It didn't really matter to me which team won the Series - neither of them are the Astros. I have family in both Philly and Tampa. But I ended up cheering for the Phillies because they now have some of my favorite ex-Astros. No one was more critical to the Phillies' success this year, in the regular season and in the playoffs, than the closer that the Astros got rid - Brad Lidge, finishing up a PERFECT year, not a single blown save. If my team wasn't going all the way, the next best thing was to see Lidge standing on the mound after the last guy struck out tonight. He wasn't standing for long - he fell to his knees, gave a hug to his catcher, and then was lost under a pile of Phillies gone wild. I've always thought Lidge was a great pitcher, and if it took a move to Philadelphia to recharge him, I'm glad that he was traded and had the opportunity for the season of his life.
The other ex-Astro who will get a lot less attention, but who also played a role in the Series, is Eric Bruntlett. He scored the winning run in the last two games of the Series.
The Astros got themselves another great closer and some really good bench guys, but it doesn't look like they came out ahead on their trade with the Phillies to get Michael Bourn.
The 2008 season is officially over. Congratulations to the Phillies! Long live Lidge!
I can't wait for Spring Training.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
GAMES 159-161 - September 26-28: There's Always Next Year...
September 26: Houston 5, Atlanta 4
September 27: Atlanta 11, Houston 5
September 28: Houston 3, Atlanta 1
Word for the Day: Eliminated. Removed from consideration by defeat; excreted (bodily waste). Take your pick.
Give the Astros credit for living up to their reputation for exciting finishes. Back in the middle of the season, when the Astros were in last place in the NL Central Division, there were not a lot of folks writing that Houston would still be in contention for a playoff spot right up to the last series of the season. Even if October isn't going to be very interesting for Astros die-hards, we can be proud of a team that surprised a lot of people by staying in the game till the end, with a 42-24 record since the All Star game. They even came in a half game ahead of the Cards...
When I turned on my computer Saturday night after the Sabbath, the headlines featured the dreaded "E" word - eliminated. The Astros won a great game on Friday night, taking it with a Darin Erstad's walkoff homer, after Valverde had blown the save in the top of the ninth. But just a few minutes later, all it took was one win by the Braves to knock them out of contention. As Berkman noted afterwards, it was unreasonable to expect that both the Brewers and the Mets would be swept - a necessary condition for the Astros to even require their 162nd game. But it wasn't really reasonable for the Astros to have advanced so far so quickly - miracles happen. Just not this year.
Saturday night's game was a mess, from the first inning on. Backe was true to form, continuing his Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde routine that has been going on all season. This was one of the less fortunate starts - he gave up 8 runs in one inning and change, his worst start of an up and down season. The relievers allowed a few more, but the damage was already done. Better to have been eliminated on a night that they won than due to a game like this one. It's not clear where this lackluster performance leaves Backe - with single digit wins, it was definitely a disappointing year for him.
Despite elimination, the season ended on a high note - a win and a ceremonial goodbye to a player who routinely receives accolades and scorn, depending on who you ask. If you ask this Fan in Exile, you won't hear scorn for Brad Ausmus. After ten years and 1249 games worth of seeing him behind the plate, I'll be sorry to see him go. I doubt that the Astro
s will ever have another catcher who is as intelligent about the game, a factor that has kept him on the team despite a less-than-impressive batting average. I also doubt that the Astros will have another catcher who is as photogenic as Ausmus - a loss which will be notable to this Spring Training shutterbug. I am not the betting type, but I would have bet money on one thing: With old friend and ex-Astro Mike Hampton on the mound, Ausmus was going to hit a home run in this game. Both teams out of contention, the outcome of the game meaningless, and a long-time veteran playing his last game... Hampton can deny it, but Ausmus' first-pitch homer off him smelled like professional courtesy to me. (But he struck him out in his next at bat - one big fat one over the plate per customer.) Ausmus' two run homer was the deciding hit of the game, as Wandy pitched extremely well in his final start. He earned his ninth win of the season on seven strong innings, giving up only one unearned run on 4 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts. Valverde closed, getting his 44th save of the season - that ties Wagner's team record from 2003.
As soon as Sunday's game ended, I jumped over to watch the end of the Mets' game. The Brewers had won their game already, and the Mets had to win to tie for the Wild Card spot. I know it's ugly but my longstanding antipathy to the Mets had me standing in the kitchen cheering as they lost their last game in Shea Stadium, another season in which they failed at the very last minute. I enjoyed every NY fan's miserable face.
So 2008 is over for the Astros. I'll probably cheer for the Rays and the Brewers in the playoffs, in honor of my cousin Jon in Tampa and my Uncle Syd in Milwaukee. I've got cousins in Chicago, LA, and Philly too - but I think that it's the Brewer's year. I wish the Rays still had "Devil" in their name. Truthfully though, it doesn't really matter to me which of these teams wins in the playoffs. I'm a one team kind of gal, and my team's on vacation. Time to turn my attention to the Presidential election, which will be a much more interesting race.
September 27: Atlanta 11, Houston 5
September 28: Houston 3, Atlanta 1
Word for the Day: Eliminated. Removed from consideration by defeat; excreted (bodily waste). Take your pick.
Give the Astros credit for living up to their reputation for exciting finishes. Back in the middle of the season, when the Astros were in last place in the NL Central Division, there were not a lot of folks writing that Houston would still be in contention for a playoff spot right up to the last series of the season. Even if October isn't going to be very interesting for Astros die-hards, we can be proud of a team that surprised a lot of people by staying in the game till the end, with a 42-24 record since the All Star game. They even came in a half game ahead of the Cards...
When I turned on my computer Saturday night after the Sabbath, the headlines featured the dreaded "E" word - eliminated. The Astros won a great game on Friday night, taking it with a Darin Erstad's walkoff homer, after Valverde had blown the save in the top of the ninth. But just a few minutes later, all it took was one win by the Braves to knock them out of contention. As Berkman noted afterwards, it was unreasonable to expect that both the Brewers and the Mets would be swept - a necessary condition for the Astros to even require their 162nd game. But it wasn't really reasonable for the Astros to have advanced so far so quickly - miracles happen. Just not this year.
Saturday night's game was a mess, from the first inning on. Backe was true to form, continuing his Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde routine that has been going on all season. This was one of the less fortunate starts - he gave up 8 runs in one inning and change, his worst start of an up and down season. The relievers allowed a few more, but the damage was already done. Better to have been eliminated on a night that they won than due to a game like this one. It's not clear where this lackluster performance leaves Backe - with single digit wins, it was definitely a disappointing year for him.
Despite elimination, the season ended on a high note - a win and a ceremonial goodbye to a player who routinely receives accolades and scorn, depending on who you ask. If you ask this Fan in Exile, you won't hear scorn for Brad Ausmus. After ten years and 1249 games worth of seeing him behind the plate, I'll be sorry to see him go. I doubt that the Astro
s will ever have another catcher who is as intelligent about the game, a factor that has kept him on the team despite a less-than-impressive batting average. I also doubt that the Astros will have another catcher who is as photogenic as Ausmus - a loss which will be notable to this Spring Training shutterbug. I am not the betting type, but I would have bet money on one thing: With old friend and ex-Astro Mike Hampton on the mound, Ausmus was going to hit a home run in this game. Both teams out of contention, the outcome of the game meaningless, and a long-time veteran playing his last game... Hampton can deny it, but Ausmus' first-pitch homer off him smelled like professional courtesy to me. (But he struck him out in his next at bat - one big fat one over the plate per customer.) Ausmus' two run homer was the deciding hit of the game, as Wandy pitched extremely well in his final start. He earned his ninth win of the season on seven strong innings, giving up only one unearned run on 4 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts. Valverde closed, getting his 44th save of the season - that ties Wagner's team record from 2003.As soon as Sunday's game ended, I jumped over to watch the end of the Mets' game. The Brewers had won their game already, and the Mets had to win to tie for the Wild Card spot. I know it's ugly but my longstanding antipathy to the Mets had me standing in the kitchen cheering as they lost their last game in Shea Stadium, another season in which they failed at the very last minute. I enjoyed every NY fan's miserable face.
So 2008 is over for the Astros. I'll probably cheer for the Rays and the Brewers in the playoffs, in honor of my cousin Jon in Tampa and my Uncle Syd in Milwaukee. I've got cousins in Chicago, LA, and Philly too - but I think that it's the Brewer's year. I wish the Rays still had "Devil" in their name. Truthfully though, it doesn't really matter to me which of these teams wins in the playoffs. I'm a one team kind of gal, and my team's on vacation. Time to turn my attention to the Presidential election, which will be a much more interesting race.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
GAME 158 - September 25: At the Precipice
Houston 8, Cincinnati 6
Quote of the Day: "Some guys have some longer resumes, but over eight years that we've played together, Roy's the best pitcher I've ever caught... Quite frankly, he probably doesn't even need a catcher. He could probably pitch with a pitch-back. He makes me look good." (Ausmus, after catching his last game for Roy O)
As I shut down my computer on Friday for the Sabbath, I know intellectually that by the time I turned it back on Saturday night, the Astros players will very likely chatting about their October vacation plans. But for one more day at least, the Astros held off elimination with another Oswalt beauty. To survive to the playoffs, they will now need to win every game of the season, and both the Mets and the Brewers will need to lose every game of the season. Since the Mets and Brewers are not playing each other, it's mathematically possible for Houston to go to the playoffs. But even I, the most pigheadedly optimistic Astros Fan in Exile, have to admit that the chance of that are pretty slim.
Despite the future, it was great to see Oswalt pitch another game that counts. Pitching on short rest against a team that has only beat him once ever, the Wiz came through again with win number 23 against the Reds. He gave up only one run - a first inning solo homer - on 2 hits, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. To help ensure his win, Oswalt also pitched in offensively, with a pair of hits and an RBI. With a 6-1 lead, Cooper replaced him after six innings. In a nice move, though, Oswalt went out to the mound in the top of the seventh. It was not to give the fans the chance to cheer him, he said after the game - it was so that he could shake Ausmus' hand out on the field as he left the game. With Ausmus' plans to leave the Astros for good at the end of the season (at least as a player), this could be Oswalt's last chance to salute his long-time catcher during a game. Sweet moment.
Down 1-0, the Astros took the lead in the second inning and never gave it up. Pence led off with a single. After Wiggington flied out, Ausmus grounded into a fielders choice, with Pence out at second. That should have set up for Oswalt to make the third out to end the inning. But Oswalt hadn't read the script. Ausmus advanced on a passed ball, ending up on third when Oswalt singled to right. Matsui walked to load the bases. His disappointing batting average aside, Bourn came through with a two-out base-clearing double.
The Astros plated more two-out runs in the third. Blum was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Wiggington singled, and Ausmus followed with an infield single to load the bases. Oswalt again ignored the pitcher stereotype, and singled again to right, scoring Blum. Wiggington scored when Matsui walked again. This time Bourn was less lucky: He struck out, leaving the bases loaded. But the Astros had a nice 5-1 lead for Oswalt. Matsui's fifth inning RBI single made it 6-1, which should have been plenty of padding with Oswalt on the mound.
However, Cooper didn't want to let Oswalt overdo it on short rest, in case a miracle occurs and he needs to pitch again on Monday in the makeup game against the Cubs. Wright, Geary, and Byrdak combined to eat up two hitless innings. In the seventh, back-to-back doubles by Abercrombie and Matsui and a single by Bourn added another pair of runs to the Astros lead. That seemed gratuitous at the time, with an 8-1 lead, but it turned out to make the difference in Oswalt's chance for the win.
In the ninth inning, Arias and Nieve made a muddle of things. Arias gave up a double and three singles, allowing two runs to score. Nieve came in with a pair of runners on base, and gave up a 3-run homer. With the score now 8-6, a save situation, Cooper brought in his big gun. Valverde finished off the game with no further damage, striking out two - the last one on three pitches. It was his 43rd save of the season.
The meltdown in the ninth occured just after the results of the Mets game went up on the scoreboard: The Mets had pulled off a walkoff win in the bottom of the ninth. And to make things worse, the Brewers also won in the bottom of the ninth - with a walkoff grandslam. This leaves Houston in pretty a desperate situation going into the weekend - needing to sweep the Braves and then beat the Cubs in a real home game Monday, while both the Mets and Brewers are swept in their respective weekend games. Frankly, I wouldn't blame the Cubs if they just dropped one game of the series against Milwaukee just to avoid having to play on Monday. It wouldn't hurt their standings a bit, and would save them running around just before the playoffs. But who needs a conspiracy - the Astros need a miracle!
Quote of the Day: "Some guys have some longer resumes, but over eight years that we've played together, Roy's the best pitcher I've ever caught... Quite frankly, he probably doesn't even need a catcher. He could probably pitch with a pitch-back. He makes me look good." (Ausmus, after catching his last game for Roy O)
As I shut down my computer on Friday for the Sabbath, I know intellectually that by the time I turned it back on Saturday night, the Astros players will very likely chatting about their October vacation plans. But for one more day at least, the Astros held off elimination with another Oswalt beauty. To survive to the playoffs, they will now need to win every game of the season, and both the Mets and the Brewers will need to lose every game of the season. Since the Mets and Brewers are not playing each other, it's mathematically possible for Houston to go to the playoffs. But even I, the most pigheadedly optimistic Astros Fan in Exile, have to admit that the chance of that are pretty slim.
Despite the future, it was great to see Oswalt pitch another game that counts. Pitching on short rest against a team that has only beat him once ever, the Wiz came through again with win number 23 against the Reds. He gave up only one run - a first inning solo homer - on 2 hits, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. To help ensure his win, Oswalt also pitched in offensively, with a pair of hits and an RBI. With a 6-1 lead, Cooper replaced him after six innings. In a nice move, though, Oswalt went out to the mound in the top of the seventh. It was not to give the fans the chance to cheer him, he said after the game - it was so that he could shake Ausmus' hand out on the field as he left the game. With Ausmus' plans to leave the Astros for good at the end of the season (at least as a player), this could be Oswalt's last chance to salute his long-time catcher during a game. Sweet moment.
Down 1-0, the Astros took the lead in the second inning and never gave it up. Pence led off with a single. After Wiggington flied out, Ausmus grounded into a fielders choice, with Pence out at second. That should have set up for Oswalt to make the third out to end the inning. But Oswalt hadn't read the script. Ausmus advanced on a passed ball, ending up on third when Oswalt singled to right. Matsui walked to load the bases. His disappointing batting average aside, Bourn came through with a two-out base-clearing double.
The Astros plated more two-out runs in the third. Blum was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Wiggington singled, and Ausmus followed with an infield single to load the bases. Oswalt again ignored the pitcher stereotype, and singled again to right, scoring Blum. Wiggington scored when Matsui walked again. This time Bourn was less lucky: He struck out, leaving the bases loaded. But the Astros had a nice 5-1 lead for Oswalt. Matsui's fifth inning RBI single made it 6-1, which should have been plenty of padding with Oswalt on the mound.
However, Cooper didn't want to let Oswalt overdo it on short rest, in case a miracle occurs and he needs to pitch again on Monday in the makeup game against the Cubs. Wright, Geary, and Byrdak combined to eat up two hitless innings. In the seventh, back-to-back doubles by Abercrombie and Matsui and a single by Bourn added another pair of runs to the Astros lead. That seemed gratuitous at the time, with an 8-1 lead, but it turned out to make the difference in Oswalt's chance for the win.
In the ninth inning, Arias and Nieve made a muddle of things. Arias gave up a double and three singles, allowing two runs to score. Nieve came in with a pair of runners on base, and gave up a 3-run homer. With the score now 8-6, a save situation, Cooper brought in his big gun. Valverde finished off the game with no further damage, striking out two - the last one on three pitches. It was his 43rd save of the season.
The meltdown in the ninth occured just after the results of the Mets game went up on the scoreboard: The Mets had pulled off a walkoff win in the bottom of the ninth. And to make things worse, the Brewers also won in the bottom of the ninth - with a walkoff grandslam. This leaves Houston in pretty a desperate situation going into the weekend - needing to sweep the Braves and then beat the Cubs in a real home game Monday, while both the Mets and Brewers are swept in their respective weekend games. Frankly, I wouldn't blame the Cubs if they just dropped one game of the series against Milwaukee just to avoid having to play on Monday. It wouldn't hurt their standings a bit, and would save them running around just before the playoffs. But who needs a conspiracy - the Astros need a miracle!
GAME 157 - September 24: Close to the Last Gasp...
Houston 5, Cincinnati 0
Quote of the Day: "We live to dance a few more days. We just have to keep winning and hope for divine intervention." (Cecil Cooper)
The Astros win, the Mets and Brewers lose. Houston lives for another day. To stay alive, they need to win all the rest of their games this season, while the Mets and Brewers lose virtually all of theirs - a long shot, to say the least. But with 5 games left in the 2008 season, a team that was generally written off since the end of May is still mathematically eligible for the postseason. Who woulda thunk it???
Well, actually, I would. I've been saying it all season. By the end of Thursday's game, the run may be over - their magic number for elimination is down to 2. But for now, it's still possible.
Great game as the Astros regained their strong starting pitching and solid bullpen, resulting in their league-leading 13th shutout of the season. A large part of the credit for the win goes to the Astros' two late-season additions to the pitching staff - Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins. Wolf pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, giving up 8 hits and a pair of walks, and striking out 7. With all those base runners scattered across the innings, the Reds had plenty of chances to score, but Wolf worked his way out of trouble each time. He left the game with two on and two outs, replaced by Geary, who ended the threat on a single pitch. Hawkins pitched a scoreless eighth and Brocail came in to close.
Berkman gave Wolf a quick lead, with a two-out two-run homer in the first inning. It was his 29th homer of a very erratic season, and his 44th against the Reds - a record for a single player against a specific team since 2001. For a while, it looked like a replay of the previous game offensively - homer in the first and that's all, folks. But Houston had some fun in the eighth inning, scoring 3 on singles and walks alternating with outs: With one out Tejada singled, and advanced on Berkman's walk. Blum hit an infield single to load the bases. Pence showed great patience (!) at the plate, drawing the RBI walk on a 3-2 count. After Wiggington struck out for the second out, Quintero came up to the plate. Working on a 22 at-bat slump, one might not expect a good outcome - but he singled to the gap in left, scoring Blum and Berkman.
Meanwhile, scoreboard watching... The Cubs broke a 6-6 tie with a 3-run outburst in the ninth, beating the Mets. But Milwaukee beat the Pirates to pull even with the Mets in the lead for the Wild Card. With 5 games to go, they lead the Astros by 3 1/2 games.
In other news, Chris Sampson's injury seams to be a slight tear in a tendon in his elbow. While he's considering surgery, he claims to be available to pitch for the rest of the season. That doesn't really sound like a good idea.
Quote of the Day: "We live to dance a few more days. We just have to keep winning and hope for divine intervention." (Cecil Cooper)
The Astros win, the Mets and Brewers lose. Houston lives for another day. To stay alive, they need to win all the rest of their games this season, while the Mets and Brewers lose virtually all of theirs - a long shot, to say the least. But with 5 games left in the 2008 season, a team that was generally written off since the end of May is still mathematically eligible for the postseason. Who woulda thunk it???
Well, actually, I would. I've been saying it all season. By the end of Thursday's game, the run may be over - their magic number for elimination is down to 2. But for now, it's still possible.
Great game as the Astros regained their strong starting pitching and solid bullpen, resulting in their league-leading 13th shutout of the season. A large part of the credit for the win goes to the Astros' two late-season additions to the pitching staff - Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins. Wolf pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, giving up 8 hits and a pair of walks, and striking out 7. With all those base runners scattered across the innings, the Reds had plenty of chances to score, but Wolf worked his way out of trouble each time. He left the game with two on and two outs, replaced by Geary, who ended the threat on a single pitch. Hawkins pitched a scoreless eighth and Brocail came in to close.
Berkman gave Wolf a quick lead, with a two-out two-run homer in the first inning. It was his 29th homer of a very erratic season, and his 44th against the Reds - a record for a single player against a specific team since 2001. For a while, it looked like a replay of the previous game offensively - homer in the first and that's all, folks. But Houston had some fun in the eighth inning, scoring 3 on singles and walks alternating with outs: With one out Tejada singled, and advanced on Berkman's walk. Blum hit an infield single to load the bases. Pence showed great patience (!) at the plate, drawing the RBI walk on a 3-2 count. After Wiggington struck out for the second out, Quintero came up to the plate. Working on a 22 at-bat slump, one might not expect a good outcome - but he singled to the gap in left, scoring Blum and Berkman.
Meanwhile, scoreboard watching... The Cubs broke a 6-6 tie with a 3-run outburst in the ninth, beating the Mets. But Milwaukee beat the Pirates to pull even with the Mets in the lead for the Wild Card. With 5 games to go, they lead the Astros by 3 1/2 games.
In other news, Chris Sampson's injury seams to be a slight tear in a tendon in his elbow. While he's considering surgery, he claims to be available to pitch for the rest of the season. That doesn't really sound like a good idea.
GAME 156 - September 23: This Has Got to be the Last Loss
Cincinnati 2, Houston 1
Understatement of the Day: "We are disappointed that we let a golden opportunity slide tonight." (Cooper)
When Wandy got tagged with a pair of unearned runs in the first inning, the kickoff of the last week of the season was not off to a good start. But Matsui's leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning gave hope that the bad start was just a minor glitch on the way to a big win. Wandy and a quartet of relievers went on to throw 8 shutout innings to hold the Reds to just those two runs. That should have been plenty of help from the mound to get this critical win. But the Astros never scored again after Matsui's leadoff homer.
It's not like they didn't have opportunities, even with the Red's boy wonder Edinson Volquez throwing fire from the mound. The most painful blown chance came in the sixth inning: With one out and Bourn on second, Tejada singled to left. Confused about his signals, Bourn rounded third - and stopped. Tejada got into a rundown between first and second, and Bourn should have been able to score easily to tie the game, but ended up stranded on third at the end of the inning. They got a runner in scoring position in the ninth, but he was doubled off second in a call so close that the other umps overturned the initial safe signal, ending the game as the poet says, "not with a bang but a whimper."
The Astros dug a huge hole in the post-hurricane fiasco. But without stupid losses to the Pirates and to Cincinnati, they would not be quite to the brink of elimination.
Understatement of the Day: "We are disappointed that we let a golden opportunity slide tonight." (Cooper)
When Wandy got tagged with a pair of unearned runs in the first inning, the kickoff of the last week of the season was not off to a good start. But Matsui's leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning gave hope that the bad start was just a minor glitch on the way to a big win. Wandy and a quartet of relievers went on to throw 8 shutout innings to hold the Reds to just those two runs. That should have been plenty of help from the mound to get this critical win. But the Astros never scored again after Matsui's leadoff homer.
It's not like they didn't have opportunities, even with the Red's boy wonder Edinson Volquez throwing fire from the mound. The most painful blown chance came in the sixth inning: With one out and Bourn on second, Tejada singled to left. Confused about his signals, Bourn rounded third - and stopped. Tejada got into a rundown between first and second, and Bourn should have been able to score easily to tie the game, but ended up stranded on third at the end of the inning. They got a runner in scoring position in the ninth, but he was doubled off second in a call so close that the other umps overturned the initial safe signal, ending the game as the poet says, "not with a bang but a whimper."
The Astros dug a huge hole in the post-hurricane fiasco. But without stupid losses to the Pirates and to Cincinnati, they would not be quite to the brink of elimination.
Monday, September 22, 2008
GAMES 153-155 - September 19-21: Mathematically Alive
September 19: Houston 5, Pittsburgh 1
September 20: Pittsburgh 6, Houston 4
September 21: Houston 6, Pittsburgh 2
Quote of the Day: "It's a long shot. But we'll play it one day at a time, as the adage goes, and hopefully, we'll get some help." (Ausmus)
After the post-Ike fiasco, the Astros needed a sweep against a team as weak as the Pirates. At this point in the season, a series win is just not enough. They literally need to win every game left, and even with that, they need some serious slumping from the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race.
This should have been an easy sweep. For two of the three games, that appeared to be the case, but the loss in the middle was just a case of botched opportunities.
Randy Wolf managed to get a big monkey off the Astros' backs with a great start on Friday night, breaking up the five game plunge towards elimination. Other than a solo homer in the fourth, Wolf pitched a terrific game, making Ed Wade look smarter and smarter for his late season acquisition. It was a very good turnaround from an Astros pitching staff that had been pretty terrible since the hurricane. Wolf pitched 7 innings, giving up only 3 hits and a walk, and striking out 6. Hawkins, Brydak, and Valverde finished up with 3 scoreless innings.
After days of forgetting how to traverse the path that leads to home plate, the Astros actually managed to put some runs on the scoreboard Friday night. They took their time about it, not getting much off the Pirates' starter Ian Snell until the fourth inning. A pair of walks to Berkman and Blum set up Pence for an RBI single. Wiggington's ground out pushed Blum across for the second run. In the eighth, Houston played add on, buffering their 2-1 lead with three more runs. Matsui led off with an infield hit, then appeared to be stranded by two quick outs. But Berkman walked, then Blum hit another infield single to score Matsui. Pence doubled to clear the bases, giving him 3 RBI for the night, and providing the Astros with a bit more breathing room.
All in all, a nice break from the post-Ike losing streak. And with losses for both Milwaukee and Philadelphia, Houston regained a bit of traction in the Wild Card race Friday.
Saturday night was another dumb loss. Moehler got off to a terrible start, giving up 5 runs in the first inning, but five relievers combined for only one run over the next eight innings. There was really no reason for not winning this one: With 11 hits, 3 walks, and a hit batsman, Houston had plenty of baserunners to work with. The Pirates pitchers were just begging the Astros to score some runs, but Houston blew almost all their chances, stranding runners right and left. Berkman - with 5 LOBs of his own - called himself an "albatross." But it was more like a flock of them. Come on, guys, this wasn't Zambrano - it was ex-Astro Jimmy Barthmeier starting this game! The Astros should have been able to run the table. Enough said about this dreary excuse for a game. The only positive part was that Milwaukee and the Mets (who are no longer leading the NL East and have joined the Wild Card race) also lost. But it's too late in the race for any losses; every game counts.
Sunday's game might be too little, too late, a baby step on a hopeless journey, yada yada yada... but it sure was lovely to watch Roy O pitch his way to his 16th win. He only stayed in through six innings, leaving the game with a 4-1 lead in order to preserve his strength to pitch against the Reds on short rest. A very nice short start - one run on 7 hits, no walks, 4 strikeouts. Except for the fifth, when the Pirates scored once, the hits were nicely sprinked one to an inning; all but one were singles, and two were wiped out by double plays. Geary and Hawkins pitched perfect innings in relief. Wright got into a bit of trouble in the ninth, giving up a run on a double, a balk, and an RBI single, but closed the game without any further damage.
Astros hitters gave Oswalt enough padding to let him pitch an aggressive game. They got on the board in the third with back-to-back one out singles by Loretta and Tejada, and a nice big double from Berkman to score Loretta. Tejada scored on Blum's sac fly. The Astros scored two more on Oswalt's watch, when Ausmus hit a bases-loaded two-out single in the fifth inning. The extra two runs scored after Oswalt left, all on small ball plays. In the eighth, Bourn singled, stole second, and scored on Tejada's single. Bourn's two successful steals in this gae puts him at 40 for the season - who knows how many he'd have if he could only get on base more often!? In the ninth, Pence walked, advanced to second on Wiggington's single, got to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on another wild pitch.
Meanwhile, the Wild Card-leading Mets blew their lead, allowing the Braves to score 4 in the eighth. But Milwaukee won its game, so no net gain there.
It's long shot, but the Astros are still alive, going into the final home games of the season.
September 20: Pittsburgh 6, Houston 4
September 21: Houston 6, Pittsburgh 2
Quote of the Day: "It's a long shot. But we'll play it one day at a time, as the adage goes, and hopefully, we'll get some help." (Ausmus)
After the post-Ike fiasco, the Astros needed a sweep against a team as weak as the Pirates. At this point in the season, a series win is just not enough. They literally need to win every game left, and even with that, they need some serious slumping from the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race.
This should have been an easy sweep. For two of the three games, that appeared to be the case, but the loss in the middle was just a case of botched opportunities.
Randy Wolf managed to get a big monkey off the Astros' backs with a great start on Friday night, breaking up the five game plunge towards elimination. Other than a solo homer in the fourth, Wolf pitched a terrific game, making Ed Wade look smarter and smarter for his late season acquisition. It was a very good turnaround from an Astros pitching staff that had been pretty terrible since the hurricane. Wolf pitched 7 innings, giving up only 3 hits and a walk, and striking out 6. Hawkins, Brydak, and Valverde finished up with 3 scoreless innings.
After days of forgetting how to traverse the path that leads to home plate, the Astros actually managed to put some runs on the scoreboard Friday night. They took their time about it, not getting much off the Pirates' starter Ian Snell until the fourth inning. A pair of walks to Berkman and Blum set up Pence for an RBI single. Wiggington's ground out pushed Blum across for the second run. In the eighth, Houston played add on, buffering their 2-1 lead with three more runs. Matsui led off with an infield hit, then appeared to be stranded by two quick outs. But Berkman walked, then Blum hit another infield single to score Matsui. Pence doubled to clear the bases, giving him 3 RBI for the night, and providing the Astros with a bit more breathing room.
All in all, a nice break from the post-Ike losing streak. And with losses for both Milwaukee and Philadelphia, Houston regained a bit of traction in the Wild Card race Friday.
Saturday night was another dumb loss. Moehler got off to a terrible start, giving up 5 runs in the first inning, but five relievers combined for only one run over the next eight innings. There was really no reason for not winning this one: With 11 hits, 3 walks, and a hit batsman, Houston had plenty of baserunners to work with. The Pirates pitchers were just begging the Astros to score some runs, but Houston blew almost all their chances, stranding runners right and left. Berkman - with 5 LOBs of his own - called himself an "albatross." But it was more like a flock of them. Come on, guys, this wasn't Zambrano - it was ex-Astro Jimmy Barthmeier starting this game! The Astros should have been able to run the table. Enough said about this dreary excuse for a game. The only positive part was that Milwaukee and the Mets (who are no longer leading the NL East and have joined the Wild Card race) also lost. But it's too late in the race for any losses; every game counts.
Sunday's game might be too little, too late, a baby step on a hopeless journey, yada yada yada... but it sure was lovely to watch Roy O pitch his way to his 16th win. He only stayed in through six innings, leaving the game with a 4-1 lead in order to preserve his strength to pitch against the Reds on short rest. A very nice short start - one run on 7 hits, no walks, 4 strikeouts. Except for the fifth, when the Pirates scored once, the hits were nicely sprinked one to an inning; all but one were singles, and two were wiped out by double plays. Geary and Hawkins pitched perfect innings in relief. Wright got into a bit of trouble in the ninth, giving up a run on a double, a balk, and an RBI single, but closed the game without any further damage.
Astros hitters gave Oswalt enough padding to let him pitch an aggressive game. They got on the board in the third with back-to-back one out singles by Loretta and Tejada, and a nice big double from Berkman to score Loretta. Tejada scored on Blum's sac fly. The Astros scored two more on Oswalt's watch, when Ausmus hit a bases-loaded two-out single in the fifth inning. The extra two runs scored after Oswalt left, all on small ball plays. In the eighth, Bourn singled, stole second, and scored on Tejada's single. Bourn's two successful steals in this gae puts him at 40 for the season - who knows how many he'd have if he could only get on base more often!? In the ninth, Pence walked, advanced to second on Wiggington's single, got to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on another wild pitch.
Meanwhile, the Wild Card-leading Mets blew their lead, allowing the Braves to score 4 in the eighth. But Milwaukee won its game, so no net gain there.
It's long shot, but the Astros are still alive, going into the final home games of the season.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
GAME 150-152 - September 16-18: Astros Lose Heart
September 16: Florida 5, Houston 1
September 17: Florida 14, Houston 2
September 18: Florida 6, Houston 1
Quote of the Day: "We survived Ike... Bud killed us." (slogans on the back and front of tee shirts that the Astros wore on Thursday)
Before the hurricane, when the Astros were on their frenetic pace to challenge for the Wild Card slot, every game was fascinating, every run worth comment, every pitcher's line interesting to dissect.
Since the hurricane, it's all just more of the same bad baseball: Ugly pitching, virtually no offense, lackluster fielding, loss after loss. Even the dependable heroes are swept into the mess: Berkman without a hit, game after game - the longest hitless streak in his career. Oswalt, carrying the franchise's longest stretch of shutout innings, beat up in his start.
It's not worth talking about the individual games, only the net effect: The Astros are not yet mathematically eliminated. But as the other teams ahead of them buzz about, this five game losing streak has taken the Astros pretty much out of the race. It's not that they aren't capable of pulling off a last minute miracle, especially with the light competition the rest of the season (all losing teams). It's just that they don't seem to have the heart for it anymore.
But hey - it's not over till it's over, right?
September 17: Florida 14, Houston 2
September 18: Florida 6, Houston 1
Quote of the Day: "We survived Ike... Bud killed us." (slogans on the back and front of tee shirts that the Astros wore on Thursday)
Before the hurricane, when the Astros were on their frenetic pace to challenge for the Wild Card slot, every game was fascinating, every run worth comment, every pitcher's line interesting to dissect.
Since the hurricane, it's all just more of the same bad baseball: Ugly pitching, virtually no offense, lackluster fielding, loss after loss. Even the dependable heroes are swept into the mess: Berkman without a hit, game after game - the longest hitless streak in his career. Oswalt, carrying the franchise's longest stretch of shutout innings, beat up in his start.
It's not worth talking about the individual games, only the net effect: The Astros are not yet mathematically eliminated. But as the other teams ahead of them buzz about, this five game losing streak has taken the Astros pretty much out of the race. It's not that they aren't capable of pulling off a last minute miracle, especially with the light competition the rest of the season (all losing teams). It's just that they don't seem to have the heart for it anymore.
But hey - it's not over till it's over, right?
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