Remember, no PBP in these threads and keep the chatter on topic (if it is about something other than this series, talk about it in another thread). 9-11 Charlie Morton, RHP (3-7, 5.43) vs. Bud Norris, RHP (4-3, 6.05) 7:05 on FSN 9-12 Ross Ohlendorf, RHP (11-9, 3.97) vs. Brian Moehler, RHP (8-10, 5.10) 6:05 on FSN 9-13 Paul Maholm, LHP (7-8, 4.72) vs. Felipe Paulino, RHP (2-8, 6.34) 1:05 on FSN
Vote for your All-Time Astros 9(based on a single season). http://houston.astros.mlb.com/fan_forum/all_time_nine/index.jsp?c_id=hou It killed me voting for Ensberg/Hidalgo.
ENSBERG??????? Over Cammy? Over Art Howe? Over Wallygarner? Over Aspro?? OVER THE RED ROOSTER?????????? I'd better click this link.
Ensberg has the best single season production of any Astros 3B. I was all ready to vote Cammy. Berkman really should have been on the 1B and OF, though Bags would still win 1B. Edit: Time for another sweep after that disappointment against the Braves.
You guys won't beat Ohlendorf with the way he's been pitching lately and Maholm always seems to pitch well against you guys. All the same, I expect you guys to win 2/3 in this series with tonight's game against Charlie Morton almost assuredly a 'win' for the Stros.
Pretty big talk for a team 30 games under .500!! Hey, but they did beat out the Detroit Lions in that recent BBS poll for worst franchises in all of sports, so there's that.
Will be going to my first game all year on Sunday before heading back out of town. Didn't realize that it was the same weekend as the Texans opener, but I'm still looking forward to seeing some of the call-ups in action. I was looking at the standings last night on my flight back to Dallas. It looks like we still play pretty well at home (40-32) considering what a flawed team this turned out to be, but we're horrible on the road (28-40). I don't expect that mark to get any better as this team trends towards getting younger....
Haha....it's not big talk at all. Maholm is something like 6-2 with an ERA in the 3.0's against the Stros since 2007. As for Ohlendorf, he just keeps getting better as the season progresses. Granted, he's still figuring out how to pitch on the road (8-2 with 2.74 ERA at PNC Park) but any game he pitches in the Pirates stand a fair chance to win provided he actually gets some run support. The Pirates may be the joke of the league but those are our two best pitchers. They at least give the Pirates a fighting chance when they pitch. Plus, it's not like the Stros are lighting the world on fire either. Not all of us can spend $100M+ to finish below .500.
Castro is playing in the Baseball World Cup. USA just finished beating Germany. I posted some info and a link in the Castro thread.
Trash-talked under the table by a Pirates fan in one post. There's your barometer of just how freaking bad this year has been.
WOW last time I talked about Puma on the decline the fool had a nice game and today he homered lol...I really need to do this on a constant basis!
Tickets sold maybe 30,000 for Sundays games but bodies in seats may not be over 18,000 with the Texans playing at noon.
If Puma hits for the cycle ill be on here everyday calling him washed up! For all the crap we talk about Matsui, rightfully so I may add, one of the biggest gripes is his durablity...Matsui has played his most games since 04 with 111 and probably will play the most games of his career. Thats something no???
When Matsui is giving you below replacement value, which he has been this season, the extra games actually hurt you in theory. As far as Berkman, according to FanGraphs, he is once again our most valuable hitter this season believe it or not. Lee is 2nd. Matsui is last. Bourn is our most valuable overall player, factoring in defense and position played.
Maybe I should have waited to post this if we swept the Pirates, but I've learned not to count on the Astros this season to not F*** up.
To bad Matsui didn't give you the same production he did last year but over more games played like this year. Puma is my fav Stro so I hope I am wrong and I would agree he is exteremly valuable to the lineup good year or not while I am super excited to see Bourn continue to improve, his ceiling is very encouraging.
By the way, regarding the "Is Lee overpaid?" discussion from a previous thread, according to FanGraphs, Lee is grossly overpaid this season. http://www.fangraphs.com/winss.aspx?team=Astros&pos=all&stats=bat&qual=0&type=6&season=2009&month=0 It's obviously not the bible but that is what their numbers say.