Astros @ Mariners April 8, 2013

[Mr. Happy]

Your lineups:

Houston at Seattle

Astros

Lineup Pending...

2BJose Altuve
CFJustin Maxwell
DHChris Carter
LFJ.D. Martinez
1BCarlos Pena
3BMatt Dominguez
CJason Castro
RFBrandon Barnes
SSRonny Cedeno

Mariners

RF Michael Saunders
CF Franklin Gutierrez
DH Kendrys Morales
LF Mike Morse
3B Kyle Seager
1B Justin Smoak
C Jesus Montero
2B Dustin Ackley
SS Brendan Ryan

[Bench]

Hopefully some time in the next four hours they'll fill out a lineup card.

[Matt]

So excited to finally be facing our natural rivals!

[Texifornia]

So excited to finally be facing our natural rivals!

"I think if you look at the geography, it becomes obvious." -Bud Selig

[chuck]

So in the battle of the most futile the Marlins have one hit in the top of the 9th. It's a two run game so they'll see the Braves' closer. The Padres have the night off.

[Matt]

Who's still awake?

[Bench]

This is thin broth, but if you have the extra innings package you aren't blacked out of you are willing to watch the game on a tiny square.

[ferret]

Who? No seriously, WHO?

[Aussie Astro]

Who? No seriously, WHO?

Awake, but reluctant to switch from the Rays game.

[austro]

Awake, but reluctant to switch from the Rays game.

Probably a little less reluctant after that craptastic sequence that results in runs 4 and 5 for the Rangers.

[Reuben]

Still awake, and I'm East Coast, bitches!

...that said, I doubt I'll make it past the 5th.

[Aussie Astro]

Probably a little less reluctant after that craptastic sequence that results in runs 4 and 5 for the Rangers.

Yep, you got that right.

[Ebby Calvin]

Still awake, and I'm East Coast, bitches!

...that said, I doubt I'll make it past the 5th.

Still awake but at a bar. Who's winning?

[chuck]

Still awake but at a bar. Who's winning?

The M's of course but currently the Astros have as many hits as Ks so that's got to be some sort of triumph.

[NeilT]

Still awake but at a bar. Who's winning?

The fuckin' seashits fuckin' pitcher had a 6.59 ERA before tonight.  He's got to be doing a little dance in the dugout.  the Astros are down 1.  Maxwell and Castro have hits, so we've blown his perfect game. 

[Reuben]

I keep having the urge to rag on Ronny Cedeno, but then I stop and remember that he's on the team instead of Tyler Greene. Love ya, Ronny...

[Reuben]

Guitierrez pulled a Jimmy Edmonds there. "If I just slow down a bit, I can dive for it"

[Mr. Happy]

I'm here.

[Mr. Happy]

Still awake, and I'm East Coast, bitches!

...that said, I doubt I'll make it past the 5th.

You're the man!!!

[Matt]

My free streaming feed is all kinds of shitty tonight. Should have expected that since the game is damn near in Canada.

[OregonStrosFan]

Still awake but at a bar. Who's winning?

Still awake, not at a bar... Opening day baseball

[Mr. Happy]

Still awake, not at a bar... Opening day baseball

Are you having fun?

[MusicMan]

Did JD get hurt, or get benched?

[OregonStrosFan]

Are you having fun?

Gorgeous eve for baseball. Gorgeous park. Get to see the Stros. Even if only for a moment, all seems right with the world!!! Go 'Stros!!!

[austro]

And Nathan is trying to blow the save for the Rangers, which would be sweet.

[Bench]

Come on Dingo!

[chuck]

My free streaming feed is all kinds of shitty tonight. Should have expected that since the game is damn near in Canada.

What are you using? I noticed that the game isn't listed on first row.

[austro]

And Nathan is trying to blow the save for the Rangers, which would be sweet.

Wow, Nathan is the beneficiary of one of the worst 3rd strike calls you'll ever see. That one would have embarrassed Eric Gregg.

[Bench]

Or not.

I'm watching the mariners feed on a tiny square of my tv and paying $55 a month for the privilege just to watch this traveling horse shit show until past midnight.

It's a whole new ballgame, forsooth.

[Matt]

What are you using? I noticed that the game isn't listed on first row.

Yeah so I went to my backup of vipbox.tv

[Aussie Astro]

My free streaming feed is all kinds of shitty tonight. Should have expected that since the game is damn near in Canada.

I have a great stream, pity our team isn't as sharp as the picture.

[Matt]

I have a great stream, pity our team isn't as sharp as the picture.

So far this year I've had fantastic ones but tonight its just complete shit.

[Bench]

What are you using? I noticed that the game isn't listed on first row.

I tried first row but ended up downloading a bunch of crap on the computer.

[MusicMan]

Did JD get hurt, or get benched?

Anyone? Anyone?

[Aussie Astro]

Wow, Nathan is the beneficiary of one of the worst 3rd strike calls you'll ever see. That one would have embarrassed Eric Gregg.

That was terrible, are umps held accountable for that sort of call?

[Matt]

Anyone? Anyone?

I have no idea. Gameday doesn't say why he was replaced.

[NeilT]

Anyone? Anyone?

I guess nobody knows.

[Reuben]

Anyone? Anyone?

TV guys thought he hurt himself when he slipped throwing the ball back in from the warning track, but noted it was odd he was sitting on the bench after, instead of getting treatment in the clubhouse.

[Bench]

Anyone? Anyone?

I don't know. The mariners announcers aren't saying. But Franklin Gutierrez is "gooty."

[Nate in IA]

Who says bunting doesn't work in the AL?

[austro]

That was terrible, are umps held accountable for that sort of call?

Certainly not publicly. The supervisor may something to him, but we'll never know.

[ferret]

I was told there'd be no bunting?

[Matt]

How did they get two sacrifice bunts down without any outs? They're just fucking with the Astros now.

[Reuben]

Humber has not deserved 3 runs allowed in this game.

[Aussie Astro]

So far this year I've had fantastic ones but tonight its just complete shit.

Over the years I have noticed my worst streaming is out of Houston, part of the reason I watch so many TB games.

[Bench]

Who says bunting doesn't work in the AL?

The Astros are forcing other teams to beat them NL style since it worked so well the last few years.

[Nate in IA]

In other news, looks like Louisville will be National Champs.

[Reuben]

How did they get two sacrifice bunts down without any outs? They're just fucking with the Astros now.

Castro foolishly tried to throw the lead runner out at 2nd on the first one, then Pena wisely but unsuccessfully charged and tried to flip home to cut down the run at the plate on a short bunt.

[Bench]

Over the years I have noticed my worst streaming is out of Houston, part of the reason I watch so many TB games.

Isn't the strength of the stream based on the number of steamers? That would explain it.

[Reuben]

Great play by Dominguez to start the DP. Neighborhood call for Altuve at 2nd.

[Matt]

Over the years I have noticed my worst streaming is out of Houston, part of the reason I watch so many TB games.

The Houston games last week were fantastic for me but of course, you're in Australia. Every now and then I'll have some choppy streams of EPL games but the feed tonight was unwatchable.

[Nate in IA]

Nice twin killing to end the inning (mercifully)

[Mr. Happy]

Who says bunting doesn't work in the AL?

That call caught the Astros flat-footed. The play was at 1B to get the out.

[chuck]

I tried first row but ended up downloading a bunch of crap on the computer.

Really? I use it all the time for different things and have never had any sort of problem.

JD sort of twisted his ankiel in the soft warning track as he was throwing a ball back to the infield.

[HudsonHawk]

Nice twin killing to end the inning (mercifully)

Altuve was nowhere near 2b on that throw. Huge break there.

[Bench]

Really? I use it all the time for different things and have never had any sort of problem.

JD sort of twisted his ankiel in the soft warning track as he was throwing a ball back to the infield.

It wanted me to update to adobe flash hd and next thing I knew chrome wouldn't recognize google.

[Mr. Happy]

Paul Fucking Maholm with a one hitter over seven frames to beat the Fish 2-0. Since he's gotten to the Braves, he's been really goood.

[Aussie Astro]

Isn't the strength of the stream based on the number of steamers? That would explain it.

I don't really know the science but on a good day I can stream Astros and Rockets in HD at the same time.  AND, no blackouts.

[Nate in IA]

Stop the presses!  Carter got a hit!

[chuck]

Over the years I have noticed my worst streaming is out of Houston, part of the reason I watch so many TB games.

I've noticed the same thing and I have no idea why.

[Mr. Happy]

Carter trying to raise his BA over .100.

[MusicMan]

Wow, Nathan is the beneficiary of one of the worst 3rd strike calls you'll ever see. That one would have embarrassed Eric Gregg.

We need a "he mad" for Joe.

RT @RaysJoeMaddon That can't happen in a major league game.

[chuck]

Altuve was nowhere near 2b on that throw. Huge break there.

What the hell are you doing up? Don't you have to be at the office in four hours?

[Mr. Happy]

Fuck, Ankiel.

[NeilT]

Thank goodness Rick Ankiel is a return to normalcy.

[chuck]

It wanted me to update to adobe flash hd and next thing I knew chrome wouldn't recognize google.

I don't think it's the site that does that crap but the individual streamers. You can just ignore it and it should eventually stop bothering you.

[Nate in IA]

Brownie seems to be just so calm in the booth saying "something needs to change".

[NeilT]

Saunders ERA is down to 3.72.

[Mr. Happy]

Brownie seems to be just so calm in the booth saying "something needs to change".

Like what?

[Nate in IA]

Like what?

He wasn't specific...  but take your pick.

[Bench]

I don't think it's the site that does that crap but the individual streamers. You can just ignore it and it should eventually stop bothering you.

That's good to know. I'll give it another whirl sometime.

[Reuben]

Watching Pena bat is painful.

[Nate in IA]

Watching Pena the team bat is painful.

fify

[Mr. Happy]

Watching Pena bat is painful.

He has a very slow bat with an overly long swing. I'd never throw him anything but high heat because he can't hit that pitch and can't lay off of it either.

[Matt]

So far I like Dominguez.

[Reuben]

WTF was Altuve thinking trying to bunt there?

[Nate in IA]

WTF was Altuve thinking trying to bunt there?

Trying to catch them sleeping?

[OregonStrosFan]

C'mon 'Tuve, can't do me like this...

[Mr. Happy]

So far I like Dominguez.

Me too. His glove is first rate. If he can hit consistently, then he'll be a pleasant surprise.

[Reuben]

I guess I can understand why Carter would take a strike 1 fastball down the middle, with his team down by 3 in the 8th. But why take strike 2, also a fastball right down the middle? And then swing at a slider a foot and a half outside?

[drew corleone]

I tried First Row and didn't see it listed.

[Reuben]

Ankiel looks awful against lefties.

[chuck]

I tried First Row and didn't see it listed.

That's what we're saying. Matt had to use another site. Apparently first row broadcasts only major league games.

[Mr. Happy]

Ankiel looks awful against lefties.

He absolutely looked silly on that 3-2 pitch.