Not a good end to that AB but Keppinger's plate approach is much closer to what you want out of your 2-hole hitter than what you get with Tejada or Pence. Matsui was supposed to be the guy. He fits the description in many ways (takes pitches, fast, lefty, can bunt, etc...) but he's just so bad overall at the plate this season that we can't use him there.
I was happy when they brought up the young guys.......but man, I was wayyyyyyy way way wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too happy with their early success. I should have known better.
Yea, he's looking more and more like bullpen material. I know some will say it's too early to say that. I'm not just basing it on the numbers. He throws basically 2 pitches and has poor command, just like they said a year ago and 2 years ago. If he doesn't improve that changeup or his command, I don't see how he can be successful as a starter. Call me crazy but he doesn't look much better than Paulino.
Watching and Listening to Gonzo made me think of the early 90s teams and especially 94 before they blew up the team with the Derek Bell trade... C-Scott Servais 1b- Jeff Bagwell 2b- Craig Biggio SS- Andujar Cedeno 3b-Ken Caminiti CF-Steve Finley RF-Kevin Bass/James Mouton LF-Luis Gonzalez Doug Drabek and Shane Reynolds as a 1-2 punch Hudek closing games after Wild Thing blew up badly. Love that team hated to see it get traded away to SD.
30...starting following the Stros in 86 actually Scott's no-hitter was the thing that got me stuck on the Stros.
Other than being about 17 months younger, how does Norris look any better than Paulino? Forget numbers, just based on your observations about his pitching tendencies. I see a couple of pitchers that... 1. only throw 2 pitches. 2. throw hard but can't control their heat consistently. 3. look like bullpen material at this level.
This team has quit. That was pathetic Lee!!!!! You could atleast go back and make an attempt on the Upton homer. Inexcusable! That ball was barely over the wall. You should have tried. This team makes me mad.
I wish we had a decent pitching coach...imagine what Duncan could do with those guys?!?!? Is Leo Mazzone a possiblity lol
I posted it last night. Lee sprinted across left field into center to make a terrific catch last night. I honest to goodness hadn't seen him run that hard all year long. He was winded after the play. My guess was it was the last time we'd see him run that hard this season and possibly ever. To be fair though, that ball was hit on a line.
Cooper got one thing right: Bourn has been the MVP of this team. You can make a statistical case for Lee, Berkman or Tejada but nobody has been more consistent all year long. Only Pence has exhibited the same work ethic. Even Tejada has looked sluggish the last few weeks. When picking an MVP, too bad if you're old and tired. No sympathy votes. Even if you want to make a statistical argument, only Lee has a higher VORP: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=466923 Edit: Wandy should be co-MVP. He's been a stud. Every starting pitcher has a bad outing here and there.
Pretty good AB from Pence. A walk means as much to me right now as a hard hit ball. A pitcher doesn't want to walk anybody with a lead like this so that's a real positive result. At this point, I tune into games mostly to see the younger guys like Bourn, Pence, Norris, Bazardo, etc...
This is the 17th time we've given up 8 runs or more since July 3rd. This is the 24th time we've given up 6 runs or more since July 3rd. We've played 52 games during that stretch. Bad pitching would be an understatement.
