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July 2007
Blah
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Five random thoughts from Astros 12-4 loss to Braves
- The Astros defense has given up 30 runs in the last two games.
- Houston did make another short-lived comeback, just like they did Sunday. In the fifth inning, Chris Burke drove in a run and Craig Biggio hit a bases-clearing two-run double.
- But the bullpen broke down again. In fact, every pitcher in the game — Chris Sampson, Mark McLemore, Matt Albers and Brian Moehler — gave up at least one run.
- Kelly Johnson of the Braves was 4-for-4 with two home runs.
- Morgan Ensberg was traded to the Padres today. He was very excited about the move since he has a home in San Diego. I’m very happy for him and I hope he finds new life in SoCal, as long as it doesn’t come at the Astros’ expense.
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Astros outscore Padres 11-7 in final eight innings
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Five random thoughts from the rest of the Astros’ 18-11 loss to the Padres
- After the Padres tacked on another run in the second inning to make the score 12-0, the Astros bats came alive. Eric Munson hit a solo homer in the third inning and then the fourth inning came where the Astros scored seven runs. Lance Berkman hit a two-run shot, Luke Scott hit a solo shot, Orlando Palmeiro had an RBI single and Chris Burke hit a three-run homer to make the score 12-8 and gave the fans a reason for hope.
- Those hopes dimmed in the top of the fifth as Dave Borkowski gave up three runs (one earned). One play was especially frustrating on a comebacker to the mound with the bases loaded. Borkowski threw back to the catcher Munson for an apparent out at home. Munson would have had an easy double play if he just touched the plate and not lost the handle on the ball.
- But the Astros came back in the bottom of the inning with three more runs to draw within four again. Scott, Jason Lane and Munson each had RBI singles.
- It’s hard to believe that even though Houston scored 11 runs, they let some opportunities for more get away. The bases were loaded for Burke in the seventh inning but he struck out swinging.
- One would think that with an 11-run cushion, it would be easy for Padres starter Tim Stauffer to pick up the win. But he was pulled in the fourth inning and was credited with giving up seven runs.
Jennings scares the scouts away
Five random thoughts from the FIRST TWO-THIRDS OF AN INNING in which the Padres scored 11 runs
- Jason Jennings was considered one of the top candidates to be traded before Tuesday’s deadline. I guess he wanted to stay in Houston. Two-thirds of one inning, eight hits, 11 runs and three walks.
- It’s funny, it got to the point where they scored their third run and I was thinking, “OK, this will be tough to come back from.” The fifth run scored and I thought, “This one’s over.” Seven runs, “This is going to be a long game.” Nine runs, LOL time. Eleven runs and I’m numb to it.
- Player of the first two-thirds of the game honors go to Adrian Gonzalez, who had three RBI with a sac fly (one of the two outs recorded by Jennings) and a two-run homer.
- Do you reckon Ty Wiggington was thinking, “I left Tampa Bay for this?”
- It’s a good thing the Astros are off tomorrow because every reliever gets to pitch today! I wonder if Jason Lane will get to trot out there. It may be a good day to let Craig Biggio get that inning at catcher that he wants.
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No more Mo’
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I believe it was 2003 when I became a fan of Morgan Ensberg. He had 25 home runs in just 127 games, many of those where he entered as a late-game replacement. This was when Jimy Williams was manager and over-managed games (sound familiar?) so Geoff Blum got the start against right-handed pitchers.
Blum was traded prior to the ‘04 season so I was excited that Ensberg would have a chance to show what he could do in a full season. Well, it took him nearly half a year to hit a homer and Mike Lamb proved to be a good hitter so it was splitsville for Ensberg again. Ensberg finished the year with ten homers, all of which came in the second half of the season. When the year was over, he admitted that an injury hurt his production early in the year.
2005 was my “I told you so” year. Mo was on fire for most of the year, finishing with 36 homers and 101 RBI in an All-Star year where he helped carry the team to the World Series.
Ensberg was signed to a big contract after that and rewarded the Astros with … a .235 batting average. The Astros traded for Aubrey Huff. It was then Ensberg decided to tell management that he was injured. I thought he should have been more upfront about the injury before it came time for him to lose his starting job.
Now we’re in 2007 and he’s been designated for reassignment. I’m sure a lot of teams would like to have him, but not for $4 million a year.
Ensberg defines “fan-friendly.” Anyone I’ve talked to that has an Astros player’s autograph has Ensberg’s for sure. I sent a baseball card to all the players one year hoping to have them returned with an autograph. I got the first one back in less than a week. It was Ensberg’s. I also noticed how he interacts and has fun with fans during the game.
I wish Enberg the best wherever he goes. He deserves it.
Dan Wheeler was also one of my favorite Astros. He came out of nowhere in 2004 when the Astros were desperate for some arms in the bullpen. Guys like Dan Miceli, David Weathers and Mike Gallo were stinking up the joint. So the Astros dug into the minors and pulled up a couple guys named Wheeler and Qualls and those guys pulled through in clutch situations to help get the team to the playoffs.
Last year, Wheeler was called upon to close games as Brad Lidge struggled. Wheeler went above and beyond the call of duty. I don’t think he blew a save in the ninth inning and recorded nine of them.
I thought he got a bad rap this year. He did have 11 saves and while he had some blow-ups, he was more dependable than most.
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Astros can’t climb out of hole
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Five random thoughts from Astros 9-4 loss to Padres
- Jake Peavy looked like he’s done this before. The Astros flat-out couldn’t hit off him. They got one run through 7 IP and managed just four hits. Peavy got the 8-1 lead and came out of the game.
- Peavy’s exit made the game a lot closer than it seemed. The Astros scored three runs in the ninth with the help of two errors by the pitcher Joe Thatcher to make the game seem closer, something they’ve made a habit of this year.
- Woody Williams took the loss by giving up five runs through 6 IP. This was uncharacteristic of him lately. The loss drops him to 5-12 on the season. It’s crazy how the two off-season pick-ups for the Astros on the pitching staff have such horrible won-loss records.
- Dave Borkowski: 4 runs through 1.2. Yikes.
- Not a broken record: Top hitter of the game was Carlos Lee, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
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Wandy settles down in rout of Padres
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Five random thoughts from Astros’ 7-1 win over the Padres
- Wandy Rodriguez had one of his usual outings, where he threw a lot of pitches but grinded through a quality start. He struggled in the first inning and gave up a run but the Padres didn’t score the rest of the way.
- The bottom of the 1st was a big pick-me-up for Wandy as a Lance Berkman double, Carlos Lee homer and a Morgan Ensberg homer gave him a 3-1 lead.
- The retiring Craig Biggio was the top hitter as he was 2-for-5 with a home run — his sixth.
- If it weren’t for the first three innings, the Astros would’ve been shut out. All seven runs were scored in those frames.
- Chad Qualls pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Brian Moehler polished off the game with a scoreless ninth. Moehler’s ERA dipped down to 6.03.
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Drama King
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Five random thoughts from the Astros 7-4 win over the Dodgers
- If you haven’t heard, Craig Biggio announced earlier today that he is retiring at season’s end. He followed that up with a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning. Tonight was a lot like 3,000-hit night.
- Hard to believe, but Jason Jennings just picked up his second win of the season. He gave up three runs in the second inning, but thanks to Biggio and the gang, he picked up the victory.
- Jason Lane was called up from Round Rock to take the place of Hunter Pence. I guess Phil Garner thinks that if you’re taking a player’s place on the roster then you get his starting spot? Lane got the start in center field. It’s funny. Every time someone is injured I think, “Oh, this will give so-and-so a chance to play every day now.” But Garner will just create another crazy platoon. So Luke Scott and Chris Burke won’t be playing center and right field. We just have Lane out there to confuse things.
- Brad Lidge got the save. So if you’re scoring at home that’s three saves for Lidge and two wins for Jennings.
- Chad Qualls is looking good. He got an out and now his average is down to 3.72.
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Dodgers dominate in every facet
AP photoFive random thoughts from Astros 10-2 loss to the Dodgers
- Chad Billingsley’s performance on the mound was almost the story in all of baseball. For 8 2/3 innings, he had a shutout. The Astros had five hits and three walks.
- Luke Scott kept the shutout from happening with a two-out, two-run shot in the ninth. It’s Scott’s 12th of the year in limited action.
- Former Astro and one of my favorite players, Jeff Kent, was 4-for-4 with two RBIs. The Astros could’ve had him relatively cheap last year but turned him down. Bad move?
- Chris Sampson isn’t nearly as good lately as he was to start the year. He gave up four runs through five innings.
- Sampson kept the Astros in the game but Dave Borkowski and Brian Moehler gave up three runs each to put it away.
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Corpus Christi “Hooks” Tulsa
Five random thoughts from the Hooks 8-2 win over Tulsa
- I know this is a little different, but the Astros weren’t playing tonight, so why not blog on a minor-league game I attended? The minor-league experience is a lot of fun. I’m going to have to start attending more minor-league games.
- Whataburger Field is a nice little stadium. It’s located right off the water so the weather was really nice. And it’s a pretty unique experience watching a game and hearing seagulls at the same time.
- The Hooks took advantage of every between-inning minor-league game gimmick. We had some kid race Sammy the Seagull around the bases, the “spin-around-with-your-nose-on-the-bat” race, a pig race, which is a direct rip-off of the sausage races in Milwaukee and birthday kids running with Rusty around the field. It made it more fun for my wife and son, who weren’t so interested in the game.
- The game itself started off really nicely for the Hooks. The first six batters got base hits and Corpus Christi raced to a 5-0 lead. Two monster shots later in the game for each side (Jeff Mackor for the Hooks and Tommy Duenas for Tulsa) made for an 8-2 final.
- Remember Todd Self? I think he was on the Astros two years ago as a first base-outfielder. Well, he someone has found himself in Double-A ball. I don’t know how he was demoted two levels, but at least he’s batting cleanup for the Hooks.
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Astros end first half on high note
AP photoFive random thoughts from Astros 8-3 win over Mets
- Hunter Pence deserves to be on the All-Star team. I read a story on the Chron about how he had hit the batting cages immediately after an 0-for-4 game and figured out what he did wrong. I think he must’ve done that again after his 1-for-8 game yesterday because he went 2-for-5 with a triple today.
- Chris Burke is heating up. He may take more time away from Luke Scott and Craig Biggio. He was 2-for-4 with a homer to raise his batting average to .235.
- Roy Oswalt got an 8-0 lead and just went on cruise control, giving up three runs through seven innings as he heads for the All-Star Game.
- Mark Loretta also improved from his 17-inning performance with a 2-for-4 day to raise his batting average to .317.
- More great work from the bullpen. Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler pitched scoreless baseball for the last two innings.
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Beltran makes fans pay for boos
AP photoFive random thoughts from Astros 17-inning, 5-3 loss to Mets
- It took Carlos Beltran 14 innings, but he finally showed why he’s one of the best in baseball with an extraordinary catch way up on Tal’s Hill to rob Luke Scott of the game-winning hit. Then in the 17th inning he drove in the go-ahead run to give the Mets the win. He was 0-for-6 before that.
- The final line shows the Astros bullpen gave up two runs, but they looked like one of the best in the game with 9 1/3 total innings pitched. Brian Moehler gave up both runs in the 17th. Matt Albers and Dan Wheeler get special recognition for pitching two innings each without giving up a run.
- Woody Williams got the start and it was the long ball that got to him. The Astros scored all of their runs in the fourth inning, but Woody gave up a two-run shot in the fifth and a solo shot in the seventh. Other than that, he lasted until the eighth inning and looked really good by only five hits and a walk.
- An 0-for-7 day like Mark Loretta had all the sudden makes his stats look a lot less intimidating. His batting average dropped to .314.
- Lance Berkman didn’t start so that he could rest. Why does he need rest two days before the All-Star break?
Just call him Wandy Oswalt
AP photoFive random thoughts
- Wandy Rodriguez pitched the first complete-game shutout since Taylor Buchholz did it last year. It only took 105 pitches to do so. Wandy is the one pitcher on the staff that I would think wasn’t capable of getting a shutout because he always seems to grind through a game but he proved me wrong by being the first one of the year.
- Brad Ausmus was the non-pitching MVP. He was 1-for-2 with a walk to raise his batting average to .261. I’m looking at that average and realizing how good that is for him. Anyway, he also had a stolen base and threw out a runner at second to win the game and give Wandy the shutout.
- Lance Berkman has quietly turned it around. He homered tonight for the 15th time and got his 56th RBI. He’ll end the year with 35 homers and 120 RBIs. Pretty good for someone having a bad year.
- Hunter Pence had a 2-for-4 game with a double and raised his batting average to .347.
- The bullpen didn’t give up a single run! When was the last time we could say that?!
- I turned the game on in the fourth inning, and the Mets already had a 4-0 lead. That was more than enough as they pulled off the 6-2 win.
- Jason Jennings is now 1-4 on the year after giving up five runs through six innings. His 4.07 ERA is now starting to reflect his record.
- The Astros got within striking distance in the eighth inning with Carlos Lee and Mark Loretta RBIs but Dave Borkowski gave up the home run to Carlos Beltran in the ninth to give the Mets the cushion.
- Ricky Ledee seemed to be everywhere with two RBIs and he made several nice catches in left field. It seemed the Astros hit the ball hard four or five times only to see Ledee catch it.
- Credit Matt Albers for keeping the game close with a scoreless seventh inning.
- Mr. 3,000 had three hits tonight — two doubles and a single. Time to keep an eye on him as his batting average has reached a respectable .257.
- Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee each homered in multi-hit games.
- Eric Bruntlett thrived in a rare start, going 2-for-2 with two walks and as many RBIs.
- Woody Williams couldn’t avoid the long ball, but other than that he was very effective, going seven innings and giving up three runs for just his fourth win of the season.
- Trever Miller came in to a very delicate situation with two runners on and a two-run lead and retired both batters he faced for his first save of his career.
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Beltran belts one
AP photoFive random thoughts
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Astros on a roll
AP photosThe Astros are on a roll! I think that’s four of the last five.
The positives
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