Astros @ Brewers 08/01/12

[Mr. Happy]

Your lineups for this matinee special:

Astros

CFJordan Schafer
2BJose Altuve
3BScott Moore
1BBrett Wallace
LFBen Francisco
RFBrian Bogusevic
CCarlos Corporan
SSMarwin Gonzalez
PJordan Lyles

Brewers

RF Nyjer Morgan 
CF Carlos Gomez 
LF Ryan Braun 
3B Aramis Ramirez 
1B Corey Hart 
2B Rickie Weeks 
C Jonathan Lucroy 
SS Cesar Izturis 
P Michael Fiers

[Mr. Happy]

Astros go down in order in the top of the first inning. 0- Bottom 1

[Mr. Happy]

T-Plush, who had reached on an E-5, stole 2B on a poor throw by Corporan. And now Lyles walks Gomez, putting runners on 1B and 2B to Peen.

[juliogotay]

Lyles impressed me that first inning.

[Reuben]

Lyles impressed me that first inning.

What happened?

[Mr. Happy]

What happened?

Runners on 1B and 2B with nobody out with Braun up. He grounds out, moving the runners to 2B and 3B. Errormiss gets on by another error by More, his second of the inning, scoring T-Plush. Hart grounded into a twin killing to end the inning with no further damage.

[Mr. Happy]

Lyles impressed me that first inning.

And now Bogusevic gets into the error game, moving Weeks, who had singled, to 3B. But we were saved by the old 1-4-2 twin killing to end the frame. That's three errors and two double plays through two.

[Matt]

And now Bogusevic gets into the error game, moving Weeks, who had singled, to 3B. But we were saved by the old 1-4-2 twin killing to end the frame. That's three errors and two double plays through two.

Nice to see Lyles getting through those errors now. He's had problems with that in the past.

[juliogotay]

Nice to see Lyles getting through those errors now. He's had problems with that in the past.

He's had plenty of practice at workiing with errors behind him.

[Mr. Happy]

Wallace homers to make it 2-1.

[juliogotay]

Wallace homers to make it 2-1.

That was well-tagged. Hope it gets him going.

[juliogotay]

428 ft. on Wally's HR.

[Mr. Happy]

That was well-tagged. Hope it gets him going.

Me too. The kid is incredibly strong. He's from Napa, which is where I live. I saw him play high school ball at Justin-Siena. It was like a man against boys.

[Mr. Happy]

Lyles has reached 95 twice. That's the highest gun reading that I've ever seen from him.

[juliogotay]

Lyles has reached 95 twice. That's the highest gun reading that I've ever seen from him.

He really looks like a MLer today so far. We're approaching middle innings so let's see how the next time thru the order goes.

[Mr. Happy]

Sacks full with one out to Lucroy.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Hey, I remembered, a day game. An early lead.

[MusicMan]

Sigh.  Altuve stops ball up the middle, tries glove flip to Marwin, misses completely and two runs score.

[NeilT]

Hey, I remembered, a day game. An early lead.

They'll take care of that for you.

[Duman]

four errors in four innings - ouch!

[Mr. Happy]

Well, fuckity mcfuck fuck. 3-2 now. Another error on Altuve, his tenth, on a somewhat ill-advised glove toss since he didn't seem to have a shot at Weeks, but it was a good try at least. The inning end 3-2.

[Bench]

I saw him play high school ball at Justin-Siena. It was like a man against boys.

Catholic school?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

DoRay = FuckStick

[Mr. Happy]

Catholic school?

Yes.

[MusicMan]

He really looks like a MLer today so far. We're approaching middle innings so let's see how the next time thru the order goes.

You were saying?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Fucking shit fuck fucker shitting fuckly shitteringly.

[juliogotay]

You were saying?

Yep. I don't know how they're going to get him past being a four inning pitcher.

[BizidyDizidy]

Yep. I don't know how they're going to get him past being a four inning pitcher.

Ask ducky

[Mr. Happy]

Yep. I don't know how they're going to get him past being a four inning pitcher.

It would be a shame if the kid can't put it together. He's got potential, but potential and a dollar gets you on the streetcar in New Orleans.

[Mr. Happy]

In transaction news, the Dodgers DFA'd Bobby Abreu, who didn't hit well at all.I think that he's done at 38, but he had a nice big league career. I wish that he'd have never left the Astros.

[Mr. Happy]

FeRod with a real battle with Peen. Over ten pitches in this sequence and counting.

[Mr. Happy]

Peen goes oppo on the 14th pitch of the at-bat. 10-2 now.

[Mr. Happy]

FeRod hangs that hammer to Errormiss, who doubles. Fuck.

[NeilT]

In transaction news, the Dodgers DFA'd Bobby Abreu, who didn't hit well at all.I think that he's done at 38, but he had a nice big league career. I wish that he'd have never left the Astros.

'Cause then we could trade him?

[Mr. Happy]

'Cause then we could trade him?

I'm trying to remember who we got for him. Or did we leave him unprotected in an expansion draft? I have forgotten.

[Mr. Happy]

That was Schreefer's 100th strikeout in just 296 at-bats. That is awful when you consider his offensive output (.222 BA; 4 homers and 23 RBIs), which is downright offensive in and of itself.

[juliogotay]

I'm trying to remember who we got for him. Or did we leave him unprotected in an expansion draft? I have forgotten.

expansion draft.

[juliogotay]

I am starting to consider that this may be the worst ML team ever assembled. It is truly dreadful.

[Ron Brand]

I am starting to consider that this may be the worst ML team ever assembled. It is truly dreadful.

As shitty as these guys are, I don't think they lose to the 1962 Mets in a seven game series.

[Mr. Happy]

I am starting to consider that this may be the worst ML team ever assembled. It is truly dreadful.

I was thinking the exact same thing. If it isn't the worst club in history, it's in the top five. And Agent Cordero on to pitch now to mop up.

[Mr. Happy]

How are we going to get six more fucking outs today? Will we?

[BizidyDizidy]

Is there any chance this current post-trade team isn't the worst of all time? They are 3-27 in the last 30.

[Mr. Happy]

Is Millsie really going to leave Cordero out there much longer? I smell a Matt Downs pitching performance today.

[Mr. Happy]

Is it too late to DFA Cordero today? That's what I'd do.

[Mr. Happy]

Wallace isn't giving up, homering to bring us back within ten. 13-4.

[pots]

Revocable Waivers
This allows you to trade a player after the trade deadline and to reassign players not eligible for optional assignment. Only seven players may be placed on revocable waivers by a team at one time. Players clear revocable waivers in 48 hours. If another team claims the player of revocable waivers, the owning team has three options.

1.Reclaim the player to the roster he was originally taken from. The player may not be moved from that roster for a period of one week, except in case of injury.
2.Trade the player to the claiming team.
3.Allow the player to be claimed which results in the claiming team paying the remainder of the player's current contract.
 

48 hours.  So if I'm Luhnow, Bogie and Schafer are in my first seven and were submitted August 1st 12:01 am

Not sure, the clock may have started ticking at July 31st 4:01 PM EST

[The Seeker]

In transaction news, the Dodgers DFA'd Bobby Abreu, who didn't hit well at all.I think that he's done at 38, but he had a nice big league career. I wish that he'd have never left the Astros.

Without Hindsight, I still think protecting Hidalgo was the right call at the time.

I still remember the time when Harry Caray drunkenly slurred his name into Bob Aruba.

[juliogotay]

I was thinking the exact same thing. If it isn't the worst club in history, it's in the top five. And Agent Cordero on to pitch now to mop up.

"Mop up" implies that he is cleaning something up...like someone else's mess. As usual Cordero shit all over himself.

[Bench]

expansion draft.

Right, claimed by Tampa Bay a the 6th pick and then flipped to the Phillies for Kevin Stocker.

[Bench]

As shitty as these guys are, I don't think they lose to the 1962 Mets in a seven game series.

I'm sure there are some crappy WWII era teams that the team would wipe the floor with.

[pots]

Without Hindsight, I still think protecting Hidalgo was the right call at the time.

I still remember the time when Harry Caray drunkenly slurred his name into Bob Aruba.

Nah, the correct move was not protecting Derek Bell

[The Seeker]

Nah, the correct move was not protecting Derek Bell

good point. Does anyone actually know who all was protected/unprotected in the expansion draft?

[chuck]

expansion draft.

Thanks, Gerry.

[Lefty]

Nah, the correct move was not protecting Derek Bell

 Protected list

Here is what is believed to be the Astros' 15-man protected list for Tuesday's expansion draft:

OF Moises Alou
C Brad Ausmus.
1B Jeff Bagwell
OF Derek Bell.
2B Craig Biggio
C Ramon Castro.
RHP Scott Elarton
SS Carlos Guillen.
LHP Mike Hampton
OF Richard Hidalgo.
RHP Chris Holt
C Mitch Meluskey.
RHP Shane Reynolds
LHP Billy Wagner.
1B/OF Daryle Ward

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1997_3015630/astros-pin-strategy-on-98-run-hunsicker-enters-dra.html

Holt = Oops

[juliogotay]

Right, claimed by Tampa Bay a the 6th pick and then flipped to the Phillies for Kevin Stocker.

Tampa really fucked up.

[juliogotay]

Thanks, Gerry.

Letting Santana get drafted away was a bigger screwup.

[Bench]

Holt = Oops

Meluskey = Fuckbomb

[Mr. Happy]

Meluskey = Fuckbomb

I still can't believe that Bleach was on that list. Unless a catcher is just head and shoulders above league average, and Meluskey clearly wasn't, it would seem to me that you go ahead and take the risk that the expansion club will take him.

[Reuben]

they traded righthanded relievers Oscar Henriquez and Manny Barrios to the Florida Marlins in exchange for outfielder Moises Alou.

Thanks, Gerry!

By the way, it's pretty weird/fascinating to read that article now, with 15 years of hindsight.

[chuck]

I still can't believe that Bleach was on that list. Unless a catcher is just head and shoulders above league average, and Meluskey clearly wasn't, it would seem to me that you go ahead and take the risk that the expansion club will take him.

And Ramon Castro?

[Mr. Happy]

And Ramon Castro?

Him too. If that was the best of the lot back then, and I'll assume that it was, then we should have taken the risk to have to start over at that position.

[Reuben]

And Ramon Castro?

Former 17th-overall pick Ramon Castro.

[chuck]

Former 17th-overall pick Ramon Castro.

Jeff Luhnow? Is that you?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Ramon Castro, the rapist?

[MusicMan]

I am starting to consider that this may be the worst ML team ever assembled. It is truly dreadful.

They're bad, but this is pure hyperbole.  We're just not counting the first two months any more?

[BizidyDizidy]

They're bad, but this is pure hyperbole.  We're just not counting the first two months any more?

Fine, but is the current team on the field going to be the worst to ever play 80+ games?

[MusicMan]

Fine, but is the current team on the field going to be the worst to ever play 80+ games?

Again, look pack at the Tiger teams 10 years ago.  They had to have a sweep at home to avoid the worst record EVER.

[BizidyDizidy]

Again, look pack at the Tiger teams 10 years ago.  They had to have a sweep at home to avoid the worst record EVER.

First, let's see if this team wins 8 more games. Second, to have a better winning percentage from July on than the Tigers team did for the season, they have to win 20 more games.

[Ron Brand]

First, let's see if this team wins 8 more games. Second, to have a better winning percentage from July on than the Tigers team did for the season, they have to win 20 more games.

It's not a challenge until the Chron says it is.

[BizidyDizidy]

Looking on the bright side, I think this team should have on impact on how VORP/WAR is calculated.

[Mr. Happy]

They're bad, but this is pure hyperbole.  We're just not counting the first two months any more?

This team without Carlos Lee, Chris Johnson, Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers and even JA Happ, who we had in the first two months of the season, is the worst big league team I've ever seen. By far.

[Reuben]

This team without Carlos Lee, Chris Johnson, Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers and even JA Happ, who we had in the first two months of the season, is the worst big league team I've ever seen. By far.

Is their horrible recent record (3-28? I forget) really because those guys were traded, though? Most of them were still on the Astros during that stretch. Lee's loss hurt, but it's the easiest one to replace from here on, because you can expect Wallace to do fairly well now that he's back. CJ arguably hurt the team as much as he helped it. Same for Happ, although his loss will actually hurt the team in Aug/Sep, because the pitching at OKC is unusually wretched.

To me, the departures of Wandy, Myers, and Lyon will hurt, for the rest of the year, but you also have to admit that a combination of shitty play and bad luck/timing has had more to do with their record over the last month than the trades.

[juliogotay]

Is their horrible recent record (3-28? I forget) really because those guys were traded, though? Most of them were still on the Astros during that stretch. Lee's loss hurt, but it's the easiest one to replace from here on, because you can expect Wallace to do fairly well now that he's back. CJ arguably hurt the team as much as he helped it. Same for Happ, although his loss will actually hurt the team in Aug/Sep, because the pitching at OKC is unusually wretched.

To me, the departures of Wandy, Myers, and Lyon will hurt, for the rest of the year, but you also have to admit that a combination of shitty play and bad luck/timing has had more to do with their record over the last month than the trades.

But the shitty play far outweighs any bad luck/timing issues. The run differential in these past weeks has been horrific. So many games they just aren't in them by the 6th, 7th inning.

[chuck]

This team without Carlos Lee, Chris Johnson, Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers and even JA Happ, who we had in the first two months of the season, is the worst big league team I've ever seen. By far.

My guess is that the people that want to argue with you about this don't watch a lot of the games.

[austro]

This team without Carlos Lee, Chris Johnson, Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers and even JA Happ, who we had in the first two months of the season, is the worst big league team I've ever seen. By far.

Worst team you've ever seen, maybe. But worst team ever? We'll have to ask Coach about the Spiders before we can answer that.

[Mr. Happy]

Is their horrible recent record (3-28? I forget) really because those guys were traded, though? Most of them were still on the Astros during that stretch. Lee's loss hurt, but it's the easiest one to replace from here on, because you can expect Wallace to do fairly well now that he's back. CJ arguably hurt the team as much as he helped it. Same for Happ, although his loss will actually hurt the team in Aug/Sep, because the pitching at OKC is unusually wretched.

To me, the departures of Wandy, Myers, and Lyon will hurt, for the rest of the year, but you also have to admit that a combination of shitty play and bad luck/timing has had more to do with their record over the last month than the trades.

You have a point, but I was as much looking prospectively as I was looking at the post-trade play. I see a distinct possibility of the club rivaling the 2003 Detroit Tigers' record, as Dark Star chronicled it over at the Talk Zone.

[Mr. Happy]

Worst team you've ever seen, maybe. But worst team ever? We'll have to ask Coach about the Spiders before we can answer that.

Coach knows all and tells more.

[MusicMan]

My guess is that the people that want to argue with you about this don't watch a lot of the games.

Yeah, I'm pretty much a bandwagon jumper that never really watches the team.

[Mr. Happy]

Yeah, I'm pretty much a bandwagon jumper that never really watches the team.

Did you want to quibble over my point too? If so, I didn't see it anywhere above after my post. In any event, we all know that you're a true fan and that you closely follow the club, and I respect your opinion very much. What's your take on the club's current standing as one of the worst in recent memory?