Roy pitched brilliantly, if you exclude one pitch to Pujols, which wasn't even that bad of a pitch. The Astros were ALL over Wainwright, but in true Astros fashion couldn't by a run. I really don't know if any other team struggles as much in favorable situations as this team.
We've only scored one run in the last three games on something other than a BB or a HR. Ridiculous.
I'm blaming this one on the terrible Carver and Buck's negative karma, why these guys get to announce the Cardinals is beyond me. At least pair it up with a JD or Brownie. I'm not sure if it was the constant sanctification of Albert Pujols as a god amongst mere mortals or the inanity of their pithy dialogue that got me more.
C'est la vie.
Also, my condolences to Wesley Wright, who was unmercifully thrown to the wolves in the seventh inning. Please don't let this affect you for the rest of your career.
Tomorrow is another day and another game, hopefully Road Wandy is not taking the mound.
Box score and commentary from the guys who trounced us, here.
0 recs | 24 comments
Outlier game?
Only_A_Lad - April 11, 2009
Only seven or eight more of them left on the season....hah
My guess is that at least half of them will be nationally televised.
AstroAndy - April 11, 2009
hopefully they'll be
of the other variety
Only_A_Lad - April 11, 2009
Here are some stats that will either blow your mind or emphasize how early in the season it is.
Before the game, according to the chron’s Zach Levine, the Astros had the 6th highest batting average in baseball, .288. They were 27th in runs per game with 3.5.
AstroAndy - April 11, 2009
Some good news:
BPro thinks Bogusevic’s performance on the Express’ opening night was a definite good sign (alright, I guess that’s not really insightful or news, but the Astros just got their asses kicked and it’s good to read something hopeful):
Good that they described the homer as “towering.”
I guess it’s not really something to be worried about, but it’s not like Bourn is really struggling so far this year. He’s not burning anything up, but he’s not as crap-tastic as last season. It will be interesting to see what the Astros do if Bourn actually develops into something worth keeping and Bogusevic continues on his current path.
Only_A_Lad - April 11, 2009
Sheesh
I keep thinking about the marginally better state our farm system would look to be in if we had a Brett Wallace or a Justin Smoak instead of Jason Castro.
jonthefon - April 11, 2009
probably marginally worse, actually
since Drayton would have been less likely to give up the cash to sign Seaton, Lyles, and Dydalewicz had Smoak been signed (Wallace actually signed for less than Castro, though. But you get into the same problem you have with Smoak: he’ll be ready before Berkman’s contract is up, and it’s likely Lance will get an extension, anyways, and there’s really nowhere else you can play either Wallace or Smoak but at first base. And unlike when Lance was coming up, left field is blocked by Carlos Lee’s fat, untradeable contract.).
Only_A_Lad - April 11, 2009
Good points.
I find no fault in them.
Stephen Higdon - April 11, 2009
Brett Wallace plays third base
Would’ve made Bloone’s farm look more tolerable as a stopgap for Wallace.
I did understand why they didn’t pick Smoak, he’s going to be ready very quickly (starting at AA Frisco, should be in Arlington next year or 2011).
jonthefon - April 11, 2009
from what I've heard about Wallace
most don’t think he’ll be able to stay at third. It’s certainly possible, though. I mean, most scouts didn’t think Berkman would be able to do much but play first base, but he played a fairly competent left field, and actually wasn’t terrible in either right or (remarkably) center. So who knows what might happen?
I wonder what the Rangers will do with Chris Davis when Smoak comes up. I guess DH him.
Only_A_Lad - April 11, 2009
Trade Lee for prospects and put him in LF
OF Defense level-up +10!
goingforthecorner - April 12, 2009
It's going to be a long year.
But I think most of us knew that going in.
drsarc - April 11, 2009
is it wrong
that, even on Easter, I really, really, really want to punch Carver in the back of the head?
Mr. Imperial - April 11, 2009
No.
Stephen Higdon - April 11, 2009
Baseball, like Easter, is a fundamental part of Spring.
And the national baseball broadcasts usually start around now. So I consider wanting to punch the whole Fox broadcast team an annual Easter tradition.
Only_A_Lad - April 11, 2009
one bad pitch??
“Roy pitched brilliantly, if you exclude one pitch to Pujols, which wasn’t even that bad of pitch. "
hmm a hanger over the inner half to the best power hitter in the game?? The ball had to be lopsided after Pujols crushed one side, and the other side crushed after rebounding off the upper deck facing.
kcs - April 11, 2009
the ball was pretty low....
I was definitely impressed with Pujols’ ability to go down and hit the ball with that much power. The ball probably got too much of the plate.
clack - April 12, 2009
also, it was a fastball, not a breaking ptich, according to gameday
clack - April 12, 2009
But I said it wasn't a bad pitch
I just said you had to exclude it to render Roy’s outing as brilliant.
Stephen Higdon - April 12, 2009
lnewcomer said something in the game thread...
about the impact of the Astros’ lack of scoring early in the game on Oswalt’s later bad inning. Roy seemed to have the same idea;
One could even take that as a backhanded slap at the offense. But I think Oswalt was trying to be truthful rather than lay blame on anybody.
However, Oswalt doesn’t mention the mistake which preceded Pujols. He walked Rasmus, if I recall correctly, and that meant that there wasn’t room to pitch around Pujols. Obviously, you can’t walk batters ahead of Pujols.
clack - April 12, 2009
correction: Schumaker, not Rasmus, was walked ahead of Pujols, I think.
clack - April 12, 2009
Same old Astros
Caradoc - April 12, 2009
Does this mean Wandy is our stopper now?
AstroAndy - April 12, 2009
it means it's April....
clack - April 12, 2009
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