Yet you want a player bunting in front of him, giving up an out to a reliever who had just entered the game and given up two straight hits.
Michaels was never anything special but he's much better than this. He was a pretty productive player a couple of years ago with the Indians. I figured he would be a solid option for us off the bench. It hasn't worked out so far. If he manages to stick around, I think he'll show some value eventually.
no, i certainly don't, sir. pretty sure that was the 6th inning, and not the 8th or 9th. correct me if i'm wrong.
yes. would you not want matsui bunting in that situation in the 8th or 9th? i'd prefer he then pinch-hit michaels with somebody who knows how to make contact, but absolutely.
Nope. When a reliever has yet to get a guy out, why give one away (for the most part - since occasionally, the bunter may get a hit)? With the current Astros' bench, who you going to pinch hit? The .110 hitting Erstad? To me, bunting almost always depends on the person at bat (see the Rangers #5 hitter take a couple of miserable stabs at one), and the hitters coming next. It is rare for Matsui to hit into a DP, so generally the worst that would occur after his at bat would have been runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out.
it's also rare for matsui to hit the ball into the gap, and he doesnt hit homers, so, best case scenario, you have the bases loaded and you are still asking michaels to drive the run in.
Pudge could have been on a twice tonight. He keeps swinging at ball 4s. Him with tejada aggravate me so much. Hopefully matsui can stay healthy so he can move tejada down. I'm tired of miggy clearing the bases in front of our big bats with double plays. Bourn Kaz Berkman Lee Pence Tejada Blum pudge
I love my Astros and at the same time, I'm realistic but I couldn't believe that. How can you be surprised to lose the Rangers? They're a better and balanced team who is 1st in their division. Just by watching them the last few years as they're getting more coverage here on FS-H and nationally, they're the complete opposite of what we are now but more similar to our winning days of 97-05. Unlike you, I'm not willing to put false associations on a team, I go off of their play and am not afraid to admit, that we have lost to a better team. Could we have won against them? No doubt, but the losses speak for themselves but the second game should have been ours. Seriously, Backe can do no wrong in the eyes of the Astros. He gets chance after chance and shown after each chance he doesn't belong/deserve to pitch. This guy seriously needs to switch to something else on the field. Is it going to kill us to give you a young guy with potential a chance instead of wasting it on Backe? BTW, Michaels and Kata need to go, why can't Bogusevic be brought up? I don't understand either. I want him infront of Lee as well. This is what I don't get about Coop, this is his 2nd season and he still messes with the batting order, which seems like its a daily change. I don't remember there being so much change day to day when other managers were here, the occasional change for a lefty or for a right hander stud. Someone needs to tell Coop, it's okay to have some consistency in the batting order and maybe that consistency can lead to a consistent offense.
