Thank you! Warning when you give up a walkoff to Podsuxdik in the WS, who did not hit a single homer in some 600 AB and Brad just serves one up ... That was more psychologically draining than Pujols ever was.
You have to read the entire post. I said that the difference between Qualls and Lidge this year is that Lidge has been worse in non-save situations that Chad has... and I said that IS a problem. The main point of the argument, however, was that Qualls has been just as bad (if not worse) than Lidge in holding the lead in late game situations... for a set-up man (who doesn't face the same inherent pressure that the 9th inning brings), 4 blown saves is awful... and that's what Qualls has regressed on compared to last year (where he had 0). In the end, the bullpen as a whole has been terrible... but it goes hand in hand with the other weaknesses on this team. Last year, the starting pitching and bullpen were this team's biggest strengths... this year, the starting pitching is erratic (minus Clemens and Oswalt), the bullpen is worse, and the bats are still inconsistent... hence a LOSING team. You can change the closer all you want and you're not going to see an appreciable difference... closers have their biggest impact when they ensure a win for a team that's getting the lead in the majority of its games in the first place... the bottom line is that the Astros aren't entering many 8th or 9th innings with LEADS this year.
Yeah, I reckon you have a point ... As pathetic as the Stos have played now literally every AB, inning, game, series is paramount. I just feel that right now despite other teams trying to give away position in the WC, that finally its slipping away from us because we are not good enough. This team we were told by the brass would be better and nothing could be further from the truth. We have the 3rd highest payroll and clearly we are overrated! Hate to say it but its the truth! No one is stepping up on this club. No one is forcing the pitcher by working counts and uping the pitch counts. No one (well today maybe exception) but the Stros are not running a lot on the bases to put pressure on the pitcher and the defenses? We have some good players but do they actually fill roles? We either have logjams at positions or we have players that do one thing good or even great but the other skills not as good. AE and Brad Ausmus. There is just so much imbalance with this team. So naturally opponents are going to pitch around Lance. They would be crazy not to?
I agree. I'm with you on that point. Timmie P would be immortalized in Houston if he got this one done. We may even think he actually was a quick study with Hunsicker. We'll see. We definitely need a spark. This season is slipping away and so are our opportunities.
The thing I don't understand is why they are not going more to the minor leagues etc to fill in their bullpen? They have some starters that would be GREAT in middle relief RIGHT NOW !! But they leave em down on the farm will the big club flounders. DD
Well, if you're talking about Patton or Hirsh, I don't want those guys going out there and stressing their arm in bullpen roles that they've never been accustomed to (no more Elarton-syndrome). As for Nieve... he'll probably come up here if they're able to trade Lidge. The bottom line is that the guys they have right now should be good enough to do the job that's expected of them... ie, don't blow 4 run late-inning leads, and keep your ERA under 5.
Another thing to consider though is the Angelos A-Hole factor. I mean the pundits said a deal was all but done and Angelos nixed it. Something tells me hes going to give it to us up the ass with no vaseline. Why who knows? Not like the O's are in the WC race. What some 20 games out. LOL. The Blalock possibility may be more realistic. We'll know by 3 PM tomorrow. Hopefully we can get something done or else just bring out the tombstone because IMO we're done otherwise.
It pains me (kills me, even) to say this, but the Astros are going nowhere. I don't know what happened, but the killer instinct is just... gone. We've played 5 series since the All-Star break, and the best we can do is manage a series tie. We're not even treading water; we're going backwards. If 89 wins secures the wild card spot (which it did last year), the Astros would have to play .700 ball the rest of the way to make the postseason. Zero margin for error. I just don't think they have a run like that in them, and I don't think even Tejada or Soriano will make a difference at this point. I think... it's time... to look... towards next year. *sob* Now, excuse me while I go drown my sorrows.
I blame Qualls & Garner for today's loss. When will Garner stop mismanaging this pen? How often did you see a Rivera or a Gagne come into a tie game like Garner has been bringing Lidge in? Almost never. Use Lidge as a closer and he'll be fine.
I'm not overly optimistic, BUT it is worth noting that the Reds are currently on pace for an 85-86 win season. If the NL West teams beat each other up, and the Reds continue to be mediocre, 86 wins could win the WC. It has happened. Not that we're showing signs of life to even be able to reach .500 any time soon, of course...
agreed. angelos is not going to make this easy for us....obviously with the oswalt rumor now, i would never ever trade oswalt for anybody!!! yes we do need a batter but not at a price where one of our strenghts are depleted! i hope we play it smart but we still have a chance at the wild card...
that would be questionable, pujols has been getting hurt lately... that and we need to have an enemy....i don't want them joining us
To dispute Acehigh7's assertion that Lidge does well in save situations: In games where Lidge has gotten a save or blown a save, his ERA is 5.53, only marginally better than his overall ERA. Anyway you look at it, he's sucked this year no matter what the situation is.
I think this team needs to get back to about 5 over to have a realistic shot. The Reds have been hovering around there for the better part of the season. If the Astros were able to string together a couple of winning streaks, they'll be right there. I mean jeez think about it, the WC is still very much for the taking and all they need to do is put together a 4-5 game win-streak along with another 4-5 game win streak and they'll be three over and right in the thick of things again. That's not hard not to imagine considering how streaky baseball can be.
Gagne's not healthy. Rivera has pitched in 46 games this year - 27 save situations and 19 non-save situations. Closers get maybe 30-40 saves a year, yet pitch 60-70 games. Every single one of them come in all the time in non-save situations, especially in the situation that Lidge found himself in - a tie-game at home in the 9th inning or later, because there won't be a save opportunity in the game. If Lidge can only pitch 30-40 innings a year because he can only pitch in save situations, he's the worst closer in the history of baseball.
If garner has lost confidence in Lidge to close, why isn't he bringing him into the game in the 6th or 7th inning? The guy isn't doing all that bad. All the booing and weird scenarios that Garner is putting him in and pulling him out have got to be messing with his head. I honestly think he need a break. Take a week or two and head to RoundRock. Screw around a bit with your pitches. Get the Ugly out. Come back to Houston, reenergized and ready to share the closing role with Wheeler.
wow I can't believe how mentally bad lidge has become, when will it end? It is seriously like sitting and watching for a car wreck and it usually happens with 2 strikes and 2 outs most of the time. Before it happened tonight i was just sitting there waiting and then lol'd once it did happen. Didn't know what else to do, its like a bad dream that keeps on recurring.
