Well, since the bats are quiet in this game and the GARM has stopped buzzin for now... Went to the game last nite, had nosebleed seats, $1 hot dogs...God, how I've missed MLB action. The crowd was MUCH louder than I remember from 3 years ago, and my throat got hoarse from cheering for 1.1 innings (5 run inning and the HR by Jason Lane). I just really really hope we get a sweep of the Bucs so we have some confident bats going on the roadswing we have coming up.
Lidge is in with the chance for a save with a 2 run lead. Promptly gives up a solo homer to make it 5-4.
Yes... but he still has that slider, which he could throw all day if he wanted to. Dotel doesn't have that... basically meaning, he's gotta be picture perfect each time. Lidge gets outs even when he's semi-wild... that's because he has an unhittable pitch. Gammons just mentioned that maybe the 'Stros talk about trading Dotel in the Beltran deal... I don't know if that would work, but I don't think trading Dotel period would hurt us that much. Its not like last year, when they're all lights out... in fact, Miceli has had just as good a year as all of them.... and with Weathers there now, and the impending hope that the starters will go deep in the majority of the remaining games, this starts to sound more interesting. Maybe T-mac can close also... he was a pitcher in HS, and he would be indimidating on the mound..
Yeah, that frame would be intimidating...until the batter saw him trying to stare down with his lazy eye...
I really like how Viz has been playing lately. Also, I'm sure this is just me, but it seems like Biggio's been getting on base his first AB a lot this year. This team looks like it may be coming around, even though they are playing two struggling teams. However, many times, that's how you get off the snide.
Great win...Morgan's hit was clutch, something we've been missing...Also, we need to keep the streak alive to get back into the mix... go Stros'!!!
A couple of stats... Leading off an inning (any inning), Biggio is hitting .384 with an OBP of .448. The first time he faces a pitcher in a game he is hitting .341 with an OBP of .389.
DUDE! My good luck has arrived! We have won 4 of our last 5! Have no fear, I am here! Ofcourse we are playing the Pirates, but we also beat the Angles. Go Stros!
Ok, so is this a legit criticism of Jimy or not: Bidge led off with a walk and of course, Everett sacrifice him over. Against this scrub pitcher, with the ERA over 7, should you still play small ball this frickin early in the game?????
Pathetic effort from our lineup against this re-tread pitcher... c'mon guys... don't tell me you've been up all night reading the T-mac threads in the game forum also.
Great move Jimy! Take out the starter who had only thrown 80 something pitches and hadn't given up a run in 3 innings. Why does Jimy think every reliever is better than the starters? Wake up Jimy - our bullpen is not that great this year!
When the Cubs and Cardinals are beating up on each other, you've got to jump all over a guy with a 7+ ERA. Instead we get 2 hits off of him. Back to 5 games out ...
Bay did get good wood on that bunt prior to Munro being lifted. I simply don't understand Williams' thought process.. Munro had retired 10 in a row. The first guy in the 7th gets a hit. Williams jogs to the mound to talk with Munro. The next guy bunts into an out. Williams then removes the pitcher. Did he go out the first time to say "This is your last guy"? Did he say "How are you feeling"? If Munro indicated he was gassed, he should have been removed right then. I doubt Munro said " I have only enough to face one more guy". Regardless, Munro earned the right to stay in the game (and I would say the same thing had Weathers given up 0 runs or had Munro stayed in and given up a home run to the next hitter)
I think Williams has no idea how to manage a pitching staff. He just yanks em out. Starting pitchers are your BEST PITCHERS !!! Why not let them work out of a jam? Dierker was so much better at managing pitchers......but not so hot at hitters. Jimy seems to be not so hot at either. UGH !! DD
This is going to sound hypocritical, especially considering the fact that we only had 3 total hits of Vogelsong, but.......... I didn't understand why Jimy was trying to play small ball in the 1st inning, with pitchers like Vogelson and Munro on the mound.
In this day and age, I never understand bunting after the leadoff hitter gets on to start the game. At that point, you have no idea as to how the pitcher is going to fair in the game. The first guy gets on and, voila, you give him an out with the 2nd guy. When you play for 1 run, 2 things generally happen - you either get 1 run or 0 runs. As I have mentioned before, it is statistically easier to score a runner from 1st with 0 outs than it is to score a runner from 2nd with 1 out. This would seemingly be so, especially in the first inning with the top or the order coming up.
