By Craig the Bastard
The Astros are coming home from a 7-4 road trip, which started out like dogshit but turned out much better. We took some big steps toward catching the gNats, and could have had back-to-back four-game sweeps if not for a misplayed flyball. Oh well, Rookie?s going to get caught playing with his teabags once in a while. Too bad the bases were loaded.
The Phillies just swept the slumping Padres, and are a half-game up on the Astros in the wildcard race. We?re also tied with the goddamn fucking Mets, and we play them next. So, just like last year when we started knocking off wildcard teams, this could be another important stretch. It sure would be nice if Purp airlifted in another bat during the homestand.
When:
Monday, July 25, 7:05 p.m. CDT ? KNWS
Tuesday, July 26, 7:05 p.m. CDT ? KNWS
Wednesday, July 27, 7:05 p.m. CDT ? FSSW
MLB Extra Innings ? Looks like all we get is the Wednesday game. Goddamn it.
Where: MMPUS
Just for the record, four Astros have faced Billy Wagner before. Ausmus, Viz, Palmeiro, and Quintero are a combined 3-for-6, with one walk and one strikeout. Wagner has 21 saves this year, compared to 23 for Lidge.
Projected Matchups
Cory Lidle (8-8, 4.45) v. Andy Pettitte (7-7, 2.82)
Lidle has lost his last two starts. Morgan Ensberg and Jose Vizcaino are both 4-for-11 (.364) against him, Biggio is 5-for-14 (.357) and Orlando Palmeiro is 9-for-26 (.346). Current Astros overall are 37-for-121 (.306) against Lidle, but none of the hits were more than a double.
Pettitte has won his last four decisions, and has a 0.88 ERA over his last six starts. David Bell and Kenny Lofton have the Phillies? most at-bats against Andy, but they?re a combined 5-for-47. Pat Burrell is 2-for-5, and Bobby Abreu is 2-for-7.
Jon Lieber (9-9, 4.88) v. Roy Oswalt (13-8, 2.41)
Believe it or not, Lieber is 7-8 against Houston but only six current Astros have faced him, and that includes Jeff Bagwell and Roy Oswalt. Berkman is 7-for-21 against Lieber with two doubles, three homers, and seven RBI. Biggio is 13-for-56 (.232) with two homers, and Viz is 4-for-17 (.235) with one homer.
Roy is 7-1 since the middle of June. He?s 2-1 lifetime against the Phillies, with a 1.72 ERA. Ramon Martinez is 5-for-15 against Roy, and Kenny Lofton is 3-for-4. Mike Lieberthal is 3-for-6 with a homer, but Bobby Abreu is only 1-for-7.
Vicente Padilla (5-8, 5.52) v. Roger Clemens (8-4, 1.40)
Padilla is 0-for-3 against Houston with a 5.31 ERA. Current Astros are 22-for-43 (.512) against him, but with no triples or homers. Against Padilla, Biggio is 7-for-10, Berkman is 4-for-8, Adam Everett is 3-for-5, and Palmeiro is 3-for-4.
Clemens is 5-1 since the beginning of June, and of course has several no-decisions. He?s 1-0 in two appearances against the Phillies, and their best batter against him, Jim Thome, is on the DL. Jimmy Rollins is 3-for-4 against Roger, and the next-best is David Bell at 7-for-27 (.259).
Key injuries:
Philadelphia ? Jim Thome and Randy Wolf are on the DL.
Houston ? Just Bagwell. Maybe he could suggest an eye doctor for Willy. Or better yet, go talk The Hun out of retirement ? just for the next week.
Other shit
? Hell, even my fat ass could win the Tour de France if Sheryl Crow were waiting at the end. Fuck the Alps.
? Bruntlett?s batting helmet may look as shitty as Biggio?s after that pounding he took in the dugout Sunday. That sure was a nice poke, though.
? But Ausmus should have been bunting.
