Please keep this to talk about the series. As usual no Play-by-Play, or general Astros talk. If you need play by play see one of the many other sites that have game casts. 7-1 Brian Moehler, RHP vs. Jon Garland, RHP 9:05 on FSH 7-2 Roy Oswalt, RHP vs. Mat Latos, RHP who the hell knows when this game starts because mlb.com forgot to put start times for all but the first game of the series, and it is on FSH 7-3 Bud Norris, RHP vs. Kevin Correia, RHP see above, on FSH 7-4 Brett Myers, RHP vs. Wade LeBlanc see above on FSH Damn you MLB.com. Thanks for changing up the probables page to make it more graphically enhanced. Problem is you made it difficult to copy stats and also stopped posting game times as team time and instead posted it as local time. So until they decide the people that use that page don't really give a crap about a bigger picture of the probable pitchers, or I find an easier way to copy stats that doesn't take and extra couple of minutes, you'll have to guess at the season records for the pitchers. And yes I know I can look on the Schedule page to get the times but that isn't the point (the others start at 9:05, 7:35 and 3:05).
Split. All of a sudden I can't read a box score correctly, since I now realize Chris Johnson went 4-4 with 2 RBI yesterday, instead of drawing 2 walks.
Key things I hope to see in this series: -Oswalt and Myers having bounce back performances -Bud resembling Budchuck more than just plain old Bud -Castro not getting screwed by the home plate ump on Ball 4s since he clearly puts himself in plenty of those situations; also hope to see him protecting the plate a little more on legit Strike 3s -CJ continuing to show better patience at the plate, looking for good pitches to hit... the improvement I think I'm seeing in his plate approach has not yet been reflected in the walk column but it does seem to be leading him to lay off a few more bad pitches -Puma continuing to swing the bat better -Pence to have some better luck go his way... he hit about 4 balls really well in the last 2 games but had nothing to show for it... so much luck involved when you make contact... BABIP has been unfavorable for him recently -Blum, Kepp and CJ not muffing routine plays and forcing our pitchers, particularly Oswalt and Myers, to have to work harder than necessary... if it continues, Mills has to make defensive-minded changes and not have all 3 of those guys out there at the same time... they have collectively made too many bad to downright embarrassing plays over the last week
(cont.) -and, of course, a couple of highlight reel plays in CF from Bourn since that has become the standard
Right handed batters must get excited about pulling the ball. With CJ/Blum/Lee manning that side of the field.
Kepp has great career numbers with the bases loaded: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=keppije01&year=Career&t=b#bases I think he qualifies as clutch. I wonder how many of those PA were against RHP. Pence follows up the big hit by swinging at Garland's first offering. Maybe want to take a pitch or 2 in that situation, Hunter.
Padre fans in panic mode: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/live/MLB_20100701_HOU@SD?tag=ATLbox1729027;ATLscore1729027 It's hilarious to see the things opposing fans say when they're losing to us. They seem to forget that even the worst teams win roughly 60 games a season.
