Dude, they were trying to tack on runs. You know pad a cushion that Qualls promptly choked up. Dont blame Garner. Blame his kerosene gang-Brad, Chad and pretty much the rest of the non-hackers.
Dude, were you watching the game. Clemens was DOMINATING. It was so effortless. Clemens stated that he wants to take the pressure of the bullpen. I guarantee that Clemens wanted to stay in the game for atleast one more inning.
Agreed. I do not want to see us sell the farm. As long as we have this relief core, we will get our ass smoked in the playoffs even if we make it. The last two years were great, but those years were VERY different from this one. Although we started 15-30 last year, at this point last year, WE LEAD THE WILD CARD RACE. Last August 1st, we were no longer doubting the Astros. All of us had legitimate hope of making the playoffs. After all, we were positioned to be in. Whatever issues we had were corrected by this time. Yes, we had crap streaks during August last year, but there was real hope. Andy, Roger, and Roy were on top of their game. We had 2 real hitters in Ensberg and Berkman. We had a good bullpen. This year we have none of that. One player won't guarantee anything. Aubrey Huff isn't exactly dogsh*t and he hasn't made a difference at all. Before Huff came, if you had asked me, I would said that Huff is what we need to get over the hump. Now we know that he isn't nearly enough. Tejada and/or Soriano are the same way. They are great players, but they are no guarantees of anything. You mortgage the farm when you have one obvious flaw and you can correct it. This team as a whole is flawed. Last time I checked, Soriano couldn't throw a curveball and Linebrink couldn't smack a ball 400 feet in the 8th inning. Let's play with what we got and hope for the best. Who knows? Maybe this team will go through an epiphany. After all, this is the same team that made the World Series last year. If the epiphany doesn't occur, then prepare for next year. Don't sell the farm for a pipedream.
Please... to have to depend on a 44 year old pitcher who could have been gassed for all we know, to protect a 4 run lead with a rested bullpen against a mediocre team... lets just say that's not the mark of a playoff contender.
Whatever dude...how do you know that? And by the way....did that look like a normal 44 yr old pitcher to you? Roger has guts like no other pitcher Ive seen in my generation.
hindsight is 20/20 my friend clemens has a good lead with 2 inn left and there is no reason to push him and have him risk an injury... i completely agree with the move, however i wouldn't have put qualls in there with a 4 run lead, i probably would have started the inning with miller or springer...then maybe qualls if they got runners on... but you can't say pulling clemens was early...it was the eight freaking inning...my god....
90 pitches if that one guy was right. Not too bad. Im just saying that Clemens was doing great...best start of season. He could have gotten through the 8th but its over...just gotta play another day
First of all, he wasn't just taken out... he was PH for when we had two runners in scoring position, with a chance to put the game away. (which obviously, wouldn't have been enough... who knew that quality teams needed 7+ runs to win games). Second of all, my point was that if this team needs a super-human 44 year old to pitch complete games for them to get victories (in games that they have 4 run leads and well-rested bullpens)... this team isn't good enough anyways.
and what if clemens struggled in the 8th because he was tired or he got hurt but didn't tell anybody and he got tagged for the 4 runs? i bet we would be killing garner for leaving him in one inning too late?
Simply put I'll say it again--WE'RE SCREWED !!! We either get good starting pitching and no timely hitting. or we get lots of hitting but no timely hitting and then we get a lead only for our worthless bullpen to gag it up and of course we CAN'T come back from a deficit late. or we score 5 to 7 runs and watch a masterpiece wasted, oh wait that happened today. Take your pick missed offensive opportunities and a kerosene bullpen. Would like your defeat regular or extra spicy???
Wow couldve been 5 back yet we stay at 6 games back and a tough Padres team ahead with Jake Peavy waiting for us. The bottom line is though that you've got to beat every team if you want to be the best....
Today's loss is not Garner's fault. The bullpen is expected to hold a 4 run lead!! Clemens should not have to pitch one more inning. We're not talking about a 1 run lead to where you have to overanalyze who to put in, matchups, etc. Any major league relief pitcher is expected to hold a 4 run lead. A 4 run lead is a 4 run lead. Qualls should be able to get out of an inning allowing less than 4 runs. I don't think that's too much for Garner or Clemens to ask. Moreover, all of this "Lidge is great in save situations" stuff is utter crap. Just because the game is tied doesn't give Lidge free license to blow the game. Holding a tie or lead should be the rule, not the exception. Lidge should be able to keep a 5-5 game at 5-5. Bottom line, Garner isn't the world's great manager. But, this loss does not go on him. Those relievers should do what they are paid to do.
Duh!!! Rocket isnt going to finish many if any games anymore. That's the facts. If your bullpen cannot hold a freakin 4 run lead for two innings oh wait, 1 inning then why do we have those guys in the first place?
Does anyone out there still think Timmie P is a good GM? Because look at the wonderful mess he has given us resembling a MLB team. It's embarrassing! The only reason we are not 20 games below .500 is because Sir Lance was clutch in several games before the all star break. Bottom line, the rest of our division got better while the Astros brass sat on their collective asses in the offseason. This is why we are where we are. In the middle of f-ing nowhere!!!
I hate this feeling I get in the bottom of my stomach that I get after every Stros and Rox's lose...its such a pathetic feeling....There are far more worse problems out there in this world but that feeling still comes...
