Your Houston Astros send Woody Williams to the hill today at 12:05PM CST against the Atlanta Braves and former Astro Mike Hampton. Woody Williams really needs a good outing today to help him earn a roster spot on the team. Hopefully Entropic Soul's risky pick of Woody Williams last night in the fantasy draft will raise the confidence level of Williams and return him to his younger self.
Todays game is being broadcast on FSN, so for all of you who like me, are itching to see Astros on the TV... you're in luck.
Yesterday the Astros beat the Reds 6-5 behind a good pitching performance by Brandon Backe. Backe went 5 innings and gave up 4 runs, but only 2 were earned. Backe also struck out 3 and walked just 1. The real story of the day/week/spring training is Astros lefty Wesley Wright who went another scoreless inning on Saturday, making that 5 consecutive outings without giving up a run. Wright looks like he could be the lefty from the bullpen that the Astros have been looking for. Wright only 23 years old.Carlos Lee had another 0-fer yesterday giving him just 2 hits in his last 21 at bats. In his last 8 games, he's had hits in just 1 game. Maybe this is why.
One more thing, if anyone is interested in the Dodgers VS Padres game in China, one of the readers of www.lonestarball.com our Texas Rangers SBNation blog, actually lives in China and was able to attend the game. You can read more about it here.
Happy Easter!
0 recs | 106 comments
Anyone else...
think the Astros would be better off if Woody had a defnitive performance today, no matter which way it goes? I would rather see Woody Williams give up a crap-load of runs in a horrible performance or else have a sparkling performance, like a scoreless 5 innings. If the former happens, the Astros' decision will be obvious and perhaps even Woody, himself, might realize that all ball players lose it at some point. If the latter happens, then we could legitimately feel that Woody Williams is re-gaining his form and deserves to show the team what he can do for at least a month or so in the regular season.A mixed performance, say, 3 runs in 5 innings, would still leave a question mark in the Astros' minds...and leave the team with a choice that could be wrong in either direction.
clack - March 23, 2008
Yep
But I'm afraid that if he goes 5 innngs and only gives up 3 runs, they will say that is an improvement. Woody has maybe 1 more start after this game. In my opinion, he needs to be really good in both starts to earn a position on the team.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Wow, just read the diary...
on the game in China. That is a great account with nice photos. It's the best report I've read on the MLB game in China. Some great stuff. How about the photo of the hot dog? Not very appetizing, but funny. Or the cheerleaders. Maybe the Marlins should have made the trip since they are the only MLB team with cheerleaders.clack - March 23, 2008
I agree
Very well written and nice pics.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Top 1st
Woody, first pitch, line drive singleStros Bro - March 23, 2008
That was by Kotsay
Kotsay batting .227 this spring... That will probably raise today.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Escobar
Runner (Kotsay) on first, goes 3-1 and takes a nice breaking ball for strike 2. Count full as he take another breaking ball, a little high and inside for ball 4. Runners on 1st and 2nd for Chippah Jones.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Jones
Jones having a good spring, batting .406 with a couple dingers. Takes the account full with Woody missing corners constantly.Ball hit to Tejada which looks like a double play waiting to happen, but the runners were going and Tejada only has time to get the runner at 1st.
Runners on the Corners for Teixeira.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Teixeira
Having a bad spring with a .190 avg and 1 home run.Mark singles between Loretta and Berkman with both diving towards the ball. Both runners score.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Francoeur / Blanco
I somehow missed Francoeur, but he got out.Blanco drills a line drive over Bourn's head, chugging along he gets a triple and earns an RBI.
Bravo's up 3-1 with 2 outs.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Prado
Batting .322 on the season, takes Woody to a 1-1 count and grounds out to Wiggington to easily fields and throws to first.Braves up 3-0 after 1.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Correction
runners on 2nd and 3rd.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Make that bottom 1st
I missed the Astros half, but Hampton faced 3 batters and got them all out with Bourn striking out.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Top 2nd
(for reals this time)Astros have Lee, Tejada and Loretta due up in the inning. Lee is looking to end his 2 game hitless drought today.
Who the hell are these announcers. I can't wait for JD and Brownie...
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Lee at bat
Smoltz in the booth talking to the announcers, ask them for the score...Lee takes the account to 3-1 and hits a looping drive(is that possible?)to Kotsay in CF.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Tejada
Tejada batting .333 this spring, takes a 0-1 count and hits a line drive for an easy double to right field.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Loretta
Loretta batting .268 on the season, takes a 2-2 account and and then strikes out on a pitch right down the chute.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Wigginton
Batting .191 on the season... glad someone drafted him in the fantasy league before I got a chance to.Pops up easily to Kotsay in center to finish the inning.
My wife comes in and ask what inning it is, I say 2nd and she looks at the score and goes ewww... I say Woody Williams is pitching and she says "Who's that". She needs to watch more baseball....
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Bottom 2nd
Braves have Miller, Hampton and Kotsay due up in the inning.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Miller
Miller, most famous for being behind the plate when Delmon Young tossed his bat at and hit an umpire on April 26, 2006 in a minor league game.Miller takes a Woody Williams fastball(changeup) and bashes it for a double.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Hampton
Sac bunts Miller to 3rd. Astros down 3-0 with 1 out.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Kotsay
Round 2 for Kotsay, 1 out with a runner(Miller) on 3rd.Woody getting drilled like normal takes Kotsay to a 2-2 count. Next pitch, Kotsay grounds to Loretta at 2nd who throws to Berkman for out 2. Runner still on 3rd.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Escobar
Escobar batting .435 this spring. Escobar lines out to Pence in right field. Inning over, no runs scored.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Corky Miller...like that name?....
well hit double to the gap. woody is quite hittable today.clack - March 23, 2008
His real name is
Abraham Phillip "Corky" MillerStros Bro - March 23, 2008
Top 3rd
Astros have Ausmus, Williams and then Bourn due up in the inning.Last time up, Bourn struck out to Hampton who has lowered his spring ERA to .093.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Ausmus
grounds out to Escobar at short.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Williams
Woody walks... Evidently Hampton feels bad for the old guy.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Bourn
GRR! They show more of the damn announcers than they do the game. They switch back to the game right before the pitch gets to the batter.. annoying...Bourn takes a 1-2 count and then strikes out on what looks to have been a little low(and maybe outside).
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Pence
Pence batting .379 on the season, fouled out last at bat, swings at a slider in the dirt for strike 1. Pence drills the next ball over Blanco in left field, ball takes 1 bounce and goes over the fence for a ground rule double.Smoltz mentions how good of a player Pence is then the announcers go directly back to talking about the Braves.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Correction
Smoltz isn't in the booth any more.. it's Frank Wren the Braves' GMStros Bro - March 23, 2008
Berkman
.286 on the season, takes the count 2-2 and hits a blooper to 2nd to end the top of the inning. Runners stranded on 2nd and 3rd.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Hampton's ERA is .93, not .093
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Announcers
The announcers are Joe Simpson and Jon Sciambi who are the Atlanta Braves announcers. Go figure...Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Bottom 3rd
JOnes, Teixeira and Francoeur due up in the inning.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Jones
Woody stil in, still missing corners way too often. 2-1 count and Chipper gets good wood on the ball, but lines directly to Loretta catches for the out.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Teixeira
I hate typing his name... who would spell a name that way...Woody's fastball is 87-88 today takes Mark to a 2-2 count and forces a ground ball to Berkman, who easily fields and jogs to first base for out #2.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Francoeur
Francoeur grounds up the middle to Loretta how makes a damn nice play to his right, fields, hops and throws across his body to end the inning. Very nice play for Loretta.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Nice play...Loretta
Grabs ball running toward 2d and twirls, throwing a ball on the money to 1st.clack - March 23, 2008
Yeah,
he threw while still in the air, it was AWESOME, reminded me of Everett even. Do the announcers say anything? Noooooo. But let Chipper Jones toss one to second (the double play made only because of the quick turn by the second sacker) and it's "incredible defense."Whatever.
Danyah - March 23, 2008
Top 4th
Astros stil scoreless with 2 hits on the day.Astros have Lee, Tejada and Loretta due up in the inning. Braves still leading 3-0.
I hate the Braves telecast... won't be the last time you'll hear this today either.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Lee
Nice shades Lee...Hampton still in for the Braves starts the inning with a .84 ERA.
Lee takes a 2-2 count and grounds out to Escobar at short.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Tejada
1 for 1 on the day with a double in the 2nd. takes the count to 2-1 taps a ball foul to make it 2-2. Next pitch, Tejada fights off an inside pitch right up the middle for a single.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Loretta
0-1 on the day with a strike out.Loretta hits the ball sharply to Jones' left, but Chipper backhands the ball and flips to Prado at 2nd who turns and fires to first for a double play. Inning Over.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
announcers
i really can't stand hearing other announcers talk about the astros. 9 times out of 10 it seems as though they did zero fact checking and make these assumptions about the club that are completely unfounded, yet sound like fact coming from their mouths.exit53 - March 23, 2008
/agreed
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Bottom 4th
Due up for the Braves is Blanco, Prado and Miller.Woody has pitched scoreless ball since giving up 3 runs in the 1st. His ERA sits at 12.89 for the spring.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Blanco
puts down a nice bunt down 3rd, Wigginton fields it cleanly barehanded and throws to first, but is not in time. Blanco in cleanly with a single.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Prado
Blanco at first, leaning a little so Woody throws over to keep him honest. Leaning again and Woody does the same again. Rinse and repeat, 3 straight throws over by Woody.This gives us a chance to see those TERRIBLE sideburns of Berkman.
Woody throws over again... let's see if he can do it 5 times in a row!
Nope, inestead throws what looks to be a change up for strike 1. Woody throws over again for a really close call at 1st. Runner still safe.
Woody, nice curve for strike 2. Count is 0-2. Woody tries to do it again and Prado fouls it off. Looked like the same pitch. Let's see that 87 MPH fastball now.
Make it 85, too high and outside, ball 1. Count is 1-2.
Another 85 fast ball hit sharply to first by Berkman who knocks it down and throws to 2nd for the force out.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Miller
Announcers "Lance Berkman working the sideburns... WHOOOO"Count is 1-0 as Miller grounds to Wigginton who doesn't have time to get the force at 2nd... easily throws Miller out at 1st.
Announcers still talking about the sideburns.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Hampton
Grounds past Woody and fielded by Berkman who tosses to Woody covering the bag. Inning Over.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
With 3 runs allowed...
I wonder if Woody will end up like I suggested in my earlier post...3 runs in 5 innings for a "gray area" performance.clack - March 23, 2008
yes
i turned the game on in the 3rd and saw the score, remembered it was woody pitching and sighed. read through stros bro's game recap and saw your gray area comment, and man you are totally right. i hate to say it, but i'm pulling for a huge braves 4th... but as i type that, hampton grounds out for the 3rd out.exit53 - March 23, 2008
He only did poorly
in the first because it wasn't until AFTER the first that he was informed that he was one of my fantasy picks last night. He knows he's gotta step it now, cause it's REALLY on the line.entropic soul - March 23, 2008
Sorry
I sent Coop the memo last night... evidently it wasn't important enough to wake him up for.. bastards...Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
did you..
pick him on purpose or was it an auto-draft? ;)exit53 - March 23, 2008
Oddly enough...
it was on purposeStros Bro - March 23, 2008
astros.com
..has been revamped. looks a lot cleaner.exit53 - March 23, 2008
Yep
I noticed it, but wasn't sure if it had actually changed, or if I was just seeing things.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
ha
nice to see that our spring leader for wins is valverde.exit53 - March 23, 2008
Top 5th
Astros have Wigginton, Ausmus and Williams up to bat... I'm thinking Williams will probably bat. He needs to pitch some more to earn a job.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Wiggy
1st pitch, hits a nice line drive over Kotsay's head for a double.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Ausmus
1-0 count, no outs with a runner on 2nd. Ausmus gets good wood on the ball driving it towards the right field wall, but Francoeur makes an over the head running catch to get Ausmus out. Wigginton tags and goes to 3rd on the play.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Woody
Woody looks to be coming back for more has Wigginton on 3rd with 1 out. 1-2 count after fouling off a few takes on inside for ball 2.Next pitch, grounds out to Hampton who looks the runner back and throws to first for out 2.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Bourn
Bourn 0-2 on the day with 2 strike outs. Avg now at .293 hits a blooper to Kotsay in CF who catches for the 3rd out.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Bourn...
has looked bad at the plate against Hampton. He has not been a good hitter against LHP in his career.clack - March 23, 2008
Bottom 5th
Kotsay, Escobar and Jones due up. Braves up 3-0.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Kotsay
1-0 count flies out deep to Bourn in CF. Braves announcers just said that Smoltz threw up a red flag. Guess he shouldn't have eaten it...Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Escobar
Woody is starting to get his breaking stuff over the plate. Looking much better than his earlier innings... he's also actually getting batters to swing and miss on the curveball. The curve ball is making his 85 MPH fastball look like an 88 MPH fastball.3-2 count and Escobar grounds out to Wigginton at 3rd who easily throws to Berkman for out 2.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Jones
I dislike Chipper Jones... he just seems to cocky to me.Braves announcers now talking to Mark Kotsay which means we get to see none of the game...
Woody gets Chipper jones to reach for an outside breaking ball and grounds out to Wigginton at 3rd. Good inning for Woody.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Top 6th
Pence, Berkman and Lee due up in the inning.Hampton is coming back out for his 6th inning... time to put a hurtin on him...
Pence, Berkman and Lee have 1 hit today between the 3 of them.
I'm calling for a Lance HR.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Pence
Hampton looks to be "pitching around" Pence on the first 2 pitches, then tries to challenge Pence who says hits a line drive to right CF for a home run.Astros down 3-1.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Berkman
Grounds out for the first of the inning.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Lee
GO TO YOUR HOME! Hampton may be getting tired cause Lee just drilled that pitch for a home run and his first hit in 3 games. No doubter there..Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Tejada
Astros now down 3-2 after home runs by Pence and Lee.Tejada, 2-2 on the day takes the count full before before striking out on an low inside pitch.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Loretta
0-2 on the day with a strike out, grounds out to Pope at 3rd base. Pope replaced Chipper at the start of the inning.Inning over, but the Astros put 2 on the board to take the score to 3-2.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Bottom 6
Erstad in at 1st for Lance, Perez in at short for Tejada and Cruz in right for Pence.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Teixeira
Grounds to Erstad at first who fields and tags Teixeira.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Francoeur
grounds out to 2nd.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Blanco
2 outs with Woody still in the game. Braves announcers now talking to Hampton.Blanco takes the count full before hitting a ground ball between Wigginton and Perez for his 3rd hit of the day.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Prado
Count goes to 2-1 and Woody forces a pop fly to right field.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
As Woody continues pitching...
he is turning what appeared to be a horrible performance in the 1st and 2nd into a decent effort.clack - March 23, 2008
Definitely
I'd take that any day from Woody.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Top 7th
With the shitty announcers and the bad coverage of the game put on by whatever crappy network is broadcasting this game, I'll probably be less likely to have player names for the rest of the game with all of the changes likely over the next few innings.. but I'll try.Woody turned his bad inning into a pretty good outing.
6 innings, 6 hits with 3ER is pretty good for Woody in my opinion.
Braves bringing in Chris Resop in relief of Hampton who also went 6 innings, but only gave up 2 runs on 6 hits.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Wigginton
McCann in to catch, Holt in at 2nd and Borchard(SP?) into left field moving Blanco over to right field.Wiggy pops out to first base in foul territory.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Ausmus
Chipper Jones now talking to the announcers, mentions that Woody Williams always gets him out. There's a first...This Resop guy has a good arm, hitting 99 on the gun.
Ausmus takes the to 1-2 and pops out to Teixeira at 1st.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Blum
Blum pinch hitting for Woody. Resop feeing Blum a steady diet of 97-99 fastballs, takes the account full and then strikes Blum out with a 79 mph curve on the outside corner.Game still 3-2 Braves.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Bottom 7th
Going go get a drink.. brbStros Bro - March 23, 2008
Thorman
Hernandez in to pitchThorman Grounds to 2nd for out #1.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
McCann
McCann goes deep, 4-3 Braves.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Anderson
grounds out for out #2.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Lillibridge
flies out to Cruz in RF. Inning over, but Braves increase the lead again to 2 runs, 4-2.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Hernandez gave up a homer...
but he did show good velocity on the FB. 92-95.clack - March 23, 2008
Top 8th
New pitcher for the Braves, looks like Ring.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Bourn
It is indeed Ring for the Braves, Bourn grounds to 2nd and holt makes a nice play to barely get him out at 1st.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Cruz
First AB of the day for Cruz, brings the account full before taking a walk.Cruz is batting .353 on the season, and that doesn't change here.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Erstad
0-2 count, flies out behind 2nd base to Lillibridge(I think).Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Lee
Acosta in to pitch for the Braves.Lee still in the game, trying to regain some confidence that may have been lost in the last 2 weeks.
0-2 count as Lee strikes out on a pitch low and outside that he tried to check his swing on. Larry Vanover at 1st base says no way and calls him out.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Bottom 8th
Chad Paronto in to pitch for the Astros. Braves are showing that he had a 3.57 ERA last season for the Braves. Would be nice to have that for the Astros this eeason.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Pope
Looks like Towles in to catch for Ausmus. I'm thinking he just came in, but I might have missed it last inning.I think it was Pope who was batting... whoever it was just struck out on a nice breaking ball.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Borchard
Paronto is a big dude and hits 92 or so on the gun.Borchard has a 2-2 count before grounding out to Wigginton at 3rd.
2 outs.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Holt
1-2 count as Paronto strikes Holt out with a breaking ball outside.Braves still lead 4-2, but Paronto pitched well putting them down in order.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Top 9th
Maybe Perez, Loretta and Wigginton up to bat. We'll see if it stays that way.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Perez
Perez, lefty batting .350 on the spring season.Acosta still in for the Braves.
1-2 count on Perez as he hits the ball up the middle, but slickly fielded by Guzman at short who throws to first to get Perez out by about 3 steps.
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Loretta
1-1 count, grounds easily to short.Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
Wigginton
0-1 count as Acosta throws one in the dirt, Wigginton checks his swing as McCann ask Vanover for help.. Palms down, 1-1 count.now 1-2 as Wigginton fouls one off... still 1-2.
Wigginton the flies to Anderson in CF to end the game.
Astros 2/6/0
Braves 4/7/0
Stros Bro - March 23, 2008
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