What a bunch of armchair psychobabble bullsh!t. This is his 5th start in a row, & he's swinging the bat pretty well - 5-18 with a couple of walks. Biggio's getting a day off. His only options were Willy or Bruntlett, who's had 2 starts in the past 20+ games. The Astros have had 3 flipping baserunners as a TEAM, and you're putting this on Garner for batting a reasonably hot hitter leadoff? You're smarter than that, Nick.
I know... just frustrations. But, I don't care if we field a lineup of girls out there... Willy still is not anywhere close to being a good leadoff hitter, and you know that. Obviously, I'm frustrated that since the offense has been this bleak, they're forced to put an RBI threat like Lane in FRONT of Berkman in order to give him better pitches... and they can't bat Burke close to the leadoff position (where he would have been far more valuable). Also, keeping Lamb in the #2 hole is fine, since I guess he's just too hot from there to be taken out... but maybe he should try to put him behind Berkman every now and then as well (like he's done to Burke).
No doubt about it. Gar didn't have much of a choice today, though. Lidge pitching well in a non-save situation today. Haven't seen that much this year. Since he got his closer job back, his era in save situations was something damn close to 0.00, and non-saves was above 9, iirc.
Sure they do. The error yesterday (much less so than the absolutely mindbogglingly horsesh!t 3-1 call by Bucknor) and the errors today changed the complexion of the games completely.
so can someone explain the logic of not playing burke at short because of his arm but playing him in center?
but they haven't scored. you can't argue changing the complextion of the game when you're getting blanked. its not like they've had to make up ten run deficits. the games are still well within reach.
Speed, and being able to get a good jump on the ball off the bat, is more important for a CF than his arm... Johnny Damon throws like a girl, but it hasn't prevented him from playing CF his whole career.
I don't mind losing to better teams once in a while, but it's not just the good teams the Astros are losing to. It's every ****ing team in the league practically, we're an equal opportunity employer . I mean what is it? Do we need another bat? Or do we wait around all season for Lane and Ensberg to start playing like major league starters again?
There's no cutoff man b/t SS & first. There is b/t center & the infield. And, yet again, it's not solely because of his arm.
You've said it all...my friend. I just looked at the box score. HOLY CRAPOLA! WE GOT SHUT OUT AGAIN! Astros are playing like a bunch of sissy-ass panzies! There...I feel better. I've quite enjoyed this thread. Highly amusing! The Astros have to be at their lowest point this year. They need a good cry.
Since you are a sock puppet for management, perhaps you can explain why they allowed this situation to develop.
So you think management was wrong to expect players like Pettitte, Lidge, Wheeler, and Qualls to perform to their norms the last few years?
Add Ensberg, Lane, Wilson, & improvement from Taveras to that list as well. Sock puppet? Go **** yourself, gman.
They could not have reasonably expected Pettitte to duplicate his 2005, though I don't think anyone could have predicted how bad he's been. Wheeler and Qualls were most likely to take a step back this year. I did not foresee the Lidge collapse Overall, they could not have anticipated the pitching to be this bad, but there were sveral warning signs such as: *No Clemens until mid-season *Andy Pettite would not duplicate his 2005 season *Roy Oswalt has never really had a bad season - would he be due for one now? *Wheeler and Qualls were unlikely to be as effective as they were in 2005 *The back end of the rotation would likely be inconsistent at best Given all that, they were unlikely to once again lead the league in fewest runs allowed. Therefore, it made sense to shore up the offense. They didn't really do that and that's why I did not expect them to make the playoffs this year.
Why would you expect improvement from Taveras? By the way, I respect Astros management, so being a sock peppet for them is not really all that bad in my book.
