really is a bad baseball player.  Like Roger Cedeno on goofballs.

[Ebby Calvin]

Get Hunter Pence the fuck off this team.  He's embarrassing.

What happened?
He either:

A) struck out on a ball in the dirt
B) missed the cutoff man
C) took a terrible route to a flyball
D) pissed in Baggy's coffee
E) rolled over the first pitch from a pitcher who's lost control
F) GIDP on a 3-0 count
G) looked generally clueless

So which is it?

[Matt]

What happened?
He either:

A) struck out on a ball in the dirt
B) missed the cutoff man
C) took a terrible route to a flyball
D) pissed in Baggy's coffee
E) rolled over the first pitch from a pitcher who's lost control
F) GIDP on a 3-0 count
G) looked generally clueless

So which is it?

We need a Hunter Pence Flow Chart

[Rebel Jew]

What happened?
He either:

A) struck out on a ball in the dirt
B) missed the cutoff man
C) took a terrible route to a flyball
D) pissed in Baggy's coffee
E) rolled over the first pitch from a pitcher who's lost control
F) GIDP on a 3-0 count
G) looked generally clueless

So which is it?

C and G

[Limey]

What happened?
He either:

A) struck out on a ball in the dirt
B) missed the cutoff man
C) took a terrible route to a flyball
D) pissed in Baggy's coffee
E) rolled over the first pitch from a pitcher who's lost control
F) GIDP on a 3-0 count
G) looked generally clueless

So which is it?

You forgot H) All of the above. 

[MusicMan]

What happened?
He either:

A) struck out on a ball in the dirt
B) missed the cutoff man
C) took a terrible route to a flyball
D) pissed in Baggy's coffee
E) rolled over the first pitch from a pitcher who's lost control
F) GIDP on a 3-0 count
G) looked generally clueless

So which is it?

C and G, but we need an option for terrible baserunning.

[OregonStrosFan]

Pence made another Crazy Ivan on a deep fly ball, missing it completely for a triple and the only hit to that point for the Reds.

FIFY... (and no, I wasn't expecting a no-no, but still... Dammit Hunter)...

[MusicMan]

Aneury f'ing Rodriguez, ladies and gentlemen.  I think he'll get another turn in the rotation.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Hell yes.  Loving the Aneurysm.

[JimR]

Cincy announcer just said Pence should have caught the triple. That's our boy!

[MusicMan]

Cincy announcer just said Pence should have caught the triple. That's our boy!

There's absolutely no question.  Ruling it a triple instead of E9 was home cooking at its finest.

[BudGirl]

Cincy announcer just said Pence should have caught the triple. That's our boy!

our radio guys pretty much said the same thing without saying it.  for once i knew what they were talking about.

[OregonStrosFan]

Cincy announcer just said Pence should have caught the triple. That's our boy!

Imagine the twists and turns the hunt for bin Laden took over the past decade and then add some twists and turns.  That was pretty much Hunter's route to the ball (except that he didn't eventually 'make the grab' so to speak...).

[Limey]

There's absolutely no question.  Ruling it a triple instead of E9 was home cooking at its finest.

[HH] They cannot rule an error on an outfielder unless he touches the ball.  [/HH]

[hostros7]

[HH] They cannot rule an error on an outfielder unless he touches the ball.  [/HH]

Rule 10.12(a)(1) Comment: Slow handling of the ball that does not involve mechanical misplay shall not be construed as an error. For example, the official scorer shall not charge a fielder with an error if such fielder fields a ground ball cleanly but does not throw to first base in time to retire the batter. It is not necessary that the fielder touch the ball to be charged with an error. If a ground ball goes through a fielder's legs or a fly ball falls untouched and, in the scorer's judgment, the fielder could have handled the ball with ordinary effort, the official scorer shall charge such fielder with an error. For example, the official scorer shall charge an infielder with an error when a ground ball passes to either side of such infielder if, in the official scorer’s judgment, a fielder at that position making ordinary effort would have fielded such ground ball and retired a runner. The official scorer shall charge an outfielder with an error if such outfielder allows a fly ball to drop to the ground if, in the official scorer’s judgment, an outfielder at that position making ordinary effort would have caught such fly ball.

Note: this is preemptive

[austro]

Rule 10.12(a)(1) Comment: Slow handling of the ball that does not involve mechanical misplay shall not be construed as an error. For example, the official scorer shall not charge a fielder with an error if such fielder fields a ground ball cleanly but does not throw to first base in time to retire the batter. It is not necessary that the fielder touch the ball to be charged with an error. If a ground ball goes through a fielder's legs or a fly ball falls untouched and, in the scorer's judgment, the fielder could have handled the ball with ordinary effort, the official scorer shall charge such fielder with an error. For example, the official scorer shall charge an infielder with an error when a ground ball passes to either side of such infielder if, in the official scorer’s judgment, a fielder at that position making ordinary effort would have fielded such ground ball and retired a runner. The official scorer shall charge an outfielder with an error if such outfielder allows a fly ball to drop to the ground if, in the official scorer’s judgment, an outfielder at that position making ordinary effort would have caught such fly ball.

Note: this is preemptive

Is there any allowance for brain damage?

[MusicMan]

Melancon on in BOT 7 with two out in relief of Lopez, still 2-0.

[MusicMan]

I think Hanigan just fouled off a pitch that had bounced.

[EasTexAstro]

Is there any allowance for brain damage?

It said "ordinary effort". There is nothing ordinary about Pence.

[MusicMan]

Braveheart strikes out to end T8, likely ending his hitting streak.

[Mr. Happy]

Braveheart strikes out to end T8, likely ending his hitting streak.

He's human after all?

[Gizzmonic]

I think Hanigan just fouled off a pitch that had bounced.

Cricket?

[Mr. Happy]

Is Millsie going to run Lyon out there to "close" again?

[MusicMan]

Is Millsie going to run Lyon out there to "close" again?

Pretty much all that's left.  Fulchino pitched B8.

[ValpoCory]

Back under the Mendoza line for CJ.

[Mr. Happy]

Pretty much all that's left.  Fulchino pitched B8.

I send Fulchino out to pitch the ninth too.

[Reuben]

our radio guys pretty much said the same thing without saying it.  for once i knew what they were talking about.

So did JD, more bluntly.

[Mr. Happy]

You need swing and miss stuff to face Votto, which Lyon ain't got. I'm really worried about this one.

[ValpoCory]

3-0 on the leadoff man.  nice.

[ValpoCory]

4 pitch walk.  Uggh.

[MusicMan]

Lyon walks Stubbs on four fucking pitches.  I can't watch.

[Mr. Happy]

The league is hitting .340 against Lyon. That stinks.

[JaneDoe]

Lyon walks Stubbs on four fucking pitches.  I can't watch.

Me neither.  Of course, it is only Gameday, but still....

[ValpoCory]

Lyon going for win #4 on the year.

[EasTexAstro]

How do you vulture a win unless you give up some runs?

[chuck]

So basically Chuck

I knew this was coming.

I'll have you know that I am actually missing today's game due to important business meetings.

[Matt]

The league is hitting .340 against Lyon. That stinks.

Matt Lindstrom has a 0.77 ERA

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I just threw up in my mouth.  A lot.

[ValpoCory]

Oh, Good Lord.  2 on, 0 out.

[MusicMan]

WP/PB moves Stubbs to 2b.  Heisey singles through the right side, Stubbs stopps at 3b (ie, does not pull a Pence).

[Mr. Happy]

Get Lyon t he fuck out of there.

[MusicMan]

Get Lyon t he fuck out of there.

Too late.  You're down to Del Rosario and Figueroa.  We're screwed.

[ValpoCory]

I hate the concept of the closer when your closer sucks.

[OregonStrosFan]

You need swing and miss stuff to face Votto, which Lyon ain't got. I'm really worried about this one.

Ploy by Mills to take Spaz off the hook for ruining the potential combined no-hitter. Worked like a charm...

[JaneDoe]

Oh, Good Lord.  2 on, 0 out.

(eyes closed, fingers in ears)

LALALALALALALALALALALALA!!!!
LALALALALALALALALALALALA!!!!

[MusicMan]

Votto grounds sharply through right side, run scores, runners on first and second.

The only question is whether Lyon will get an out.

[ValpoCory]

Shit.

[ValpoCory]

Cincy now 53% favored to win.

[Gizzmonic]

Weak-ass shit, meat!

[BudGirl]

gameday went live.

[MusicMan]

Phillips up, 4 for 8 career vs. Lyon.  Who isn't?

[hostros7]

So much for the hope that Lee and Lyon would be "valuable trade chips" tradeable not suck at the deadline.  

[austro]

The only question is whether Lyon will get an out.

Unlikely.

[chuck]

Sure would be nice to have someone with some strikeout potential to call on, say, Valdez.

[ValpoCory]

all tied up.  lmao.

[ValpoCory]

How do you vulture a win unless you give up some runs?

Why yes, that's how you do it.

[toddthebod]

8 save opportunites, 4 blown saves.  Maybe the Astros should be rethinking who closes.

[pots]

Wow Lyon is not good.

[MusicMan]

Just cut his ass.

[ValpoCory]

I hate 3 year deals recently.  I hated the Kaz Matsui one and I hate the Brandon Lyon one.  I hate the 6 year deal too.

[MusicMan]

And I'm not halfway joking.  He has zero ability to get major league hitters out.

[JaneDoe]

Brad Mills.  Masochist.

[JimR]

8 save opportunites, 4 blown saves.  Maybe the Astros should be rethinking who closes.

Melancon anyone?

[matadorph]

Unfuckingbelievable. He has no business closing any longer.

[ValpoCory]

Nice loss Lyon.

[chuck]

Someone should tell this shithead that vulturing works better at home.

[JaneDoe]

8 save opportunites, 4 blown saves.  Maybe the Astros should be rethinking who closes.

Maybe??

[MusicMan]

Melancon anyone?

By all means, before we pitch his arm off.

Which reminds me, Lopez looked good today.

[Astroholic]

Just cut his ass.

Tell me again why we didnt resign Linstrom?  My thinking was that it could never hurt to have 1 more arm in the pen.  Damn it.

[austro]

Just cut his ass.

That's where the 3-yr, $15MM contract that people were laughing about last year hurts.

[MusicMan]

Unfuckingbelievable. He has no business closing any longer.

He has no business pitching in the majors.

[OregonStrosFan]

If you didn't see this comin', you ain't been watching...

[JackAstro]

Jesus, that was brutal.

[MusicMan]

That's where the 3-yr, $15MM contract that people were laughing about last year hurts.

Not as much as the 6-year, $100M one, and I'm in favor of eating that one, too.

[MusicMan]

Jesus, that was brutal.

Quick, painless, and entirely expected.

[hostros7]

Tell me again why we didnt resign Linstrom?  My thinking was that it could never hurt to have 1 more arm in the pen.  Damn it.

Because the Astros traded him?

[austro]

So did he get anybody out?

[Mr. Happy]

I called that one.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Gimme Valdez or Melancon.  Lyon's done.  Couldn't find the zone with a GPS.

[Ty in Tampa]

Is it a normal feeling to want to kick Lyon's ass?

[MusicMan]

So did he get anybody out?

No.  Hell no.  He didn't come anywhere close.

[moriartp]

Jesus.

[roadrunner]

He now has a 7.15 ERA.  

I hate the whole idea of a closer.  Just go with the hot hand (obviously not Lyon).

[austro]

No.  Hell no.  He didn't come anywhere close.

That's a rare talent.

[JimR]

Because the Astros traded him?

for Barmes, right? kinda hard to sign him when he plays for another team.

[BudGirl]

Because the Astros traded him?

we got barmes for paulino.  unless i am missing a trade, which is possible.

[Astroholic]

for Barmes, right? kinda hard to sign him when he plays for another team.

Yep.  I guess.

[MusicMan]

for Barmes, right? kinda hard to sign him when he plays for another team.

Barmes for Paulino, 2 minor leaguers for Lidstrom.

[Gizzmonic]

Melancon anyone?

Either one of those are a better option than Lyon.

[Reuben]

No.  Hell no.  He didn't come anywhere close.

To be fair, he got two or three ground balls. They were just hard ground balls, with the infield in a bit.

[Mr. Happy]

Gimme Valdez or Melancon.  Lyon's done.  Couldn't find the zone with a GPS.

Unfortunately, his pitches found too much of the plate, and they have all year. He's another Agent Jones.

[pots]

Angel Sanchez to close tomorrow

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

What a bum. Lyon must not be put in that position again. I think his results have proven the futility of that.

[MusicMan]

To be fair, he got two or three ground balls. They were just hard ground balls, with the infield in a bit.

They were hard enough hit that 6 guys in the infield would have stopped them.

[Astroholic]

Barmes for Paulino, 2 minor leaguers for Lidstrom.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/7352519.html

[JackAstro]

Quick, painless, and entirely expected.

Well, the first and last one, anyway.

[OregonStrosFan]

I called that one.

Not meaning to take away from your insightfullness here, but Ray Charles coulda seen this one coming...

[MusicMan]

"addresses surplus in bullpen's back end"

Sure as hell solved that problem.

[David in Jackson]

What a bum. Lyon must not be put in that position again. I think his results have proven the futility of that.

Terrible contract.  Just not a closer.  Middle inning fodder.

[JaneDoe]

Not meaning to take away from your insightfullness here, but Ray Charles coulda seen this one coming...

So you are saying Brad Mills is a blind man?

[pots]

DoRay wants to get him right back out there tomorrow

[JaneDoe]

"addresses surplus in bullpen's back end"

Sure as hell solved that problem.

Yeah, the back end is where Lyon shoved it today.  To his entire team.

[Astroholic]

"addresses surplus in bullpen's back end"

Sure as hell solved that problem.

good news is drayton got two minor league roster fillers and saved 1.5m.

Bad news is..convert those blown saves and then look at the stand....oh hell nevermind.

[JaneDoe]

DoRay wants to get him right back out there tomorrow

Now this does not surprise me.  Cubfan.  That says it all.

[hostros7]

Fuck Lyon, I've seen enough of his shit.  Letting down a "young" ballclub struggling for mediocrity repeatedly with deflating, cock-stepping performances is inexcusable.  The team needs to at least give someone else a chance.

[Mr. Happy]

Not meaning to take away from your insightfullness here, but Ray Charles coulda seen this one coming...

Brotehr Ray could have indeed.

[matadorph]

So did he get anybody out?

Do bar patrons count?

[MusicMan]

We now have more comments about Lyon than the rest of the game combined.

[pots]

Why does my heart have to go out to Lyon?  Does he not make 5 million dollars this year?  Screw you DoRay

[EasTexAstro]

The Astros could have scored more and not put Mills in the position of using Lyon....

[Rebel Jew]

Hey guys, I'm on break again. What did I miss? Did we win?

[Mr. Happy]

Why does my heart have to go out to Lyon?  Does he not make 5 million dollars this year?  Screw you DoRay

That guy sucks.

[austro]

We now have more comments about Lyon than the rest of the game combined.

That's because the Reds got more runs off of Lyon than the rest of the game combined.

[OregonStrosFan]

We now have more comments about Lyon than the rest of the game combined.

Brandon Lyon is now the #4 highest topic trending in the US right now on Twitter...

[MusicMan]

Why does my heart have to go out to Lyon?  Does he not make 5 million dollars this year?  Screw you DoRay

They are even worse at their jobs than Lyon.

[AstroNut]

Lyon sucks !

[Noe]

Melanchon will be the closer by year's end.  Bank on it.

[BudGirl]

Melanchon will be the closer by year's end.  Bank on it.

Not good enough.

[AstroNut]

With Lyon and this teams fielding...last place seems to be about right.

[jbm]

With Lyon and this teams fielding...last place seems to be about right.

With a capable closer, the season would have a far different feel.  In other words, it is not like the Astros are many players from being respectably mediocre.  They are not last-place crappy.  Not really even close IMO.

I suspect Mills makes a move next opportunity; who knows if it will work. 

Lost in Lyon's performance is that four relievers performed well in a tight game. 

[JimR]

With Lyon and this teams fielding...last place seems to be about right.

wrong

[AstroNut]

All I am saying is that with the errors made to date and the performance we are getting from Lyon...last place fits. How is that wrong...have you checked the standings? I am not saying we are a last place team...just that we have played our way into the cellar.

[MusicMan]

have you checked the standings? I am not saying we are a last place team...just that we have played our way into the cellar.

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

[MRaup]

All I am saying is that with the errors made to date and the performance we are getting from Lyon...last place fits. How is that wrong...have you checked the standings? I am not saying we are a last place team...just that we have played our way into the cellar.

We? Our?

Are you Hunter Pence?

[Lurch]

This will end as well as a Lyon-closed game.

[Limey]

Quick, painless, and entirely expected.

It's like being butt-fucked by someone who ejaculates prematurely.

[MusicMan]

It's like being butt-fucked by someone who ejaculates prematurely.

Didn't we agree that the chuck jokes should stop?

[HudsonHawk]

[HH] They cannot rule an error on an outfielder unless he touches the ball.  [/HH]

Huh?  When have I ever thought that, let alone posted it?

[Bench]

Huh?  When have I ever thought that, let alone posted it?

Just now.  Boom.

[Limey]

Didn't we agree that the chuck jokes should stop?

You can't stop chuck jokes from coming.

[Limey]

Lost in all the gnashing of teeth over Lyon, was the fact that the only hit prior to the 9th came on a fly ball to RF.  I just now saw that play.  W...T...F...?

Hunter ran about 10 yards too far towards centre, tried to backtrack, ended up with his back to the ball, and completely missed a warning track can o' corn.

He did get an RBI, but that was yet another pitch that he rolled over - it just happened to split the infield perfectly. 

I am convinced now, more than ever, that he is a bad ballplayer.  He has fast muscles...that's it.