Berkman is available to pinch-hit.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Coste starting at 1B
Justice just tweeted that Chris Coste will be your starting 1B tonight. I guess Erstad's 2x5 was just too good to be true.
Recap for G90 - Astros @ Dodgers
Yeah, so that vaunted pitching matchup I was so excited about kind of fizzled, no? The Astros jumped on Chad Billingsley early and often - and most often with two outs - to push their record to two games over .500 with an 8-1 win over the Dodgers.
Roy threw his 3rd complete game of the season, giving up only four hits and collecting his 6th win of the season. Let's look:
Roy: 9IP, 4H/1ER, 5K:0BB, 20/31 first-pitch strikes, 31 non-contact strikes (21 called:10 swinging).
He gave up one extra-base, a triple to Orlando Hudson, and that was pretty much it. No homers, nevermind three in an inning.He put together streaks of seven and eight batters retired in a row, and his ERA has settled down to a Roy-esque 3.65.
Offensively, it all happened in the first two innings. The Astros chased Billingsley after five outs, that took 14 batters to record. Billingsley's line was 1.2IP, 9H/6ER, 0K:0BB.
Seven of the Astros eight hits came with two outs. After Bourn and Matsui were out in the first, Tejada homered, Lee singled, Blum singled, Pence doubled, Pudge singled, Erstad singled, and Roy grounded out. Before most Dodger fans had filed in, it was 4-0.
Pudge had the big game, but only Lee and Pence were the starters without two hits. Even 1B2 Darin Erstad collected two hits, as did Bourn, Matsui, Tejada, and Blum. Pudge was 4x5 with 2RBI. In those 5ABs, Pudge only saw 12 pitches.
So seven runs, 4x9 with RISP, and they still left 9 on base...
Man of the Match: Pudge is deserving, but it goes to the guy with the complete game.
Goat of the Game: This one's hard, because everybody did well. But he who did least well has been anointed Carlos Lee. 1x4, 0x2 with men on base.
Roy threw his 3rd complete game of the season, giving up only four hits and collecting his 6th win of the season. Let's look:
Roy: 9IP, 4H/1ER, 5K:0BB, 20/31 first-pitch strikes, 31 non-contact strikes (21 called:10 swinging).
He gave up one extra-base, a triple to Orlando Hudson, and that was pretty much it. No homers, nevermind three in an inning.He put together streaks of seven and eight batters retired in a row, and his ERA has settled down to a Roy-esque 3.65.
Offensively, it all happened in the first two innings. The Astros chased Billingsley after five outs, that took 14 batters to record. Billingsley's line was 1.2IP, 9H/6ER, 0K:0BB.
Seven of the Astros eight hits came with two outs. After Bourn and Matsui were out in the first, Tejada homered, Lee singled, Blum singled, Pence doubled, Pudge singled, Erstad singled, and Roy grounded out. Before most Dodger fans had filed in, it was 4-0.
Pudge had the big game, but only Lee and Pence were the starters without two hits. Even 1B2 Darin Erstad collected two hits, as did Bourn, Matsui, Tejada, and Blum. Pudge was 4x5 with 2RBI. In those 5ABs, Pudge only saw 12 pitches.
So seven runs, 4x9 with RISP, and they still left 9 on base...
Man of the Match: Pudge is deserving, but it goes to the guy with the complete game.
Goat of the Game: This one's hard, because everybody did well. But he who did least well has been anointed Carlos Lee. 1x4, 0x2 with men on base.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Lineup for G90 - Astros @ Dodgers
1. Bourn
2. Matsui
3. Tejada
4. Lee
5. Blum
6. Pence
7. Pudge
8. Erstad
9. Oswalt
2. Matsui
3. Tejada
4. Lee
5. Blum
6. Pence
7. Pudge
8. Erstad
9. Oswalt
Notice anything?
I guess Sampson will have time to change diapers now
Alyson Footer just tweeted that Chris Sampson has been placed on the DL with shoulder spasms. Chad Paronto will join the Astros on Saturday.
Ed Wade tells MLB Home Plate...
...That the Astros won't be buyers at the deadline, according to Twitter.
More on Boone's comeback
Alyson Footer posted a blog today detailing the earlier post.
The last time we spoke with Boooooone -- in mid-June, during the Astros trip to Arizona -- he said he'd love to play again this year and mentioned a September return as a very real possibility.
That would require him to spend at least a month rehabbing in the Minor Leagues, and it appears that the timetable is working in his favor. I love the idea of Booooone playing with the Astros in September, especially if they're in a playoff race. Rosters will expand to 40, so no one would have to be sent out in order to make room for Boone, and he would be a tremendous presence in the clubhouse during the stretch run.
He's been through everything -- division races, October baseball (who can forget his Game 7 homer that won the pennant for the Yankees in '03?) -- and there's no doubt the Astros could only benefit from that kind of veteran presence during such an intense time.
-
There's also a note that J.R. Towles broke his nose in "a tractor mishap," but is still eligible to play. You've got to be kidding me. Let's also keep in mind that Towles missed some time in Spring Training taking off his shirt and cutting his hand up on the ceiling fan.
The last time we spoke with Boooooone -- in mid-June, during the Astros trip to Arizona -- he said he'd love to play again this year and mentioned a September return as a very real possibility.
That would require him to spend at least a month rehabbing in the Minor Leagues, and it appears that the timetable is working in his favor. I love the idea of Booooone playing with the Astros in September, especially if they're in a playoff race. Rosters will expand to 40, so no one would have to be sent out in order to make room for Boone, and he would be a tremendous presence in the clubhouse during the stretch run.
He's been through everything -- division races, October baseball (who can forget his Game 7 homer that won the pennant for the Yankees in '03?) -- and there's no doubt the Astros could only benefit from that kind of veteran presence during such an intense time.
-
There's also a note that J.R. Towles broke his nose in "a tractor mishap," but is still eligible to play. You've got to be kidding me. Let's also keep in mind that Towles missed some time in Spring Training taking off his shirt and cutting his hand up on the ceiling fan.
3 Things from 2 Tweets
Alyson Footer has been all a'twitter this afternoon. What'd she say?
By the way, Puma wasn't walking well after last night's game...look for him to miss some time.
-
Sampson's wife close to delivering 2nd son; Chris flies home to Houston...Aaron Boone begins comeback bid Monday.
-
First of all, it's not a good time to miss some time. Especially when your 1B2 is Darin Erstad.
Second of all, congratulations to Chris Sampson, hope everything goes well.
Third of all, I guess I knew that at some point Aaron Boone would be coming back. I just didn't think it would be this season.
By the way, Puma wasn't walking well after last night's game...look for him to miss some time.
-
Sampson's wife close to delivering 2nd son; Chris flies home to Houston...Aaron Boone begins comeback bid Monday.
-
First of all, it's not a good time to miss some time. Especially when your 1B2 is Darin Erstad.
Second of all, congratulations to Chris Sampson, hope everything goes well.
Third of all, I guess I knew that at some point Aaron Boone would be coming back. I just didn't think it would be this season.
Matchup for G90 - Astros @ Dodgers
This is one of the better pitching matchups of the season, and will most likely get no mention, as Roy Oswalt faces off against Chad Billingsley for game two of this series.
Roy Oswalt
Over his last four starts, dating back to June 24, Roy has posted a 2-0 line with a 1.86 ERA, 28K:6BB, and opponents are hitting .168/.222/.287. It would be nice to keep that rolling tonight as the Dodgers' offense isn't going to stay quiet for long, and on 4/22 the Dodgers did something no other team has done to Roy before - hit three homers in one inning. But it will be interesting to see Roy respond after abruptly leaving G86 vs Washington with numbness in his hand.
Last three starts:
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 52x229, .227/.291/.402, 44K:17BB
vs Lefties: 63x220, .286/.331/.441, 51K:15BB
When swinging at the first pitch (63): .322/.322/.576, 8XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (260): .225/.257/.340, 66K:8BB
After First-Pitch Balls (172): .281/.386/.493, 29K:24BB
RISP: 19x88, .216/.330/.330, 23K:14BB
Runners on: 43x172, .250/.325/.419, 37K:18BB
2OwRISP: 8x42, .190/.333/.238, 14K:7BB
Chad Billingsley
Billingsley won his last time out against the Astros, when he faced Wandy back on 4/23. Billinglsey's ERA is sitting at 3.38, and he has given up homers in each of his last four starts.
Last three starts:
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 37x188, .197/.305/.303, 48K:28BB
vs Lefties: 62x249, .249/.324/.365, 71K:27BB
When swinging at the first pitch (62): .351/.367/.579, 7XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (245): .179/.235/.278, 81K:14BB
After First-Pitch Balls (207): .248/.397/.338, 38K:41BB
RISP: 20x96, .208/.336/.271, 18K:22BB
Runners on: 43x163, .264/.355/.350, 32K:27BB
2OwRISP: 9x40, .225/.436/.300, 6K:14BB
Roy Oswalt
Over his last four starts, dating back to June 24, Roy has posted a 2-0 line with a 1.86 ERA, 28K:6BB, and opponents are hitting .168/.222/.287. It would be nice to keep that rolling tonight as the Dodgers' offense isn't going to stay quiet for long, and on 4/22 the Dodgers did something no other team has done to Roy before - hit three homers in one inning. But it will be interesting to see Roy respond after abruptly leaving G86 vs Washington with numbness in his hand.
Last three starts:
| Date-Opp | IP | H/ER | K:BB | GB/FB | Pit/Str |
| 6/29 @SD | 9 | 2/1 | 8:2 | 7/13 | 110/74 |
| 7/5 @SF | 8 | 3/1 | 6:1 | 15/6 | 94/69 |
| 7/10 vWAS | 6 | 5/3 | 6:1 | 8/8 | 86/58 |
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 52x229, .227/.291/.402, 44K:17BB
vs Lefties: 63x220, .286/.331/.441, 51K:15BB
When swinging at the first pitch (63): .322/.322/.576, 8XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (260): .225/.257/.340, 66K:8BB
After First-Pitch Balls (172): .281/.386/.493, 29K:24BB
RISP: 19x88, .216/.330/.330, 23K:14BB
Runners on: 43x172, .250/.325/.419, 37K:18BB
2OwRISP: 8x42, .190/.333/.238, 14K:7BB
Chad Billingsley
Billingsley won his last time out against the Astros, when he faced Wandy back on 4/23. Billinglsey's ERA is sitting at 3.38, and he has given up homers in each of his last four starts.
Last three starts:
| Date-Opp | IP | H/ER | K:BB | GB/FB | Pit/Str |
| 6/30 vCOL | 7.2 | 5/3 | 11:3 | 4/12 | 118/74 |
| 7/5 @SD | 8 | 4/3 | 5:0 | 8/15 | 97/68 |
| 7/10 @MIL | 5 | 5/5 | 4:4 | 9/7 | 110/67 |
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 37x188, .197/.305/.303, 48K:28BB
vs Lefties: 62x249, .249/.324/.365, 71K:27BB
When swinging at the first pitch (62): .351/.367/.579, 7XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (245): .179/.235/.278, 81K:14BB
After First-Pitch Balls (207): .248/.397/.338, 38K:41BB
RISP: 20x96, .208/.336/.271, 18K:22BB
Runners on: 43x163, .264/.355/.350, 32K:27BB
2OwRISP: 9x40, .225/.436/.300, 6K:14BB
Transaction - and a link
July 16:
New signee German Duran was assigned to Corpus Christi after spending some Get To Know You starts with the GCL Astros. He had an error last night.
Also worth noting the link takes you to Zachary Levine's impressions of Corpus last night. Interesting things to point out, including a warning not to expect huge homer numbers out of Castro at Corpus...
He went from one of the best homer parks in all of affiliated ball to a yard where the wind blows out to left off the water, and you'd have to hit a third-deck-worthy shot just to reach the warning track. There were several balls that looked really well hit that settled right in the glove of a normally positioned right fielder.
New signee German Duran was assigned to Corpus Christi after spending some Get To Know You starts with the GCL Astros. He had an error last night.
Also worth noting the link takes you to Zachary Levine's impressions of Corpus last night. Interesting things to point out, including a warning not to expect huge homer numbers out of Castro at Corpus...
He went from one of the best homer parks in all of affiliated ball to a yard where the wind blows out to left off the water, and you'd have to hit a third-deck-worthy shot just to reach the warning track. There were several balls that looked really well hit that settled right in the glove of a normally positioned right fielder.
Eddie's Farm: July 16
Eddie's Farm goes 3-4 last night as everyone plays...
Round Rock
The Express scored five runs in the 7th to take a 5-4 lead, but OKC got one back in the top of the 8th, and the Express ultimately fell in 14 to Oklahoma City 7-5. Lots of ABs to go around, John Gall was 3x6 and Bogusevic, Manzella, and Yordany got two hits each. Manzella was The Man though, getting a 2-out grand slam in the 8th. McLemore threw 6IP, 8H/4ER, 4K:0BB, Geary threw a scoreless 7th. Casey Daigle gave up the 8th inning run, and Jeremy Johnson got the loss in a 4IP, 3H/2ER outing on OKC's C Kevin Richardson's second homer of the game.
Corpus Christi
Corpus got two in the 8th and one in the 9th - a walk-off - to defeat Frisco 3-2. Jhon Florentino and Mitch Einertson had two hits each. Drew Locke and Jason Castro got RBI singles to tie the game with two outs in the 8th, and Einertson's second hit scored Collin DeLome for the walk-off. Wilton Lopez threw 6IP, 6H/2ER, 4K:0BB and Erick Abreu pushed his record to 3-0, giving up a hit and a walk in 3IP for the win.
Lancaster
Jon Gaston was a double short of the cycle in a 3x4, 2RBI game as the JetHawks whooped High Desert 9-4. Jack Shuck went 3x4, while Clemens, Cabral, Barnes, and Corrado each had two hits. Clemens had 3RBI and Brandon Barnes had a couple of RBIs himself. Leandro Cespedes threw 5IP, 3H/2ER, 5K:2BB. Also of note: Lancaster manager Wes Clements got tossed by the 1st base umpire in the 8th. Hooray!
Lexington
Delmarva is a buzz-saw, and Lexington is running squarely through it, with the Delmarva Delmarvas getting four runs in the 6th for a 5-2 win over the Legends. Two hits each from Jay Austin and Michael Diaz accounted for most of the Legends' seven hits. Robert Bono got the loss with 5IP, 10H/5ER, 2K:0BB. Arcenio Leon (whoop whoop whoop) threw 2.1IP, didn't give up a hit, but walked four batters.
Tri-City
Erik Castro is starting to come around for the ValleyCats, hitting a 2-run shot in the 2nd inning as the ValleyCats beat State College 6-5 in 10 innings. Nick Stanley doubled in the bottom of the 10th (Ben Orloff running), Jake Goebbert was HBP, Castro sac'ed both runners over. State College reliever Marc Baca intentionally walked J.D. Martinez (a wise move) to load the bases, and with pinch-hitter Brian Kemp up, Baca threw a WP that scored Orloff. Let's hear it for walk-off WPs! Two hits from Wikoff, Dixon, Castro and Renzo Tello paced the ValleyCats. Brandt Walker got the start with 4IP, 3H/2ER, 4K:1BB, followed by 3IP of scoreless relief from Justin Fearnow and Antonio Noguera. Scott Migl and J.B. MacDonald gave up 3ER in 2IP, and Brendan Stines recorded the win with a scoreless 10th.
Greeneville
Greeneville took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the 9th at Johnson City, and then got the Johnson as they scored twice in the bottom of the inning for an 8-7 win. Jonathan Meyer got hisself a 2-run double - his 4th of the season - while Oscar Figueroa was 2x3 with three runs, a solo homer, and 2RBI. Jose Cisnero threw 4IP, 7H/4ER, Dan Sarisky gave up 2ER in 2IP, and Nathan Pettus gave up a 2-run walk off homer in the bottom of the 9th for the loss.
GCL Astros
Rough night for the Gastros as they lose to the GCL Marlins 15-2. Nestor Santana got two of the Gastros' five hits. Three more errors led to three unearned runs. Euris Quezada gave up 6ER in 4IP for his 4th loss, and an ERA of 9.64.
Round Rock
The Express scored five runs in the 7th to take a 5-4 lead, but OKC got one back in the top of the 8th, and the Express ultimately fell in 14 to Oklahoma City 7-5. Lots of ABs to go around, John Gall was 3x6 and Bogusevic, Manzella, and Yordany got two hits each. Manzella was The Man though, getting a 2-out grand slam in the 8th. McLemore threw 6IP, 8H/4ER, 4K:0BB, Geary threw a scoreless 7th. Casey Daigle gave up the 8th inning run, and Jeremy Johnson got the loss in a 4IP, 3H/2ER outing on OKC's C Kevin Richardson's second homer of the game.
Corpus Christi
Corpus got two in the 8th and one in the 9th - a walk-off - to defeat Frisco 3-2. Jhon Florentino and Mitch Einertson had two hits each. Drew Locke and Jason Castro got RBI singles to tie the game with two outs in the 8th, and Einertson's second hit scored Collin DeLome for the walk-off. Wilton Lopez threw 6IP, 6H/2ER, 4K:0BB and Erick Abreu pushed his record to 3-0, giving up a hit and a walk in 3IP for the win.
Lancaster
Jon Gaston was a double short of the cycle in a 3x4, 2RBI game as the JetHawks whooped High Desert 9-4. Jack Shuck went 3x4, while Clemens, Cabral, Barnes, and Corrado each had two hits. Clemens had 3RBI and Brandon Barnes had a couple of RBIs himself. Leandro Cespedes threw 5IP, 3H/2ER, 5K:2BB. Also of note: Lancaster manager Wes Clements got tossed by the 1st base umpire in the 8th. Hooray!
Lexington
Delmarva is a buzz-saw, and Lexington is running squarely through it, with the Delmarva Delmarvas getting four runs in the 6th for a 5-2 win over the Legends. Two hits each from Jay Austin and Michael Diaz accounted for most of the Legends' seven hits. Robert Bono got the loss with 5IP, 10H/5ER, 2K:0BB. Arcenio Leon (whoop whoop whoop) threw 2.1IP, didn't give up a hit, but walked four batters.
Tri-City
Erik Castro is starting to come around for the ValleyCats, hitting a 2-run shot in the 2nd inning as the ValleyCats beat State College 6-5 in 10 innings. Nick Stanley doubled in the bottom of the 10th (Ben Orloff running), Jake Goebbert was HBP, Castro sac'ed both runners over. State College reliever Marc Baca intentionally walked J.D. Martinez (a wise move) to load the bases, and with pinch-hitter Brian Kemp up, Baca threw a WP that scored Orloff. Let's hear it for walk-off WPs! Two hits from Wikoff, Dixon, Castro and Renzo Tello paced the ValleyCats. Brandt Walker got the start with 4IP, 3H/2ER, 4K:1BB, followed by 3IP of scoreless relief from Justin Fearnow and Antonio Noguera. Scott Migl and J.B. MacDonald gave up 3ER in 2IP, and Brendan Stines recorded the win with a scoreless 10th.
Greeneville
Greeneville took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the 9th at Johnson City, and then got the Johnson as they scored twice in the bottom of the inning for an 8-7 win. Jonathan Meyer got hisself a 2-run double - his 4th of the season - while Oscar Figueroa was 2x3 with three runs, a solo homer, and 2RBI. Jose Cisnero threw 4IP, 7H/4ER, Dan Sarisky gave up 2ER in 2IP, and Nathan Pettus gave up a 2-run walk off homer in the bottom of the 9th for the loss.
GCL Astros
Rough night for the Gastros as they lose to the GCL Marlins 15-2. Nestor Santana got two of the Gastros' five hits. Three more errors led to three unearned runs. Euris Quezada gave up 6ER in 4IP for his 4th loss, and an ERA of 9.64.
Astros not buying...or selling
In a feel-good piece about the Astros by Jerome Solomon, he tells us Easy Eddie called a team meeting prior to the All-Star Break where he said...
“If we're going to get to the finish line first, it's going to be with the guys in the room. I don't think we're short. I think the talent is here. It's the little things we have to tighten up on and we have the guys that can do it. It's not like we're asking a bunch of inexperienced guys to go out and figure it out. We have veterans who have done it before.”
Then...
“I like the guys we have here. There may be guys out there this year at the trade deadline that might make us better, and we won't pass up a bargain, but not all teams that make blockbuster deals are going to be playing in October. That's where you get back to hope. We hope we avoid the major injury to key players, and we hope we do what we're capable of, and we hope we get to the finish line. That's what I told the team in the meeting. ‘It's on this group to get it done. And this group can get it done.'”
Does this make comfortable? Or uncomfortable?
“If we're going to get to the finish line first, it's going to be with the guys in the room. I don't think we're short. I think the talent is here. It's the little things we have to tighten up on and we have the guys that can do it. It's not like we're asking a bunch of inexperienced guys to go out and figure it out. We have veterans who have done it before.”
Then...
“I like the guys we have here. There may be guys out there this year at the trade deadline that might make us better, and we won't pass up a bargain, but not all teams that make blockbuster deals are going to be playing in October. That's where you get back to hope. We hope we avoid the major injury to key players, and we hope we do what we're capable of, and we hope we get to the finish line. That's what I told the team in the meeting. ‘It's on this group to get it done. And this group can get it done.'”
Does this make comfortable? Or uncomfortable?
Berkman's calf is a recurring problem
So when Lance left in the 8th inning last night, even three days off weren't enough to heal what is apparently an ongoing issue.
"It's been bothering me for a while, to be honest with you. It's been manageable, but that's as hard as I've run in a while. It doesn't feel great, but hopefully in the morning it will feel better."
"It's been bothering me for a while, to be honest with you. It's been manageable, but that's as hard as I've run in a while. It doesn't feel great, but hopefully in the morning it will feel better."
Notes more like a casualty list
Today's Notes column from the Chronicle details various and sundry injuries. Quick-like:
-Some sitting positions cause LaHawk to endure back spasms. He then short-sightedly demonstrated what those positions were.
-Doug Brocail will throw a simulated game today. After the simulated game, he'll most likely go on a rehab assignment to test out the hamstring:
"This is one of those things that I can get out there. You can do anything pitching, (but the test is) the simulation of breaking to first. I can't get that until I get in the game. There's no use in checking that out in the big leagues. As much as I hate rehab assignments, this one I think is going to be a necessity only because if I overstride or I move too quick I got to know what it's going to do.”
-Erstad is feeling better with his tender hamstring. This is a case of the Notes obviously being written before the game, because Erstad took over at 1st in the 8th inning after Berkman came out. Whoops.
-And one more item of note: Pence is pissed about not getting in the All-Star Game:
“Yeah, I think it is a big motivation to me to want to go out and do more. A little bit of just not getting the chance to go in there. You want to go out and just for whatever reason it fires you up and motivates you to want to play well the second half. And then also it motivates you for the next year to try to prove that you can get back again and get a chance to play. So I still got the carrot in front of the horse.”
-Some sitting positions cause LaHawk to endure back spasms. He then short-sightedly demonstrated what those positions were.
-Doug Brocail will throw a simulated game today. After the simulated game, he'll most likely go on a rehab assignment to test out the hamstring:
"This is one of those things that I can get out there. You can do anything pitching, (but the test is) the simulation of breaking to first. I can't get that until I get in the game. There's no use in checking that out in the big leagues. As much as I hate rehab assignments, this one I think is going to be a necessity only because if I overstride or I move too quick I got to know what it's going to do.”
-Erstad is feeling better with his tender hamstring. This is a case of the Notes obviously being written before the game, because Erstad took over at 1st in the 8th inning after Berkman came out. Whoops.
-And one more item of note: Pence is pissed about not getting in the All-Star Game:
“Yeah, I think it is a big motivation to me to want to go out and do more. A little bit of just not getting the chance to go in there. You want to go out and just for whatever reason it fires you up and motivates you to want to play well the second half. And then also it motivates you for the next year to try to prove that you can get back again and get a chance to play. So I still got the carrot in front of the horse.”
Recap for G89 - Astros @ Dodgers
That's what I'm talking about. Wandy and four relievers combined to shutout the Dodgers in a 3-0 win.
Manny held 1x4, but it could have very easily been 2x4 if not for Hunter Pence's diving catch towards the right field line. One note of concern: Lance left the game with a mild calf strain, and we'll have more on that later.
Wandy: 6IP, 5H/0ER, 6K:2BB, 13/24 first-pitch strikes, 36/68 non-contact strikes (24 called:12 swinging)
Byrdak: 0IP, 1BB, 1/1 FPS, 2/2 NCS (1c:1s) - walked the only batter he faced.
Arias: 1IP, 1H/0ER, 2K:0BB, 2/4 FPS, 7/13 NCS (4c:3s)
LaHawk: 1IP, 1H, 2/3 FPS, 4/10 NCS (4c:0s)
Valverde: 1IP, 1H, 2/4 FPS, 3/12 NCS (3c:0s)
The Dodgers were 0x8 with RISP, and while that seems futile on the part of the Dodgers' offense, it also means the Astros pitchers were 8x8 with Dodgers in scoring position, and they left nine on base to end the inning. Valverde got his 9th save in 13 chances, and for the ERA check, Wandy is at 2.81, Arias at 1.52, LaHawk at 2.33, Valverde at 3.27. Those are good numbers.
Offensively, the Astros got all their runs off Randy Wolf - three runs on five hits. Quintero led off the scoring with his first homer of the season with two outs, and then in the 7th inning...
Lee: Singles to left
Tejada: Singles to center
Pence: Singles to center (Wolf pulled)
Matsui: Singles, scoring Lee
Quintero: GIDP, but scores Tejada
The top of the lineup didn't do...anything, really. Bourn/Keppinger/Berkman combined for 0x10, 3K:2BB. 4/5/6/7 was 6x15, 2K:1BB, 2R. Aside from Q's homer, Matsui had the only other extra-base hit, a double (putting him at 2x4 for the night, and he's now hitting .257). Since coming back from injury in June, Matsui is 24x76 (.316), and is 9x16 (.563) in his current six-game hitting streak.
Man of the Match: Tough. I want to give it to Q for his homerun and RBI GIDP, but this one's going to Wandy.
Goat of the Game: Michael Bourn. 0x4, 2K.
Manny held 1x4, but it could have very easily been 2x4 if not for Hunter Pence's diving catch towards the right field line. One note of concern: Lance left the game with a mild calf strain, and we'll have more on that later.
Wandy: 6IP, 5H/0ER, 6K:2BB, 13/24 first-pitch strikes, 36/68 non-contact strikes (24 called:12 swinging)
Byrdak: 0IP, 1BB, 1/1 FPS, 2/2 NCS (1c:1s) - walked the only batter he faced.
Arias: 1IP, 1H/0ER, 2K:0BB, 2/4 FPS, 7/13 NCS (4c:3s)
LaHawk: 1IP, 1H, 2/3 FPS, 4/10 NCS (4c:0s)
Valverde: 1IP, 1H, 2/4 FPS, 3/12 NCS (3c:0s)
The Dodgers were 0x8 with RISP, and while that seems futile on the part of the Dodgers' offense, it also means the Astros pitchers were 8x8 with Dodgers in scoring position, and they left nine on base to end the inning. Valverde got his 9th save in 13 chances, and for the ERA check, Wandy is at 2.81, Arias at 1.52, LaHawk at 2.33, Valverde at 3.27. Those are good numbers.
Offensively, the Astros got all their runs off Randy Wolf - three runs on five hits. Quintero led off the scoring with his first homer of the season with two outs, and then in the 7th inning...
Lee: Singles to left
Tejada: Singles to center
Pence: Singles to center (Wolf pulled)
Matsui: Singles, scoring Lee
Quintero: GIDP, but scores Tejada
The top of the lineup didn't do...anything, really. Bourn/Keppinger/Berkman combined for 0x10, 3K:2BB. 4/5/6/7 was 6x15, 2K:1BB, 2R. Aside from Q's homer, Matsui had the only other extra-base hit, a double (putting him at 2x4 for the night, and he's now hitting .257). Since coming back from injury in June, Matsui is 24x76 (.316), and is 9x16 (.563) in his current six-game hitting streak.
Man of the Match: Tough. I want to give it to Q for his homerun and RBI GIDP, but this one's going to Wandy.
Goat of the Game: Michael Bourn. 0x4, 2K.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sean McAdam: Astros need to win now
Helpful advice. Because I thought The Plan was to lollygag it until August 26, and then win out.
ANYway, Fox Sports' Sean McAdam lists the four teams that need to win now. The Astros are one of them. The other 26 teams can win later, it doesn't matter.
Somebody else — Cubs? Brewers? — was supposed to run off ahead in the National League Central. Instead, it's the most crowded of the game's divisions, with five teams within five games of first place.
The Astros used second-half rebounds to make the playoffs in 2004 and 2005 and made late-season runs at the postseason in 2006 and 2008. Do they have the right stuff to make a fifth second-half surge in six seasons?
Houston put itself in good position by going 25-16 over the last six weeks. The trick will be keeping it going. The top half of the rotation — buoyed not by Roy Oswalt, but instead, Wandy Rodriguez — has been a positive, but the Astros could use some help from the likes of Brian Moehler and Russ Ortiz.
After a slow start, stalwart Lance Berkman has been typically immense and the Astros have gotten much more offense from Pudge Rodriguez than they could have possibly dreamed. Both Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn have also contributed significantly.
Two series with St. Louis and one each against Milwaukee and the Cubs — all before Aug. 9. — will determine whether the Astros have yet another late-season run left in them.
I would disagree a little bit with some points here. Over the last six weeks Roy has been more valuable than Wandy. It's a stretch to say that Pudge has put up dreamy numbers (I would also point out that Bourn has probably been the one to put up dream-like numbers). But it's true, we'll know about the rest of '09 before we get too far into August.
ANYway, Fox Sports' Sean McAdam lists the four teams that need to win now. The Astros are one of them. The other 26 teams can win later, it doesn't matter.
Somebody else — Cubs? Brewers? — was supposed to run off ahead in the National League Central. Instead, it's the most crowded of the game's divisions, with five teams within five games of first place.
The Astros used second-half rebounds to make the playoffs in 2004 and 2005 and made late-season runs at the postseason in 2006 and 2008. Do they have the right stuff to make a fifth second-half surge in six seasons?
Houston put itself in good position by going 25-16 over the last six weeks. The trick will be keeping it going. The top half of the rotation — buoyed not by Roy Oswalt, but instead, Wandy Rodriguez — has been a positive, but the Astros could use some help from the likes of Brian Moehler and Russ Ortiz.
After a slow start, stalwart Lance Berkman has been typically immense and the Astros have gotten much more offense from Pudge Rodriguez than they could have possibly dreamed. Both Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn have also contributed significantly.
Two series with St. Louis and one each against Milwaukee and the Cubs — all before Aug. 9. — will determine whether the Astros have yet another late-season run left in them.
I would disagree a little bit with some points here. Over the last six weeks Roy has been more valuable than Wandy. It's a stretch to say that Pudge has put up dreamy numbers (I would also point out that Bourn has probably been the one to put up dream-like numbers). But it's true, we'll know about the rest of '09 before we get too far into August.
Matchup for G89 - Astros @ Dodgers
Pretty important series starts today, and you could make the case that this series holds the key to the rest of the season, as a bad four games would put the Astros below .500 and have them playing catchup with the rest of the NL Central. Milwaukee starts the second half at Cincinnati, the Cubs have the Nationals on the road, and the Cardinals have the D'a'ondbac's at home. A strong showing against a strong opponent can set the tone.
Improbably, the Astros took two of three from the Dodgers at home back in April. And expect Dodger Stadium to be alive tonight as Manny makes his triumphant return from suspension in his first game in front of his adoring, morally ambiguous soul-suckers of baseball.
Wandy Rodriguez
The Astros send Wandy to the mound to start it off, and it's a good choice. Wandy pitched against LA on 4/23 and went 6IP, 5H/1ER, 4K:2BB. 29 of his 67 strikes were of the non-contact variety. This, of course, was a game Wandy lost, because the Astros were shut-out, 2-0, at the hands of Chad Billingsley.
Last three starts:
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 85x327, .260/.326/.407, 81K:31BB
vs Lefties: 19x89, .213/.286/.326, 25K:9BB
When swinging at the first pitch (42): .381/.381/.524, 4XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (235): .207/.250/.281, 70K:11BB
After First-Pitch Balls (187): .274/.387/.503, 36K:29BB
RISP: 26x94, .277/.333/.394, 25K:8BB
Runners on: 47x164, .287/.353/.378, 37K:16BB
2OwRISP: 13x48, .271/.352/.396, 15K:5BB
Randy Wolf
And the Dodgers will send Randy Like the Wolf (I swear that's the last Berman-esque thing I ever do) to the hill to face his old team. Wolf is who the Dodgers thought he was: an inning-eating, durable machine. Only twice in his last 13 starts has Wolf failed to get 18 outs, and he doesn't throw a lot of pitches, either - under 100 pitches in four of his last six starts.
Last three starts:
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 92x339, .271/.324/.472, 47K:25BB
vs Lefties: 9x87, .103/.177/.149, 38K:8BB
When swinging at the first pitch (55): .340/.352/.528, 6XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (245): .189/.236/.307, 56K:14BB
After First-Pitch Balls (168): .276/.359/.517, 29K:19BB
RISP: 19x84, .226/.302/.452, 15K:8BB
Runners on: 36x157, .229/.293/.439, 29K:13BB
2OwRISP: 6x36, .167/.250/.472, 8K:3BB
Improbably, the Astros took two of three from the Dodgers at home back in April. And expect Dodger Stadium to be alive tonight as Manny makes his triumphant return from suspension in his first game in front of his adoring, morally ambiguous soul-suckers of baseball.
Wandy Rodriguez
The Astros send Wandy to the mound to start it off, and it's a good choice. Wandy pitched against LA on 4/23 and went 6IP, 5H/1ER, 4K:2BB. 29 of his 67 strikes were of the non-contact variety. This, of course, was a game Wandy lost, because the Astros were shut-out, 2-0, at the hands of Chad Billingsley.
Last three starts:
| Date-Opp | IP | H/ER | K:BB | GB/FB | Pit/Str |
| 6/26 vDET | 6 | 7/4 | 3:4 | 10/11 | 106/59 |
| 7/2 @SD | 7 | 7/1 | 5:2 | 11/10 | 108/70 |
| 7/8 vPIT | 9 | 5/0 | 11:1 | 10/9 | 125/85 |
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 85x327, .260/.326/.407, 81K:31BB
vs Lefties: 19x89, .213/.286/.326, 25K:9BB
When swinging at the first pitch (42): .381/.381/.524, 4XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (235): .207/.250/.281, 70K:11BB
After First-Pitch Balls (187): .274/.387/.503, 36K:29BB
RISP: 26x94, .277/.333/.394, 25K:8BB
Runners on: 47x164, .287/.353/.378, 37K:16BB
2OwRISP: 13x48, .271/.352/.396, 15K:5BB
Randy Wolf
And the Dodgers will send Randy Like the Wolf (I swear that's the last Berman-esque thing I ever do) to the hill to face his old team. Wolf is who the Dodgers thought he was: an inning-eating, durable machine. Only twice in his last 13 starts has Wolf failed to get 18 outs, and he doesn't throw a lot of pitches, either - under 100 pitches in four of his last six starts.
Last three starts:
| Date-Opp | IP | H/ER | K:BB | GB/FB | Pit/Str |
| 6/29 vCOL | 6 | 4/2 | 4:1 | 9/9 | 96/65 |
| 7/4 @SD | 6 | 4/1 | 8:0 | 4/11 | 100/62 |
| 7/9 @NYM | 6.1 | 7/2 | 3:2 | 10/13 | 118/79 |
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 92x339, .271/.324/.472, 47K:25BB
vs Lefties: 9x87, .103/.177/.149, 38K:8BB
When swinging at the first pitch (55): .340/.352/.528, 6XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (245): .189/.236/.307, 56K:14BB
After First-Pitch Balls (168): .276/.359/.517, 29K:19BB
RISP: 19x84, .226/.302/.452, 15K:8BB
Runners on: 36x157, .229/.293/.439, 29K:13BB
2OwRISP: 6x36, .167/.250/.472, 8K:3BB
.500 at the Break = "Ice Cube's Chance In Hell"
PECOTA is not friends with the Astros. In the article "Resetting the Playoff Races" on Baseball Prospectus Daily, they take aim at the playoffs, and briefly, the Astros.
The Astros can be found under "Teams whose playoff odds are similar to what they were at the beginning of the season," subtitled with the Pirates, Padres, Orioles as "clubs who lacked more than an ice cube's chance in hell to begin with."
Currently BP gives the Astros a 4.5% chance of winning the NL Central, and a 0.7% chance of the Wild Card. That 5.2% playoff chance is 1.9% higher than what the Astros were given at the beginning of the season. Never mind the fact that PECOTA also projected the Astros to go 66-96, 29 games behind the Cubs. Look at the standings, and...yep, the Astros and Cubs are right there together. Never mind that the Astros need to go 22-52 to close the season and finish where BP projected (that's a winning percentage of .297. Even the Nationals went .299 in the first half...)
The Astros can be found under "Teams whose playoff odds are similar to what they were at the beginning of the season," subtitled with the Pirates, Padres, Orioles as "clubs who lacked more than an ice cube's chance in hell to begin with."
Currently BP gives the Astros a 4.5% chance of winning the NL Central, and a 0.7% chance of the Wild Card. That 5.2% playoff chance is 1.9% higher than what the Astros were given at the beginning of the season. Never mind the fact that PECOTA also projected the Astros to go 66-96, 29 games behind the Cubs. Look at the standings, and...yep, the Astros and Cubs are right there together. Never mind that the Astros need to go 22-52 to close the season and finish where BP projected (that's a winning percentage of .297. Even the Nationals went .299 in the first half...)
It's official: Wright called up
Wesley Wright has been called up to take Paulino's place on the Big Club.
And one other transaction to note:
July 15 - SS Ricardo Bonfante assigned to the GCL Astros
And one other transaction to note:
July 15 - SS Ricardo Bonfante assigned to the GCL Astros
Eddie's Farm: July 15
Eddie's Farm goes 1-4 last night with Round Rock and Corpus off, but let's start with the AAA All-Star Game, and today we also debut a feature on the GCL Astros (because what else are you going to do? Work? It's never too early to start looking at the 2014 Astros...)
All-Star Game
The International League All-Stars, despite giving up two runs in the 9th, held on to beat the Pacific Coast League All-Stars 6-5 last night. Bud Norris got the start and threw 2IP, 0H/0ER, 2K:0BB. Unfortunately, Yorman Bazardo got the loss, giving up 3ER on 3H in 0.2IP. /sad face.
Lancaster
The JetHawks got ripped 6-2 at High Desert last night, managing six hits and two errors (Ronald Ramirez and Marcos Cabral). Jack Shuck got two of the JetHawks' six hits with a double and a triple and is now hitting .323. Pitching duties were split between Bryan Hallberg (4IP, 8H/7R(5ER), 3K:4BB) and Jose Duran (4IP, 1H/0ER, 3K)
Lexington
Delmarva beat Lexington yet again, this time in a 3-1 game. The Legends got four hits from Diaz, Pellegrini, Brown, and Simunic. David Duncan continued his resurgence with 6IP, 5H/2ER, 7K:1BB. After opening the season in Lancaster with an 0-9 record and 46ER in 48.2IP (8.51 ERA), Duncan has given up 14 ER in 31.1IP at Tri-City and Lexington.
Tri-City
Tri-City went off for 11 hits in a 10-4 win over State College. None of those hits were for extra-bases and the ValleyCats were just 5x18 with RISP, though it hardly matters when you score 10 runs on them. The rehabbing Eli Iorg was 3x5, Brandon Wikoff was 3x4, and Brian Kemp was 2x3 with a walk, and is now hitting .345. Wander Alvino threw 7IP, 4H/2ER, 4K:1BB while Justin Harper gave up 2ER in his 1IP. Mike Modica threw a scoreless 9th to lower his ERA to 0.93.
Greeneville
Despite getting eight hits, only one of those came with RISP (1x12) as Greeneville lost 9-2 to Johnson City. Jose Altuve and Jonathan Meyer both had two hits on the night. It was a rough night for the bullpen after Carlos Quevedo came out after 3.2IP, 5H/2ER, 4K:0BB (2HR). Travis Smink and Jeiler Castillo combined for 1.2IP, 7H/7ER, 3K:1BB, relying on Joan Belliard to get the last eight outs.
GCL Astros
The Fightin' Kissimmees scored two runs in the bottom of the 9th, but it wasn't enough as they fell to the GCL Nationals 10-9 yesterday. Luis Bryan was 3x5, German Duran was 2x5, C Ernesto Genoves was 2x5 with 3RBI (hitting .342), and CF Geber Suniaga was 2x5 with 2RBI of his own. Ricardo Batista went 3.1IP with 8H/4ER, but Rafael Pio was the hard-luck loser with 3.2IP, 0H/2R (0ER), 6K:1BB. Matter of fact, the GCL Astros committed five errors (Genoves, Bryan, Nash, Hinze, and Duran), meaning only four of the GCL Nats' 10 runs were earned.
All-Star Game
The International League All-Stars, despite giving up two runs in the 9th, held on to beat the Pacific Coast League All-Stars 6-5 last night. Bud Norris got the start and threw 2IP, 0H/0ER, 2K:0BB. Unfortunately, Yorman Bazardo got the loss, giving up 3ER on 3H in 0.2IP. /sad face.
Lancaster
The JetHawks got ripped 6-2 at High Desert last night, managing six hits and two errors (Ronald Ramirez and Marcos Cabral). Jack Shuck got two of the JetHawks' six hits with a double and a triple and is now hitting .323. Pitching duties were split between Bryan Hallberg (4IP, 8H/7R(5ER), 3K:4BB) and Jose Duran (4IP, 1H/0ER, 3K)
Lexington
Delmarva beat Lexington yet again, this time in a 3-1 game. The Legends got four hits from Diaz, Pellegrini, Brown, and Simunic. David Duncan continued his resurgence with 6IP, 5H/2ER, 7K:1BB. After opening the season in Lancaster with an 0-9 record and 46ER in 48.2IP (8.51 ERA), Duncan has given up 14 ER in 31.1IP at Tri-City and Lexington.
Tri-City
Tri-City went off for 11 hits in a 10-4 win over State College. None of those hits were for extra-bases and the ValleyCats were just 5x18 with RISP, though it hardly matters when you score 10 runs on them. The rehabbing Eli Iorg was 3x5, Brandon Wikoff was 3x4, and Brian Kemp was 2x3 with a walk, and is now hitting .345. Wander Alvino threw 7IP, 4H/2ER, 4K:1BB while Justin Harper gave up 2ER in his 1IP. Mike Modica threw a scoreless 9th to lower his ERA to 0.93.
Greeneville
Despite getting eight hits, only one of those came with RISP (1x12) as Greeneville lost 9-2 to Johnson City. Jose Altuve and Jonathan Meyer both had two hits on the night. It was a rough night for the bullpen after Carlos Quevedo came out after 3.2IP, 5H/2ER, 4K:0BB (2HR). Travis Smink and Jeiler Castillo combined for 1.2IP, 7H/7ER, 3K:1BB, relying on Joan Belliard to get the last eight outs.
GCL Astros
The Fightin' Kissimmees scored two runs in the bottom of the 9th, but it wasn't enough as they fell to the GCL Nationals 10-9 yesterday. Luis Bryan was 3x5, German Duran was 2x5, C Ernesto Genoves was 2x5 with 3RBI (hitting .342), and CF Geber Suniaga was 2x5 with 2RBI of his own. Ricardo Batista went 3.1IP with 8H/4ER, but Rafael Pio was the hard-luck loser with 3.2IP, 0H/2R (0ER), 6K:1BB. Matter of fact, the GCL Astros committed five errors (Genoves, Bryan, Nash, Hinze, and Duran), meaning only four of the GCL Nats' 10 runs were earned.
Five years after he retires, Berkman will be eligible for the Hall of Fame
Three things to note about eligibility:
1. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, you have to have played ten seasons
2. You have to have been retired
3. Your name can't show up on any extra-curricular lists on Bud Selig's desk
That's it. And as of tonight, Berkman will have played ten seasons, because today is the 10th anniversary of Lance Berkman's major league debut. Is he a Hall of Famer? That's to be debated another time, but congratulations to Lance.
1. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, you have to have played ten seasons
2. You have to have been retired
3. Your name can't show up on any extra-curricular lists on Bud Selig's desk
That's it. And as of tonight, Berkman will have played ten seasons, because today is the 10th anniversary of Lance Berkman's major league debut. Is he a Hall of Famer? That's to be debated another time, but congratulations to Lance.
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