Without even listening to any of the post game interviews, I imagine that this is one of those games that will get chalked up to "just not having it," "wasted opportunities," "pitches being made," etc. I can't really find fault in any of those standard lines because having been at the game, that was the feeling I had. The Astros got out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but things feel apart for the Astros when Geoff Blum was thrown out at home. After that, it was just clear that today, was not going to be their day.
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With a three game set at Wrigley starting tomorrow, the Astros have an opportunity to reclaim the ground they lost to the Cubs this weekend. And that's what I will be focusing on for the next twenty-six or so hours.
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Interesting points from post game interviews...
Cooper: lamented bad base running in 1st, but said the game was lost in the 4th when the Astros got 2 on base with no outs, but failed to score (Pence GIDP followed); he said Livan was “crafty” and he came back strong when Astros let him off the hook.
Moehler: was very tough on himself; he said he was just poor in everything he did;said he left the ball up in the zone too much and couldn’t field the ball.
Difference of opinion over handling of Arias:
Cooper was asked if Arias was fatigued from overuse, and he emphatically said “no,” that Arias is “fine.” Cooper thought Arias was “crisp” but got the ball up too much.
Steve Sparks said that you need to be careful not to overuse a young pitcher like Arias. Sparks said that, in a game like this, it was unnecessary to put Arias in for 2 innings after the high workload he faced earlier. Sparks said he would have given Arias a rest in this game so that he would be ready for an important Cubs’ series, and used Fulchino longer and possibly given some work to Sampson to see how he looks after the DL stint.
clack - July 26, 2009
some added points...
Arias most likely will be unavailable tomorrow, and that means Sampson will be thrust into the fire in the Cubs series. One thing that worries me: in Astros’ notes in the Chronicle, Sampson said, “my shoulder is still sore, but that’s natural.”
how big would it have been if the Astros had knocked Livan out of the game in the first inning? Manuel had Tim Redding warming up in the bullpen in the 1st…that’s how close the Astros were to getting Redding instead of Hernandez for the rest of the game.
clack - July 26, 2009
This game, more than most, seemed like a game of bare inches. So many balls scooted just an inch or two under the Astros gloves, or just deflected off them instead of getting caught. It’s definitely a big What If? game.
AstroAndy - July 26, 2009
FOUR Game Series in Chicago
Monday and Tuesday nights
Wednesday and Thursday days
Joe in Birmingham - July 26, 2009
And it's at this point I want to kick myself for saying
“Ehhhh, I’m pretty sure it’s a three game series…I’ll go with my gut.”
Stephen Higdon - July 26, 2009
three
Plus a rainout makeup.
littlevisigoth - July 26, 2009 via mobile
Chris Sampson
I cannot remember where I read this or heard this, but Cecil Cooper was asked if Sampson would resume his previous role and he said something “No, we don’t work that way”
Not sure what he meant by that .
Also during the game it was mentioned that Sampson threw yesterday and was sore today.
Joe in Birmingham - July 26, 2009
yes, Sampson was quoted as saying his shoulder is still sore. If Cooper isn’t going to use him in the 7th inning role tomorrow, we better hope that no relief pitcher is required for the 7th inning…because Arias worked 2 innings today. And I suppose that was Steve Sparks’ point in saying that Arias shouldn’t have been used today in a game in which the Astros trailed.
clack - July 26, 2009
Wesley’s available…
Only_A_Lad - July 26, 2009
So is Byrdak. :)
clack - July 26, 2009
let's not suggest anything crazy, now.
How’s Norris doing?
What about Lo?
Only_A_Lad - July 26, 2009
well
norris is more likely…not sure Lo is ready
EveryHoustonTeamRox! - July 26, 2009
From Astros webpage
Manager Cecil Cooper said he plans to ease right-hander Chris Sampson back into duty now that he’s off the disabled list.
Joe in Birmingham - July 26, 2009
as a sidelight...
they said on the post game show that Brian Moehler is recruiting Astros’ pilayers to grow mullet hair cuts…in response to the staches on the Cardinals, I suppose. Roy Oswalt was the first player to volunteer..
clack - July 26, 2009
yech
Next they’ll get Billy Ray Cyrus to sing the National Anthem
Joe in Birmingham - July 26, 2009
there's an achy breaky joke opening here but I got nothing
ol Pete - July 26, 2009
According to Footer
via the videos Pence took at the ASG, a bunch of the players have agreed to go the rally-hawk route if the team makes the playoffs. I’d much rather see that, than mullets or those Jeff Kent-esque icky ’staches, neither of which is a good look, IMHO.
Danyah - July 27, 2009
What is it, four games against Chicago
and three against St. Louis coming up? Huge week.
jonthefon - July 26, 2009
Yep
and both teams are improved over the last time Astros faced them
Joe in Birmingham - July 26, 2009
Possible season-defining series at this moment?
There’s a late-August stretch roadtrip where the Astros take on the Cards, the D’backs and the Cubs.
jonthefon - July 26, 2009
Brocail appears to be on his way back.
I watched the Hooks game on television. Brocail came in as a reliever in the 8th inning and got three outs. Dierker was pleased with his performance, pointing out that Brocail came in hard inside on each Frisco hitter, and then finished them off with a off speed pitch down and away. Each one of the minor leaguers he faces rolled over the pitch for a weak grounder to 1st base.
Hooks put on a good display of offense, by the way, scoring a 11-2 victory, with Castro, Einerton, Locke, Ori, and Molina getting big hits.
clack - July 26, 2009
Hey, I just noticed that Rotoworld application in the side bar.
It doesn’t give good advice, though. Instead of saying “Brian Moehler got roughed up, don’t start him next week,” it should say “Brian Moehler got roughed up, but why the hell do you have Scuffy on your team?”
Only_A_Lad - July 27, 2009
There’s a really good Bagwell article up on chron.com.
AstroAndy - July 27, 2009
2006
I wonder if Bagwell could have played in ’06 like he wanted, and like the insurance company said he could, but the prevailing wisdom was that his shoulder was too shot to allow it.
He’s been very quiet about it, but I get glimpses that he was dissatisfied with the situation.
Surely he would have been a better PH than Orlando Palmeiro, albeit expensive?
pel - July 27, 2009
Bagwell couldn’t perform at an adequate level in spring training. The team concluded that to be the case, and Bagwell said he agreed with that conclusion at the time. He was hitting something like .100 by midway through spring, and I imagine that the Astros’ conclusion was also based on seeing his bat speed and such during his at bats.
clack - July 27, 2009
now that I think about it...
you must be referrring to Bagwell’s quotes in the article. When asked if he missed playing, he said he “missed being good.” I think he regretted that his shoulder kept him from being good enough to continue playing.
clack - July 27, 2009
Bagwell saw Dr. Jim Andrews here
Jim Andrews said Bagwell’s shoulder was mush, worst he’s ever seen, I think Bagwell milked his shoulder for all the use he could get out of it. It was torture just to watch him throw his last three years.
Joe in Birmingham - July 27, 2009
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