Whatever ! You think it is ok to be up 9-2 and then blow the lead? You guys think that the starting pitchers are not getting worried about our bullpen? Stuff like this has a lasting effect on how the team plays the game. For instance, maybe next time, Roy doesn't come out, he continues on too long because he doesn't trust the guys in the bullpen, and his arm gets tired by the end of the year because he is pitching too late into games. Our bullpen is horrible, we could be in first place or at least atop the wild card race with even a decent bullpen. Anybody can look at Lidge and see that his confidence is shaken.....and why the heck won't anyone throw a brush back pitch anymore???? DD
maybe its disappointment in giving up a grand slam in three straight games, or giving up 7 rbi to one player to tie a game. maybe its a disappointment in the prospect of getting swept by a team whose manager has disrespected your team's manager. these games aren't in a vacum.
I don't mind the slams as much as I mind Lidge walking the guy BEFORE the slam, that is unprofessional, and it has been his weakness all season long. If he doesn't walk that guy, there is probably no slam, and the game ends there. At least a 75% chance it ends there...but walking gives new life and new hope to the ChiSox. DD
did you look at him in the outing immediately prior to this last one? where he came in the 9th, struck out the side and earned the save?
and people were happy about that. what kind of posts do you expect, "don't worry guys about giving up a 7 run lead, everything's a okay". I'll admit I was guilty of this with the rockets in the francis years, the rockes could win games and people would still complain. and then I would complain about the complaining, but in a sense the people complaining were right. just because the rockets won doesn't mean this team doesn't have problems. do the astros not have pitching issues because they won? is everything okay?
i remember one particular rockets game the rockets beat the mavs in 04 and they had 20 turnovers. that's all people talked. well its no fun watching your team give up twenty turnovers no matter the circumstance. its no fun watching your team give up 7 runs to blow a lead. and complaining about fans complaining about that ignores the big picture.
Absolutely, I don't think he is toast, but he is far from the closer he once was....his stuff is still great, but his mindset isn't. When is the last time he brushed someone back? His command is off, and it is killing him...too many walks this year...FAR too many. DD
go back and read the thread. read someone like Nick's posts. clearly disappointed. that's not what i'm talking about.
Guys, I'm sorry. I'll take the blame. This was all my fault. Saturday, I walk into my kitchen and we're pitching up five to one with one guy on. Literally within twenty seconds we gave up a grand slam. I didn't even see the second two guys get on base, I had to rewind to find out what had happened. Yesterday, we're up big. I walk into the kitchen to make some chicken nuggets. I come back in three minutes. I see that even though no one was on when I left, a three run homer was given up to Tad Iguchi, but we're still up by four. This folks, is where I didn't learn my lesson. Bottom of the ninth, middle of Podsednik's at bat. I walk into my kitchen and get a bottle of water, thinking there's no way they're really going to come back after originally being down nine to two. I come back after no more than a minute, and the game's tied. I couldn't believe it. Now clearly, I should never go into my kitchen when the game's on ever again.
For a while there, you had the penchant for walking into bars/houses at wrong times. Apparently, that was just a coincidence has we've now located the real reason for the Astros' failures.
Great game, if you like the bullpen blowing a lead for you Roy...Pathetic... We won, but damn, didn't the bullpen blow it on Saturday too...
Ok Nieve, like I said, should be one of the first out of the pen. But in no way should he take the role as setup guy or closer. I do not trust him there at this point as those two roles are different than any other role in the pen. Qualls/Wheeer and Lidge are still the guys you gotta go to, and that won't change (at least this year). Lidge converted like 7 or 8 saves prior to last night. The Sox are just on a damn roll. I don't see how you can call it unprofessional of him to walk a guy, that s**t happens. It's disappointing that he does. but it does happen. Who the hell would have thought the tying run would hit ANOTHER GS. That just doesn't happen as frequently as the Sox are doing it. Besides, he could have had three outs if not for the cheap bloop hit by Pierzynski. It is what it is. I still don't get the knocks on Everett, and Ausmus and Biggio. Are you serious?! This team's offense is not the problem. And Everett, Mr. Anti-Clutch, got a triple and scored the winning run last night, and has been producing recently. Ausmus, has come down to earth, but as long as our pitchers want behind home plate, I want him behind home plate. And Bidge, jeez, don't even start. Again, offense is not the problem. The problem is the bullpen and the inability of this team to put together all facets of their game together at once.
There should be a poll about which is more funny. 1) Everytime Lidge allows a run, bringing up the Pujols home run and saying he's "done". 2) Everytime Bruntlett gets a hit, saying he should be starting at SS. 3) Saying that it's unprofessional for Lidge to walk Podsednik. And now people are saying Nieve should be the closer?
I understand your sentiment, but lidge had to be taken out of the closer's role so I really don't see the humor and when the astros aren't scoring runs, you can't have a series of automatic outs in the lineup. we can talk about this team making the playoffs the last two years but last year they had the best starting staff in baseball and the year before they had one of the best offenses, with beltran, kent, and bagwell. so there obviously is more concern this year, the astros don't have a lot of luxuries they had last season and the season before.
