Astacio's stuff looks just nasty... but he's still got to get it all together mentally (in terms of when to challenge with a fastball in the zone, or a splitter out of the zone, or a splitter in the zone, etc.). He kinda reminds me of Carlos Zambrano before he became decent... of course, that guy is still the biggest head-case in the game. Irregardless... if this team ever wins a road series, it will be the only time they'll deserve more attention, b/c right now they're a bad team in a division full of bad teams (minus the Cardinals).
Are you kidding me? As I just read that, Astacio just threw two 96mph fastballs by Furcal, and it looked like it was easy gas. Zambrano tops out at around 98mph... but his most effective pitch is his sinker which only gets up to 90-92 (which is damn fast for a sinker). Astacio is a guy who needs to get ahead in the count with his fastball or curveball... and then strike em out with his splitter. He's already got 4 K's today, and he had 6 in his first game. He can strike guys out... but he's getting burned my making mistakes in the zone on pitches that should never be in the zone (splitters, and his changeup).
Another day...the same tune. It's just unbelievable. How can we be this bad? This has to be the worst series I've ever seen the Astros play EVER. And, this comes after the rockets worst playoff loss ever. 8-0 Braves in the 3rd inning
This is exactly what I'm talking about.... Astacio has got a 96 mph fastball, yet he's throwing hanging slider after hanging slider. Either Chavez needs to call better pitches, or Astacio needs to be taught what pitches to throw to get MLB players out.
Not a good past 16 hours for Houston sports. 40-pt loss in a game 7 and 8-0 through 3 in Atlanta. Oh well, we could be starving children with no internet access, right?
Somebody needs to be fired. I don't care who it is. Just do it. YOUR FIRED (SOMEBODY) ! Don't ever get into a rivalry with Atlanta again! 8 9 0 ATL 0 1 0 HOU 4th inning
wow, hampton really sticking it to us. he's been pitching well this year though.. saw an L coming, but not like this.. not like this (to quote the matrix)
reason? Maybe just cause it's your team. geez, just nailed a pretty decent pitch by harville..low and outside half
mike hampton just jacked a homerun off of Hardville. I guess he got his revenge...if he need that. If that just doesn't sum up how bad a sports weekend for Houston fans it has been. This weekend will live in infamy.
Oh holy Hell. Why don't you go see if there's an Astros game on arkoe? Why oh why did my brain have to come up with that stupendous idea.
I guess my thought was that...there are a decent # of guys who can hit 96. But that extra oopmh, especially with starters (up to 98 and 99) is tougher to find. And I feel like younger guys can get away with not understanding mentally (the stuff you've been talking about) by throwing the ridiculous gas. Zeke can top out, but not like Zambrano.. I was thinking with just a little more heat, he could've gotten away with a lot more while learning
