Astros vs. Braves

arkoe · Oct 9, 2005

From the Astros' website on the balk:

HOUSTON -- Some official scoring confusion occurred in the Braves' half of the second inning Saturday night when home plate umpire Jeff Nelson was prepared to call a balk on Roy Oswalt as he faced Adam LaRoche.

On a 3-1 count and with Andruw Jones on first, Oswalt threw a pitch that LaRoche took. Nelson immediately made a signal that had many in the press box thinking a balk was called. Instead, what actually happened was since the pitch was ruled a ball, LaRoche technically walked, advancing Jones to second.

Had a strike been called, Nelson would have ruled a balk, advancing Jones to second, while the count would have run full on LaRoche.

According to the penalty phase of Rule 8.05: The ball is dead, and each runner shall advance one base without liability to be put out, unless the batter reaches first on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, in which case the play proceeds without reference to a balk.
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Rule0001 · Oct 9, 2005

yeah was wondering about that **** myself

whatever it was though, it rattled roy regardless that inning before he bounced back

arkoe · Oct 9, 2005

An article I actually agree with from Justice in the Chron :

Rivalry built on respect, not hatred
By RICHARD JUSTICE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Not a single dirty slide. Nary a bean ball. The next punch thrown will be the first.

About the closest thing to a fistfight came last year when John Smoltz crashed a postgame celebration to hug Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio.

Such is life in the most polite, respectful and — OK, we'll admit it — boring rivalry in all of sports.

The Astros and Atlanta Braves will play their 18th postseason game against one another tonight at Minute Maid Park.

Only the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees have played more often the past decade. And in all that time, in all those games with so much riding on the outcome, there never has been a cross word, raised hand or slip of the tongue.

Only baseball.

Smoltz: Astros classy
"The players they have, the class they're built around, is the reason you see such honest respect for each other," Smoltz said.

Minute Maid Park will be packed and loud today as the teams play Game 3 of their best-of-five National League Division Series.

Yet there won't be many boos. Probably none.

This series isn't like that. Fans see what the players see. They see two organizations with similar values. They see players who are easy to root for.

"These are two rock-solid organizations with a healthy respect for the game," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said.

When Tim Purpura was named general manager of the Astros last year, he telephoned Schuerholz regularly.

Braves a model franchise
He had specific issues to ask him about, but he also had a larger mission. He wanted to create an organization as professional and as successful as the one Schuerholz has built with Bobby Cox in Atlanta.

Who would boo Cox? He's on the short list of the greatest managers in history. He's one of those guys most players would love to play for.

Maybe the Braves and Astros are too nice.

Maybe that's why the networks typically stick them in the worst time slot.

Who wants to watch nice guys playing when you can have Johnny Damon running his mouth?

Well, you could have Damon until his Red Sox were swept out of the playoffs by the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

How about the way television kept showing those dejected Boston fans in the stands at Fenway Park? They focused so much attention on those dejected poets and songwriters that it was easy to forget there'd been a winner.

Are those poor people still sitting in those box seats weeping for their Sawx? Send them doughnuts and coffee. Tell them spring training is only four months away.

There won't be many crowd shots after the Astros and Braves finish this series. In Atlanta and Houston, they'll watch the game, cheer for their teams and then get on with their lives.

There's not likely to be a single book or movie deal come out of the series. It's sport as sport. What a concept.

"I think there's a mutual respect between the two teams," Lance Berkman said. "They're a class group of guys. They do things the right way. Whenever an organization like that has success, you don't begrudge them that."

There also has been no monkey business.

"For 10 years, the Braves had (Greg) Maddux, Smoltz and (Tom) Glavine," Bagwell said. "Those guys didn't throw at people's heads. You didn't have dirty slides. There just was never a big altercation."

One other factor might be the way Atlanta has dominated the series. The first three times the teams met — in 1997, 1999 and 2001 — the Braves went 9-1 against the Astros.

The Astros never got close enough to winning to even work up many hard feelings for the Braves.

Last season, the Astros won a five-game series — the first time they had advanced out of the opening round of the playoffs. Moments after it ended, Smoltz and Schuerholz took the long walk down the hallway at Turner Field to congratulate the Astros.

"Part of it is the general nature of baseball now," Bagwell said. "I don't think people hate each other anymore. Even Red Sox-Yankees is not about the players hating each other. People change teams so much. They tend to get to know each other."

Like Astros reliever Russ Springer. He was with the Astros when they made their first playoff appearance of the Bagwell-Biggio era in 1997.

He pitched for the Braves when the two teams met in 1999. Now he's back with the Astros. Hard to hold a grudge against players you know and like.

"It didn't used to be like that," Bagwell said. "We used to fight with the Reds almost every game.

"That started with (Rob) Dibble throwing at guys' heads. You don't have many deals like that anymore."

So today as you cheer for the Astros, don't even try to boo the Braves. Because you can't make yourself do it. Maybe the best you can do is work up a healthy appreciation for the franchise the Astros would most like to be like.

"Just because we respect one another doesn't make the competition any less fierce," Purpura said. "This is about winning a baseball game. It's not about spending a pleasant October day with a bunch of friends."

But it's not like spending a pleasant October day with Bobby Valentine and Larry Bowa, either.

richard.justice@chron.com
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I find that to be true for myself. I don't hate the Braves, they don't leave the same dirty taste in my mouth that the thought of other franchises such as the Evil Empire do or the Lakers do.

Harrisment · Oct 9, 2005

I really hope Backe has a solid game and we close this out tomorrow. Even on short rest, there is no way I want to face Smoltz in game 5 back in ATL. He simply owns us every freaking time we face him.

FlyerFanatic · Oct 9, 2005

Kerfeld said:

Just got back from the game.. nothing like palyoff baseball at MMP.
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How is MMP? I really need to road trip some places for some baseball games, I've only been to Riverfront,Great American Ball Park (Reds) and Turner Field (Braves), havent even been to Jacobs field in Cleveland which is close to me. I also heard PNC Park in Pittsburgh is really nice as well. Is MMP a nice stadium? or was the experience just real nice because you guys are in the playoffs, which the Reds have yet to even smell in awhile, damn you Lidner!!!! spend some money, and get pitching!!! . But yea, how is MMP?

IROC it · Oct 9, 2005

Joshfast · Oct 9, 2005

I was at the game and literally have no voice left. Playoff baseball is just insane - nothing like it.

Miguel · Oct 9, 2005

I'm thinking about changing the end to "St. Louie"

I may make that sign and take it to the game tomororw

RocketFire · Oct 9, 2005

^^^ great sign. So we have Tim Hudson playing against us. I think we should take full advantage of Tim pitching on short rest. In ATL, he didn't have his A game on and we got on to him early. I would think that he would struggle again because of the crowd and the pressure. Lets hope for an end to this series today and celebrate our way into NLCS. Go Stros!!!

Kerfeld · Oct 9, 2005

FlyerFanatic said:

How is MMP? I really need to road trip some places for some baseball games, I've only been to Riverfront,Great American Ball Park (Reds) and Turner Field (Braves), havent even been to Jacobs field in Cleveland which is close to me. I also heard PNC Park in Pittsburgh is really nice as well. Is MMP a nice stadium? or was the experience just real nice because you guys are in the playoffs, which the Reds have yet to even smell in awhile, damn you Lidner!!!! spend some money, and get pitching!!! . But yea, how is MMP?
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MMP is one the best ball parks in all of baeball. I have been to some of the good ones, coors field, camden, wrigley, fenway, jacobs, citizens bank, and I can tell you that mmp is the best. I have not been to pnc or pac bell so I reserve the right to change my opinion. as for the playoffs, I cant tell you how electric it is in there. nothing else in the world like it.

Harrisment · Oct 9, 2005

Ok, nevermind what I said last night about possibly facing Smoltz in Game5. Just read this bit from a new article by Stark.

But if they get this to Game 5, Cox admitted, John Smoltz won't be physically capable of starting it on short rest. Smoltz was seen wheeling his shoulder around on the field over and over before the game Saturday night, trying to get loose enough to play catch. So about all he would be capable of Monday, Cox said, might be "an inning or two" in relief.
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http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2005/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2185328

Harrisment · Oct 9, 2005

Ha! I was up at Live last night watching the game. There was a Chronicle photgrapher there, looks like he got a shot of me right as I was really getting nervous. (I'm the guy in the green, bottom pic.)

http://blogs.chron.com/bartab/

ths balla · Oct 9, 2005

ill be in section 100 row 7 crawford boxes ....anybody know how the view is from there?

ruddy · Oct 9, 2005

Kerfeld said:

MMP is one the best ball parks in all of baeball. I have been to some of the good ones, coors field, camden, wrigley, fenway, jacobs, citizens bank, and I can tell you that mmp is the best. I have not been to pnc or pac bell so I reserve the right to change my opinion. as for the playoffs, I cant tell you how electric it is in there. nothing else in the world like it.
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Too bad that actually i cant go to a game..

SWTsig · Oct 9, 2005

awesome game last night! went with my g/f, and although the seats sucked (section 429, row 13) it was still my first astros playoff game. stayed 'til the last out, no way we were leaving early.

the UT-ou announcement was pretty freakin awesome, too. place went nuts.

GO 'STROS.

topfive · Oct 9, 2005

All right, Big-Game Backe, let wrap this thing up at home!

Let's NOT face Smoltz in Atlanta Monday.

weakfromtoday · Oct 9, 2005

Let's wrap this thing up!!!!!

GO ASTROS!

Rule0001 · Oct 9, 2005

gametime in less than 5

adw · Oct 9, 2005

LETS GO STROS!

Svpernaut · Oct 9, 2005

Backe pitches a GEM!

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Astros vs. Braves

arkoe (ง'̀-'́)ง

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