Remember, no PBP in these threads and keep the chatter on topic (if it is about something other than this series, talk about it in another thread). 5-16 Shawn Chacon, RHP (0-0, 3.53) vs. Sidney Ponson, RHP (2-0, 3.16) 7:05 on FSN 5-17 Roy Oswalt, RHP (4-3, 5.05) vs. Vicente Padilla, RHP (5-2, 3.23) 6:05 on FSN 5-18 Brandon Backe, RHP (2-5, 4.62) vs. Kason Gabbard, LHP (1-0, 2.12) 2:05 on FSN
Rangers still suck...WWW and I hope to catch sundays game...Suppose to be beautiful weather for baseball...
Didn't want to start a new thread, but here is an article I stumbled across exploring the possibility of signing Freddy Garcia for the stretch drive. http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/ny-spken115682238may11,0,5333829.column The best remaining pitcher on the free-agent market is not David Wells, it's Freddy Garcia. The righthander, who had surgery to repair his throwing shoulder on Aug. 30, will step on the mound Thursday and begin the final laps to a return that should occur sometime around the All-Star break. Garcia could have signed with a team last winter and received paychecks during his rehabilitation. But his agents, brothers Peter and Edward Greenberg and Chris Leible, wanted to follow the trend set by Roger Clemens in 2006 and 2007, and Garcia, financially secure, blessed that strategy. "We felt it was going to be a better situation for him moving forward," Leible said Friday in a telephone interview. "People are a lot more interested, and there's greater need than in January or February. We're hoping he's going be a big help to somebody down the stretch." At some point soon, Garcia, who turns 33 in June, will invite teams to watch him pitch near his Miami home. As long as he exhibits good health, he figures to set off a considerable battle for his services. Ken Davidoff Ken Davidoff Bio | E-mail | Recent columns True, Garcia put up terrible numbers for the Phillies last year, going 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA in 11 starts. But he tried to pitch through his shoulder discomfort. Garcia's body of work - he compiled 200 or more innings in 1999, then 2001-06 - displays his reliability. Here's one space's list of Garcia's potential landing spots, starting with the most likely and in descending order. 1. Mets. They have an obvious spot for him in their starting rotation, even if and when Pedro Martinez returns. Garcia's agents also represent Jose Reyes and Johan Santana, so they have a healthy working relationship with the front office. Garcia visited with the Mets in spring training. 2. Braves. John Smoltz's short-term future as the team's closer creates room for Garcia. With the over-40 duo of Smoltz and Tom Glavine facing possible retirement at season's end, and with Mark Teixeira set to explore free agency, the Braves have incentive to go for it this year. 3. Tigers. The veteran-heavy Tigers are built to win now, and their starting pitching stinks. Tigers third baseman Carlos Guillen is very friendly with Garcia from their Seattle days. 4. Yankees. Will Brian Cashman bid high for Garcia like he did last year for Clemens? Or will he keep using young pitchers, emphasizing development over potential short-term gain? 5. Cardinals. If they remain in contention - and this wouldn't be the first time a team led by Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan surprised people - this would make plenty of sense for Garcia. 6. Red Sox. They, like the Mets, entertained Garcia in spring training. However, they have more starting pitching depth than the teams above them on this list. 7. Astros. They traded Garcia and Guillen for Randy Johnson in 1998, they're not bringing Clemens back and they're surprisingly competitive. 8. Mariners. Garcia had his finest years in Seattle. But will they even still be in the pennant race by the break?
Exactly my thought. (And I wonder what their WHIPs are.) I had to run to the standings to make sure they still suck. Could be a tough series; I hope the Astros at least take 2 of 3.
Until the Astros show me they can't hit and are in a slump, I pick em to win at least 2 outta 3. I mean cmon! These are the Rangers we're talking about.
I'm just excited about the normal game times. The west coast times were killing me. Check out these stats for league leaders: National League Hitting Stats - All Category Leaders, May 16, 2008 Code: Batting Average (AVG) Player Team POS AVG 1 C Jones ATL 3B .418 [COLOR="Red"]2 L Berkman HOU 1B .391 [/COLOR] 3 R Furcal LAD SS .366 4 A Pujols STL 1B .357 [COLOR="Blue"]5 M Tejada HOU SS .343 [/COLOR] Home Runs (HR) Player Team POS HR [COLOR="red"]1 L Berkman HOU 1B 15 [/COLOR] 2 C Utley PHI 2B 14 3 D Uggla FLA 2B 12 4 C Jones ATL 3B 11 4 N McLouth PIT OF 11 Runs Batted In(RBI) Player Team POS RBI [COLOR="red"]1 L Berkman HOU 1B 43 [/COLOR] 2 X Nady PIT OF 34 3 N McLouth PIT OF 33 4 3 tied with 32 Runs (R) Player Team POS R [COLOR="Red"]1 L Berkman HOU 1B 45 [/COLOR] 2 C Young ARI OF 37 3 R Furcal LAD SS 34 3 H Ramirez FLA SS 34 5 3 tied with 33 Hits (H) Player Team POS H 1 C Jones ATL 3B 61 [COLOR="Red"]2 L Berkman HOU 1B 59 [/COLOR] [COLOR="Blue"]3 M Tejada HOU SS 57 [/COLOR] 4 G Atkins COL 3B 56 5 2 tied with 52 Stolen Bases (SB) Player Team POS SB [COLOR="Blue"]1 M Bourn HOU OF 17[/COLOR] 2 W Taveras OL OF 15 3 J Pierre LAD OF 14 4 H Ramirez FLA SS 13 5 J Reyes NYM SS 12 Doubles (2B) Player Team POS 2B [COLOR="red"]1 L Berkman HOU 1B 16 [/COLOR] 2 R Braun MIL OF 14 2 T Glaus STL 3B 14 2 B McCann ATL C 14 2 X Nady PIT OF 14 Triples (3B) Player Team POS 3B 1 S Drew ARI SS 5 1 J Reyes NYM SS 5 3 C Jackson ARI 1B 4 3 E Velez SF 2B 4 5 5 tied with 3 10 M Tejada HOU SS 2 Slugging Percentage(SLG) Player Team POS SLG [COLOR="Red"]1 L Berkman HOU 1B .808 [/COLOR] 2 C Jones ATL 3B .705 3 C Utley PHI 2B .665 4 D Uggla FLA 2B .646 5 N McLouth PIT OF .615 Woo Hoo!!!
Other than a series @ Colorado in Sept, there will be no more west coast games for the rest of the season. Between the Rockets/Utah series and all of the Astros games @ NL West teams lately, I don't think I've gotten a full night's sleep in some time.
Astros shake up batting order, call up Nieve from AAA The Astros called up righthander Fernando Nieve from Triple-A Round Rock today and moved right fielder Hunter Pence into the leadoff spot in the batting order. Nieve, who was 3-3 with a 4.20 ERA for the Astros in 2006, was moved to the minor-league bullpen for the remainder of the 2008 season Tuesday because of breathing problems. He will replace injured reliever Geoff Geary, who left Thursday's game with a strained right groin, on the 40-man roster. Pence, batting .286 with a .335 on-base percentage this season, will take the top spot in the order from centerfielder Michael Bourn, who will be moved to the No. 8 hole. Bourn has a .188 batting average in 144 plate appearances in 2008.
I thought Bourn might have another week or so at the starting spot, but this should work out good. Why not have Pence hit number 2 behind Matsui?
if he hits 2nd you will take the steal out of his game... but if you want matsui to steal from lead off you take pence out of his hitting game. pence just sucks in the 2 hole lol.
did you see the first 2 weeks of the season with pence at 2 hole? You keep the lineup the same as much as possible. Keep the 2-5 guys comfortable.
