I repeat... Michael Bourn is F***ING AWESOME!!! He's doing it all tonight. He's had a number of games like this so far this season. A little bit of everything.
Let's recap Bourn's night so far: 2 amazing catches (1 that garnered a standing ovation) 3-for-4, infield bunt, triple w/ RISP 2 stolen bases
Even when the Marlins are losing, they look like they're winning. A ton of hard hit balls and deep shots that we've been able to get gloves on.
Matsui is just lost offensively. It's really bad. Check this out: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=466923 Only Jason Smith has a worse VORP among Astro hitters this season. This is even uglier: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=521918 PMLV: Positional MLV. Runs contributed by a batter beyond what an average player at the same position would produce in a team of otherwise league-average hitters.
I think Bourn is inspiring Lee, defensively. Lee has made a couple of pretty nice catches by his standards tonight.
With that 2 out walk, the Marlins have not gone down 1-2-3 in any inning tonight yet only have 3 runs. 11 hits and 7 walks so far.
Unreal... 3 run lead, 2 outs, nobody on, 2 strikes on the batter... a handful of pitches later, tying run at the plate. If the Marlins somehow win this game, they sort of deserve it. 11 hits, 8 walks and a ton of hard hit balls.
You know, you can get an out without a strikeout. Why is Valverde scared to make them put it in play? Now, you are in a position where if you do let him put it in play, the game could be tied. Unbelievable.
Valverde is now throwing the pitches he should have thrown to the last 2 batters. Helms had two good looks at fastballs down the middle.
Valverde deserves to get rocked here... he's the definition of an "overrated closer" who will get paid money simply because he pitches 1 inning every 1.4 games and holds a 3 run (or less) lead more often than not.
