06/22/11: Astros at TBiA

[OregonStrosFan]

Conflicting Astros 06/22 lineups posted today. Which would you prefer?

Astros 06/22 lineup (per Levine via Twitter):

Bourn, Bourgeois (RF), Keppinger, Lee (DH), Wallace, Johnson, Michaels (LF), Barmes, Corporan


Astros 06/22 lineup (per Bateman scribe via Twitter):

Morgan 2B, Jackson SS, Wynn CF, Nicholson RF, Aspromonte 3B, Harrison 1B, Bateman C, Staub LF, Bruce P.

[Ron Brand]

I'll take the one with more living players.

[94CougarGrad]

I'll vote for the one that'll produce more hits n' runs than the other team.

[chuck]

Que lindo es el Himno Istmeño!

[Mr. Happy]

Rangers scrimp out a run on a wild pitch. 1-0 Top 2

[Limey]

USA takes a one goal lead, 13+ minutes left. 

[Limey]

USA takes a one goal lead, 13+ minutes left. 

PEEP.  PEEP.  PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

USA wins. 

[chuck]

Chucha madre. I knew it was going to be tough without our best striker but fuck me, I didn't realize it would be mass confusion offensively. Still, they had their chances.

[Mr. Happy]

Meanwhile, back at the ball game, the Astros are making yet another very ordinary pitcher who has made and gotten away with numerous mistake pitches look like Cy Young.

[austro]

The US goal was very pretty (especially the way they secured the ball in their end to start the counter). And Adu showed a flash of what he can do.

[austro]

And Hamilton gets his bat through the hitting area as fast as anybody I've ever seen.

[Mr. Happy]

And Hamilton gets his bat through the hitting area as fast as anybody I've ever seen.

It's really remarkable.

[chuck]

The US goal was very pretty (especially the way they secured the ball in their end to start the counter). And Adu showed a flash of what he can do.

I don't understand why Machado, the defender marking Dempsey, let the ball get to him rather than attacking the ball and clearing it.

[chuck]

It's really remarkable.

Imagine what the Reds would look like offensively if they'd had the wherewithal to hang onto him.

[austro]

I don't understand why Machado, the defender marking Dempsey, let the ball get to him rather than attacking the ball and clearing it.

I'll have to look at replays, but I don't think he had much of a choice. He was at severe risk of an own goal.

[austro]

There's the home run. I'm glad that's out of the way. At least there wasn't anybody on base.

[chuck]

There's the home run. I'm glad that's out of the way. At least there wasn't anybody on base.

Myers has given up 20. The Astros have hit 41.

[MusicMan]

Imagine what the Reds would look like offensively if they'd had the wherewithal to hang onto him.

They did.  But they figured:

a. They had Bruce and Stubbs;
b. Hamilton was unlikely to reproduce the season.

If we're into what-ifs, what would Tampa look like if Hamilton hadn't gone off the rails?

[chuck]

They did.  But they figured:

a. They had Bruce and Stubbs;
b. Hamilton was unlikely to reproduce the season.

If we're into what-ifs, what would Tampa look like if Hamilton hadn't gone off the rails?

I think we can agree that Hamilton would improve any team.

Back to the Astros, I'm really missing Pence and Towles. That is how bad things are.

[Bench]

I like how JD doesn't care about the meaningless thing Joe Maddon did.

[Mr. Happy]

I like how JD doesn't care about the meaningless thing Joe Maddon did.

I didn't catch what Maddon did, because my wife was talking. What did he do?

[Bench]

I didn't catch what Maddon did, because my wife was talking. What did he do?

All I know is what JD and Brownie said, but apparently he brought in an outfielder to warm up at the beginning of an inning after they pulled the starter to give the reliever a chance to get loose only to call in the reliever after the outfielder had taken the inning starting warmup pitches so that the reliever could take his 8 warmups on top of the extra loosening up time.  Or something like that. 

Brownie tried to spin it as some sort of "mockery" but JD wasn't having any of it.

[jbm]

CJ sure looks like he could use a break.  He has had some awful ABs lately. Swing at shit and whiff on cookies.

[chuck]

CJ sure looks like he could use a break.  He has had some awful ABs lately. Swing at shit and whiff on cookies.

I was just trying to remember the last time I saw him hit one on the screws.

[Bench]

I was just trying to remember the last time I saw him hit one on the screws.

September 2010.

[Bench]

JD: "And Mike Lamb's wife.  She could play a little bit too."

Brownie: "Theresa?  Oh yeah.  OUTSTANDING!"


This is why I love our home announcers.

[dirty steve]

heads up advancing to second by sanchez.

[OregonStrosFan]

I was just trying to remember the last time I saw him hit one on the screws.

Yesterday?

[OregonStrosFan]

Yesterday?

Off the LF fence in Petco?

[Bench]

Off the LF fence in Petco?

Who are you arguing with?

[OregonStrosFan]

Who are you arguing with?

Who is that butting in on our conversation?

[OregonStrosFan]

Who is that butting in on our conversation?

I have no idea, you?

[OregonStrosFan]

I have no idea, you?

Not a clue.

[OregonStrosFan]

Not a clue.

Thanks!

[OregonStrosFan]

Thanks!

You're welcome!

[dirty steve]

dave bush reminds me of right-handed chris capuano.

[dirty steve]

since he has been the closer, melancon seems to have been in more non-save situations than save opportunities.

[chuck]

since he has been the closer, melancon seems to have been in more non-save situations than save opportunities.

You have to have a lead for it to be a save situation.

[jbm]

Michaels looks like he could use a break.  He has had some awful ABs lately. Swinging at shit and whiffing at cookies.

[chuck]

I don't believe it.

[hostros7]

Holy jeez

[JaneDoe]

Heck yes, DOWNS!!

[jbm]

Fuck yeah. Tie ballgame.

Oh, I mean they got the fucking lead.

[pots]

Downs!!

[BudGirl]

I really think Matt Downs deserves more starts.  And I thought that prior to his HR.

[JaneDoe]

I don't believe it.

You don't believe what you just saw?

[hostros7]

Why make that switch with two outs and no one on, down two? 

[OregonStrosFan]

I know I'm a bit late to the dance on that one... but... MATT FRIGGIN' DOWNS!!!

That is all!

[chuck]

You don't believe what you just saw?

No.

I do, too, BG. I'm hoping he gets into a rotation between 2nd and 3rd once Kepp gets traded.

[BudGirl]

Why make that switch with two outs and no one on, down two? 

bourn k

that's why.

[Mr. Happy]

I really think Matt Downs deserves more starts.  And I thought that prior to his HR.

I'm ready to hand him the hot corner job over Clank II.

[drew corleone]

I'm ready to hand him the hot corner job over Clank II.

[all in favor]Aye[/all in favor]

[BudGirl]

No.

I do, too, BG. I'm hoping he gets into a rotation between 2nd and 3rd once Kepp gets traded.

right now my infield would be wallace, keppinger or sanchez, barmes, and downs.  i'm over johnson at 3rd.  i don't know why he hasn't hit better and i don't know that i care anymore.

and i'll be honest about bourgeious, i like him but i don't think he is the savior some seem to think he might be.

[jbm]

Don't let Hamilton come to bat. End it here.

[JaneDoe]

Nice win.

[roadrunner]

right now my infield would be wallace, keppinger or sanchez, barmes, and downs.  i'm over johnson at 3rd.  i don't know why he hasn't hit better and i don't know that i care anymore.

and i'll be honest about bourgeious, i like him but i don't think he is the savior some seem to think he might be.

He's no savior, just a million times more fun to watch than Carlos.  And at this point, anything to make this team more watchable is favorable in my eyes.

[Jacksonian]

i'm over johnson at 3rd.  i don't know why he hasn't hit better and i don't know that i care anymore.

He has.  Some folks just don't want to see it.  He's improved every month.  .185 April, .250 May and he's over .300 in June.

[BudGirl]

He has.  Some folks just don't want to see it.  He's improved every month.  .185 April, .250 May and he's over .300 in June.

i don't have a problem being wrong about him.

[chuck]

Of course Carlos and CJ both had key hits in the 9th inning rally.

And meanwhile Mexico has managed not to score in a half against Honduras. How sweet would it be if Honduras beat these insufferable punks?

[BudGirl]

Of course Carlos and CJ both had key hits in the 9th inning rally.

And meanwhile Mexico has managed not to score in a half against Honduras. How sweet would it be if Honduras beat these insufferable punks?

very

[94CougarGrad]

Holy jeebus, we beat the trailer parkers tonight. Yay!

[OregonStrosFan]

He has.  Some folks just don't want to see it.  He's improved every month.  .185 April, .250 May and he's over .300 in June.

I could be (and usually am) wrong about this, but it seems that Johnson has been hitting a lot better than his numbers would imply. Just having a heck of a time to get 'em to fall (and dealing with the hits to the psyche that have resulted)...

[Limey]

Of course Carlos and CJ both had key hits in the 9th inning rally.

And meanwhile Mexico has managed not to score in a half against Honduras. How sweet would it be if Honduras beat these insufferable punks?

Chicharito just missed a sitter.  The referee is the most entertaining thing about this game; he is cracking me up with his flamboyance. 

[rifraft]

Chicharito just missed a sitter. 

Giovani dos Santos, se la perdioooooooo!

[MRaup]

Since nobody else seems to be able to produce enough anger for this, I hope the stupid fucking Rangers lose the division and/or wildcard by one game, and they can look back on this one, that they lost to the suck-ass Astros, and pinpoint this game as the reason they didn't make the playoffs.

FUCK the Rangers.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Since nobody else seems to be able to produce enough anger for this, I hope the stupid fucking Rangers lose the division and/or wildcard by one game, and they can look back on this one, that they lost to the suck-ass Astros, and pinpoint this game as the reason they didn't make the playoffs.

FUCK the Rangers.

I've come around to your way of thinking.

[austro]

Since nobody else seems to be able to produce enough anger for this, I hope the stupid fucking Rangers lose the division and/or wildcard by one game, and they can look back on this one, that they lost to the suck-ass Astros, and pinpoint this game as the reason they didn't make the playoffs.

FUCK the Rangers.

I am intrigued by your ideas, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[94CougarGrad]

I am intrigued by your ideas, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Is there a street address, or perhaps a post office box, where I may send a donation to the cause?

[MRaup]

I'd post it, but I fear they might track me down from it.