By Craig ElliottThe Astros seem to be in a Terry Schiavo-like state right now. Common sense says ?have mercy and pull the damn plug,? but then a lazy eye seems to follow the balloon for a second or two and you think, ?Hey! There MIGHT be an ounce of hope left!? But then reality sets in and you realize that even Terry Schiavo could work a walk from Brad Lidge right now ... or at least an HBP.
Maybe Purpura can pull a miracle out of his ass this weekend, but I'm not holding my breath. The thing is, the parts already seem to be here and more or less in working order. It's just that they don't seem to work together as a whole. I guess Drayton can throw more money at the problem, but that still doesn't mean this patient will get up and walk. Much less drive in a run.
Meanwhile ... the Diamondbacks just dropped two of three to the Phillies, though they had won their four previous series. They're three games behind the Padres in the West, and 2.5 games behind the Reds in the wildcard race. Third-baseman Chad Tracy is leading the team in homers, RBIs, hits, and runs, but he also has 93 strikeouts compared to 56 for the next-closest whiffer.
When:Friday, July 28, 7:05 p.m. CDT ? FSN
Saturday, July 29, 6:05 p.m. CDT ? KNWS
Sunday, July 30, 1:05 p.m. CDT ? FSN
MLB Extra Innings ? Looks like no broadcast Saturday. Friday's and Sunday's games will be on Fox Southwest.
Where: MMPUSLots of good promotions again this weekend. Friday will be 70's Night, so bust out the Rainbow Guts. There will also be Colt Stadium replica giveaways, and of course the usual fireworks (but read the fine print, because it's doubtful the fireworks will be provided by the Astros' offense). Biggio figurines will be given away Saturday, and on Sunday it's Matchbox cars. Sunday will also feature the always-popular Kids Run the Bases event, with an added twist: your youngster can choose to be either walked by Brad Lidge, or hit by a pitch.
Projected Matchups
Enrique Gonzalez (3-2, 4.85) v. Brandon Backe (1-1, 4.50)Gonzalez is a rookie right-hander who's started nine games for the Diamondbacks this year. He's 1-1 with a no-decision this month, and he went 2-1 in June. In 55+ innings this season, he's given up 46 hits, 30 earned runs, and 7 homers. He's never faced the Astros.
Backe lasted four innings in his first start coming off the DL, giving up four runs on four hits. He's never gone up against the Snakes, but he has faced four of their hitters, who are a combined 1-for-14. Damion Easley is 1-for-6 against him, Johnny Estrada is 0-for-6, and Craig Counsell and Eric Byrnes are each 0-for-1.
Juan Cruz (3-5, 4.95) v. Roy Oswalt (7-7, 3.95)Cruz is 1-2 against the Astros over his career. He started the season in the bullpen and pitched two innings against Houston in mid-April, giving up one hit and no runs. Current Astros are 12-for-52 (.231) against him, with only one extra-base hit if you don't count Bagwell or Ensberg. Biggio is 3-for-10 against him, and Berkman is 2-for-8 with a double and five strikeouts.
Oswalt hasn't faced the D-backs this season, but he's 4-0 against them overall with an ERA of 0.90. In 30 innings against Arizona, Roy's given up 3 earned runs and 19 hits, while walking 6 and striking out 28. Current Snakes are 11-for-67 against Oswalt. Luis Gonzalez is 3-for-11 with two doubles off Roy, while Damian Easley is 1-for-6 with a homer and Johnny Estrada is 1-for-3 with a homer. Chad Tracy, Scott Hairston, Orlando Hudson, Tony Clark, and Chris Snyder are a combined 0-for-21, with 6 strikeouts.
Miguel Batista (9-5, 4.65) v. Roger Clemens (2-4, 2.45)Batista is 4-5 against Houston overall, though he hasn't faced the Astros this season. Current Astros bat .309 (29-for-94) against him, but with only one homer (from Ensberg). Biggio is 8-for-20 (.400) against Batista, while Aubrey Huff is 5-for-14 and Berkman is 4-for-9. Preston Wilson is only 3-for-16.
Roger is 2-1 against the Diamondbacks with an ERA of 1.80. Active Snakes are 43-for-204 (.211) against Clemens, with 13 walks and 62 strikeouts. Easley, Clark, Gonzo, and Tracy each have one homer off him. Easley is 12-for-59 (.203) against Roger, while Shawn Green is 3-for-22, Gonzo is 5-for-21, and Tracy is 3-for-6.
Key injuries:
Arizona ? Craig Counsell and Tony Clark are out. Scott Hairston is on a rehab assignment.
Houston ? Orlando Palmeiro is still on bereavement leave.
Other shit* The Brewers have added a fifth starter to the Sausage Race rotation ? the Chorizo. Presumably, he came up from their Latin American program, though there was some question about his age. After clearing Customs at the border, Chorizo was heard to proclaim, ?Making it to the big leagues has been a dream come true ... kind of like 'The Wizard of Oz.' In fact, I feel like singing ?Sombrero-ver the Rainbow.?
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