Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Astros-Cubs 6/15
Bouncing back?
A night after rolling over for Mark Prior, the Astros show a pulse against Carlos Zambrano. Houston leads 2-1 in the 7th, as Wade Miller has just exited after a gem of a game, which saw him throw just one horrible pitch -- a 3rd inning gopher ball to C Ramon Martinez.
Bizarre situation in the 6th: Men on second and third, one out, Astros up 2-1, and Dusty Baker intentionally walks Brad Ausmus to get to Miller. With Dalgy nursing a bad neck, Everett gimped up with a bad hammy, and Bags on the bench after getting a cortisone shot in his shoulder today, Jimy had no choice but to send Miller to the plate. Whitey popped up for the second out, and Craig Biggio saw an RBI single disappear when Aramis Ramirez smothered his blistering line drive.
So to recap:
a) Brad Ausmus gets a free pass.
b) Jimy sends the pitcher to bat with the bases loaded in the 6th inning of a one-run game.
c) Three Astros regulars are in uniform, but too banged up to play.
d) Aramis Ramirez, of all people, makes a Gold Glove defensive play.
Except for D, which I chalk up to blind luck, the other three scenarios were the right call, despite their oddity. Dusty has to walk Ausmus and force Jimy to either bat Miller or go to a thin bench. Likewise, Jimy has to send Miller up there with one out. And even though the three guys aren't an option, you don't want to send them to the DL and force them to miss more time than necessary.
Anyway, the Cubs got out of it unscathed (the second time that Zamabrano escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam). But, Miller's quality start (6.1 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 6K) has Houston in position to pick up a W.
Don't go anywhere yet, though, because with these two bullpens, we could still be looking at 7-6 game.
Taking one for the team
A called strike three, that is. Dalgy makes it off the bench to spell Orlando Palmeiro in RF in the top of the 8th, and promptly watches strike three for the second out in the bottom half of the inning. Hey, we don't want him to further strain that neck.
Bidge must be worried about his neck, too. He also watched strike three go by. Jason Lane, who tripled earlier in the inning, watches both strike out, from 90 feet away.
It's Dotel time. I think I'm going to go grab my laundry and pray that it's over when I get back.
Dammit
Do I need to say what happened? This team sucks right now. I'm glad I have a softball game tomorrow night.
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A night after rolling over for Mark Prior, the Astros show a pulse against Carlos Zambrano. Houston leads 2-1 in the 7th, as Wade Miller has just exited after a gem of a game, which saw him throw just one horrible pitch -- a 3rd inning gopher ball to C Ramon Martinez.
Bizarre situation in the 6th: Men on second and third, one out, Astros up 2-1, and Dusty Baker intentionally walks Brad Ausmus to get to Miller. With Dalgy nursing a bad neck, Everett gimped up with a bad hammy, and Bags on the bench after getting a cortisone shot in his shoulder today, Jimy had no choice but to send Miller to the plate. Whitey popped up for the second out, and Craig Biggio saw an RBI single disappear when Aramis Ramirez smothered his blistering line drive.
So to recap:
a) Brad Ausmus gets a free pass.
b) Jimy sends the pitcher to bat with the bases loaded in the 6th inning of a one-run game.
c) Three Astros regulars are in uniform, but too banged up to play.
d) Aramis Ramirez, of all people, makes a Gold Glove defensive play.
Except for D, which I chalk up to blind luck, the other three scenarios were the right call, despite their oddity. Dusty has to walk Ausmus and force Jimy to either bat Miller or go to a thin bench. Likewise, Jimy has to send Miller up there with one out. And even though the three guys aren't an option, you don't want to send them to the DL and force them to miss more time than necessary.
Anyway, the Cubs got out of it unscathed (the second time that Zamabrano escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam). But, Miller's quality start (6.1 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 6K) has Houston in position to pick up a W.
Don't go anywhere yet, though, because with these two bullpens, we could still be looking at 7-6 game.
Taking one for the team
A called strike three, that is. Dalgy makes it off the bench to spell Orlando Palmeiro in RF in the top of the 8th, and promptly watches strike three for the second out in the bottom half of the inning. Hey, we don't want him to further strain that neck.
Bidge must be worried about his neck, too. He also watched strike three go by. Jason Lane, who tripled earlier in the inning, watches both strike out, from 90 feet away.
It's Dotel time. I think I'm going to go grab my laundry and pray that it's over when I get back.
Dammit
Do I need to say what happened? This team sucks right now. I'm glad I have a softball game tomorrow night.
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