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| Bronson Arroyo | Andy Pettitte |
| 6 - 2, 2.58 | 4 - 6, 5.65 |
If you take the time to come to this website, I don't have to tell you that last night's loss was a very difficult one. Anybody hardcore enough to check out this wayward blog surely understands the sense of betrayal, almost, that you feel when the team you've chosen, the team that you spend so much of your free time on, makes it so readily apparent that they are not ready to play a baseball game.
As you're watching, it DOES seem like a betrayal, never mind that the players could give you a thousand reasons for the crappy performance, and never get to anything resembling "violation of the fan's trust" or however you want to put it.
And the players, I'm sure, take the more balanced view; I'm sure they're the ones who have it right. A little bit of distance is probably beneficial, so that when the team goes into a 2 - 8 slide, you can just go away for a week and a half, come back when they've righted the ship.
The level of devotion, the amount of free time--and money--spent, never gets called into question when the team is one win away from the World Series. It's the 11-run losses that drop you below .500 in June that make you wonder whether there might be some more enjoyable pursuits for you. Maybe laser tag? Or online poker?
I know that I'm guilty of over-internalizing the Astros. On any particular day, how I feel is going to have some degree of relation to how the Astros did the night before. During the winning streaks, all of life is a little sweeter; during the slumps, all of life's little hardships seem that much more bleak.
It comes with the territory. It flows from being the hardcore fan. On consideration, it's probably not the most balanced way of assembling yourself, but at this point it's well beyond a matter of choice for me. I don't know what will become of this blog, or even my other Astros site, in ten years, but I know that I will be following the Astros, win or lose.
Though Lord knows, it goes better for me when they win.
0 recs | 121 comments
Lineups...
Redlegs:2B, Phillips
SS, Lopez
CF, Griffey
1B, Aurilia
LF, Dunn
RF, Kearns
3B, Encarnacion
C, Ross
P, Arroyo
'Stros:
CF, Taveras
2B, Biggio
RF, Berkman
3B, Ensberg
1B, Lamb
LF, Wilson
C, Ausmus
SS, Bruntlett
P, Pettitte
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Rastro...
if you'd like I'd be more than happy do to PBP today since a) I never get to do it during the week and b) I'm sure you could use a day off w/ the way the team is playing!;-)StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Sure
Go ahead; I will be around, though, (unless it's 8 - 0 Reds with one out in the top of the second, at which point I will bail, again).rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
I bail myself...
although usually it's PBP not the game itself.Then again I was at school for the first two innings yesterday!;-)
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Too much...
Mike and Mike?StrosDux - June 3, 2006
crap that was...
totally in the wrong place, lol!StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Top of the 1st...
Phillips leading off.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Phillips flies out to Willy T for the first out...
of the game.Lopez up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Lopez walks...
Drat.Griffey Jr up...
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
DP?
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
*snort*
Now that's my idea of a DP. Griffey lines out to half-a-B and Lopez gets doubled off because he just stood there.To quote Brownie, "What is Lopez doing? He just stood there. Brain cramp strikes in the first inning..."
LOL!
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He Knew He Was Dead
Running wasn't gonna help him, although I guess it's a good idea to give the appearance of hustling.rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
If You Hadn't Caught It
From MLB's siteIf I am remembering correctly, strained obliques are not serious, but they CAN be bothersome and lingering
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Bottom of the 1st...
Willy T leading off.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Willy grounds out to...
Phillips for the first out.Yuck.
Bidge up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Bidge on w/ a bunt base-hit...
(((dances))Lance up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He sneaks one through a tiny hole...
btwn Aurilia and Phillips.Big Mo up w/ 2 on (1st and 2nd) and 1 out.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Mo walks the bases loaded...
for Mikey Chops.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Who Ks...
Bastid.P-Dub up. If they don't score here I'm gonna be pissed!
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He flies out to Kearns...
to end the freakin' inning.Damn that was almost multiple runs. I can't stand that shit! Stupid athletic OFers!
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Top of the 2nd...
Aurilia leading off.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He grounds out to half-a-B for the...
first out.Dunn up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He walks...
Kearns is up?DP?
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He grounds into the 4-6-3 to end the inning...
giggles like a little girlStrosDux - June 3, 2006
Bottom of the 2nd...
CatcherBradley leading off.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He's on w/ a base-hit...
Half-a-Be up.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
B, damnit! Heh!
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Damnit!
failed hit-and-run ends out w/ Brad out on a hit and run.His reaction, though, was comical.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Half-a-B leans out and whacks one toLopez...
Yuck.AP up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
That was classic...
Andy got a double and tried to stretch it to three bases and got thrown out at 3rd.THAT was classic!
And he managed to get Arroyo's pitch count up a little in the process.
9 pitches for that, lol!
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Puts Me In Mind
of the last game of the 2003 NL Division Series between San Fran and Florida.Dontrelle Willis hit a triple in the fifth, didn't score after Pierre flied out, then didn't get out of the sixth, 'coz he was so gassed.
We'll see how Andy does.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Top of the 3rd...
Encarnacion up.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Go siddown, Edwin...
Ross up.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Ross on w/ a triple...
to break up the no-no. sniffDamn you, Willy!
Arroyo up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Arroyo on w/ an RBI base-hit...
gawd that sux.Phillips up. DP?
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Yup. Phillips grounds into a 4-6-3...
to end the inning.1-0, Reds.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
The Ross Triple
was Willy's fault??????I think Andy needs to be the one taking the blame on that one . . . not sure how high off the wall it bounced, but it bounced back over Taveras' head as he was jumping toward the wall.
And it was a bounce tha, to say the least, would have been difficult to anticipate.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
IMHO...
Willy doesn't play caroms well at all. I understand why, but he just doesn't. I don't think I really expected him to catch it in the air.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Bottom of the 3rd...
Willy T leading off...StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He grounds out to Felipe Lopez...
for the first out.Bidge up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Bidge flies out to Griffey Jr...
Lance up.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He grounds out to Aurilia to end the inning...
Ugh.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Looks Like
the Astros hitters are mesmerized by Arroyo's leg kick; they had a little success of him when he was from the stretch . . . .He's like a junkballer! Throw a fucking fastbll over the plate you coward!
Well, the way the Astros are going they probably wouldn't hit a fastball either, but the point remains.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Top of the 4th...
Lopez leading off.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He grounded out to Mikey Chops for his...
first out.Griffey up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Pfft.
Griffey jacks one oppo to LF.What the hell is this team's deal?
Aurilia up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
"Oppo?"
I heard Brownie say that, and was wondering where the hell he dug that up. . . .et tu, Strosdux?
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
too much Mike and Mike comment...
goes here!StrosDux - June 3, 2006
I've
been listening to Mike & Mike a lot lately. Though nobody in Miami or Fort Lauderdale is an ESPN radio affiliate, I found a station out of West Palm Beach that carries 'em, and if the the sound gets a little snowy as I head south to work in the morning, I'm still able to hear it even in Miami. Very good and very funny show I think. Though I'm not much of a basketball or hockey fan, it's still appreciated that they present a more balanced view than you'd hear locally in Miami, where it's just football football football all the time football.Have you seen their cartoons?
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
I haven't had the chance...
and I haven't listened to them since I've been in Portland (if they think I'm getting up at 3 in the AM, lol!)But if I'm ever up early enough for it, they're my favorite thing to listen to/watch in the AM.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Actually, Thinking Further
I'm realizing "Oppo" was one of the Marx Brothers--Harpo, Groucho, Zeppo, and Oppo . . . .rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
He flies out to Lance for the 2nd out...
Yuck.Dunn up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Adam popped out to Mo...
in foul territory to end the inning.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Bottom of the 4th...
Mo grounded out to Lopez.Gawd they suck.
Mikey Chops is up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He gets one to drop right in front...
of Adam Dunn. Weee!P-Dub up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
P-Dub grounds out to Encarnacion...
Yuck.CatcherBradley up...
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Weee
Brad on w/ an error. And then quickly driven in by Half-a-B!Weee!
Bad news? AP's up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Game's tied at 2, btw.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Andy
whiffs.rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Top of the 5th...
Austin Kearns lead off the inning by grounding out to Mo. Encarnacion followed by K-ing.Ross up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He gets on w/ a base-hit...
and then Arroyo proceeds to hit an RBI double.Phillips up.
3-2, Reds.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He grounds out to Mo...
to end the inning. Yuck.They need to come back w/ another run. Ugh.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Bottom of the 5th...
Willy T leading off.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He flies out to Kearns (I think)...
but not until having made Arroyo thrown 10 pitches in that AB.Bidge up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Bidge Ks swinging at something high...
That's the kind of crap that normally Kd Baggy, not Bidge. Ugh.Lance up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He flies out to Dunn to end the inning...
Ugh.But at least they got the pitch count up more to get to those faboo Reds relievers!;-)
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Arroyo at 83
But Coffey hasn't come down to Earth yet; he posted a 1.80 ERA in May and a 1.07 WHIPAnd even Weathers wasn't too bad, only a 2.77 ERA.
We could hope for Rick White . . . .
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Yeah...
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Bidge's K
though it was on the high heater, it was as ugly as any swing he's ever taken at a slider away.Fortunately that's a weakness he rarely shows.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Top of the 6th...
Lopez leads off w/ a flyout to Tal's Hill.Griffey up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Griffey on w/ an infield hit...
Waaaaaah!StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Booo!
Aurilia up. DP?StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Aurilia grounded into a force for Griffey.
Let's not discuss Mo's bobble, lol!Dunn up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Dunn on w/ a double into the RF corner...
Aurilia advances to third.Kearns up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Kearns gets walked...
Sorda intentionally.Ross up. Interesting strategy.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
I lied...
it's Encarnacion.StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He hits a double to left-center...
scoring a couple.5-3, Reds.
Now Ross is up.
Yeah, it's the HITTING that's the problem. Suuuure.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Ross
Ross was intentionally walked to load 'em up again for Arroyo, which might makes sense most nights, but Arroyo comes into the at bat 2 for 2. He slaps at the first pitch and gets it into left center, Kearns and Encarnacion scored.7 - 2 Reds, and it starts to look like last night.
Phillips flied to center.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Just joining in
Nice to see the boys haven't changed much since last night. At least they're consistent. Suck suck and more suck.saylinara - June 3, 2006
Bottom of the Sixth
Ensberg K's looking at a funky changeuprastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Lamb
singles takes a wide turn, heads back to first.rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Wilson
doubles to left center, Lamb chugs into third, and maybe something going on?rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Ausmus
goes to 3 - 2 and Arroyo is visibly distressed at that.But Ausmus looks at strike three, fastball right down the middle.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Bruntlett
A ball then a curveball that drops in for strike.Fastball swung through and there are more fastballs now, huh?
Rising fastball out of the zone that Bruntlett looks at.
Swings through another one down the pipe.
Wilson and Lamb stranded, shoulda known better.
Mediocrity wherever you look, that's the Astros right now.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Top of the Seventh
Springer in for Andy, and that's another crappty start for Pettitte.Lopez flies to Wilson
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Griffey
flies to Wilsonrastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Aurilia
Long atbat goes to 3 - 2 before Aurilia hits a long towering fly down the left field line--foul.Russ walks him.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Dunn
singles down the first base line, Aurilia takes third.rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Kearns
grounds to Mobergrastronomicals - June 3, 2006
No More Between Innings
entertainment from Brownie and JD on MLB.TV . . .Just a crummy blue screen.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Bottom of the Seventh
Arroyo gone, Chris Hammond in, he's been good lately, an 0.77 WHIP in May.Everett batting ninth to face him. I guess he was at short in the top of the inning, CBS Sportsline missed it.
He singles.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Taveras
bunts and Encarnacion bounces one that Aurilia picks, crowd thought Willy was safe, umpire didn't.rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Biggio
grounds to Encarnacion who throws it over Aurilia's head, nice inning for Edwin.Biggio takes second, Everett scores.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Berkman
chops a 2 - 1 pitch that Ross grabbed at. Lance thought it was foul, just stood there as Ross tagged him.Good old goofy Lance.
Two away.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Ensberg
Love the "Captain Morgan" banner.Ensberg walks.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Lamb
fouls back to Ross on the first pitchrastronomicals - June 3, 2006
I cannot fathom
why the Astros are doing so poorly lately. On paper, we're a better team then last year. Maybe our pitching has suffered a little bit from the loss of Clemens and Backe, but not to the point where Oswalt and Pettitte look like lost little kittens in the middle of a busy intersection.I've been thinking about it the past couple of days. Garner has made some stupid decisions, yes, but he can't be blamed for everything. His lineups lately have been questionable, but that, and how the bullpen comes out, are the only things he has direct control over. He can't make Berkman's knee any better, he can't help Preston see the ball any better, and he can't teach Everett how to bat.
But there are people who can. The batting coach and the pitching coach. Now, I respect Gaetti and Hickey. However, maybe it's time we all moved on. There's a certain extent a brain can be picked and maybe we've reached that part with them.
saylinara - June 3, 2006
Not Sure
how much effect the pitching and hitting coaches have, although I do know they are frequently fired.Everyone of course can share the blame, including Roy and Lance, but I think the two key disappointments have been Andy and Jason. As I've said elsewhere, we KNEW Andy wouldn't be as good as he was last year, and he's still disappointed. Tonight's performance has been typical for him, and his baseline has been unacceptable for a number four pitcher, let alone a number two. Last year was all about the front 3/5 of the rotation dominating, and then getting by with Brandon and Wandy, and even if we didn't score for Roger, we still took two of three and came out ahead if Wandy and Brandon split.
Now, not to say that Roy has been unbeatable, but there has been no solid front half of the rotation. Roy gets beat either through lack of run support or becuase he's having an off day, and then Pettitte gets rocked, and then Wandy with his dice throw.
The Astros are just not a presence with their rotation the way they were last year.
And all of us just knew that Lane would come up with a .270-30-90 season didn't we? Yet he can't even keep his job.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
I've heard it differs for different teams
Some rely on them heavily (especially with a younger squad) and some of them are for show (usually with a lot of veterans).Biggest disappointment of the year? Probably Wilson. He was signed to be the big money guy and he ... just kind of fizzled. I think everyone knew he wouldn't be what he was in Colorado, but I expected better then this.
I'm not so disappointed about Andy because I knew this would how it would be this year. I wanted to believe he'd be good, but he didn't even think he would be. The reason he left New York is because he wanted to pitch a certain way. However, this certain way causes a lot of unnecessary strain on the elbow. He wanted out of New York because he knew if he could get to another city, he could use his reputation as leverage to pitch how he wanted. After he got better from the surgery, pitching that way was good for him. That's why we saw the surge in his performance last year. Now that his elbow his hurting him again, he's having problems pitching. They're trying to get him to change his pitching style and he's more receptive to it now then he was in New York. But it's harder to make the changes in the middle of the season because it can't really be implemented into the games and when he gets into trouble, he reverts to his old way which is why he gets a lot of bloated innings against him. No one's sure if he'll get better this season. Hopefully once Roger comes back, his presence will make Andy pitch right.
I'm not sure what is up with Roy. My guess is that he's having a kind of burnout session because he's been so intense the past few years.
The Astros are proving that you can go nowhere without good pitching. Good hitting can be hit and miss, but you can't go without good pitching.
saylinara - June 3, 2006
Actually
I'm inclined to take it easy on Preston. Other than Lamb, he's been our best hitter for the last three weeks.Yes, he was unbearably lousy for good portions of the first five weeks, but for the most part that was a time when the team was winning anyway.
So, like, the fact that he was lousy is mostly irrelevant to the problems the team has been having.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Top of the Eighth
Trever Miller in.He fans Encarnacion
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Ross
flies to Willyrastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Larue
hitting for Chris Hammond.Strikes out swinging.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Bottom of The Eighth
didn't last long.rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Sorry for taking off...
my mom called, lol!StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Bottom of the 9th...
Lil E HBP.Willy T up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Willy on w/ a base-hit to RF...
Lil E goes first-to-third.Bidge up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Bidge w/ an RBI sac-fly...
Hmmmph. Interesting that gameday chose to list that as an play bringing on an out and not a run.7-4, Reds.
Willy T on at 1st w/ 1 out for Lance.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Lance on w/ a base-hit...
Willy goes 1st to 3rd.Mo up.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Mo on w/ a base-hit...
Willy scores. Lance to 2nd.Mikey Chops up.
7-5, Reds.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Fuck Freel...
Chops flies out to him.P-Dub up w/ 2 on and 2 outs.
StrosDux - June 3, 2006
He grounds out to Lopez to end the game...
What is the deal w/ this team in the last month?StrosDux - June 3, 2006
Gameday always does this
It considers an out an out and doesn't take into consideration what that out does.saylinara - June 3, 2006
Top of the Ninth
Qualls in to pitchBrownie and JD telling us that Pujols will go on the DL, and THAT at least should give us some hope. Pujols' Runs and RBI's are 43% of the Cardinals total runs scored.
Aurilia grounds out
Griffey singles
Lopez flies out
Phillips grounds out.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Bottom of the Ninth
Everett gets hit by a pitch on the first pitch from Todd Coffey.rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Taveras
singles, Everett to third.That gets Willy "up" to .265. He's probably culprit number three.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Biggio
lines a ball foul that Kearns gives his body up for. He makes the catch and Everett trots home.rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Berkman
Taveras running, and the Reds open up the hole when Lopez moves to cover for a throw.Berkman grounds a ball through where Lopez had been, Taveras takes third.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Ensberg
singles, Taveras scores.7 - 5 Reds.
rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Lamb
looked like he got the ball over Freel's head, but he makes a superb jumping catch.rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
Wilson
grounds to short, and the game is over.rastronomicals - June 3, 2006
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