Good. I hope this last until October. I think the key to the Astros offense is Bagwell and Kent are earning their money now.
Backe with solid work: 7 innings, 7 hits, 1 BB, 8 Ks, and just 1 run. This is the offense we've been waiting for all season. Longballs at any moment to keep us in the game and then the big inning(s) to put it away.
There's your usual Bruntlett-Burke-Vizcaino double play. Harville gave up a meaningless run (I think it's unearned). I wonder if those 3 have ever all taken groundballs together, heh. Taveras and Burke will both get some ABs now... Edit: Taveras Ks swinging, Burke looking...oh well.
I haven't been able to catch a single one of Backe's starts. Can someone tell me more about this guy? Was he highly regarded in Tampa's farm system and what's his stuff look like? Was this guy a hot prospect or is this all coming as a surprise? Can we hope for him to be in the rotation next year?
What concerns me is not pitching a 123 9th. Bullinger should have the killer instinct up 11-2 . Instead he walks to guys and gives up a dinger.
MVP to Backe in this game. You can truly see his potential with starts like this. No wonder Peter Gammons thought he was a steal.
Here's a blurb from Pete Gammons: OK, and these teams stay in the races with these items: the Giants four starters after Jason Schmidt are 19-19; Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt are 31-13, the three starters currently in the rotation with them 6-8 (but folks love Brandon Backe, stolen from Tampa Bay for Geoff Blum); A.J. Burnett, Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett are 20-23.
I will have to go with Florida for the wild card... ofcourse i am rooting for the astros, but these are the killer B's
I think if we make the playoffs, the outcome will be different. In previous years, we were counting on Biggio and Bagwell (and perhaps one other player) to carry the load. This year, they have MUCH more help. Even if they slump, guys like Kent, Beltran, Berkman, and even Lamb can more than pick up the slack. Also, don't underestimate the effect Gary Gaetti has had on Bagwell. I don't think it's a coincidence that he's on an 11 game hitting streak right now. I think it's safe to say that whatever adjustments Gaetti has made with our hitters seems to be working. Can you believe we're even talking about this? I never would have even thought about this a few weeks ago!
From the Chronicle: The Astros will call up righthanders Tim Redding and Brandon Duckworth today from Class AAA New Orleans, which finished its season on Monday. One of them is expected to start part of Thursday's doubleheader at Pittsburgh. Duckworth, who had two stints with the Astros earlier this season, went 5-5 with a 5.53 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) for the Zephyrs. Redding was 1-3 with a 6.04 ERA in five starts after he was sent down Aug. 11. He began the season as the Astros' No. 5 starter, going 4-7 with a 5.73 ERA.
