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Saturday, October 08, 2005

Braves Astros

um yeah

Meatwad Posted: October 08, 2005 at 03:42 PM | 187 comment(s)
Related News: Atlanta, Houston

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1. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: October 08, 2005 at 04:45 PM (#1671289)

I think sosa is better than oswalt.

2. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 05:34 PM (#1671339)

Oye this is not fair!
this is easily going to be the best DS!

lemme stew on this and see if I can make an appropriate lead in

3. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 05:43 PM (#1671361)

Atlanta Braves at Houston Astros
Division Series : 1-1
Jorge Sosa ( 0-0 ) against Roy Oswalt ( 0-0 )

The series following last year's pattern shifts to Astrodome/Enron/MinuteMaid Park. Oswalt has bee consistently good for the Astros this year at home, though he was hit hard in september. Featuring a mid-90s fastball and a knee buckling curve, he will try to shut down a Braves offense re-energised by the rookie infusion. Traditionally the top 5 barring Chipper has done well against Oswalt.
For the Braves, Jorge Sosa takes the ball in his first playoff start. Acquired from the Devil Rays ( oh how the Braves lamented the removal of Chuck Lamar ) for a fungible middle IF, Sosa has provided much needed innings in this injury plagued season. He has yet to lose a game on the road. Features a low to mid 90's cut fastball and a curve, a very similar arsenal to Oswalt's but not that polished. Lasts only 5-6 innings. Has control issues but has managed to avoid disasters. Was last seen offering multiple sacrifices at DIPS gods altars.
Every game in a 5 game series is pivotal, and I fully expect this series to go 5 games. Should Sosa do his usual houdini act, this game will be decided by Braves' mediocre middle relief against the Astros' mediocre offense.

4. villainx Posted: October 08, 2005 at 06:24 PM (#1671426)

Godot, that was a good leadin (especially for nine minutes of stew), informative and even handed snarked.

5. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 06:35 PM (#1671440)

gee thanks Rex :)

6. VG Posted: October 08, 2005 at 06:39 PM (#1671449)

especially for nine minutes of stew

It was worth the wait, Godot.

7. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 06:46 PM (#1671457)

atleast didnt make yall wait for 2 acts :)

8. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: October 08, 2005 at 06:56 PM (#1671472)

Who should I root for?

Never really cared for the Astros. But they lose a lot, so that's sad. I don't really root for any of the players, particularly.

Never really cared for the Braves. Their run is impressive. On the other hand, their fans do that tomahawk chop thing.

Yup. Gotta go Astros!

9. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: October 08, 2005 at 07:04 PM (#1671482)

10. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 07:05 PM (#1671485)

care enough for a double post i see :)

11. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: October 08, 2005 at 07:06 PM (#1671486)

I do!

12. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 07:17 PM (#1671499)

So whats with the alexandria? u from egypt? :)

13. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: October 08, 2005 at 07:32 PM (#1671514)

I am Red Sox starter Matt Clement, and yet I am also second-century Christian intellectual Clement of Alexandria. I have a hard slider and an overriding desire to demonstrate that Christian ethics are worthy of respect in the ancient Mediterranean.

14. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 07:34 PM (#1671516)

Hard Slider?!
Patenting the "missionary" position?! :)

Heh, christians. How many christians realise most of their roots are common with Islam, they just have different prophets !

15. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: October 08, 2005 at 07:38 PM (#1671518)

I like Todd Zeile's hair.

16. Portia Stanke Posted: October 08, 2005 at 07:45 PM (#1671526)

Todd Zeile is the antichrist.

I have recognized the truth of this statement since he failed to sign the Fleer rookies I sent him in 1990. Not only did he not sign, he didn't even bother to return them via the SASE.

17. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: October 08, 2005 at 07:50 PM (#1671530)

Big mouf fuw of chaw.

18. Human Papelbon Virus Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:03 PM (#1671545)

Not much to talk about yet so I will say I am drinking Victory Moonglow Weizen Bock. Yum.

19. AZ Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:06 PM (#1671551)

he didn't even bother to return them via the SASE

And he probably reused the stamp!

20. Richard Gadsden Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:08 PM (#1671553)

Nod, I'm drinking cask-strength ten year old Laphroaig. Yum.

21. Brian White Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:18 PM (#1671558)

I don't like this pattern of giving up first-inning runs.

But if Tavares wants to give you an out, just take it. Throw a pitch down the middle and let him drop a bunt.

22. Human Papelbon Virus Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:20 PM (#1671561)

or throw it on the corner and let him watch it go by

23. Brian White Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:20 PM (#1671562)

Or, throw a pitch down the middle and let him bunt it foul, then put strike three right on the corner.

I like that option better.

24. Tom Poquette Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:23 PM (#1671564)

Who are these TV announcers? I don't recognize either one.

25. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:23 PM (#1671565)

How many bloops and bleeders have the Astros hit this series? And Ensberg has been the main culprit.
It has to stop sometime!

26. Brian White Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:25 PM (#1671568)

Err, yeah. It might be a good idea to be looking at the plate when throwing your pitch.

27. Human Papelbon Virus Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:25 PM (#1671569)

steve "psycho" lyons is the color guy...dunno who the PBP guy is

28. RB in NYC (Now with Christmas Spirit!) Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:26 PM (#1671570)

It has just occured to me that if the Yankees lose tomorrow (or Monday or whenever) the Astros will probably be the team I root for on the theory that I'd like Pettitte and Clemens to get another ring and Bagwell and Biggio to get one

29. Portia Stanke Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:26 PM (#1671572)

This IBB is lunacy. It'll probably work.

30. Tom Poquette Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:29 PM (#1671577)

Sosa dodged a bullet there...I didn't realize he could throw in the mid 90's; he's got a sneaky-quick fastball.

31. Bunny Vincennes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:36 PM (#1671590)

I can't stand Houston, but that balk call is a bit suspect.

32. Bunny Vincennes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:40 PM (#1671597)

Nice bloop, McCann.

33. sardonic Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:40 PM (#1671599)

What was the point of that Francoeur move?

34. Sam M. Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:41 PM (#1671600)

Why in the hell was Berkman playing that deep against McCann to the opposite field??? Terrible positioning, especially for a guy who can hardly run up to get the ball.

35. sardonic Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:41 PM (#1671601)

What was the point of that Francoeur move?

36. sardonic Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:42 PM (#1671602)

What was the point of that Francoeur move?

37. Bunny Vincennes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:45 PM (#1671606)

Hey, hey a basehit. Tie ballgame!

38. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:46 PM (#1671607)

Apparently the announcers do not knwo the rules. When a balk is called and the umpire does not call time out before the pitch is thrown, and the batter reaches and all baserunners advance at least one base, there is not balk. That is what happened. It was ball 4, high. No balk!

39. CFBF Has Neither Diabetes nor Cryabetes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:47 PM (#1671609)

Jorge Sosa saw more pitches than Francoeur will in the next two games.

WonderBoy was just bailed out, big-time.

40. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:49 PM (#1671612)

Also, if Sosa does not pitch inside a little, he is in trouble. Mazzone's philosophy of pitching low and outside is fine, however the HOU players are crowding the plate. He has to occasionally throw inside, especially with that nice fastball. His slider is also going to be fairly ineffective if the batters are crowding the plate...

41. Bunny Vincennes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:49 PM (#1671613)

Did they just say that the amazing thing about Asmus is that he's been healthy every year and still managed to suck?

Oh and Josh Lewin is horrible.

42. Sam M. Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:50 PM (#1671614)

Well, Lyons just confirmed he doesn't know the rule (rejecting it even though Chris Myers had just explained that the pitch was "live").

43. Bunny Vincennes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:52 PM (#1671616)

Yeah, nice comprehension skills, Lyons. I have never played MLB, but I knew exactly what happened.

mgl, I completely agree with Sosa throwing inside. Biggio needs one near the head. Of course, I have found few game situations where that isn't the case.

44. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:54 PM (#1671618)

Geez, they can't even get the explanation right (about the balk) after 10 minutes!

MLB rule:

PENALTY: The ball is dead, and each runner shall advance one base without liability to be put out, unless the batter reaches first on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, in which case the play proceeds without reference to the balk.

45. Sam M. Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:56 PM (#1671619)

That was actually a great line from Chris Myers.

46. DTS Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:57 PM (#1671621)

Thanks mgl. I was just looking for that.

Before the game, Lyon said that Oswalt had more wins the last two years at Minute Maid Park THAN ANY OTHER PITCHER IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. That's pretty amazing.

47. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:58 PM (#1671622)

The umpire is supposed to throw up his hands, which he did not do. However, whether the umpire throws up his hands or not, if the pitcher still makes the pitch and the batters advances and the runners(s) all advance, the play stands and it is no balk. Lyons still does not understand the rule. At least he does not think that the manager has the "option" which many people do...

48. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:58 PM (#1671624)

Andruw is groooved in!
if only the top 3 actually live upto their billing..

49. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 08:59 PM (#1671626)

50. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:00 PM (#1671628)

51. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:01 PM (#1671629)

Oswalt had more wins the last two years at Minute Maid Park THAN ANY OTHER PITCHER IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

depends on how you interpret it. I think all he is trying to say is that Oswalt has the most number of home wins in the last two years. I might be wrong..

52. Sam M. Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:02 PM (#1671630)

It's pretty cool that when they televise the U.S. Open (golf), they have some USGA official ready to explain any rulings, and he has a totally detailed knowledge of exactly what rule was applied and why. Clearly, Fox is not following that model . . . .

53. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:02 PM (#1671631)

sorry about the "trip"...

54. Sam M. Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:05 PM (#1671634)

Lamb laid one down.

55. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:05 PM (#1671637)

If they could find an obnoxious, gratingly wrong rule explaining official, they would definitely follow that model..
Crowding seems to be in vogue these days. The braves were crowding Clemens of all ppl on Thursday! I was at the game, and was shocked to see how close to the plate they were standing.

56. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:05 PM (#1671638)

Sosa has missed more locations than I have seen from a pitcher in a long time (well, at least since RJ last night)...

57. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:07 PM (#1671640)

argh. this is painful :-(

looks like it is going to be an ugly game.

58. Bunny Vincennes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:09 PM (#1671641)

Clearly, Fox is not following that model . . . .

Well facts aren't exactly Fox's strong suit.

59. Srul Itza Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:09 PM (#1671643)

mgl, if you are still around, I would be curious if you could enlighten me on how bad a fielder Biggio was this year per UZR. I don't expect a lot out of a 40 yr old second baseman, of course, and his bat appears to have been useful. But how bad was the glove?

60. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:10 PM (#1671644)

Sorry guys, my roomate was playing some stupid computer game.

I might not even be here now. May be intermittent.

I will say that this announcing crew, along with the terrible, terrible pregame (todd zeile, button your ####### shirt) has been trying to ruin this game for me.

61. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:10 PM (#1671645)

well, at least since RJ last night
now that is a long standing mark to emulate :)

ahh We need someone to be possesed by the Ghost of Molina, now that he is out of commission

62. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:10 PM (#1671646)

I think that using the rookie catcher with Sosa was a mistake...

63. DTS Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:12 PM (#1671647)

I think all he is trying to say is that Oswalt has the most number of home wins in the last two years. I might be wrong..

That makes sense for every pitcher who calls Minute Maid Park. Amazing!

64. RB in NYC (Now with Christmas Spirit!) Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:13 PM (#1671649)

Clearly it was the right ruling--as cited by mgl in #44--but that seems like a lousy rule to me, since if the umpire throws up his hands but the pitcher is mid-motion he could airmail a pitch which allows people to move up, etc. Seems it would make more sense that once a balk is called the play is dead

65. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:14 PM (#1671650)

the rookie catcher with Sosa was a mistake

Actually not, since mcCann probably is our #1 catcher already. Estrada has been putative since the Erstad collision. McCann is supposed to be a good game caller, though his defence needs some work still. I guess Chipper has to help out if the pitcher needs calming and stuff

66. Zeba Zeba Eata Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:17 PM (#1671653)

What I don't get is how the umpire is supposed to be able to accurately call the pitch if he is throwing his hands up.

67. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:17 PM (#1671654)

Srul, sorry I have not done the UZR's since the ASB. At the break, he was +2. Of course, that is like +2, plus or minus 10 (or whatever)...

68. AJW1 Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:17 PM (#1671655)

The NFL has a rules guy on call for all games, too. I saw a segment a year or two ago where they showed how it works. Crazy play happens, producer calls the rules guy, who then talks directly to the announcer, who comes back on 30 seconds later with the exact rule and why and how it will be implemented. Pretty cool, actually, and it makes the announcers look really good, too.

69. Bunny Vincennes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:19 PM (#1671657)

What the hell does Steve ####### Lyons know about Dartmouth?

70. Hey, it's what Johan uses (Matt) Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:20 PM (#1671658)

Haha, nice try by the Houston fan to distract LaRoche.

71. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:20 PM (#1671659)

a wild pitch does not matter. it won't affect the ruling. the point of the rule is to allow a better (or at least as good) outcome for the offense. throwing up the hands is just to signal a dead ball. it is no big deal whether the umpire throws up his hands or not...

72. Srul Itza Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:20 PM (#1671661)

Thanks for the response, mgl. Even given the margin for error, that is a lot better than I expected.

I am really pulling for the 'Stros in this series, mostly because of Biggio and Bags, partly because of Clemens and Pettitte, and partly due to intense dislke of Atlanta, its fans and its former owner.

Old hatreds die hard.

73. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:21 PM (#1671662)

"trying not to pull a bartman"

Affirmative proof that steve lyons, is in fact, a ####### moron.

74. Srul Itza Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:22 PM (#1671663)

I'm really surprised Oswalt was hitting away there. I would have sacrificed to give Biggio a chance to bring him in.

75. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:26 PM (#1671665)

This game is flying now.

76. Bunny Vincennes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:27 PM (#1671666)

I'm still amazed that Fox's best option for this game is Lewin-Lyons. What is the the short bus series?

77. RB in NYC (Now with Christmas Spirit!) Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:31 PM (#1671672)

By the way, I meant to ask this yesterday but was a bit caught up in my fuming, since you mentioned you hate the Yankees, professional asscioations aside, who's your team, mgl?

78. Sam M. Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:32 PM (#1671673)

What a shock that Lewin thinks Jones should be MVP and Francoeur should be ROY. There's really no way to make a solid case for Francoeur. If you emphasize the full season, it's Taveras. If you don't care about that, it's Howard.

79. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:32 PM (#1671674)

Are they actually saying "possible ROY" for Taveras? He of the -18 lwts (per 150)! That is replacement level! Is there an award for the worst full-time rookie? Francouer is +25 in lwts! Has the world gone mad!

80. Sam M. Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:34 PM (#1671679)

Actually, never mind. I just looked more closely at Taveras's numbers. Ugh. It has to be Howard.

81. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:36 PM (#1671681)

RB, STL...

Srul, with 1 out, it is marginal for a pitcher to sac bunt. Only the worst hitting pitchers should sac bunt with 1 out (and a runner on first). Even a poor hitting pitcher should occasionally swing away to keep the defense from playing down his throat...

82. Richard Gadsden Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:37 PM (#1671682)

mgl: ESPN's 17 "experts" voted Howard (8), Taveras (5), Francoeur (4). The five that voted Taveras are Gammons, Caple, Kurkjian, Miller, McAdam.

83. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:37 PM (#1671683)

Andruw can still run a bit, I think.

84. RB in NYC (Now with Christmas Spirit!) Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:38 PM (#1671684)

RB, STL...

Well, that's fortuitous.

85. Bunny Vincennes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:38 PM (#1671685)

I can't stand Tim Kurkjian. He annoys the #### out of me.

86. Richard Gadsden Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:38 PM (#1671686)

mgl: ESPN's 17 "experts" voted Howard (8), Taveras (5), Francoeur (4). The five that voted Taveras are Gammons, Caple, Kurkjian, Miller, McAdam.

87. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:39 PM (#1671687)

If you emphasize the full season, it's Taveras. If you don't care about that, it's Howard.

As someone sage said the other day, the reason tavares gets so many infield hits is because he can't get the ball out of the infield.

88. Richard Gadsden Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:39 PM (#1671690)

mgl: ESPN's 17 "experts" voted Howard (8), Taveras (5), Francoeur (4). The five that voted Taveras are Gammons, Caple, Kurkjian, Miller, McAdam.

89. Richard Gadsden Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:42 PM (#1671691)

trip. Sorry

90. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:43 PM (#1671692)

I don't beleiver in using context neutral stats for MVP type awards, but how in the world can you give a ROY award to someone who has hit poorly (-18 lwts .666 OPS)? That confounds me. Because he has 33 steals and 11 CS? That gives him an extra 1 run! Defense? OK, I'll grant him an extra 10 runs. That leaves him with -7 runs total as a CF'er, which is near that of an average major league CF'er. I suppose if there is no one outstanding among the rookie crop, that merits some consideration; but that still doesn't make me not want to throw up...

91. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:45 PM (#1671694)

Ah, ####, it hit him in the hand. I hate that. Now he's ###### for the series.

92. RB in NYC (Now with Christmas Spirit!) Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:46 PM (#1671696)

Wow, that "Right Now!" box is kind of silly

93. RB in NYC (Now with Christmas Spirit!) Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:50 PM (#1671698)

Is the increased number of Old Primer-style ####-ups related to the switch? Seems like for a while you didn't have the open tag and double post problems have recently emerged

94. Srul Itza Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:51 PM (#1671700)

mgl -- Oswalt batted .178, w/o any XBH, and only 2 walks. I don't know if that qualifies as crappy enough, but it is pretty bad. He can, however, lay down a bunt, as he had 7 SH this year and 13 last year.

On the whole, it might be counterproductive. Then again, maybe I just wanted Biggio to have a chance to bat with a runner on.

95. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:51 PM (#1671701)

Is there some reason houston has a stupid outfield design? Is there a street back there or something?

96. Sam M. Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:53 PM (#1671703)

That little triangle of hair below Hudson's lip is just so dorky looking it defines belief.

97. Sam M. Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:55 PM (#1671706)

That should be "defies," of course.

98. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:55 PM (#1671707)

That little triangle of hair below Hudson's lip is just so dorky looking it defines belief.

yes. But have you seen the mustache on the studio guy? That's the real crime against humanity.

Time for some runs for the braves here.

99. mgl Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:56 PM (#1671712)

.178 is certainly around average I would think. In any case, when someone should do something 80% of the time (bunt) and something else 20% of the time (like hit away), because of game theory, you cannot criticize what they do in one appearance, can you? You can only criticize what they do in a whole bunch of appearances if they stray significantly from that 80/20 (or whatever it is)...

100. Bunny Vincennes Posted: October 08, 2005 at 09:56 PM (#1671711)

RB,

The site is doing some sort of long update for each post. If I don't hit "stop" and then "refresh" Primer will post three or four times. It isn't the poster its the site. I'm navigating others without incedent.

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