Oswalt has only 86 pitches according to gamecast. Was there another reason he was pinch-hit for besides the fact that we're trying to score more than 2 runs??? Because at this point, I'd take one more inning out of Oswalt, and then Lidge and no more offense rather than what we're likely going to have to go with (Wheeler/Qualls for the 8th, Lidge, and no more offense).
4-1 good guys. Garner just wanted to get some runs. Oswalt is fine, it is all about some insurance runs.
I guess we did get more offense after all... but it wasn't because of pinch hitting for Oswalt (Vizcaino struck out in his spot... hell, Oswalt would have at least sacrificed the runner over). The time for Jason Lane to step up is now or never.... he's gonna have to play his way back into the lineup by coming through in situations like he just did. He was spanking the ball early in the season, but lately he was struggling not only with off-speed stuff, but w/ fastballs as well (which tells you that he's out there thinking too much... he normally nails the fastballs).
I would like to say this team might be turning it around, they are playing better ball in the last week....but then a again... There was a shut out against us a couple of games back....and most likely will be another one in a few days to destroy my hope that this team has turned it around. Ausmus now in, Palmiero staying in at 2nd.
At this point its stritctly because of their ABYSMAL performance on the road. Their home record is actually one of the best in the league... and if they were just sniffing .500 on the road, they'd be in great shape. Frankly, its something mysterious as hell right now when they go on the road... its not like they're hitting cheap HR's or taking advantage of MMP's "dimensions" as to why they're a better home team... its just that they get a few more timely hits here, they pitch a little better here, and they just find ways to win here. On the road, they don't see pitches, they don't play good defense, and sometimes their pitching (Backe) can be suspect.
I think it's just a matter of getting lucky at home and having bad luck on the road. The gap will narrow a little, but we are still a below average team.
I'm not being an optimist... I'm saying this team is bad, and its mainly because of their terrible road record. I'm a realist. Good teams know how to play on the road. This team doesn't... for whatever reason. Thus, its a bad team. (that is somehow going to end up with a pretty good home record, without actually playing that much better at home...)
