Words are really failing me right now in trying to figure out how to sum up this game, and it's really tough even figure out where to begin.
Chris Carpenter looked like he did four years ago and Roy Oswalt was in command of his arsenal all night, so the pitchers' duel did not disappoint.
Carlos Lee made the weakest throw ever and Ivan Rodriguez dropped it, but everyone will forget about it because Pudge was the Astros offensive spark plug in the 9th.
Dave Clark's judgement calls at 3B had just about everyone sweating bullets (I can't remember ever seeing so many runners held at 3rd) and I am at a loss to try and figure out what was going through Coop's mind in the 9th (Seriously, who brings their closer in the top of the ninth, but then starts off the bottom of the ninth trying to play for a tie?). Thankfully Chris Coste couldn't get the sac bunt down and had to go to his bat because it drove in Pudge, the tying run.
Miguel Tejada battled Ryan Franklin and delivered a glorious walk off 1B after...
Hell, I can't do this game justice, so I'll let FanGraphs tell you the story:
On Monday I said I was looking for an opening statement from the Astros and I couldn't be more pleased with what they delivered. A series sweep. Three great games. All of it to pull the Astros within one game of the Cardinals in the standings. By far the best series of the year (probably the last three years) and by far the best game I have seen the Astros play all season. This is why I love baseball.
You really can't ask for much more from this group of guys.
Cardinals vs Astros coverage ; Cardinals vs Astros boxscore ; Viva El Birdos
0 recs | 28 comments
The VivaElBirdos overflow thread is up over 1000 comments
I assume the last third of it is just f-bombs
AstroAndy - July 22, 2009
Good, good
Thing to note: Two series in a row against heralded RHB, two series in a row in which the neuter them.
Stephen Higdon - July 22, 2009
You assume correctly.
rockwalltx - July 22, 2009
lots of F-Bombs, but I did like this interesting explanation for Franklin's blown save...
clack - July 22, 2009
How many hits did our pitctching staff hold
pujols to? It just shows that If he gets shut down the there go the Cards chances
Z-Dub - July 22, 2009 via mobile
I was checking VivaElbirdos
during the game periodically … and for a supposed (smart fan base) … they seem pretty ignorant. Just a bunch of f-bombs at our team and complaining about the ballpark and how we get lucky. They don’t even talk about baseball much …. like junior high kids …hmm
Rhombus67 - July 22, 2009
They are pretty damned hilarious, though
Mostly.
rockwalltx - July 22, 2009
Some SBN blogs
hold the most intelligent section of a team’s fans. Others, well…
Nothing beats the doucheness of Rev Halofan over at HH.
jonthefon - July 22, 2009
the veb board
has declined quite a bit since I followed it closely a couple years ago. the quality of the in-game comments has degenerated into the f-bombs and random asides that only make sense to the board dwellers. I guess enough of the internet trolls have discovered it and drowned out the relatively higher-level analysis.
lnewcomer - July 23, 2009
F-bombs
aren’t that big a factor in degenerating a board. Everything depends on how intelligent the posters are, not how foul-mouthed they are.
jonthefon - July 23, 2009
Case in point
Only A Lad. Smart as all get out, but equally foul mouthed.
Stephen Higdon - July 23, 2009
pfft
you should meet my mother
Only_A_Lad - July 23, 2009
I'd rather posters didn't use them
Besides big crass, they are often used to substitute for rational analysis
Joe in Birmingham - July 23, 2009
I guess
Rhombus67 - July 22, 2009
On another possitive note ...
Mier went 3 for 5 tonight with a HR …. and Castro got 2 more hits for Corpus. I know Mier is young and only in rookie ball … but for 2 guy’s that are supposed to be defensive guys and play important defensive positions … it’s nice to see them hit at every level.
Rhombus67 - July 22, 2009
Seconded
Stephen Higdon - July 22, 2009
i was at game
i really wish every game could be like this one…Really wuick first 5 innings, then last 4 got really interesting…really fun game to be at!
EveryHoustonTeamRox! - July 22, 2009
yea
went to all 3 games…packed every night but tonite there were no empty seates (except 3 rows behind foul pole next to advertisements on top…)
pretty electric and fun…was standing for whole bottom of 9th inning…
2 really good feelings at end of game…
1. High fiving every stros fan even if you dont know them bcz we won!
2. Seeing Cardinals fans right next to you all sad while you jump up and scream…then point and laugh (didnt do that tho)
EveryHoustonTeamRox! - July 23, 2009
also
i knew the cards werent gonna score tonite, i went to there Batting Practice and it was the worse Batting Practice i have EVER SEEN! Maybe 7 total HR’s…if any…dont think even pujols homered…very sad (and annoying)
EveryHoustonTeamRox! - July 23, 2009
what a great birthday present
my b-day tonite (july 22nd, i guess now last night)…great present! Oh and Drayton, Happy b-day to u too!
EveryHoustonTeamRox! - July 23, 2009
Incredible.
Astros made frontpage on ESPN. Don’t expect this to last too long, but enjoy it for now.
jonthefon - July 23, 2009
Fantastic game
It seems we haven’t gotten these types of pitching matchups recently, and so it was great that this game lived up to predictions.
It’s great to have Coste on the bench to fill in for Lance a bit. Did we hear anything about Lance’s MRI today?
Only_A_Lad - July 23, 2009
Unless he had another once
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090721&content_id=5979544&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou
Grade II Strain, supposedly should be available for Friday. Maybe with a lefty he gets another day off to just play it safe?
Stephen Higdon - July 23, 2009
Craziest realization
We took down Chris Carpenter without the Puma.
Stephen Higdon - July 23, 2009
He did have a single of Carp
Timothy De Block - July 23, 2009
This when the games makes you feel like a kid again and you just have to enjoy it. Go Stros! We Bee-lieve!
Killer Bee - July 23, 2009
Too true
Stephen Higdon - July 23, 2009
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