winning both games tonight would put us above .500 for the first time this season. winning the first one would put us AT .500 for the first time since April 7th (when we were 1-1). Are you implying that on April 3rd, we were still 86-75 from the previous season?
Not sure why I’m nit-picking, but sometimes I just get hung up on ambiguity.
those games I was looking at had an (S) denoting sprint training games. If I would have looked, I would have seen a “vs. CLE” next to it. Here’s hoping for +.500 tonight for the first time this season.
Good job on the previous season thing, I would have never thought of it like that.
it’s also an all you can eat Thursday up in Section 433 (at the new low price of $20). I’m not sure what the demand for those seats are, but if there are any available when I get to the box office, that’s where I’ll be.
it’s in a $7 section, so really just a dog, peanuts, and a soda would put you right around $20. couple hip flasks of sneaky-sneaky and now you’ve got $20 for a ticket, a meal, and a few cocktails. sounds like a deal to me!
The Nats have an advantage in the bottom of the 9th with a runner already on 1st. The Nationals have added several players through trade/promotion whom will be available. Nyjer Morgan, a newly acquired player, will be the runner on 1st base, and he is very fast and a good base stealer. Since Hawkins is easy to run on, and I assume Hawkins will continue in the game, we could have a Nats runner in scoring position quickly. The Astros don’t have several key players available, including Carlos Lee. The Nationals’ “ace” starter, Lannan, has asked to start both games in this doubleheader. I don’t know if Acta will let him, given that he is the scheduled starter in the second game. Both teams are being fairly closed mouth about their personnel strategy in this game…which is understandable.
Odd time for Cecil “All my starters have the green light on the basepaths” Cooper to stop tipping his hand. The only sensible thing to do tonight (short of an injury) is to send Hawkins out there to see if Acta reacts by making a switch in the lineup. Am I wrong here?
The Nyjer Morgan change is already a foregone conclusion because Dukes was on 1st base, but is now in AAA, and Acta has said Nyjer Morgan will replace him.
will have more pitching options, that’s for sure, but they may not have anybody on their bench if we go to the 12th. They have three new position players: Josh Bard, Nyjer Morgan, and Alberto Gonzalez. Nyjer Morgan will be at 1st base for Dukes, that’s clear. A pinch hitter will be required for Hanrahan assuming Willingham doesn’t end the game in his at bat. I don’t think that pinch hitter can be Bard, because they have to replace Jesus Flores (currently occupying the 9th spot in the order) with a catcher. I could be wrong on this, but I don’t think they can double switch with players that are no longer on the roster (saying that since Flores is no longer with the team, they’ll put a pitcher in his place that wasn’t previously on the roster). This would mean they’d have to bat Gonzalez in the 7th spot and either double switch another player out of the game, or replace Gonzalez with a pitcher if they don’t score.
Meanwhile, we’ll still have Kata, Matsui, and Quintero available when we come to bat.
Basically, yes, the Nats are in a favorable position coming to bat with the ability to end the game, but if we can get through the 11th, we’ll have the deeper bench.
Also, Lee is out, yes, but so is Dunn. We’ll lead of the 12th with Erstad, Bourn, and Keppinger, and if one of them reaches, Berkman will bat. Hopefully it will get to that point.
Maybe there’s something in their contract that requires they dress up a little more for a few games a year. So they picked the game that could have lasted only 5 minutes. :)
Only makes me more frustrated with the loss. Howe said that Tejada must not have been aware that Bard was injured with groin pull and can’t get down the line to first base.
(Already across the street, drinking for cheaper)… The place was dead and the final play was so anti-climactic. As my buddy said, it’s weird to suffer such a crushing defeat and then have to wait for the ACTUAL game to start.
Apparently these final slot votes have become more sophisticated campaigns. Here is something that surprises me: apparently the Tigers and the Phillies formed an alliance to get their two players voted in. I know that we bloggers seek alliances, but it surprises me that there are more formal alliances. Victorino credited the Tigers-Phillies alliance, which used the marketing title “Bran-Torino.” Tigers and Phillies called on employers to set aside time for their employees to vote for Inge and Victorino. Victorino says that they had to do this because the Rangers and Giants had formed a Sandoval/Kinsler alliance. The article also says that John McCain campaigned for Mark Reynolds.
Hanrahan winning his first game of the season...while sitting in Philadelphia.
This is a mildly amusing article about Hanrahan winning his first game because of the Nats’ victory in the resumed game.
Former teammates sent him text messages wishing him good luck on his game today. At 6 pm CDT, Hanrahan told his Pirates’ teammates that it is time to get to work, because he has a game to win. They are dumbfounded until he tells them about the resumed game.
We could
become +.500 for the first time since April 3rd!
garageinc - July 9, 2009
not sure what you mean here
winning both games tonight would put us above .500 for the first time this season. winning the first one would put us AT .500 for the first time since April 7th (when we were 1-1). Are you implying that on April 3rd, we were still 86-75 from the previous season?
Not sure why I’m nit-picking, but sometimes I just get hung up on ambiguity.
littlevisigoth - July 9, 2009
3rd game of the season
we were at 2-1. That is the only time we’ve been +.500..right?
garageinc - July 9, 2009
Uhh nevermind
those games I was looking at had an (S) denoting sprint training games. If I would have looked, I would have seen a “vs. CLE” next to it. Here’s hoping for +.500 tonight for the first time this season.
Good job on the previous season thing, I would have never thought of it like that.
garageinc - July 9, 2009
*spring
garageinc - July 9, 2009
Gonna be in the house
it’s also an all you can eat Thursday up in Section 433 (at the new low price of $20). I’m not sure what the demand for those seats are, but if there are any available when I get to the box office, that’s where I’ll be.
littlevisigoth - July 9, 2009
Wow $20
upon review, I’m not sure if I could stomach eating $20 worth of Nachos, hotdogs, peanuts, and soda…even at MMP prices.
AstroAndy - July 9, 2009
If chicken wings
were included, it would be a downright steal.
garageinc - July 9, 2009
well
it’s in a $7 section, so really just a dog, peanuts, and a soda would put you right around $20. couple hip flasks of sneaky-sneaky and now you’ve got $20 for a ticket, a meal, and a few cocktails. sounds like a deal to me!
littlevisigoth - July 9, 2009
I didn't realize the seats were included!
Maybe I’ll have dinner over a mini-double-header tonight…
AstroAndy - July 9, 2009
props to you
for using “sneaky sneaky”
Evan Hochschild - July 9, 2009
How 'bout
sneaky sneaky with a ziplock bag full of Bud Light
garageinc - July 9, 2009
How bout one of these babies.
AstroAndy - July 9, 2009
HOLY SHIT.
<3
garageinc - July 9, 2009
The suspended game is tough...
The Nats have an advantage in the bottom of the 9th with a runner already on 1st. The Nationals have added several players through trade/promotion whom will be available. Nyjer Morgan, a newly acquired player, will be the runner on 1st base, and he is very fast and a good base stealer. Since Hawkins is easy to run on, and I assume Hawkins will continue in the game, we could have a Nats runner in scoring position quickly. The Astros don’t have several key players available, including Carlos Lee. The Nationals’ “ace” starter, Lannan, has asked to start both games in this doubleheader. I don’t know if Acta will let him, given that he is the scheduled starter in the second game. Both teams are being fairly closed mouth about their personnel strategy in this game…which is understandable.
clack - July 9, 2009
Odd time for Cecil “All my starters have the green light on the basepaths” Cooper to stop tipping his hand. The only sensible thing to do tonight (short of an injury) is to send Hawkins out there to see if Acta reacts by making a switch in the lineup. Am I wrong here?
AstroAndy - July 9, 2009
I think that's right.
The Nyjer Morgan change is already a foregone conclusion because Dukes was on 1st base, but is now in AAA, and Acta has said Nyjer Morgan will replace him.
clack - July 9, 2009
The Nats
will have more pitching options, that’s for sure, but they may not have anybody on their bench if we go to the 12th. They have three new position players: Josh Bard, Nyjer Morgan, and Alberto Gonzalez. Nyjer Morgan will be at 1st base for Dukes, that’s clear. A pinch hitter will be required for Hanrahan assuming Willingham doesn’t end the game in his at bat. I don’t think that pinch hitter can be Bard, because they have to replace Jesus Flores (currently occupying the 9th spot in the order) with a catcher. I could be wrong on this, but I don’t think they can double switch with players that are no longer on the roster (saying that since Flores is no longer with the team, they’ll put a pitcher in his place that wasn’t previously on the roster). This would mean they’d have to bat Gonzalez in the 7th spot and either double switch another player out of the game, or replace Gonzalez with a pitcher if they don’t score.
Meanwhile, we’ll still have Kata, Matsui, and Quintero available when we come to bat.
Basically, yes, the Nats are in a favorable position coming to bat with the ability to end the game, but if we can get through the 11th, we’ll have the deeper bench.
Also, Lee is out, yes, but so is Dunn. We’ll lead of the 12th with Erstad, Bourn, and Keppinger, and if one of them reaches, Berkman will bat. Hopefully it will get to that point.
littlevisigoth - July 9, 2009
BTW
a poster over at spikesnstars.com breaks it down nicely.
littlevisigoth - July 9, 2009
Suit and Tie??? What's this all about?
Jim DeShaies and Bil Brown are wearing coat and tie. What’s up?
Joe in Birmingham - July 9, 2009
hhmm...
Maybe there’s something in their contract that requires they dress up a little more for a few games a year. So they picked the game that could have lasted only 5 minutes. :)
BTastros - July 9, 2009
They almost always dress snappy for home games
They break out the polos and/or loud Hawaiian shirts for away games. I always assumed McLane had a dress code or something.
Danyah - July 9, 2009
Wait wait wait...
Did Cooper already burn a player (Erstad) by starting Kata before the game even began? Can someone explain the logic of that to me?
JEH629 - July 9, 2009
why
Did they replace Erstad with Kata?
littlevisigoth - July 9, 2009 via mobile
because it's Coop!
Astros baseball – catch the madness!
Only_A_Lad - July 9, 2009
If Nationals win this game this first at bat
the winning pitcher will be a guy who is no longer on the Pirates team!!
Joe in Birmingham - July 9, 2009
That would be awesome!
entropic soul - July 9, 2009
No longer with the "Nationals" is what I meant to write
Joe in Birmingham - July 9, 2009
Nats gets a single...
oh, oh, this game could be over early.
clack - July 9, 2009
Come on HAWK!!
entropic soul - July 9, 2009
WOW
JEH629 - July 9, 2009
fantastic
Only_A_Lad - July 9, 2009
Astros blow DP and it scores a run....
clack - July 9, 2009
Tejada blows the double play.
Timothy De Block - July 9, 2009
game over, I forgot to add.
clack - July 9, 2009
CCRRRAAPPPPPP
Tejada Terrible throw over Berkman’s head to allow run to score
Joe in Birmingham - July 9, 2009
.500 elludes us once again!
entropic soul - July 9, 2009
WHAT THE #%@#$^ MIGGY?!?!?
Cor - July 9, 2009
I'm fuming
and I don’t fume often
Joe in Birmingham - July 9, 2009
I wonder if the Astros have ever had a walk-off loss at home before.
Only_A_Lad - July 9, 2009
No. Someone looked that up in a previous news article.
clack - July 9, 2009
Thanks for tell me that, Art Howe.
Only makes me more frustrated with the loss. Howe said that Tejada must not have been aware that Bard was injured with groin pull and can’t get down the line to first base.
clack - July 9, 2009
wow
Only_A_Lad - July 9, 2009
I'm going to consider this game
to be one of those defining moments as a Houston sports fan.
Only_A_Lad - July 9, 2009
"Game" has been over 15 minutes
and I’m still breahing hard. Not sure why this has sent me over the edge (well-ntot totally over the edge )
Joe in Birmingham - July 9, 2009
weird to be there
(Already across the street, drinking for cheaper)… The place was dead and the final play was so anti-climactic. As my buddy said, it’s weird to suffer such a crushing defeat and then have to wait for the ACTUAL game to start.
littlevisigoth - July 9, 2009 via mobile
oh
And the All-U-Can-Eat seats were sold out. This has been about the worst hour of my Astro fanhood.
littlevisigoth - July 9, 2009 via mobile
almost humorous that Cooper has to undergo a press conference now.
Not much he can say. He says he has no idea what happened or why it happened. He says it is a strange day, and he hopes it isn’t like this all day.
clack - July 9, 2009
"he hopes it isn’t like this all day"
I second that
Joe in Birmingham - July 9, 2009
Greg Lucas says it's good that the game didn't last long.
It means they didn’t use up Hawkins or use up players…well, that’s putting the best face on it.
Lucas also points out that Tejada had already made a 2 run error in this game (in Washington) which is why it is in extra innings anyway.
clack - July 9, 2009
I'm going to buy Peanut Butter to drown my sorrows
or whatever peanut butter does for you
Joe in Birmingham - July 9, 2009
Victorino and Inge win all star slots....
Apparently these final slot votes have become more sophisticated campaigns. Here is something that surprises me: apparently the Tigers and the Phillies formed an alliance to get their two players voted in. I know that we bloggers seek alliances, but it surprises me that there are more formal alliances. Victorino credited the Tigers-Phillies alliance, which used the marketing title “Bran-Torino.” Tigers and Phillies called on employers to set aside time for their employees to vote for Inge and Victorino. Victorino says that they had to do this because the Rangers and Giants had formed a Sandoval/Kinsler alliance. The article also says that John McCain campaigned for Mark Reynolds.
clack - July 9, 2009
Poor John McCain is on the losing side a lot lately
Joe in Birmingham - July 9, 2009
That's pretty neat...
entropic soul - July 9, 2009
Tejada is going to have a bad game...
entropic soul - July 9, 2009
I'm Calling a Do-Over
AstroAndy - July 9, 2009
A new thread for the main game is posted.
clack - July 9, 2009
Hanrahan winning his first game of the season...while sitting in Philadelphia.
This is a mildly amusing article about Hanrahan winning his first game because of the Nats’ victory in the resumed game.
Former teammates sent him text messages wishing him good luck on his game today. At 6 pm CDT, Hanrahan told his Pirates’ teammates that it is time to get to work, because he has a game to win. They are dumbfounded until he tells them about the resumed game.
clack - July 10, 2009
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