Borkowski... but Taylor could be available in the pen (they're skipping him in the rotation on Thursday). Now the ump is getting upset because it looks like its going to be a loooooooong night.
Repko stole second, and then got to third on the pitch that Ausmus dropped... RISP for a guy who's rocked the ball all series.
You know, besides the leadoff walk (though it is crucial) Lidge pitched well. I thought it was a terrible decision by Garner to not have them try to hold Lofton on first...and make a throw on the steal. If the can get him out on the steal, that eliminates the sac-fly. Now Ausmus gets tossed...great. I gotta believe Ausmus had legit beef arguing a strike call...must've not been calling it for us. If we don't find a way to win this will be very disappointing, even more than yesterday. This is really the first tough competition we've had in a series and we've choked twice.
Arguing balls & strikes - automatic ejection. He was doing it to show support for Lidge, as if to say the blown save wasn't Lidge's fault.
Which is funny because I think Lidge got the benefit of the doubt on that strikeout of Furcal... and I don't recall any other "close" pitches that Lidge was trying to get called for strikes. Burke time?
Alright, Brad's struggling. Maybe they need to let Wheeler close for a while. But the whining I hear from Astros fans about this takes the cake. I know your years and years of watching tv and playing backup right field in pony league gives *so* much insight into Lidge's mental state that you can write off his career. Give me a break. Sigmund Freud you are not. It doesn't surprise me that the same bandwagoning, p***y-assed fans who gave up on the team last year are dumping Lidge in the Mitch Williams scrapheap. That's pure BS. Mariano Rivera blew games in the 2004 playoffs and started the 2005 season blowing two saves in a row. He then righted the ship. If you expect Lidge to keep up his 2004 pace then you are delusional. Nobody dominates forever. Players have to readjust and bounce back. For all of you perfectionists out there who have never made a mistake I hope your moaning makes your day just a little better up there on Mt. Olympus.
He looked back because the pitch was 5 f'ing inches outside. Ump started mouthing off before Brad said anything.
