Miller pitching against D'Amico. 1-0 Stros in the top of the 4th, the Roots have the bases loaded w/ one out. Bagwell has the only run so far with a homer to the Crawford Boxes in the 1st, on a nasty looking swing. On a side note, I hate listening to Bill Worrell commentate baseball. Edit: Just saw the replay of Bagwell's homer; I don't know what I was thinking, there was nothing ugly about his swing. Looked like vintage Bagwell.
Pirates announcers are excellent. Game is tied 1-1. Doggie just threw out Lofton trying to stretch a single to a double.
I will be continuing my streak of MMP attendances without paying for tickets. I will be at both Saturday and Sunday games.
Cards defeated San Diego tonight 4-2. Scrubs got beat again by the Braves 9-5. Astros still two up on the 2nd place Birds. Go Stros! Five in a row baby!
I saw that play against Lofton on the highlight reel. It was awesome. I forget how good his arm can be. Go Doggie!
Well we lost, 5 game streak is history. Though hopefully our guys can keep it up. I went to a couple of the reds games, both wed and thurs. they kicked a**! the 9 runs was a new record. I wish we could play better against the pirates. The pirates pitchers are doing a good job against the good guys, I hope they have another break out game Sunday. GO 'STROS!!!
Aramis Ramirez should send a thank you card to the Astros for keeping him in the big leagues. The Pirates are continuing to find ways to piss me off.
Today's starting lineups: For the Astros, same as usual, with Redding on the mound. For the Pirates: Kendall C Wilson, Jack SS Giles CF Ramirez 3B (I am really starting to despise this guy) Simon 1B Sanders RF Wilson, Craig LF Nunez 2B Fogg P Go Stros!!!!!!
Redding is looking like a pitcher today. Outside one inning which he needed 30 pitches, he's been very efficient. His velocity is only topping out in the high 80s, but he's getting ahead of hitter and finishing them off. The defense behind them has been great- Hidalgo nailed a runner on second on a ball hit to the wall, and Everett has been Everett. Plus, he ripped a vicious double down the line and just scored as Blum extended his hit streak to 15 games. We've put up a run in 5 of 6 innings,which is nice. Bagwell's swing looks much better. For awhile, it was painful to watch him swing, and the results were just as bad. Berkman's starting to get it again, too. Bags, Berkman, and Ensberg are tied with 17 HRs now. I can't wait to put Kent in this lineup again. Right now, that's a vicious middle of the order- Ensberg, Bagwell, Berkman, Kent, and Hidalgo. One positive of Kent's injury is Blum showing he can play 2nd. I expect him to get starts at all 4 IF slots in the 2nd half (particularly SS with Viz on the DL), keeping guys rested for the stretch.
We only have one starting pitcher with a winning record and we're in first place. How is this possible? This must be somewhat of a phenomenon. I wonder if any team has ever made the playoffs with only one starter with a winning record? Interesting don't you think?
50-44 at the break...pretty good i guess...anyone think blum can play shortstop? maybe he can share that position with everett when kent comes back.
Why? Everett has really solidified our infield defense since he got here, and his hitting is ok for a SS. Blum would be able to spell Everett occasionally, but no need to share time between them. Blum can play all 4 infield spots, which means he'll get his at bats.
It won't... Bagwell, almost as if like a machine, always gets hot right before the all-star break, and continues the torrid pace after he's had some time off. Its like he knows he'll be having a break comin up, so it gets his batteries charged. Then after the break, he's all rested - ready to go.
And first place. If you would have told me at the beginning of the season we'd be in first place at the break despite having our 2 best players spend serious time on the DL...I would have taken it.
i dont want to see blums bat go to waste. he has hit 9 home runs sharing time with ensberg, which is not bad, but ensbergs better. and if now ensberg is our everyday 3b, ensberg will get a lot less ab's. with 9 home runs playing part time, i think that he could hit 20+ home runs playing full time
