I had this whole long angry rant written where I called Bud Selig "fork-tongued" and Major League Baseball "fascistic in most senses of the word" because of the news that they had banned Craig Biggio from wearing that big yellow Sunshine Kids button on his cap.
Then I accidentally hit the space bar with my elbow while reaching for my Dr. Pepper, and poof! the entire polemic disappeared into whatever cyberspheric maw normally handles such things.
No great loss, I'm sure. I certainly wasn't saying anything we don't all know: Craig Biggio and his non-profit are doing good work with those kids, and major league baseball is capable of stupefyingly ignorant behavior.
I really don't need to hurl 1000 words in your direction so you'll know. It's often patently obvious.
If you're sick of the recent bad pitching from our starters, hopefully tonight Roy Oz will have the cure for what ails ya.
Oswalt was phenomenal for five innings last time out vs. Toronto, and knowing him, has vowed to make it six phenomenal tonight.
And Lord do we need it. Nothing against Zeke or Rick White or Trever Miller or Dan Wheeler or even Chad Qualls, who have pitched well after the debacles turned in by our first two pitchers each of the last two nights, but it's gotten so bad that Garner can't even tell how poorly Moehler pitched last night:
It didn't look to me like Moehler made that bad of pitches. They just whacked a few of them.
Tortured syntax aside, what game was Scrap Iron watching? Unless, he's got trouble telling his non-roster invitees apart, and the dominant inning turned in by Rick White is coloring his view, I'm just not sure.
Set to follow Mr. Oswalt are Misters Lidge, Wheeler, and Miller. Wheeler is a rock of the franchise, admit it, and Miller has been great since last May, but it will be Lidge's inning that I will be most looking forward to tonight.
I've realized that Lidge is like a stock car race. If everything goes down in orderly fashion, well then, you've still enjoyed yourself watching everything move around in controlled arcs so goshdarned fast. But if things don't go so well, if there's a crash, then it could get really spectacular. Lidge was a little bit better than OK last time out, gave up a hit in a scoreless frame. Did I find that disappointing in some sort of sick and depraved way? I can't wait to find out what he'll do tonight.
Maybe the fact that the Red Sox rumors are dead, dead, dead with Papelbon as the closer will help settle him down.
0 recs | 105 comments
Lineups
Palmeiro, DHLoretta, SS
Lamb, 3B
Burke, CF
Scott, RF
Hidalgo, LF
Munson, 1B
Quintero, H, C
Bruntlett, 2B
Injuns
Sizemore, CF
Michaels, LF
Blake, RF
Martinez, C
Garko, 1B
Marte, DH
Ginter, 3B
Rouse, SS
Luna, 2B
Garner takes the DH and runs with it, inserting his lefthanded specialist with the .625 OBP into the starting lineup.
No Ensberg. They told us his removal last night was nothing. Just a precaution; now he doesn't play tonight.
What are we supposed to think?
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
OK
maybe Ensberg is back in Kissimmee with Biggio and Berkman, but still, paranoia dies hard.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Top of the First
Paul Byrd on the hill for the Tribe, and OP steps in, looks at a ball up and away.1 - 2 is rolled to the first baseman Garko, who takes it unassisted.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Loretta
Just thinking: if I'm unhappy that Ensberg is back in Osceola County, I'm happy that Milo is back in Houston.Loretta singles to left.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Lambo
walks Lamb on another pitch up and away.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Burke
Chris Burke, cleanup hitter. Another conceptual breakthrough from the same genius who brought you Adam Everett, # 2 guy.Burke grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.
I don't care if it's Spring Training, you need to deploy your people correctly.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
the explanation was that everett needed
at bats, I can't imagine how Garner can justify putting Burke in the cleanup spot tonightKE2117 - March 23, 2007
why is burke batting cleanup?
KE2117 - March 23, 2007
Bottom One
Here comes Royboy.Sizemore looks at a fastball strike to open it for the Indians.
Hard bouncer to Bruntlett who takes the hop and throws out Grady.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Jason Michaels
High and deep to right center, over Scott's head, off the fence, and that is a double.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Blake
Big swing strike one as the audio goes out.It comes back as Quintero receives a throw at the plate and Dolan/Raymond are shouting "double play!"
I guess Michaels took third on a wild pitch, then Blake flied to right, amd Michaels tagged up.
Scott then threw him out to end the inning.
Or so I guess.
Regardless of the way it went down, another defensive feather in Luke's cap.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Top Two
Scott singles.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Hidalgo
Hitting .128 but 6 RBIs ain't too bad.Strikes out swinging.
I bet he accepts the ticket to Round Rock, seeing it as a chance to get more work in, and perhaps attract attention form other organizations that way.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Munson
Hanging curveball is ripped down the right field line. Munson knew it was a double, and Luke slams on the brakes at third.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Quintero
pop to shallow right center.Scott gets ballsy and tags up. Sizemore's throw hits the mound, into and then out of the reach of Martinez, and . . . . Scott is SAFE!
Sounds like they ought to fine him $500 for going, forget Martinez' error.
Munson takes third
1 - 0 Astros.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Bruntlett
flies out, stranding Eric M.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Bottom Two
Victor Martinez to start.Rolls to Bruntlett, who throws to Munson for the eight.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Garko
Fastball up and in missing makes it 1 - 1, a curve fouled back, then down and away makes it 2 - 2.Fastball outside corner, called third strike.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Andy Marte
Full count walk on a pitch inside.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Keith Ginter
Ex Astros prospect, Ex Brewer, flies to left, Hidalgo over to grab.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Top Three
O and P but not S dribbled up the first base line, second consecutive putout on a 3U.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Loretta
should have fouled out to right, but Garko dropped the ball, charged an error. At bat continues at 1 - 2.Grounded to short.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Lamb
Count goes full, hit well to right center, between Blake and Sizemore, a single.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Burke
cracked bat floater to left drops in, a single for Chris.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Luke
the star so far looks at a ball on the corner.Bounced to Ginter at third, he throws out Luke.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Bottom Three
Mike Rouse looks at two straight balls, Dolan/Raymond accentuating the fact that Roy is working very quickly.Grounded up the middle, hit the mlund beside Roy, then skipped past Loretta, a single.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Luna
grounded to Loretta who initiates the relays.Loretta to Bruntlett to Munson DP.
Dolan/Raymond tells us that Cleveland turned six DPs yesterday.
Do believe that the Astros are the only team in history to have turned seven in a game. I know that a fellow by the name of Curt Blefary participated in all seven.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Sizemore
flies to ReeshardRoy one over the minimum over his past two starts through three.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Top Four
Doesn't it always happen this way? The guy who ends the previous inning with a routine play leads off the next inning.Hidalgo fouled out to Martinez, who chased it for awhile.
Raymond should have said Martinez looked like Tony LaRussa as he meandered through foul territory chasing after it.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Munson
singles between first and second.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Q
Munson takes off as Quintero swings through the first pitch, that's a stolen base.Q doing what he could to protect him.
Humberto pops it behind second base, and Munson cannot move any further during his AB.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Bruntlett
first pitch swinging, grounded off Byrd's leg and into shallow center.A single and Munson takes third.
We're getting the bounces we never got the last two nights.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
OP
goes 2 - 1 with runners on the corner.Waved at and missed to even it up.
Bounced over the mound to second, and Brutnlett is forced.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Game's on MLB-TV
Cleveland broadcastersbwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
Thanks Dude
There was no MLB.TV icon in the table at MLB.com . . . .rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Bottom Four
Michaels quickly 1 - 1 before they're even back from the break, Roy hauling ass tonight.1 - 2 breaking ball misses. Another curveball misses then a fastball stays inside. Full count.
High fastball puts him on. Third walk of the spring for Roy, second tonight.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Blake
Second pitch is up and in, and Roy is upset about it. Next pitch does the same thing but Blake chases it, and fouls it back.The end of the bat hits Q upside the face.
Labossiere comes out, Q OK, then Oswalt put one right down the pipe that Blake looks at strike three.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Martinez
Flared over Lamb's head, Michaels has to hold at second as Mikey retrieves.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Garko
infield back for the DP.Another 3 - 2 count for Roy. Control's a little off here. Rolled to third slowly, Lamb picks it up, looks to second, but ends up going to first.
Runners advance.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Marte
Flared to first and Munson sangs it out of the air to end the inning, stranding two.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Roy O looks to be in
..near mid-season form. Good location, 92-93 consistently on the gun.bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
Top Five
as Dolan and Raymond go away and the Cleveland TV guys come on.Thanks again, bwhite.
Borowski in for the Indians, closed for the Marlins last year.
Loretta his first batter. Hard shot by Ginter, a trademark Biggio double from the guy who will be playing behind him this year.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Lamb
Dolan and Raymond were talking about the foul territory at Chain O' Lakes, but it's different to see it.Lamb bloops it into left, Loretta streaks around and scores.
2 - 0 Astros, Lamb on first.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
If either Everett or Ensberg stutter
Loretta might see a lot of playing time, don't you think?bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
Loretta
gives them a ton of flexibility. But he can't play center like Bruntlett.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Burke
pops to shallow left.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Scott
double play bouncer to Luna, who boots it.Indians having problems fielding the ball tonight, missing cutoff men, etc.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Hidalgo
homers to left, alirght.5 - 0 'Stros, guess the runs are unearned because of the Luna error.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Munson
singles, Borowski throwing like Woody Williams here.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Q is for Quintero
nearly homers as well, but Michaels takes it at the track, and Munson retreats.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Eric B
Another flyball to deep left, again caught by Michaels.it'd be very nice if we could take this one home, so that the struggles of the last two nights do not promulgate.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
When is Burke going to heat up?
clack - March 23, 2007
He
went on a little roll after the homer, but that kind of ended a couple nights ago with the 0 for 5.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Hidalgo demonstrates the disadvantages
of throwing 77 mph!bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
Hidalgo....
3 run dinger. He doesn't seem to have much chance to make the big league roster, but it's nice to see him show off his old power.clack - March 23, 2007
Bottom Five
Ginter strike three called looked like a slider.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Rouse
Another K, the change we've heard about.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Luna
check swing bouncer, Munson unassisted.Roy's gone five again without giving up a run.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Top Six
Aaron Fultz in to pitch for Cleveland.Palmeiro flies to short center.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Loretta
little swinging bunt back to the mound, easy throw over.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Lamb
grounded middling sharp to first, and it's taken unassisted to end the inning.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
NCAA Surprises
Butler over Florida by 1 with 15:00 to play, game's been close all the way.Vandy by 8 over Georgetown at the half.
bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
Bottom Six
Roy Oz comes out for the sixth again, and you know he wants to put it to bed scoreless.Sizemore: Bouncer ricochets off Oswalt into Loretta's glove in front of second base, and he makes the throw
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Michaels
Quickly 0 - 2. Came up and in directly thereafter.Grounded to Lamb who made a throw that was good enough.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Blake
strikes out swinging on one of the old lollipop curves.Who don't love Roy Oz? Our starters give up nineteen runs over 7-2/3 or whatever the last two nights, then he comes out and throws six scoreless while battling his control.
He's a beast.
I love him. I should have a picture of him tattooed on my back.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Oswalt leaves the game
on a beautiful change, and looks great for the outing - 3 hits, not a hint of trouble.bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
I think Roy O's ready for
the season to start. And we will need Oswalt to dominate more than ever this season.clack - March 23, 2007
Top Seven
Burke is out somehow before Scott gets HBPed.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Hidalgo
grounds into the clumsiest GIDP you will ever see.But he's got the bad knees, and even the Indians were able to turn it.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
I suspect that Burke bats
clean up in an attempt to get his bat going. When Burke was batting poorly (the whole team at the time, really)at one point in 05, Burke was inserted for a game in the clean up spot. Everyone, including some of his own players, thought Garner was crazy. But Burke responded with a grand slam or something like that. That psychological tactic hasn't worked so far.clack - March 23, 2007
Lights out?
We'll see.bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
Cleveland guys claiming
that the lack of a closer is what cost Jimy Williams his job with the Astros.Huh?
bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
Top Seven
I feel so liberated for admitting that I sometimes get a guilty kick out of watching Lidge crash and burn.Kind of like yin/yang I guess. I want him to succeed, of course, for the good of the team, but you can't help but gawk at the carnage.
Only through self-examination can I battle these demons.
Anyway, here he goes, facing Martinez, see what happens.
2 - 2 slider comes in on him, he swings the bat, and that's the first out.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Garko
as the Indians guys rush the defensive changes behind Brad through.Minor-leaguer Edwin Maysonet at short, wearing # 86, I caught that; Eric Munson at catcher, and Jimerson somewhere in the outfield.
Fastball up is sent back out. It drops in in right, a single.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Marte
looks at a good fastball that broke in on his hands. Unfortunately, it missed.Shot up the third base line ends up a long single, as Garko takes third.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Ginter
seeing eye single past Maysonet scores Garko5 - 1 Astros.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Rouse
line drive single to center, scoring Marte.5 - 2 now.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Luis Rivas
hitting for Fultz, right?Grounded right at Lamb, who comes home and easily gets Ginter.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Sizemore
goes 1 - 1 then Lidge throws a fastball right by him.Next pitch is way outside. Next one is grounded slowly to Bruntlett to end the inning.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
WTF...Lidge seems eminently
hittable tonight. He isn't walking guys, which is usually the sign of bad things to come.clack - March 23, 2007
More carnage
as the Indians show good bat control. For all the mess, can't say that Lidge looks that bad. The gun is off on TV, so can't tell how fast he's throwing. Nevertheless, Lidge has given up 2 runs - it's becoming his trademark.bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
I'd Agree
Except for the high fastball that Garko hit. Other than that, I'm not sure he was that bad.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Guess Lidge gets a C or C-
for his work tonight. He needed to show better, but probably still clings to the closer's job.bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
"A few bumps in the road"
is what our guys said about Lidge's outing. I'll say. Allowing two runs in an inning on a consistent basis won't be acceptable for a closer.clack - March 23, 2007
Top Eight
As I go back to radio. Munson grounds out, now Jason Lane is up.Shallow pop is handled by Rivas. Notice Dolan told us Lane's average at .271 and dropping.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Bruntlett
liner past Ginter, a double.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
OP
there goes the average, OP now hitting .435 after going 0 for 4 in his first 4 AB's.Singled up the middle, good for you OP, an RBI as Eric B scores. 3rd ribbie of the spring for Orlando.
6 - 2 Stros
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Jimerson
was in right last inning, fielded Garko's single.0 - 1, 0 - 2, strikeout, stranding OP, who would have had second stolen if Jimerson had been able to hold back.
Oh well Charlton, you will always have that monster shot off Cole Hamels. They can't take that away from you.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Bottom Eight
Wheels in.Michales to start, looks at strike one. Fastball called third strike, Dolan pretty good there, "carved up! He's done."
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Blake
fly ball hit to Jimerson who gloves.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Martinez
strikes out on a nasty slider.1-2-3.
You know, Dolan and Raymond have been trying to spin that the previous two nights were flukes, were the kinds of games that happen from time to time.
but what we've been seeing is not fluky. We're rock solid from our number one. We've got a great setup guy.
Our closer and our back half, these are gonna be problems.
It's not mysterious, and it's not rocket science.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Wheeler showing
a lot of movement on his breaking stuff, everything right around the plate. Looking great!bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
Top Nine
Lamb takes low and outside. Flies to left.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Burke
1 - 0 pitch is singled to right. Oh my, a two-hit night for Chris.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Maysonet
Hit one out of the park Edwin. Gotta say I thought Everett would have gloved that seeing eye RBI single, however.Burke takes off an a 1 - 0 pitch. Maysonet takes for a strike but Burke is in there.
Waves and misses, out in front, 1 - 2. Letter high, misses, evens the count.
Pulling for this kid, big time. Me and all members of the Salem Avalanche everywhere. C'mon Edwin!
Called third strike, drag.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Hidalgo
Speaking of guys you root for, to no discernible effect, it's Richard Hidalgo at the bat.We were told Reeshard was getting what, 550K, if he made the club. Wonder what he'd get for going to Round Rock?
Loooooong at bat, Dolan says things are at a halt.
Strikeout inning over.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Burke gets a hit...
he really has two hits now, but the first one wasn't hit particularly hard. But they all count.clack - March 23, 2007
Bottom Nine
Intro music for the radio as they come back is Zeppelin's "Nobody's Fault But Mine," and that's Lidge thinking about Cleveland's runs.They might have even done that on purpose.
Borkowski in, facing Garko. Quickly 0 - 2. Cracked bat flare into center, and Burke takes it on a bounce.
Single.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Marte
flied to right center, Burke looks but Jimerson gloves.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Ginter
Strike one inside corner. Next one comes in at his knees, and the next, 2 - 1. Fouled away 2 -2. Cracked bat roller picked up by Jason who throws to Maysonet for the lead runner; Maysonet throws back but they don't get Ginter.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Rouse
Called strike outside corner. Hit hard into right, Ginter takes third.rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Rivas
Right down the middle strike one. Borkowski as they say a strike-throwing machine. Outside corner, strike two.Laid off a breaking ball in the dirt, Munson all over it.
Roller towards Maysonet who tosses to Bruntlett for the force
Astros 6 14 0
Inidans 2 9 2
Box
Thank you very much bwhite and clack for swinging by, even as that Sweet Sixteen stuff was going on.
rastronomicals - March 23, 2007
Borkowski with a decent finish
to a very satisfactory outing for the Stros. Not sure that any questions were answered, but Burke improves his stock some. It's gonna' be a hectic week before they break camp and head for home.bwhite2323 - March 23, 2007
Man,
fuck Selig. Oh yeah, it's perfectly okay to want to put a fucking SPIDERMAN LOGO on the bases, but noooo, we can't let one of the most upstanding players in the league wear a 2 inch wide pin on his cap during Spring Training to make kids with cancer happy. That would be soooo bad for the league. I mean can you imagine the reaction from the media? Biggio would be violating the sanctity of the uniform!What an asshole. I'm sure the next time some corporation offers to pay MLB to put some ad on the sleeves, Selig and Co. will fall all over themselves to oblige them.
Oh and about the game...I hope Lidge gets it together before the season. If he's working on new pitches or trying to fix his mechanics, than fine, but if he's pitching his best...
MG(vers. 2) - March 23, 2007
Comments
Apropos of not much:(1) "Then I accidentally hit the space bar with my elbow while reaching for my Dr. Pepper"
Your keyboard does not have an "Undo" button? Who did you buy it from, Grady Little?
(2) If Dr. Pepper is not the official drink of Crawfishboxes.com, it really should be. On color alone, it's a sweet fit.
(3) "Rastronomicals" is one of my favorite handles here, and not ONLY because I keep hearing George Jetson's dog saying it.
And to any reader who now has THAT stuck in their head the way I do... you're welcome. ;)
--
scoutingbook - March 24, 2007
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