Wow, what a finish there. After Lee makes his 2nd outstanding defensive play of the game (to go with a HR and 3 RBI), Lyon breaks two consecutive bats for the final 2 outs. On the first one, the top half of the bat flew all the way to 1B territory and got stuck in the ground like a javelin. Lee had to get out of the way. Meanwhile, Lyon made an off-balance catch from behind the mound to get the out. On the second one, Sanchez charges the ball and while nearly falling to the ground, sidearms a throw to Lee to finish things off. This team has been a lot of fun to watch. /broken record
Thanks for the recap. Looks like from the box score, Myers was dealing tonight and left with a shutout. This is turning into the best year of his career. He has like a 2.97 era now.
I'm extremely interested in seeing a starting rotation of Myers/Wandy/Happ/Norris/Paulino next season. I know injuries will play a role I'm sure, but an interesting rotation none the less. Also can't wait to see a bullpen of Arias/Lyon/Melancon/Lopez/Abad (If we decide to keep him as a lefty specialist) ect. Melancon has done more than we could ask for in his short time with us, and we've all seen what Lopez has done. I use to get worried when Lyon would come into a ball game, but he's quickly grown on me, just his contract hasn't.
I also can't wait to see our starting rotation next year. It could really be special if meyers could repeat his performance from last year. Wandy and Norris continue to play like they have been in the second half and the continuing development of JA happ and Paulino. Our starting pitching staff could have one of the best ERA's in the league. Haven't they had like a 2.45 ERA or something like that since the all star break? I thought i heard a stat similar than that
where the heck was this guy all summer long? seriously. I actually *like* the guy when he hustles and produces like that. contract notwithstanding, even.
Lyon was signed to be the closer. His injury in spring training set him back and Lindstrom (to his credit), took advantage of that and has done a good job when healthy. As a closer, a $5 million/year salary is reasonable.
Norris wasn't great today with his command or pitch selection (maybe Castro is on that, too). He didn't really give up a lot of well hit balls though other than to Davis and Thole. If he hit his spot on that pitch to Dickey with 1 out and the bases loaded in the 2nd, it might have been a different outcome. If that pitch doesn't drift as far back over the plate, it has a good chance to go right to Blum for the DP and no runs are scored instead of 4. No telling what would've happened from there on out, but he had a chance to clean up that mess with a better pitch.
By the way, here's a vid of that awesome play by Lee yesterday if you didn't catch it: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=11470275 The best angle is the one at about the 0:33 mark. The ball was actually behind him. He has always had a good glove as JD mentions. The problem is his lack of range as an OFer. I don't think he has anything better than an average arm, either. With Wallace in the mix and Lee not in the long-term plans, it's not really that important but he definitely looks like he can be a solid 1B, defensively.
^ Lee also made a nice scoop out of the dirt today so he's shown an ability to make various 1B-type plays in his short time there so far, which likely reflects his work an infielder early in his development. If nothing else, assuming that Lee is with us at the beginning of next season, his ability to handle the position opens up playing time for any of a number of OFers on the team or in the system. It also gives us an alternative while Wallace continues to make adjustments.
Pretty sweet grab from Lee. I thought he was fat and useless for most of the year, but now he's merely proving just to be fat. here's what I felt to be the highlight of the audio on Lee's play...yes, I was bored but it took some time to put together. <embed width="250" height="50" autostart="false" src="http://download899.mediafire.com/xim372yc8o1g/vb0qvqict6y6axt/astros%288-28-10%29+.wav"/></embed> I give up... embedding fail, lol. here's the direct. http://download899.mediafire.com/xim372yc8o1g/vb0qvqict6y6axt/astros(8-28-10)+.wav
^ Had to download that after all your effort. Hilarious... I didn't even notice it the first time. Not sure if he sounded more like Scooby Doo or a horse though... :grin:
That may be true, but what was Blum doing in the dirt there, and that far towards the hole? That is not double play depth. Yes the bases were loaded, but it is the 2nd inning. You play for the DP, not the force out at home; especially when the pitcher is the batter because you expect to have time to get him. The pitch could have been much better placed, but that hit was just as much on Blum not being in the right place, and not having the range to get to that spot in time.
