Jeremy Affeldt vs. Taylor Buchholz to close out the Spring Training portion of our program, thank gosh, and no real reason, but it'd sure be nice if this team could avoid 20 spring losses.
Or split a series at the least with the Royals.
Looking to see whether Kevin Orie was cut today (he wasn't, near as I can tell), I mosied on over to the Chronicle site, and writer David Baron had a very interesting story about how the club takes aim at the .500 mark this season.
Not 81 wins for the year, but rather 7081 for the lifetime of the franchise. Good story, they even got a quote from Bob Aspromonte. You can click the "thank gosh" above, it'll take you over there.
Oh, and Jeff Sackmann takes a look at the PECOTA and the ZIPS projections for the 2006 Astros' staff at Beyond the Boxscore. I'm used to the doubt at Brandon and Wandy, and lord knows I'm used to the talk about how the Astros can't overcome the (purely hypothetical) loss of a 13 - 8 pitcher, but some of the negativity about Lidge was kinda nerve-wracking for me, to tell the truth.
0 recs | 170 comments
About Brandon...
it had been casually mentioned earlier in Spring that he'd been having back spasm issues.Purpura indicates it has continued.
I can understand PRECISELY why that'd be an issue for him...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
You'd think It'd Be Whiplash
From his neck snapping backward to follow the flight of those gopher balls. . . . .rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
I'd think that was funny...
if it weren't for the fact that I've had back spasms before, lol...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Lineup...
Royals:DeJesus
Grudzielanek
Sanders
Stairs
Brown
Graffanino
Berroa
Buck
Affeldt
'Stros:
Biggio
Taveras
Berkman
Ensberg
Wilson
Lane
Munson
Buccholz
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
ummmm...
Everett (I believe) btwn Munson and Buchholz...BTW, Ausmus is having issues w/ back tightness, too...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Ack
I appear to be getting hassled for money by MLB.com as I attempt to access the audio.I'd thought that my subscription would last one month like 30 calendar days rather than however long the rest of March had been.
Money grubbing f*&*ers.
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Sorry no PBP in the first inning...
I could've taken care of the housekeeping sundries had you posted 10 min before the game, Rastro!;-)StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Taylor allowed a 2-out single by Sanders...
Stairs, however, flied out to end the inning.THAT is why I like this kid!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Bottom of the 1st...
Bidge up to bat...Milo was talking in the last inning about introducing Baggy on Monday. I think I'm going to cry when they announce him. Seriously.
Bidge popped out.
An unusually windy day here in H-town (normally very calm here unless it's stormy) made it (and Stairs' hit) fly further than it normally would...
Willy T makes a quick ground out, himself...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Lance flies out to Sanders, whereever he is...
to end the inning.StrosDux - April 1, 2006
I'm Not
gonna be able to listen to this, as there's some kind of fuck up with MLB's credcard server.rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Game Day
is working however.I'm just sorry I can't hear Milo's sweet pipes. . . .
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
have you tried streaming directly
from KTRH's website? they claim that they can't stream games, but i've always been able to do it. i got gameday audio, just because it was a more reliable feed. of course, MLB may have caught up to 'em.littlevisigoth - April 1, 2006
Didn't
catch this comment til after the game, but next time I can't watch a game for whatever reason I can give it a whirl . . .rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Doh!
thanks for the tip.rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Top of the 2nd...
Milo keeps talking about some big press conference w/ former President Bush, Jim "Mattress Mac" MacIngvale and the Royals owner Glass there...keeps subtly (HA!) hinting at it.Emil Brown is leading off this inning. Hits it back to the mound and Taylor barehanded it and made a wild throw to first making Lance stretch, LOL!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Graffanino up...
he quickly flies out...I think first pitch.StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Berroa up...
Milo getting on Munson's case for not asking for an appeal (or lack thereof) on a swing...Patience, Milo. I'm sure Gar'll get on his case.He flies out to Jason Lane to end the top of the 2nd...
Buchholz w/ a 1-2-3 inning.
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Yes
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
the Graf out was first pitch
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Bottom of the 2nd...
Big Mo up. Leads of w/ a HR, baby! That's 2 in 2 days!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Wilson grounds out for the first out...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Jason Lane up...
can he work a walk against major league pitching?C'mon, Jase, swing a $h!t you can handle!
Dufus Ks. UGH!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Munson up...
he struck out swinging to end the inning. Well, he is a catcher, lol!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Things
are different in Houston . . . Our being able to say goodbye to the Spring slump of his is about the best news we could get.rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Ensberg, That Is.
Maybe it's better to post flat?rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
I dig nested, sorry;-)...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
amen to that...
I've been thinking about this lately, though. He's got so many moving parts in his stance and swing (much like Baggy), that it takes him a while to finely tune his timing.StrosDux - April 1, 2006
bounced off Sanders?
too bad there's no video footage to get on sportscenter. i'd like to see a replay of that.littlevisigoth - April 1, 2006
What Bounced off Sanders?
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Mo's HR ball!:-D
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Oh, wow
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
ensberg's homer
supposedly bounced off sanders and over the wall.littlevisigoth - April 1, 2006
Top of the 3rd...
Buck up... (why does that make me giggle?StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Not sure
As long as he doesn't go buck-wild on Taylor.rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
ba dum bum...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Thank you very much
you've been a lovely audience.rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Buck Ks swinging...
Affeldt up...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Crap...so their pitcher can hit. Ugh...
they gave Mo an error, too!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
DeJesus up...
C'mon Taylor. DP's are your FRIEND!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
He has a basehit...
And Taylor seems to be in his biggest trouble of the Spring. C'mon, kiddo. Two more outs.Kiddo, I'm calling him kiddo. He is older than ME!! LOL!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
C'mon Taylor...
you need a K and ground out or a K and a fly out or a DP ball...C'mon, kiddo!Show 'em you can work out of trouble!
Ugh, Grudz gets a base-hit to load the bases...C'mon kid!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
If I'm Taylor Now's the Time
to practice your squirm out of the one out, bases-juiced situationrastronomicals - April 1, 2006
lost my feed
momentarily... did something happen to Grudz? why is there a pinch runner on first?littlevisigoth - April 1, 2006
I have no idea...
Milo seemed as perplexed as we are, to be honest. Can't imagine why he'd be yanked after only 1 AB...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Game Day
says the pinch-runner was Runelvys Hernandez and gives his correct uni number.However, it also says he's a second baseman lol as Strosdux says, and I thought he'd been put on the DL . . .
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Reggie Sanders is up...
C'mon, just trust your fielders and your stuff, Taylor!Damn that wind is strong, you can hear it in the booth.
Taylor gets a K! Good job! One more out, baby!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Stairs up...
Groundball inducing is good and you can do it w/ your stuff, kiddo...YES!
Did I mention I like this kid?
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
16 mph
HUGE K!rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
For What It's Worth
None of the hits Taylor gave up came with him behind in the count, and he was behind just once in the inning, 1 - 0 to DeJesusrastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Bottom of the 3rd...
Adam's up.StrosDux - April 1, 2006
flied out to left...
wind again driving it further out...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Buchholz up...
he had a base-hit! Go Taylor!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Biggio up...
w/ a double.Whoda thunk it!?!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Senor Speedy up...
now would NOT be the time for an infield single, Willy, lol!w/ a double! Buccholz and Biggio score!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Onward and Upward
for Willy Trastronomicals - April 1, 2006
this is what we need
out of this game!so far, so good.
littlevisigoth - April 1, 2006
Lance up...
Willy's apparently had hits in 12 of his 13 games since coming back from the WBC. Not bad, not bad at all!Lane foul tipped one into Buck's glove to get the second out in the inning.
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Lance
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Mo up...
Mo's hitting a LOT of foul balls, lol...damn, Affeldt's pitch count is up to 47...
Mo w/ what sounds like a double!
Willy T scores.
GO MO!!!!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
10-pitch AB
Affeldt just could not get that third strike past Morgan . . . .rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
this is
the #5 pitcher on one of the worst rotations in baseball, but this is good stuff so far.littlevisigoth - April 1, 2006
Willy
All the pundits are all doubtful that Willy can be any better than last year, expressing doubts whether he can continue with the infield hit stuff against newly vigilant defenses, whether he can learn to take more walks or can increase his line drive percentage.After this spring, the pundits look to be wrong.
littlevisigoth was comparing Willy with Pierre this afternoon, saying Pierre is on the downturn and Willy on the upswing, and to that I belatedly say, good call.
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
I was one who had doubts in Willy...
and I've gotta say, it looks like he's broadening his game enough (while not trying to play outside of himself, I might at), that his detractors might just have been wrong.StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Top of the 4th...
comebacker that sneaks through into CF...dunno who got the hit, though...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Emil Brown
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
dave raymond
echoing what you were saying Rastro, about Taylor getting ahead of batters w/ first pitch strikes. Gar's gotta love that.littlevisigoth - April 1, 2006
We All
love thatrastronomicals - April 1, 2006
it was Emil Brown...
Graffanino up...Billy Butler's pinch running for Brown.
they force out Butler on a grounball hit to Berkman...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Berroa up...
Hmmmph. Buchholz seems to be getting less sharp as the game goes on. C'mon Taylor!Double FREAKIN PLAY, baby!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
First Three-Ball Count
for Taylor against Berroa, I would assume he's getting both of his pitches over given the success he's had, but Game Day doesn't distinguish between the fastball and the curve ball, or show the trajectories wouldn't that be cool.rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
41 Strikes 17 Balls
I'm in love.rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Bottom of the 4th...
Jason Lane grounds out to, I believe, SS.I'm so not doing changes tonight except for the 'Stros.:-)
Munson w/ a long flyball (did he say to CF?)
out.
Adam up.
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Lordy. He popped to short to end the inning...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Yes, Munson Flyout to CF Costa
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
I like the phrase...
'long flyball out to the warning track' in our stadium, lol...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
To the top of the 5th we go...
haven't our batters ever heard of giving your pitcher a break?StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Buchholz still in, Buck up...
Howsabout a 1-2-3 inning to put an exclamation point on your spring, Taylor?Chris Burke in for The Old Fart at 2B.
Rut roh, Taylor uncorked a wiiiiild pitch, lol.
All the way to the backstop.
Taylor w/ a nasty FB for a K swinging! Woot!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Affeldt up...
He's starting to get behind hitters, though. The pitcher, for crissakes!C'mon Taylor! K or groundout...a K! All fastballs, no swings!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Costa up...K swinging! 1-2-3 inning, 3 Ks!
Yeah baby!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Scuffling a bit though
to Buck, another 3-ball count, and to Affeldt, think you got something there StrosDuxrastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Or. . . .
Costa certainly looked to be no problem.rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Bottom of the 5th...
Buchholz up...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
and he Ks...
Burke up...How many Ks does Taylor have?
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
he walks...
Willy T up...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Willy T w/ a flyball out...
Lance up...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Down!
Down, Willy!rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
no sooner do I compliment him...
on staying w/in himself...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
We Must Stay Within Ourselves As Well
when following Willy, and realize that his rise toward speedy leadoff type guy greatness may not always be a smooth incline. . . .rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
griping is well w/in me...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Berkman w/, I'm going to assume, an RBI 2B...
Burke scores. 'Stros 5-0!Yup, a double...
Mo up...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
ground out to Graffanino at 3B. Ugh!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Lambchops
pinchrunning for Berkmanrastronomicals - April 1, 2006
5
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Two In the Third
Three in the Fifthrastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Four Swinging
One Lookingrastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Top of the 6th...
Taylor is still pitching...Milo, kindly tell me who's up. He's killin' me. Guess they're still throwin' warmup pitches...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Neighbor dude called...someone just flied out...
dunno who...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Maybe
we can install some kind of semaphore system with those at the game for relaying game situations when Milo gets spacy. :)rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Oh
Thought you were making a joke, that we now had to rely on calls from neighbors for game info 'coz Milo wasn't providing the.But you just really had a phone call.
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
LOL! Yeah, sorry...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Taylor w/ another K on I dunno who...
phone calls throw me off, lol.StrosDux - April 1, 2006
and w/ whomever the last batter (Stairs?)...
he induces a pop fly to Mo. I REALLY like this guy!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Lubanski K'ed
Matt Stairs pops to Mobergrastronomicals - April 1, 2006
GameDay
still says Runelvys Hernandez.Stranger things have happened but somehow I doubt it.
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
to the bottom of the 6th we go, tra lalala!
Preston Wilson up w/ Steve Stemly?Correct me, Rastro...:-)
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
S-T-E-M-L-E
:-)rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Weird name! I should be one to talk, though...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
You Keep Saying
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Lemme Guess
Mxlplzyk?rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Lol...I can share...
Daugherty. Long, not weird, but long. My momma's maiden name is Nerf, though, lol.StrosDux - April 1, 2006
PW Ks. Bizarre, lol.
Jason up...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
And he grounds out. Loudly...
Eric-of-I-stole-the-backup-catcher's-job-fame... up to bat...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
HR baby!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
And then AE hits a laser to SS...
it plays him (the SS) a bit but he does manage to get him out to end the inning.StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Top 'o' the 7th, m'peeps...
Dunno who's pitching, dunno who's up.Buchholz STILL in. Gallo up in the pen.
Billy Butler leading off the inning for the Royals.
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Taylor getting behind in the count again...
But evens it back up...Promising...C'mon, Taylor. Go out w/ some STYLE!
Full count, $h!t!
34,969 tonight at the park. Dayum. That's a ton for a spring game.
ground out to Lamb, Taylor covering, makes the out. Yeah baby!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Graffanino up...
Crap. Another error. It's cool, double play in order...for now. Keim in to pinch run for Graffanino...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Dunno who's up right now...
ahhh, Sanchez the SS.Taylor's pitch count inching toward 100, so he's likely not long for the game.
C'mon Taylor! DP! DP!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
damn. Sanchez w/ a base hit...
Sanchez on 1st, Keim on 2nd...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Hickey out for a mound visit...
Methinks, Eric, Adam and Taylor told him to 'chill, man, we'll getcha a DP!'John Buck up.
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Or maybe not...
how about a K and GB out? DP! YEAH!See Taylor, trust your fielders and they'll come through for you...
I think he ended w/ 101 or 102 pitches, btw.
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
No Reason
to extend him, maybe done so too much alreadyGet him outta there!
Beautiful game he pitched. . . .don't f*&k it up!
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
It's cool...
they don't need the 5th starter until the 12th. If he pitches again before then it's from the pen...It's good experience for him, anyway.StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Still
Not so much the rest, but that he can take the positive experience from it, instead of let's say giving up the three run shot here, and getting a mixed reaction to what after all has been an OUTSTANDING start.rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
True, but it was a gamble that ended up working...
and I think it was at Taylor's insistance that he stayed in...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
To the bottom of the 7th...
Dave Raymond loves the Deep in the Heart of Texas stuff...Andrew Sisco (sp?) in for the Royals...
Palmeiro pinch-hitting for Taylor...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Burke up...
base-hit thanx to freaky OF karoms. Ugh. (as in instead of double, lol...)Willy T up...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Willy T Down!
down!rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
base-hit Willy T...
Is Lamb up next? Yup...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Lamb hits into DP...damn...
ahhh well, the BBG allowed us a couple right when we needed them, so it's all good!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
You Got It, Sisco
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Top of the 8th...
Mike Gallo's in...Did they give Taylor's line yet?
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Sweeney in and up...
LOL. Did he K?StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Swinging.
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Crap Gallo hit Costa...
guess Mike did hit get a K...Mikey G is gone-gone.
Nieve, however, is in!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
German up...
I think, lol. Yup...Costa takes 2nd on fielder's indifference.
He walked German. Double play's in order, still, however. C'mon Nieve, buckle down!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Crap. Nieve plates a runner...
ANOTHER hit, another runner home. Yuck. C'mon Fernando!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Buck up...
Nieve w/ a WP to the backstop...C'mon, dude!
Sheesh. Freakin' walked the bases loaded!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Keim up...
C'mon dude, get yourself outta this ish!OMG...
C'mon folks, he's not even a major leaguer yet. Show a TINY bit of class...
2 more runs in...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
C'mon people...
cheer for him...Got a flyball out there...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Runners on the corner...
Price starts w/ a swinging strike. C'mon Fernando...Nieve's out of the inning. wipes sweat from brow
Sheesh, kiddo!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
I'm Sure
Nieve's inning totally reassured the brain trust now that they've made all their roster decisions.Or maybe the Kevin Orie candidacy lives!
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Yeah, cuz we need another utility corner IFer...
right?;-)Maybe a clean 9th'll do that candidacy of Fernando's wonders...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Buchholz
7 IP 0 R 0 ER 5H 6K 0BB103 pitches 68 strikes
and one for two at the plate, as well.
I know he's been picked the fifth starter and everything, but he's gonna really need to pick it up from here if he expects to stay in the majors. . . .
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
*snorts*
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
To the bottom of the 8th we go...
Will this outing cost Nieve his job, do you guys think?StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Bergos in to pitch the inning...
Ensberg up to bat...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
I think Mo K'd...
Bruntlett up...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
bounced out to short...
Jason up...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
He, too, Ks...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Oh fer 4
What, me worry?rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Swinging
but 4-1-2-2 line is A-OK by me as we look toward Tuesdayrastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Ensberg, that is
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
No
I make a joke above about Orie, but the decisions have been made.rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
LOL...good point...
What a ghastly contrast to everyone else's final outing...StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Nieve
had done so well getting out of trouble during the Spring, but there his ability seemed to desert him.'course the flipside to that is, he's had runners on all spring. . . . . just this time he wasn't able to wriggle free.
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Top of the 9th...
C'mon Fernando, nail it down, kiddo!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Teahan leads off..
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Interestingly enough, Munson has caught...
the whole game...Giving Brad's back an extra day off...
Teahan w/ a base-hit. Wassup w/ Nieve?
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Costa up...
w/ two very audible strike calls from the ump...high pop to Everett for an out...
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
German up...
he's gotten ahead of both Costa and German, now. Can I get the same result w/ German?Please?!?
DP! There ya go Fernando!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Yeah, baby! DP to end the game...
He pulled a Lidge there. I hate when they make games interesting, LOL!Astros win 6-4.
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Offensive Linescore
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Thank You StrosDux and littlevisigoth
And all others following along.This concludes the Spring section of our programme.
Please stay tuned for the Regular Season, shortly to come, as the Astros shock both the writers and the sabermetricians and appear in their third consecutive National League Championship Series.
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Here's a question for ya, sir...
When was the last time a rookie had a spring like Buchholz?His Spring stats: 2-2, 1.50 ERA. 30 IP, 8 RS, 5 ER, 26 H, 17 K, 4 BB.
So he's got the lowest ERA by a starter in camp, leads the team in IP, and is tied for second (w/ WANDY of all people) in Ks behind RoyO.
Wow!
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
Interesting, Though
Astros Since 1998 with 30+ IP in Spring Training2006 Buchholz 30.0
2003 Oswalt 31.0
2001 Dotel 31.0
2000 Lima 32.1
1998 Halama 31.0
Halama was also the last Astro rookie to strike out as many as 17 in ST. John struck out 20 and walked 5 that spring of '98.
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
Yes, Zeke had a 1.35 ERA in 13 innings last Year
PLAYER W L S ERA G IP H R ERE Astacio 1 0 0 1.35 5 13.1 9 5 2
And he wasn't a rookie, but Duckworth was 1 - 1 with a 3.05 last spring.
Tonight was VERY encouraging, but all it might mean is that Taylor is this year's Luke Scott . . .
rastronomicals - April 1, 2006
True...
but is the comparison actually the same? 13 IP vs. 30?C'mon!
I'm just very encouraged at this point. We'll see what it actually means in the grand scheme of things, though, in a couple months, right?
StrosDux - April 1, 2006
I forgot to mention...
He NEVER allowed a HR this spring. THAT is the coolest part of his spring, I think!StrosDux - April 1, 2006
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