Friday, May 30, 2008
I Hate Pujols
I don't really need to write any more after the title, because I think you get the point, seeing as how the only two or three people that will read this are Astros fans. But good Lord, what the hell did we ever do to deserve this?
He is probably the best hitter in the game, I know that. Despite that, he is still Astro Killa Extraordinaire, what with 22 career home runs in Minute Maid Park (I can probably name 5 Astros multi-year starters off the top of my head that don't have that many, and they got to play about 70 more games a year in the park than Albert).
Hitting a home run that scored the game winning run last night didn't hurt either.
I probably should be more pissed off at the fact that that home run was the 16th this year given up by Roy Oswalt. That's 2 more than he gave up all last year. Roy is getting close to qualifying for a singing role in a cheesy commerical for a Mexican chain with those Lima-esque numbers.
But everyone looks for a scapegoat. He is mine. Stop pitching to him. Now, I'm not advocating intentionally walking him with noone and 2 outs in the first. But on second thought, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. Especially with the Cardinals lineup who, outside of Pujols, has only slightly more pop than the fearsome Astros duo of Adam Everett and Brad Ausmus.
I just hope it doesn't take too many more of these situations for us to learn. If it is late in a close game, don't ever, EVER throw Pujols a strike. Please. Pretty Please.
He is probably the best hitter in the game, I know that. Despite that, he is still Astro Killa Extraordinaire, what with 22 career home runs in Minute Maid Park (I can probably name 5 Astros multi-year starters off the top of my head that don't have that many, and they got to play about 70 more games a year in the park than Albert).
Hitting a home run that scored the game winning run last night didn't hurt either.
I probably should be more pissed off at the fact that that home run was the 16th this year given up by Roy Oswalt. That's 2 more than he gave up all last year. Roy is getting close to qualifying for a singing role in a cheesy commerical for a Mexican chain with those Lima-esque numbers.
But everyone looks for a scapegoat. He is mine. Stop pitching to him. Now, I'm not advocating intentionally walking him with noone and 2 outs in the first. But on second thought, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. Especially with the Cardinals lineup who, outside of Pujols, has only slightly more pop than the fearsome Astros duo of Adam Everett and Brad Ausmus.
I just hope it doesn't take too many more of these situations for us to learn. If it is late in a close game, don't ever, EVER throw Pujols a strike. Please. Pretty Please.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
How Observant
Cardinals color commentator Rick Horton tonight, just before a 3-0 pitch by Braden Looper to Lance Berkman:
"This pitch, it's either going to be Strike 1 or Ball 4."
Quite an astute observation. Why can't I watch Brownie and Jimmy D every game?
"This pitch, it's either going to be Strike 1 or Ball 4."
Quite an astute observation. Why can't I watch Brownie and Jimmy D every game?
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day Baseball? Not in Houston.
It's a beautiful day in Washington DC. The high today is 78 degrees. There is not a cloud in the sky. Considering this, and the fact that today is Memorial Day and I don't have to go to work, I think it's a great day to go to a ballgame.
Fortunately, I am here. I can go see the Nats play the Brewers and the O's play the Yankees. But if I were back home in Houston, I wouldn't be able to do it. The Astros are off. On Memorial Day.
It's little things like this that make me think that MLB just doesn't have a clue. The Astros played a 4 game series Thursday through Sunday against the Phillies. Then on a national holliday, when absolutely nobody goes to work, the Astros have an off day.
Let's see here. A winning, popular baseball team + nobody going to work + air conditioning = a sellout crowd. Instead of taking Thursday off and having a 4 game series with 4 sellouts, the Astros drew 29,263 on Thursday night. Thats 13,000 less tickets, which means less hot dogs, beers, sodas and souveniers sold. Plus, thousands of fans who were going to watch the game on TV today couldn't.
I'm not sure who is responsible for this. But whether it be MLB or the Astros, Bud Selig or Drayton McLane, somebody just doesn't have a clue. Whether it be alienating fans who want to spend a summer holliday watching baseball, or throwing away thousands of dollars, someone dropped the ball on this one.
Fortunately, I am here. I can go see the Nats play the Brewers and the O's play the Yankees. But if I were back home in Houston, I wouldn't be able to do it. The Astros are off. On Memorial Day.
It's little things like this that make me think that MLB just doesn't have a clue. The Astros played a 4 game series Thursday through Sunday against the Phillies. Then on a national holliday, when absolutely nobody goes to work, the Astros have an off day.
Let's see here. A winning, popular baseball team + nobody going to work + air conditioning = a sellout crowd. Instead of taking Thursday off and having a 4 game series with 4 sellouts, the Astros drew 29,263 on Thursday night. Thats 13,000 less tickets, which means less hot dogs, beers, sodas and souveniers sold. Plus, thousands of fans who were going to watch the game on TV today couldn't.
I'm not sure who is responsible for this. But whether it be MLB or the Astros, Bud Selig or Drayton McLane, somebody just doesn't have a clue. Whether it be alienating fans who want to spend a summer holliday watching baseball, or throwing away thousands of dollars, someone dropped the ball on this one.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Why I Hate (Most) Lawyers
I could talk about the Astros' sweet win last night, or Hunter Pence's grand slam, Chris Sampson's great pitching performance, or even the fact that I'm proud of the Astros for retaliating to Carlos Lee getting thrown at not once, not twice, but three times in one game.
However, I have an excuse to bitch about something political while keeping it on the subject of sports.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/family_sues_little_league_bat.html
THIS IS WHY I HATE (most) LAWYERS!!!!!
Hey, I have a thought, go ahead and sue the ball company too. Why don't you sue the other 12 year old kid who hit the ball? Sue the glove company because the kid couldn't catch the ball. You would probably have a better case if you sued yourselves for allowing the kid to be in the path of the ball.
I feel sorry for the parents and the kid, but this is rediculous. The family should be fined for suggesting such a frivelous lawsuit, as should the lawyer for actually taking this to court.
However, I have an excuse to bitch about something political while keeping it on the subject of sports.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/family_sues_little_league_bat.html
THIS IS WHY I HATE (most) LAWYERS!!!!!
Hey, I have a thought, go ahead and sue the ball company too. Why don't you sue the other 12 year old kid who hit the ball? Sue the glove company because the kid couldn't catch the ball. You would probably have a better case if you sued yourselves for allowing the kid to be in the path of the ball.
I feel sorry for the parents and the kid, but this is rediculous. The family should be fined for suggesting such a frivelous lawsuit, as should the lawyer for actually taking this to court.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Road Trip Observations
Not much substance here, just some observations of the Astros' recent 10 game swing through the Left Coast and Big D.
-As of right now, Lance Berkman is my hero. My man crush. Leading in home runs and second in RBIs? 17 game hitting streak in which he is hitting .545. Almost hitting .400. The guy can go 2 for 5 and his average goes down. I don't think I've ever seen a hotter hitter in my life.
-I don't know about Chris Sampson. That ERA is killer, and he has really only had 2 good starts this season. Josh Muecke has a 3.06 ERA in nine starts at Round Rock. Should he get a shot?
-We still shouldn't give up on Bourne and Towles. They are young. Give them some more time. A month and a half is not a large enough sample size to judge a rookie. Besides, the team is still mashing the ball and winning. If it aint broke, don't fix it. In Bourne's case, as much as I don't want to use the Adam Everett defense, Bourne has been great so far defensively in center. That will be missed if he is pulled.
The 7-3 road trip leaves the Astros 2.5 games behind the Cubs heading into a three-game set with the loveable losers in Houston. Tonights game is on ESPN, so I won't have to jiggle the mouse every 20 minutes while watching. I'm pumped.
-As of right now, Lance Berkman is my hero. My man crush. Leading in home runs and second in RBIs? 17 game hitting streak in which he is hitting .545. Almost hitting .400. The guy can go 2 for 5 and his average goes down. I don't think I've ever seen a hotter hitter in my life.
-I don't know about Chris Sampson. That ERA is killer, and he has really only had 2 good starts this season. Josh Muecke has a 3.06 ERA in nine starts at Round Rock. Should he get a shot?
-We still shouldn't give up on Bourne and Towles. They are young. Give them some more time. A month and a half is not a large enough sample size to judge a rookie. Besides, the team is still mashing the ball and winning. If it aint broke, don't fix it. In Bourne's case, as much as I don't want to use the Adam Everett defense, Bourne has been great so far defensively in center. That will be missed if he is pulled.
The 7-3 road trip leaves the Astros 2.5 games behind the Cubs heading into a three-game set with the loveable losers in Houston. Tonights game is on ESPN, so I won't have to jiggle the mouse every 20 minutes while watching. I'm pumped.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
So ESPN had a chat the other day. Here is the description:
THATS DEBATEABLE!
"A month into the season, who do you think the best team in the NL Central is? The Cardinals, Cubs or Brewers?"
Followed by the case for St. Louis, Chicago and Milwaukee. The verdict is that the Cubs will be the last team standing.
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=20507
I think they're missing a team there. Hint: they currently are in third place in that division, are a game and a half out, have won 9 out of the last 10 and have the best record in the Majors over their last 20 games.
At least Crasnick acknowledged that Astros fans have reason to be happy lately, although he never actually says that they are contenders.
I'm not really sure why seeing this made my blood boil. I really should be used to the national media completely ignoring anything from Houston when we're playing well. I don't even think anyone outside of Harris County knew the Rockets had a winning streak until it hit about 15 or so.
Oh, by the way, I just want to mention that it's good to be back to the whole blogging thing after a 2 year layoff. I just got a job in Washington DC, so the Comeback Kid is inspired by the fact that nobody up here wants to watch/talk about/complain about the Stros, Horns, Rockets, etc. That means you're going to have to listen to me.
THATS DEBATEABLE!
"A month into the season, who do you think the best team in the NL Central is? The Cardinals, Cubs or Brewers?"
Followed by the case for St. Louis, Chicago and Milwaukee. The verdict is that the Cubs will be the last team standing.
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=20507
I think they're missing a team there. Hint: they currently are in third place in that division, are a game and a half out, have won 9 out of the last 10 and have the best record in the Majors over their last 20 games.
At least Crasnick acknowledged that Astros fans have reason to be happy lately, although he never actually says that they are contenders.
I'm not really sure why seeing this made my blood boil. I really should be used to the national media completely ignoring anything from Houston when we're playing well. I don't even think anyone outside of Harris County knew the Rockets had a winning streak until it hit about 15 or so.
Oh, by the way, I just want to mention that it's good to be back to the whole blogging thing after a 2 year layoff. I just got a job in Washington DC, so the Comeback Kid is inspired by the fact that nobody up here wants to watch/talk about/complain about the Stros, Horns, Rockets, etc. That means you're going to have to listen to me.
