Pirates @ Astros

[Castor27]

All game talk goes in here. Please do not give play by play. If you need play by play go to CBS, ESPN, or Yahoo.

Pitching Proabables:

8-12 Zach Duke (5-0, 1.54) vs. Roy Oswalt (14-9, 2.46) 7:05 on FSSW

8-13 Kip Wells (6-12, 4.86) vs. Roger Clemens (11-4, 1.38) 6:05 No TV

8-14 Dave Williams (9-8, 4.18) vs. Ezequiel Astacio (2-5, 6.75) 1:05 on FSSW

[Svpernaut]

W W W... we're gettin' back on track!

[MadMax]

sweeep

[PhiSlammaJamma]

Sweeptastic.

[halfbreed]

This Duke kid is a possible superstar in the making. he had a 0.82 ERA through his first 4 starts. :eek:

[The Real Shady]

Considering how the Astros play against pitchers for the first time I'll put the over/under for tonights game at 2 hours.

LWW

[PhiSlammaJamma]

No kidding. We turned Kerry Wood into a god. Dwight Gooden. And probably a slew of others. Could be 15-20 k night.

[rikesh316]

Astros really struggle versus lefties and Oswalt seems to have a dead arm period and Zack Duke is a stud. LWW

[T Rex]

This kid Duke looks like he's got all the tools to be a hoss......can't believe he lasted til the 20th round in the 2001 MLB draft. When Greg Maddox is raving about the way you pitch, you know the sky's the limit. Let's hope Roy can match him 0 for 0, and then we get to their bullpen.

[Mr. Brightside]

have ye no faith?

WWW

Tvarez will be da man!

[Xerobull]

Sweepo

[fya]

Duke of pittsburgh gets shelled tonite.

W
W
W

[Lil Francis]

A new broom always sweeps clean. Put a few miles on Zach Duke and see how well he is pitching then. WWW

[Miguel]

Tonights game will decide whether or not I take Zach Duke later in the OOTP6 draft. If we win, I know he will take one for the team, and is a solid player. If by some chance he wins, he shall be bypassed by me until the 800th round of the draft. If he gets a no decision, I shall consider him for a spot starter.

[Howyalikemenow]

We need to rough up the bottom of our division, and pad our lead.

Duke is gonna be tough, but I see WWW.

[BigM]

all things equal it's an insult to roy and his total dominance over the last four years to give the edge to some rookie. if roy is past this dead arm thing i think he throws 7-8 innings of shutout ball against the lowly pirates while we squeak out a run against duke. should be a great game.

WWW

[Uprising]

SWEEP! I'm going to tomorow's game, so it should no doubtfully be a win! 99% wins in my attended games... :p

[ROXRAN]

SWEEP! I'm going to tomorow's game, so it should no doubtfully be a win! 99% wins in my attended games... :p

I believe we will win all 3!!!

[Kerfeld]

Here we go, Lets do it Stros!!!!!

[Nick]

Ugh... just when you think Willy has put his struggles behind him after the gaffe in Washington (or just as soon as you might have forgot about that play), he fails to make a basic squeeze on the ball.

Ugh.

[Svpernaut]

Amazing double play... freaking ENSBERG!

[codell]

i smell a squeeze

[Nick]

I'm really looking forward to Lane being a big-time run producer for the rest of the year... he is starting to approach his career minor league averages, and if you take out his horrible May, he's been steadily getting better.

Also, he actually did homer in last year's playoffs... so we've got four guys (Ensberg, Berkman, Lane, Lamb) who had real playoff success last year. I know a couple of them had super-small sample sizes, but you have to squeeze out all the good you can... especially since our lineup is going to be the thing that everybody points at come playoff time.

[Nick]

For all those times we complain about it, mark the date...

We're actually doing pretty well against a young quality left-handed pitcher who we've never faced before.

I don't think I can count on one hand how many times that's happened for the Astros in all my years watching them.

[Uprising]

Well, we're not the only team wasting chances tonight.

[Nick]

Well, we're not the only team wasting chances tonight.

Duke has got quality stuff... as I said, I'm suprised we've hit the ball as well as we have so far (all of them have been solid hits too... and Burke just lined out a screamer right at the third baseman).

At least Morgan didn't go down looking again... I can take the fly-out, but I can't stand it when he looks at that third strike.

[The Real Shady]

I curse myself for giving up on Lane earlier this year. Lane is hot right now!!

[Uprising]

Nick....Morgan also hit the pitch damn hard before that flyout. I thought he had the Grand Slam. It was a monster foul ball.

[francis 4 prez]

why are the pirates' pitchers getting more respect than roy oswalt? oswalt threw a curve called a ball to open up against a batter the last inning a good 2 or 3 inches higher than what was just called strike 2 on ensberg. and duke was getting both corners. i'm sick of the borderline strikes getting called on our hitters on crucial counts.

[Uprising]

Ugh...now a 1 run game.

4-3 Astros. 0 outs...man in scoring position (Pirates at bat) and 2-0 count! :eek:

[francis 4 prez]

that guy was out on my slow motion tivo replay of the slow motion replay. willy would've been called out. and it ended up costing us a run and roy a possible win.

[Uprising]

Well that just bit us in the ass.

We walk one guy to get to another, and BOOM. Tie game. :(

[PhiSlammaJamma]

Time to go and get him a win.

[ruddy5]

Time to go and get him a win.
Thanks god oswalt is done! :confused: :(

[The Real Shady]

Nice little two out rally. Let's bring 'em home Biggio.

[Nick]

Thanks god oswalt is done! :confused: :(

I have a feeling that he's still suffering from some of the "dead arm" syndrome.... primarily because he no longer guns his fastball up there at 95-96.

He still gets it to 93-94, and sometimes at 95-96, but its not the same fastball that he normally can use to beat people. Over the last three games, teams have been able to either put the fastball into play, or foul it off... making him have to rely more on his off-speed stuff. The problem is, his off-speed stuff is so good BECAUSE of his great fastball. He's always used his slow-curve as a sort of changeup... and guys swing thru it not so much because of the "curve", but because its so slow.

Hopefully, he and Ausmus will get it figured out... but its pretty clear that Roy isn't feeling as good as he was the previous 2 months of the season.

[The Real Shady]

Breaking ball low and away. Biggio, Biggio, Biggio. :(

[francis 4 prez]

i'm a little disappointed biggio couldn't walk so we could leave the bases loaded again.

a 4-1 lead with roy oswalt on the mound at home against the freakin' pirates in a game where we have 10 hits and 5 BB's isn't supposed to turn into a game we're about to lose.

[PhiSlammaJamma]

That was craptastic, Arrggg, but ahoy, the pirate ship will sink in the 9th.

[ruddy5]

"Jose Castillo homers (10) on a fly ball to left field"
can believe it.....

[The Real Shady]

I feel another Bruntlett late inning miracle.

[Uprising]

MORGAN FREAKIN ENSBERG! TIE GAME BOTTOM OF 8TH!!!! W WHOOOOOOO! :D :D :D :D

[The Real Shady]

Morgan with the fist pump homerun. Hell Yeah! :D

[MadMax]

did anyone else KNOW that was going out before he swung?? :D

[ruddy5]

homeee runnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nick]

Big Knock MORGAN!

[PhiSlammaJamma]

Whammo ball!!!!

[francis 4 prez]

enny enny. pumping his fist as he was running let you know it was gone (though it wasn't that gone). thank God. now lets get our first win when trailing after 7.

plus we kep rick "shutdown" white's appearances giving up a run streak going.

[Nick]

enny enny. pumping his fist as he was running let you know it was gone (though it wasn't that gone). thank God. now lets get our first win when trailing after 7.

plus we kep rick "shutdown" white's appearances giving up a run streak going.


Wasn't "that gone"???? That ball was OVER the Conocco HR pump... which is about 20 feet above the line in deeeeep LCF.

[Nick]

WOOO!!!

Go-ahead run scores!

[The Real Shady]

YES!!!! Great comeback.

[francis 4 prez]

the classic first to home on a seeing-eye single plus a throwing error play.

[PhiSlammaJamma]

agressivity!! woo hoo!!!

[MadMax]

Wasn't "that gone"???? That ball was OVER the Conocco HR pump... which is about 20 feet above the line in deeeeep LCF.

yeah..that was a shot. that's a deep part of the park and it went out easily.

[ruddy5]

good guy burke. this feel really good :p

[francis 4 prez]

Wasn't "that gone"???? That ball was OVER the Conocco HR pump... which is about 20 feet above the line in deeeeep LCF.


hmmm, i'm stupid. for some reason i was thinking the pump was a homer and forgot about the line below. so i retract that statement.

[Nick]

Alright guys.... what time is it????

[MadMax]

lights out

[JBIIRockets]

I love Ensberg's emotions, that fist pump as he jumped out of the box freakin pumped me up bigtime.

[Uprising]

One more out baby! :D

[The Real Shady]

lights out

I hope.

[francis 4 prez]

i wish i hadn't just seen bay's career stats against lidge.

[francis 4 prez]

bay wishes he hadn't just seen that slider.

[Uprising]

SWING AND A MISSS!!!!!

Astros win! Astros win! 29th, ties carreer high for Lidge!

[MadMax]

say goodnight, gracie

[thewaterox]

One more out baby! :D

Excuse me while I go have a heart attack! :D

[ruddy5]

Lights out Lidge!!!!!! :D :D :D

[Nick]

LIGHTS OUT LIDGE!!!! (K's the side!)

Man... we really haven't played good baseball in any game on this homestand so far, but we're 3-1 with the Rocket rearing to go tommorow. If we can just get thru these "dog days" where all teams tend to lose some focus, things will be really looking good for September.

[PhiSlammaJamma]

What a great season.

[thacabbage]

Anyone else a little worried about Roy? He's been human his last few times out after being untouchable for a good stretch of the year. I would like to see each one of the Big 3 skip a start once Backe comes back if we have a decent cushion.

[don grahamleone]

Anyone else a little worried about Roy? He's been human his last few times out after being untouchable for a good stretch of the year. I would like to see each one of the Big 3 skip a start once Backe comes back if we have a decent cushion.

Me too. I'd like to get Backe back so Roy, Clemens and Pettite can each skip a start.

[bigben69]

Great game! I was there behind first base. We got lucky with that throw but lidge was the man.

[rezdawg]

I'd be all for having the big 3 skip a start...if Astacio and Wandy didnt suck.

[Saint Louis]

Me too. I'd like to get Backe back so Roy, Clemens and Pettite can each skip a start.

Indeed.

[Svpernaut]

I love Ensberg's emotions, that fist pump as he jumped out of the box freakin pumped me up bigtime.

I hear that man...

[don grahamleone]

I was looking at the remaining schedule. It looks like we have a favorable schedule, but we still need to win a bunch to get in to the postseason. If we keep our current pace we'll win 89 games. I think that we would be lucky to get in with that many wins. Anyone have any guesses as to how many wins we'll need to make it as the wildcard?

My Guess: 94, which means we need to win 31 of the 47 left. That's a .660 winning percentage.

I'm kind of thinking out loud, but what do ya'll think? How many wins? I think it took 94 last year.

[don grahamleone]

Also, I found this article that was pretty good. I didn't thinks that msnbc had it in them. Anyway, here is the webpage:

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8747323/

I might even say that it was great article. (*side note: there is a link that goes to the second page of the article)

[DaDakota]

91 or 92 should get us in....IMHO.

[Red Chocolate]

How many wins? I think it took 94 last year.

Given that the glutton of Wild card competition comes solely from the East, who have to play a number of games down the stretch against each other, the Astros probably will not have to win as many games as they did last year to reach the postseason.

Also, the Astros have been on an amazing tear over the past two months, and have an extremely favorable schedule at home over the next month and a half, so it is far more likely that they will win 94 games rather than 89.

[ROXRAN]

The "Wild Card" is definitely one of baseball's best decisions...Many hardcore fans and players didn't like it at first, but I bet even bobrek among many others think it's great now...

[bobrek]

The "Wild Card" is definitely one of baseball's best decisions...Many hardcore fans and players didn't like it at first, but I bet even bobrek among many others think it's great now...

Why would you think I didn't like the Wild Card?

[Texas Stoke]

The games not on the tube tonight. That sucks. Seems they've not been doing that this year and have been airing all the weekend home games. Maybe it has something to do with the Texans who will be on tv around the same time.

[Buck Turgidson]

The games not on the tube tonight. That sucks. Seems they've not been doing that this year and have been airing all the weekend home games. Maybe it has something to do with the Texans who will be on tv around the same time.
As I understand it, Saturday home games are not on TV unless they're picked up by Fox. This has been Astros policy for a while now.

[bobrek]

As I understand it, Saturday home games are not on TV unless they're picked up by Fox. This has been Astros policy for a while now.

Generally, Saturday games for many teams are not televised judging by the MLB Extra Innings package. Saturday's schedule is sparse comapred to other days. That being said, today's game is avaialble via Extra Innings so I suspect it will be the Pirates' feed.

[arkoe]

The "Wild Card" is definitely one of baseball's best decisions...Many hardcore fans and players didn't like it at first, but I bet even bobrek among many others think it's great now...

It wasn't my favorite at first, but now I recognize that half the time it's the only playoff spot still up for grabs come the last week and a half of the season. People often run away with the division, but not so often the Wild Card.

[don grahamleone]

Given that the glutton of Wild card competition comes solely from the East, who have to play a number of games down the stretch against each other, the Astros probably will not have to win as many games as they did last year to reach the postseason.

Also, the Astros have been on an amazing tear over the past two months, and have an extremely favorable schedule at home over the next month and a half, so it is far more likely that they will win 94 games rather than 89.

I have been thinking that we need Backe back to relieve Roger, Roy and Andy of a start each, but we should also shoot to get starters rested before playoffs. If we go into the final 3 or 4 games without needing a single win, then we can rest starting pitchers again.

[Mr. Brightside]

Why would you think I didn't like the Wild Card?


People named Bob usually don't like things.

[TigerBait]

What channel is the game on tonight? I dont see it coming on FSN or channel 2/52, anyone know?

[tierre_brown]

What channel is the game on tonight? I dont see it coming on FSN or channel 2/52, anyone know?

Not on TV unless you have Extra Innings package

[ruddy5]

palmeiro and lane finally playing together. Let see how it work out. :)

[Stack24]

Not on TV unless you have Extra Innings package

I have Extra Innings but i can't seem to find it...the only version they have is blacked out.

[ruddy5]

The rockets is completely dominant tonight. 3 perfect innings thus far

[RocketManJosh]

Yeah its very weird you can only watch it if you are out of town and have extra innings. Luckily I am and I do. Its the verrrrry boring Pitt announcers. Clemens looks real sharp tonight though.

Unfortunately I'll have to record it and watch it later, but Roger is on the mark tonight so I expect to come home and watch a win later tonight :D

[Svpernaut]

You can stream it on MLB.tv for $3.95... or the entire season for only $29.95.

[rikesh316]

Roger Clemens through 4 has allowed no baserunners and has 6 k's. Damn we may miss history today since we can't watch the game on TV.

[Svpernaut]

You can stream it on MLB.tv for $3.95... or the entire season for only $29.95.

Actually, nevermind... it is blacked out on there too :-(

[halfbreed]

Actually, nevermind... it is blacked out on there too :-(

I'm not sure but if you change your zip code on your MLB account to an area outside of the Astros general area you may be able to watch it. It's worth a try. *shrugs*

[The Real Shady]

Actually, nevermind... it is blacked out on there too :-(

Ahhhh! I just tried and now I'm out 3.95.

[moligity]

The Pirates' announcers go long periods without saying anything. It's kind of funny. Otherwise, it's a Clemens lovefest.

[arkoe]

We need to get the Rocket some runs.

[Svpernaut]

Ahhhh! I just tried and now I'm out 3.95.

Me too... the Astros website and ESPN both mention watching it, but they don't have any mention of blackouts on MLB TV :-(

[The Real Shady]

Me too... the Astros website and ESPN both mention watching it, but they don't have any mention of blackouts on MLB TV :-(

I guess they want people to find out the hard way. As long as they get paid.

[rikesh316]

Willy struggles once again to drive in a run. He seem to swing at every pitch.

[ruddy5]

Willy struggles once again to drive in a run. He seem to swing at every pitch.

another one, this time with a double play to end the inning. 0-4, 7 stranded

[Stack24]

I'm not sure but if you change your zip code on your MLB account to an area outside of the Astros general area you may be able to watch it. It's worth a try. *shrugs*


They manage to black it out and check it from something else because a friend of mine was at the bar and he has the year subscription and he signed up in California but it blacked him out when we tried to log in and watch it. So we called them up and they asked him to call from a line in California and they will remove the block so we had one of his friends call and give his info to try and trick them. I had to leave but he was in the process of it to see if he can outsmart them. That way i can get all the blacked out games broadcast at the bar lol.

[TMac640]

.....

[thelasik]

Pulling Clemens after 88 pitches was such a boneheaded move.

[Title99]

Pulling Clemens after 88 pitches was such a boneheaded move.

No kidding! They should have let him pitch the 9th. What is it with our offense when Clemens pitches? He should have 20 wins by now!!!

[Austin70]

I would've understood it if he was pulled for a pinch hitter, but nooooooo, crap.

[Title99]

Now Garner is going to pull Lidge???!!! What is up with this?

[rikesh316]

Garner totally blew this game, what was he thinking pulling Clemens. Now he pulls Lidge for Qualls. What is he thinking? He is overmanaging.

[rikesh316]

Clemens has no-hitter stuff today and he gets pulled after 88 pitches? Doesn't make no sense.

[rikesh316]

Ausmus also deserves some blame for throwing a 0-2 fastball when Lidge has one of the best sliders in the game.

[thelasik]

WTF WAS WRONG WITH GARNER?!? 88 pitches man. damn.

[ruddy5]

Garner totally blew this game, what was he thinking pulling Clemens. Now he pulls Lidge for Qualls. What is he thinking? He is overmanaging.

If garner don't pull him they are going to score 1 or 2 more runs.

[Title99]

Now pull Willie for Lamb? I question this move

[across110thstreet]

wow. what a waste of another brilliant performance by rog...

[rikesh316]

Why take Willy T out now. He is usually good with no one is on base. He should pinch hit for him with it was 1st and 3rd. Damn, Garner's move today pissed me off. If Purpura was watching this game, he should go get another batter.

[ruddy5]

Now pull Willie for Lamb? I question this move
Taveraz 0-4, 7 lob
Anyways the game is over and another wasted dominant performance of Clemens.

[rikesh316]

I bet 10 bucks that Willy gets benched tommarow for Bruntlett.

[ruddy5]

I bet 10 bucks that Willy gets benched tommarow for Bruntlett.

I hope

[rikesh316]

How bout this starting line-up.

2B=Craig Biggio
RF=Orlando Palmerio
LF=Lance Berkman
3B=Morgan Ensberg
CF=Jason Lane
1B=Mike Lamb
SS=Adam Everett
C=Brad Ausmus

I live Willy but his OBP is too low and he is horrible with RISP. Mike Lamb BA is low but he is a quailty run producer and thats what this team needs. Lane or Palmerio could play center decently. IMO, this is the best line-up the Astros could put out with the players they have.

[rikesh316]

Its supposed to I like not live, my bad.

[Uprising]

Damn, sucks for Roger. We yet again fold over after a great game by the Rocket.

Damn, Lidge really is human now.... :eek: :( :o

[rikesh316]

Willy is hitting .205 with RISP.

[arkoe]

Clemens could easily already have 18-20 wins if it wasn't for our offense. Flat out ridiculous.

[RocketManJosh]

Just finished watching the game on tape ... Unbelievable loss ... This one really hurts. Clemens was really the only offense we even had all game.

For those hating Garner for pulling Clemens so early (as I was), ESPN is reporting that he was pulled because of back problems. He said it was more preventative.

This was a very demoralizing loss, not to mention the fact that the 4 teams right behind us in the Wild Card just won and picked up a game on us.

[Major]

This was a very demoralizing loss, not to mention the fact that the 4 teams right behind us in the Wild Card just won and picked up a game on us.

Why is this a demoralizing loss? Teams lose - that's the nature of baseball. Florida just lost 1-0 the previous day. The Philies have had 3 losses in their last 10 games that something like 2-1, or 3-1.

One game is August is not demoralizing. I know it seems that way in such a close race, but the reality is this isn't football. One game just doesn't mean that much. Last 2 weeks of September? Absolutely. Playoffs? Absolutely. Middle of August losing 1 game? It doesn't help the cause, and hurts just as much in the standings as losing in September, but its not going to affect the team at all.

The crazy-hot run we were on in July is over, but as long as we keep winning series, we're fine.

[Bobblehead]

One game just doesn't mean that much.

You obviously don't know much about baseball. Last season the Astros went to the playoffs ONE game over the Giants.
EVERY GAME MATTERS. Loses don't seem bleak through September...but they are. Trust me.....if the Astros lose out on the playoffs by a game there will tons of games the Astros could blame. Including last night and all the other games they lost while Clemens was on the mound.

They should probably be at least 7-10 games in the wild card lead and probably a few back of the Cards if they just scored a few runs for Clemens throughout the year.

[Kerfeld]

You obviously don't know much about baseball. Last season the Astros went to the playoffs ONE game over the Giants.
EVERY GAME MATTERS. Loses don't seem bleak through September...but they are. Trust me.....if the Astros lose out on the playoffs by a game there will tons of games the Astros could blame. Including last night and all the other games they lost while Clemens was on the mound.

They should probably be at least 7-10 games in the wild card lead and probably a few back of the Cards if they just scored a few runs for Clemens throughout the year.

Right on

[DaDakota]

You obviously don't know much about baseball. Last season the Astros went to the playoffs ONE game over the Giants.
EVERY GAME MATTERS. Loses don't seem bleak through September...but they are. Trust me.....if the Astros lose out on the playoffs by a game there will tons of games the Astros could blame. Including last night and all the other games they lost while Clemens was on the mound.

They should probably be at least 7-10 games in the wild card lead and probably a few back of the Cards if they just scored a few runs for Clemens throughout the year.

True, but we are still UP in the WC standings with a 2 game cushion in the loss column....and that is a GREAT thing.

DD

[Svpernaut]

You obviously don't know much about baseball. Last season the Astros went to the playoffs ONE game over the Giants.
EVERY GAME MATTERS. Loses don't seem bleak through September...but they are. Trust me.....if the Astros lose out on the playoffs by a game there will tons of games the Astros could blame. Including last night and all the other games they lost while Clemens was on the mound.

They should probably be at least 7-10 games in the wild card lead and probably a few back of the Cards if they just scored a few runs for Clemens throughout the year.

You can't really say that... because the Astros have won plenty of games that they shouldn't have. Baseball is a game of inches and sometimes the other guy is just lucky and you aren't... over the course of a 162 game season there are going to be plenty of close losses, so you can't pin down a handful and say we should have won those and we would be 5-7 games up, because on the flip side we've won just as many that we should have lost. EVERY team good or bad as those losses that hurt a lot, and last night was one of those... but that one loss will not make or break the season. The great thing about baseball's long season is no teams ever get in to the playoffs on luck, if we miss the playoffs by one game it isn't because of any given game, but the collection of them all.

[bobrek]

You obviously don't know much about baseball. Last season the Astros went to the playoffs ONE game over the Giants.
EVERY GAME MATTERS. Loses don't seem bleak through September...but they are. Trust me.....if the Astros lose out on the playoffs by a game there will tons of games the Astros could blame. Including last night and all the other games they lost while Clemens was on the mound.

They should probably be at least 7-10 games in the wild card lead and probably a few back of the Cards if they just scored a few runs for Clemens throughout the year.

Although a loss is a loss is a loss, a loss earlier in the season is not near as important as one late in the season. Certainly they count the same in the standings, but it is MUCH less important to lose a game early in the season than late in the season, simply because there is plenty of time to "make up" for that loss.

You also cannot assume that everything in this entire season would have occurred the same way if an event happened differently. For example, had they won one of those 1-0 Clemens' starts, there is no telling what would have occurred afterwards. They may have gone on a 20 game losing streak, they may have gone on a 20 game winning streak. The only safe bet is that things would occur differently if something different happened.

It is akin to an announcer bemoaning the fact that a runner was thrown out trying to steal and the hitter then hits a home run. The announcer tends to assume the hitter would have still hit a home run, when, in actuality, if the runner was still on base, the pitcher may have thrown a different pitch or, most certainly, delivered the pitch differently.

[arkoe]

Our table setters this game are awesome.

[arkoe]

Those were some ridiculous strikes on Ensberg. The last pitch and that curveball were both way outside, and low and high respectively.

[The Real Shady]

Zeke is a HR machine.

[RocketManJosh]

Well there goes another HR off Astacio.

And by the way .. I don't know how you can say last night was not a demoralizing loss. Yes it was just one game. But in a game where Roger Clemens had pretty much the best stuff hes had in any start for the past 2 seasons and you still lose. I call that demoralizing.

Major were you even able to watch the game last night to determine if it was a demoralizing loss?

[ruddy5]

this game is in its way to be another laughter....

[TMac640]

sigh....

can't keep losing series to below .500 ball clubs

[PhiSlammaJamma]

x-plosion time.

[Beck]

The Silver Slugger does it again...

[The Real Shady]

Demoralizing

[fya]

Oh well.

[Beck]

Why is Ausmus playing shortstop?

[King of 40 Acres]

Hustn Astrs shut out again. Big series with the Cubs coming up hope we can find that O.

[PhiSlammaJamma]

You know Everett will be taking crap in the clubhouse after Ausmus turned the dp. At least that provided some entertainment.

[pgabriel]

Benching Willy T did wonders for the offense today.



PSA

Please don't let any single Astro become the scapegoat for the offense.

[Trader_Jorge]

Two straight shutouts. Nah, we don't need a bat or anything...

[Uprising]

That was THE WORST FREAKIN GAME I've ever been too!@ :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I want my $60 back! Ugh! I knew I shouldn't go to a Zeke game! I knew it....terrible.

so what's that, 21 innings straight with no runs scored?! :o

[Puedlfor]

Two straight shutouts. Nah, we don't need a bat or anything...

Of the major league bats traded at the deadline, we had a deal to get the best available, but one of the principals vetoed the deal. Of the major league bats that would've significantly helped our offense, none were available.

[Bobblehead]

Those were two PATHETIC games to a woeful club.
No excuses....losing is losing. But being SHUTOUT is an entire different thing.
I'm VERY disppointed in their effort also. There was no spark...no emotion. This god damn team is LEADING the wildcard racing after being 15 games below .500 and if they can't WAKE UP to play EVERYDAY...then they ought to go back to being 15 under because I they don't deserve anything.
Their July was amazing...almost unbelievable....maybe August is reality!!
Watch out for the Marlins!!

[Miguel]

New Lineup

C - Orlando Palmeiro
1B - Craig Biggio
2B - Lance Berkman
3B - Brandon Backe
SS - Brad Ausmus
RF - Adam Everett
CF - Humberto Quintero
LF - Junction Jack



I loved the 4-Ausmus-3 double play. I had to rewind the DVR about 8 times to make sure it was real.

[Major]

You obviously don't know much about baseball. Last season the Astros went to the playoffs ONE game over the Giants.
EVERY GAME MATTERS. Loses don't seem bleak through September...but they are. Trust me.....if the Astros lose out on the playoffs by a game there will tons of games the Astros could blame. Including last night and all the other games they lost while Clemens was on the mound.

They should probably be at least 7-10 games in the wild card lead and probably a few back of the Cards if they just scored a few runs for Clemens throughout the year.

Did you even read my post? If you had done that, instead of just quoting out of context, you'd have seen this quote:

<I>It doesn't help the cause, and hurts just as much in the standings as losing in September, but its not going to affect the team at all.
</I>

Teams don't stress over one game in August like some fans do. There's no hangover effect for them. 1-0, big deal, play the next day. The point was in response to someone saying it would be a demoralizing loss. Even the best teams lose 60 games a year - over 1/3rd of their games. Baseball players don't get demoralized over one loss - 1-0 or not. It's different in the pressure cooker of September or October when there's limited time to make up ground. In August? Simply not the case.

[Major]

Major were you even able to watch the game last night to determine if it was a demoralizing loss?

No, I didn't. NO loss is demoralizing as far as a hangover effect goes at this point in the season unless a player is injured or some other freak situation.

Every team has losses like this throughout the year. If they get demoralized by stuff like this, they are mentally a sucky team and shouldn't be in the playoffs anyway.

[Major]

Two straight shutouts. Nah, we don't need a bat or anything...

We got shutout by the Pirates twice in a row in May, and went on to win 3 of the next 4 against the Cubs scoring 29 runs in four games. Small sample sizes are stupid.

[Buck Turgidson]

Two straight shutouts. Nah, we don't need a bat or anything...
"Lefties focus on the negative. I feel sorry for people who have mindsets like that - never happy." -- bigtexx

Listen to your doppelganger.

[bigtexxx]

"Lefties focus on the negative. I feel sorry for people who have mindsets like that - never happy." -- bigtexx

LOL - any fool can see that the stros need another bat.

[Buck Turgidson]

any fool can see that the stros need another bat.
If you & tj have come to that conclusion, then indeed "any fool" could.

Would be nice if something happened before Sept 1, but I wouldn't hold my breath.