Astros @ ATL 08/04/12

[Mr. Happy]

Your lineups:

Astros

2BJose Altuve
SSMarwin Gonzalez
RFBen Francisco
1BBrett Wallace
CFJustin Maxwell
LFJ.D. Martinez
3BMatt Downs
CChris Snyder
PLucas Harrell

Braves

CF Michael Bourn 
LF Martin Prado 
RF Jason Heyward 
3B Chipper Jones 
1B Freddie Freeman 
C Brian McCann 
2B Dan Uggla 
SS Paul Janish 
P Paul Maholm

[Fredia]

kathy (daughter) going to see the astros the 15 in chichago..who will she see pitch?

[Ron Brand]

Too early to tell, but I know who won't be hitting.

[Ron Brand]

Well, nerts. Altuve walks and then is doubled up on Marwin's grounder to Larry Wayne.

[Ron Brand]

Shit. Maholm isn't throwing anything special but he froze Francisco on a cutter inside for strike three.

[Mr. Happy]

Too early to tell, but I know who won't be hitting.

And who would that be? I don't know what Francisco was looking for, because even I knew that the cutter was coming. So he should have too.

[Ron Brand]

And who would that be? I don't know what Francisco was looking for, because even I knew that the cutter was coming. So he should have too.

I was responding to a post you didn't see.

[Ron Brand]

And who would that be? I don't know what Francisco was looking for, because even I knew that the cutter was coming. So he should have too.

Yeah, it was painfully obvious what was next.

[jbm]

Kuechel should play close attention to Maholm, as they have almost identical abilities. He threw two cutters in to Francisco and then froze him with a two seamer in.  Kuechel rarely does shit like that, but to be fair, pitching to the Astros is an easier gig than Keuchel has ever had.

[Ron Brand]

Kuechel should play close attention to Maholm, as they have almost identical abilities. He threw two cutters in to Francisco and then froze him with a two seamer in.  Kuechel rarely does shit like that, but to be fair, pitching to the Astros is an easier gig than Keuchel has ever had.

I guess, but Keuchel doesn't come close to having Maholm's command. He can get away with a middling fastball.

[Mr. Happy]

I was responding to a post you didn't see.

Oh. I know that I didn't miss much. Hey RB, when do I pick up a "contributor" on my SnS name?

[Ron Brand]

Oh. I know that I didn't miss much. Hey RB, when do I pick up a "contributor" on my SnS name?

I have no idea. Probably Noe or Waldo would know.

[austro]

Hey RB, when do I pick up a "contributor" on my SnS name?

You'll get it when the illuminati decide you're good and ready, and not a moment before. And simpering doesn't help your case.

[Ron Brand]

Harrell is respecting their bats a little too much.

[Mr. Happy]

Harrell is not going to get those calls. Glad Snyder jogged out to splain it to  him.

[austro]

Hey, JD: sometimes those balls carry.

[Ron Brand]

Hey, no mouth-breathers at the pool table.

[Mr. Happy]

You'll get it when the illuminati decide you're good and ready, and not a moment before. And simpering doesn't help your case.

Given my post count, I may get there before the end of this game. Then do I get a vote?

[Ron Brand]

You'll get it when the illuminati decide you're good and ready, and not a moment before. And simpering doesn't help your case.

Shit, I get a vote? I don't remember that in the Membership Kit.

[jbm]

I guess, but Keuchel doesn't come close to having Maholm's command. He can get away with a middling fastball.

Sure he does, he just lacks a plan and a will to execute it.

[Mr. Happy]

Maholm just got the call that Harrell was going for.

[Ron Brand]

Sure he does, he just lacks a plan and a will to execute it.

I'm gonna need a little more convincing.

[Ron Brand]

Nice changeup.

[Mr. Happy]

God damn, Bourn is good out there.

[Ron Brand]

Oh Schafer, why can't you be Baby Bourn?

[Ron Brand]

God damn, Bourn is good out there.

Yeah, we were ridiculously lucky to watch him every night for a while.

[Mr. Happy]

Downsie just missed that one, which was a mistake by Maholm.

[Fredia]

kinda sums up the astros whole season.

[Ron Brand]

I was at the 50th Anniversary game earlier this year and during BP some guy next to me got Prado's attention by speaking Spanish. Prado didn't understand him though, and then he yelled out, "Martin! Give me your hat!"

"My hat?"

"Yeah, give me your hat!"

Prado gave him a look like he'd just pissed on his shoes and turned back to jabbering with Livan.

[Ron Brand]

Uggla might as well forfeit his ABs right now.

[Ron Brand]

Blink and you might miss Harrell's next pitch. He doesn't fool around.

[Mr. Happy]

I know that I've said this before, but I love the way that Harrell works and approaches hitters. I'm going to recap this one, even if we lose, which we probably will. But what else is new?

[Ron Brand]

That is an absolutely hideous umbrella.

[Ron Brand]

Tough call for Snyder. That's not a hittable pitch for most guys.

[Mr. Happy]

HPU has been up to the FoxTrax so far.

[Ron Brand]

JD was just talking about Maholm's nasty changeup / slider combination and it does look tough tonight.

[Mr. Happy]

Maholm doesn't have a feel for his hammer. If he figures it out, then it will likely be even a longer night.

[Ron Brand]

I want Altuve to be about two years more experienced than he is.

[Ron Brand]

Maholm doesn't have a feel for his hammer. If he figures it out, then it will likely be even a longer night.

Yeah. If he can keep dancing that change and cutter at the bottom of the strike zone he's really going to be tough to get to.

[Mr. Happy]

JD was just talking about Maholm's nasty changeup / slider combination and it does look tough tonight.

He does have a feel for both of those pitches tonight.

[Mr. Happy]

I want Altuve to be about two years more experienced than he is.

I do too, but we have that to look forward to.

[Ron Brand]

Could they have more bullshit going on behind the plate? It's like a college basketball game back there.

[Mr. Happy]

Prado is a pain in the ass.

[Ron Brand]

Bastards. That Whataburger looks pretty good.

[Ron Brand]

Damn, Maholm's killing it tonight.

[Mr. Happy]

Maholm is painting tonight. That's his fifth strikeout.

[Ron Brand]

Works like a charm!

[Mr. Happy]

Maholm has made two mistakes in this inning. The one that Francisco hit for a single, and the second was strike one to Wallace. And there's number three to Maxwell.

[Mr. Happy]

Works like a charm!

Harrell has been up so far, which ain't his game. Given that this is the second time through, he needs to be careful.

[Ron Brand]

Whataburger break. Back in a bit.

[Mr. Happy]

Thank you, Dan Uggla.

[Mr. Happy]

Deft footwork by Downsie to avoid that portion of the bat.

[Mr. Happy]

Beautiful changeup to finish off Bourn. A fucking work of art.

[Mr. Happy]

God damnit, Francisco. That's twice looking today.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Finally here, I had to listen to the Braves broadcast on my iPhone MLB app on the way to the Slack Shack. They are quite a bit better than DoRay. Sutton can offer analysis as an ex player, that is a perfect contrast to the ineptitude of DoRay, nevermind Sutton's HoF credentials or that he's a dick. But now I get the bliss of JD and Brownie.

[Ron Brand]

I got a DoRay break. I needed them to tell me about how sharp and devastating Maholm's curve has been.

[Mr. Happy]

Pretty pitch to finish off Heyward.

[NeilT]

Finally here, I had to listen to the Braves broadcast on my iPhone MLB app on the way to the Slack Shack. They are quite a bit better than DoRay. Sutton can offer analysis as an ex player, that is a perfect contrast to the ineptitude of DoRay, nevermind Sutton's HoF credentials or that he's a dick. But now I get the bliss of JD and Brownie.

Management is sure to get rid of JD and Brownie, and elevate DoRay to the television broadcast.

[Mr. Happy]

I got a DoRay break. I needed them to tell me about how sharp and devastating Maholm's curve has been.

Which shows how little those two idiots know. He hasn't thrown many curvebals, and those haven't been nearly as good as they usually are.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Rocket's 50.

[Mr. Happy]

Harrell is done.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Harrell is done.

Then so are the Astros...

[Ron Brand]

Yow that was close.

[Ron Brand]

Balls. And Uggla at that.

[Mr. Happy]

I fear that Millsie left Harrell in too long.

[chuck]

Management is sure to get rid of JD and Brownie, and elevate DoRay to the television broadcast.

This has occurred to me and I have sort of enjoyed savoring the idea. That would provide me with quite a sudden windfall of free time.

By the way, I think Hudson likes the British store in the Village for his shaving stuff. I really enjoyed the opportunity to reacquaint myself with Chicken George.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Fuck Uggla.

[Ron Brand]

There's just no margin for error.

[NeilT]

This has occurred to me and I have sort of enjoyed savoring the idea. That would provide me with quite a sudden windfall of free time.

By the way, I think Hudson likes the British store in the Village for his shaving stuff. I really enjoyed the opportunity to reacquaint myself with Chicken George.

That's great.  That's within walking distance.

[NeilT]

There's just no margin for error.

That wasn't a bad pitch.  There's no margin for anything.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I fear that Millsie left Harrell in too long.

Anyone he replaces him with will be no better. Only the advantage of a different look.

[Mr. Happy]

You could tell that Harrell was done by looking at FoxTrax. He was all over the place.

[Ron Brand]

That wasn't a bad pitch.  There's no margin for anything.

Exactly.

[Ron Brand]

Another sharp and overpowering curve, DoRay.

[NeilT]

Maxwell!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Maxwell done hit another.

[austro]

Well, I obviously missed something while I was checking in on the Olympics, because I see that it's now 2-2.

Although now it's 3-2. Way to go, Maxwell!

[NeilT]

Maxwell's got that silver hammer going.

[austro]

Raise your hand if you had Downs down for a bunt single in the 7th.

[Mr. Happy]

That wasn't a bad pitch.  There's no margin for anything.

It wasn't, but he'd made plenty of bad pitches in that frame as his command deserted him.

[Ron Brand]

Maxwell's got that silver hammer going.

You ever listen to Beatle bootlegs? There's one tape that is an interminable, desultory raft of takes of that song. Many, many bad, bad takes. Over and over.

[Ron Brand]

FeRod and his nifty 6.05 ERA.

[austro]

Hey, Mr. Happy, it's your favorite reliever!

[NeilT]

You ever listen to Beatle bootlegs? There's one tape that is an interminable, desultory raft of takes of that song. Many, many bad, bad takes. Over and over.

It wasn't that good of a song at its best, but it had to be said.  It looks like the Braves have the Alkie stroke going.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Ef Rod. We're fucked!

[Ron Brand]

It wasn't that good of a song at its best, but it had to be said.  It looks like the Braves have the Alkie stroke going.

They is harrassin' our wimmenfolks...

[Mr. Happy]

Another sharp and overpowering curve, DoRay.

It was one of the first in the strike zone.

[austro]

It wasn't that good of a song at its best, but it had to be said.  It looks like the Braves have the Alkie stroke going.

It's a stupid song. There's a bunch of stupidity on that album. But there's also a bunch of  transcendent music.

[chuck]

I like how Cheech tries to bunt virtually every at bat and I literally cannot remember his ever getting a bunt hit. Downs casually strolls up and lays one down easy as can be.

[Ron Brand]

It's a stupid song. There's a bunch of stupidity on that album. But there's also a bunch of  transcendent music.

Sometimes in the same song.

[Ron Brand]

It's a stupid song.

That's why the takes are so awful. Everyone knew it but Paul, and he kept working them because he knew it'd be a hit.

[chuck]

Say, what was everyone's final thought on the mono versus stereo re-releases?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

It's a stupid song. There's a bunch of stupidity on that album. But there's also a bunch of  transcendent music.

"More of Paul's 'granny music.'"

[Mr. Happy]

It wasn't that good of a song at its best, but it had to be said.  It looks like the Braves have the Alkie stroke going.

It was an awful song, as were, in my opinion, most of the Beatles' efforts after 1966. There are some great songs after 1966. The rest were just too out there for me.

[NeilT]

Say, what was everyone's final thought on the mono versus stereo re-releases?

I bought the stereo.  I'm no purist.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I bought the stereo.  I'm no purist.

Same here.

[Ron Brand]

Say, what was everyone's final thought on the mono versus stereo re-releases?

Mono is what the Beatles were personally involved in mixing. That's enough for me, although I wish they'd do 5.1 mixes too. That Yellow Submarine Songtrack is beautiful.

There's no end to the stuff Apple should do but never will. Thank god for bootlegs.

[NeilT]

Cordero's not available, right?

[Ron Brand]

And yeah, I have both mono and stereo. I'm probably in spitting distance of having everything there is to have other than live stuff.

[Ron Brand]

Cordero's not available, right?

Right.

[Mr. Happy]

A sidewinder.

[chuck]

A friend of mine and I worked a deal. One of us bought the mono, recorded it and sent the original to the other while the other did the same with the stereo.

[Ron Brand]

Chuck, do you know The 910?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I was one of those that originally thought Schafer would be at least average. He's way below average, near the shitty range.

[chuck]

Chuck, do you know The 910?

Nosir.

[NeilT]

And yeah, I have both mono and stereo. I'm probably in spitting distance of having everything there is to have other than live stuff.

Were Revolver or Rubber Soul mono?  What's the first stereo album?

[Ron Brand]

Nosir.

Cantankerous, persnickety and the best Beatle scholars out there by far. They have excellent dissections of the two releases, and everything else Beatle.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Ben Francisco everybody.

[austro]

Jesus Christ, at least put your bat on the ball. Although I suppose I should be happy that it wasn't a GIDP.

[Ron Brand]

Were Revolver or Rubber Soul mono?  What's the first stereo album?

Yes and yes. Abbey Road was the first one mixed to stereo, then Let it Be.

[Mr. Happy]

I was one of those that originally thought Schafer would be at least average. He's way below average, near the shitty range.

That's the extent of it. He officially sucks. Hey, where's that flurry of post July 31 promotions that Luhnow promised?  Schreefer and Bogusevic should have already been gone.

[Mr. Happy]

Jesus Christ, at least put your bat on the ball. Although I suppose I should be happy that it wasn't a GIDP.

That was the hat trick for gentle Ben.

[Ron Brand]

That's a real good question.

[austro]

Yes and yes. Abbey Road was the first one mixed to stereo, then Let it Be.

I know that it has its detractors, but I find the second side of Abbey Road to be one of the greatest efforts ever.

[chuck]

Cantankerous, persnickety and the best Beatle scholars out there by far. They have excellent dissections of the two releases, and everything else Beatle.

Thanks. I will surely seek out the discussions. I haven't done a whole lot of side by side listening, mainly because I start listening to something and get into it and whatever intentions I had of A/B-ing the two go out the window.

It would not have killed me to get another run there.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Jim Adler, the Texas Hammer!

[Ron Brand]

I know that it has its detractors, but I find the second side of Abbey Road to be one of the greatest efforts ever.

There's nothing wrong anywhere on it. It's Abbey Road.

[Ron Brand]

Thanks. I will surely seek out the discussions. I haven't done a whole lot of side by side listening, mainly because I start listening to something and get into it and whatever intentions I had of A/B-ing the two go out the window.

It would not have killed me to get another run there.

The Cliff Notes version is that they used George Martin's 1987 remixes and too much compression. There are countless individual points. They go track by track.

[Ron Brand]

I'm amazed that they've held Freeman in check.

[Mr. Happy]

WW whiffs Freeman to end. He's putting together a very nice season for the traveling horseshit show.

[Ron Brand]

WW whiffs Freeman to end. He's putting together a very nice season for the traveling horseshit show.

Rule 5 FTW.

[Ron Brand]

Big night for Maxwell!

[austro]

Big night for Maxwell!

No shit! He gives me hope.

[NeilT]

WW whiffs Freeman to end. He's putting together a very nice season for the traveling horseshit show.

Veteran presence.

[Ron Brand]

Veteran presence.

And he's only 14!

[Ron Brand]

J-Max. Jesus.

I saw some douche refer to South Lamar as SoLa this week. My aneurysm nears.

[austro]

I saw some douche refer to South Lamar as SoLa this week. My aneurysm nears.

Seriously. What's wrong with Shitsville?

[The Seeker]

Chris Snyder had no business hitting in that situation

[Mr. Happy]

Snyder sucks at the dish. That's a strikeout and two twin killings for his night's work there.

[Ron Brand]

The Alkie Stroke.

[Mr. Happy]

J-Max. Jesus.

I saw some douche refer to South Lamar as SoLa this week. My aneurysm nears.

Brownie drives me batshit with that shit.

[austro]

The Alkie Stroke.

Chop chop.

[Mr. Happy]

WW came up huge tonight. My recollection of Lopez in these situations is that he's not been good. Is that accurate?

[Ron Brand]

WW came up huge tonight. My recollection of Lopez in these situations is that he's not been good. Is that accurate?

Yeah, but he can get wild if his stuff is too good.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

J-Max. Jesus.

I saw some douche refer to South Lamar as SoLa this week. My aneurysm nears.

It's all about efficiency, people are in a hurry and don't have time to say complete words. LOL.

[Ron Brand]

It's all about efficiency, people are in a hurry and don't have time to say complete words. LOL.

Newspeak and idiocracy.

[Ron Brand]

Astros win!

[Ron Brand]

40 wins here we come!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Finally, the much coveted 11 road win.

[Mr. Happy]

Hey, I get to recap a win!!! WTF?

[Ron Brand]

Hey, I get to recap a win!!! WTF?

Bask in the afterglow.

[OregonStrosFan]

ASTROS WIN!!! ASTROS WIN!!! ASTROS WIN!!!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Bask in the afterglow.

But not too much.

[Mr. Happy]

Bask in the afterglow.

I will.

[chuck]

TOTAL DOMINATION.

[chuck]

I'm going to blast Her Majesty out the window ten times in a row at maximum volume. The stereo version, obviously.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

It was like the Braves dared the Astros to win.

[headhunter]

I will.

+1.
fuck. These days I am excited about the Astros holding a lead in the 9th. and I really really hate the braves so this feels even a little better. GO ASTROS!!!!!! ASTROS WIN!!!!
fuck.