Yeah It's been tough to follow the Astros lately, so I know where you're coming from. They had a chance to steal one tonight because Wandy gave them a solid start, but there's still two games left in this series and hopefully we can at least get the split with Clemens and Andy going.
Read yesterday's Chronicle... they had an MRI done and found a pretty bad contusion. Doctors are saying it won't get better without rest... and that's what they're doing. Its not like Garner would rather have him sit out, but that's just what happens when you get injuries. Unless you want the guy to play hurt... and possibly make the injury worse... you just ride it out the best you can (and its not like Lamb has been that bad since we put him in... he had the 3 run HR at Philly, and was a big force tonight).
Exactly... a split will put them at 1 out of the loss column. I already have them winning Andy's game (because that's what this team does when he's out there)... so tommorow's game will be the real test whether or not we're still the WC leaders after the series.
it's true. Lets hope for the best. I should have looked at your registration date before I went off on you. I see you're a new user....but you see where I was coming from. So...Welcome to the board! The greatest BBS ever! Did they mention any time frame for his return? I figured it was the doctor and not Garner that was keeping him back. There's no reason Phil would. I hope he heals quickly. We really need his bat. I wish we would see Baggy more as a PH these days.
what I dont understand is that why Garner keeps Luke Scott at bats, when he could give Bagwell some of those at-bats. I mean there is no way Bagwell can look any worse than Scott does. Scott looks lost up there now.
a good point actually , I mean what the hell do you have to lose? you're looking at an out any way you go with scott.
I find it really hard to agree with that. We were tied 2-2. Wandy has been thrown off his game before due to extenuating circumstances. I believe that is why Gar pulled him from tonite's game. We battled back against Beckett with homers from 2 of the least expected guys (for this season at least). Then, we get a ridiculous ball 4 called while Pierre is at bat. Not only that, but it looked like Bidge got him on that tag. But whatever, it happens sometimes. So then, Qualls pitches to Lo Duca.....but why????? 1st base is now open, with Beckett on deck and Castillo to follow. Man, what a tough loss. I just feel it really should have been avoided. Tough to swallow, but the boys aren't about to quit on us, so I'm not about to quit on them.
It all comes down to Clemens. If we're going to win this thing, then we need Roger to perform and we need to win his starts. Otherwise, I don't like our chances.
No, It all comes down to hitting...... Even if we win tonight and tomorrow, we are not guaranteed to be in the WC lead. The Phillies are now ahead of us. This could be over if we could have taken care of the lesser teams, but the last home stand blew, and now it is looking less and less likely that we will see the playoffs again. DD
Could the Astros have played last night's game under protest if they have video proof that Wandy didn't go to his mouth?!? Just a thought... I doubt that Garner protested the call anyway, but just wanted to know for my own edification so I can be mad at Garner for something else besides sitting Taveras and Biggio on days when Roy/Andy/Roger pitch. Now's not the time to be tinkering with the line-up. Biggio should NEVER bat third unless there is absolutely no other choice. He gets in the three hole and tries to hit HRs; that's probably why his swing is messed up now. I say move Biggio into the lead-off spot today, maybe it'll spark him to take more pitches and work deep into counts and get on base like the Biggio of yesteryear.
Not really - if we split this series (reasonable possibility with Clemens and Pettitte going), we will have gone 4-3 against our two biggest wildcard rivals in the past 10 days or so, and be tied for the lead in the loss column. So that's a wash. The rest of the way, we play exactly 2 games against good teams - the rest against Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. The Phillies and Marlins play almost all their games against wildcard contenders. We're still, by far, in the best position here.
While I love the optimism, I don't think being 1/1/2 back and 2 teams in front is the best postion. But, I hope you are right. DD
Care to enlighten us, then? The remaining games for the Astros may be against lesser teams, but these are lesser teams against which the Astros have struggled mightily this year. While they may be in a decent position to still grab this thing, the outlook could certainly be a lot better. Honestly, I'd rather have six more games against the Phillies than six against the Brewers and Pirates--just based on this year's record against those teams. How many shutouts are we going to see in the next Pirates series?
Of course the hitting has to be there. The fact is the hitting isn't there and may not be there given Ensberg is out for possibly up to two weeks and the rest of the Astros are lethargic right now at the plate for the most part. I still say a lot depends on how games Roger starts turn out. If we lose those games, then I don't like our chances. We need our starting pitchers to do well more than ever now. If both facets buckle, then...obviously...forget it.
Roger Clemens is truly unbelieveable. Unfortunately for him, his Mom passed away, and he is going to pitch anyway.
