Actually, Qualls falters in 7th, Pena falters in 8th, Lyon falters in 9th. Another pathetic game by the Dbacks. Which of course is par for the course. They've sucked in every way imaginable since the beginning of June, and have often blown too for emphasis.

Question for Astros fans: Did Qualls choke in critical situations while with the Astros? Did it seem like the more important the situation, the more he sucked? I think the guy's a certifiable head case, and pitches like crap when it matters the most.

Was looking at Qualls's career splits by OPS against on B-ref, and saw this

High leverage situations, 506 PA, 19 HR, .813 OPS against
Medium leverage situations, 365 PA, 8 HR, .644 OPS against
Low leverage situations, 465 PA, 5 HR, .598 OPS against

Maybe I'm looking at the numbers wrongly, but he seems like a certifiable first grade choker. And you gotta figure, if Ed Wade, who's never seen a crappy reliever he didn't love, traded Qualls, then the Astros must've had thought he really sucked.

Anyhow, tons of injury news on the Dbacks front

Owings probably going on the DL
Reynolds has a bad left wrist
EGonzalez probably seriously hurt
Juan Cruz has his periodic oblique strain

Unconfirmed rumor is that Eric Byrnes is out for the season, but that's actually good news.
But he's still fit and able to keep Moorad warm at night

Oh, and Haren was named the NL pitcher of the month. Congrats, Danny. You're the only one who doesn't suck these days

Maybe I'm looking at the numbers wrongly, but he seems like a certifiable first grade choker. And you gotta figure, if Ed Wade, who's never seen a crappy reliever he didn't love, traded Qualls, then the Astros must've had thought he really sucked.


Well, Ed Wade certainly knows his chokers. Just ask Chacon.

Speaking of Haren, during tonight's game there was a shot of him, hatless, in the dugout. His dark locks were tousled just so.
Me: "He must spend 100 bucks a month on creme rinse."
GF: "That's a stylist's cut - an expensive stylist's cut."

Anyhow, tons of injury news on the Dbacks front

Somehow, since the team chasing them had 40% of their expected opening day team on the dl until Kuroda was activated yesterday, I don't have a lot of sympathy.

Although the real story of the Dbacks and the Dodgers' seasons are on their kids mostly not producing at the level hoped for - not poorly, necessarily, but not what was expected. And that could change for both teams in the second half.

Daron Sutton was interviewed on the radio here in Wisconsin and said that there was a deal going down "very, very soon" betwixt these two titans of tee-ball, but that he wasn't at liberty to get specific.

Stephen Drew is still teh suck. This warms the cockles of my heart, which holds an extra-special flagon of hate for ultra-pampered Scott Boras clients who ultimately check in as glasses half-full or less despite ridiculous hype and overflowing bank accounts.

Daron Sutton was interviewed on the radio here in Wisconsin and said that there was a deal going down "very, very soon" betwixt these two titans of tee-ball, but that he wasn't at liberty to get specific.

I'm not sure what kind of move would help this offense unless it's something along of the lines of getting Bill Hall to replace Chris Burke.

The biggest problem with the current (sans Byrnes) lineup is that it's full of players that, independently, you wouldn't mind having as a role player on a playoff contender. The only way to get measurable improvement would be to trade for a guaranteed all star caliber hitter, but then you run the risk of harming the long-term development of the kids that still have legitimate upside. Even getting a replacement left fielder wouldn't be that much improvement since the CJ experiment seems to be working. There's only one glaring hole (that isn't occupied by a kid) and that is a right-handed 1B/LF to platoon Tracy with.

At this point, I'm content with the knowledge that the lineup is what it is. For this year and next I think the team has to stick with the kids they have and hope that eventually enough of them take the next step towards solidly above-average hitting and even, in at least one case, superstardom. It may turn out great or it may fail horribly, but it's the lot that this team has chosen for itself. To make a last-minute plan change will most likely only do more harm than good - unless it entails opening up the checkbook for a star-caliber player in their prime.

Well, Ed Wade certainly knows his chokers. Just ask Chacon.

Well played, sir.

Daron Sutton was interviewed on the radio here in Wisconsin and said that there was a deal going down "very, very soon" betwixt these two titans of tee-ball

Welcome back, Craig Counsell, you yoga tweaker on meth you

At this point, I'm content with the knowledge that the lineup is what it is. For this year and next I think the team has to stick with the kids they have and hope that eventually enough of them take the next step towards solidly above-average hitting and even, in at least one case, superstardom. It may turn out great or it may fail horribly, but it's the lot that this team has chosen for itself.

Yup, JByrnes & co. are gonna have to dance with them that brung them

Stephen Drew is still teh suck. This warms the cockles of my heart, which holds an extra-special flagon of hate for ultra-pampered Scott Boras clients who ultimately check in as glasses half-full or less despite ridiculous hype and overflowing bank accounts.

Check out his OBP against LHP. Two ####### walks against lefties in 93 PA. The guy has 16 total walks in 324 PA this year. Chis Burke has 17 walks in 128 PA.

Anyway, one thing they can do is think long and hard about moving Reynolds to left field.

At this point, I'm content with the knowledge that the lineup is what it is. For this year and next I think the team has to stick with the kids they have and hope that eventually enough of them take the next step towards solidly above-average hitting and even, in at least one case, superstardom. It may turn out great or it may fail horribly, but it's the lot that this team has chosen for itself.

I agree that the management has to be sure to restrain itself. There's going to be a great tempation to look at last year's division championship and this year's current first place standing and think that the team is right at the peak of the success cycle. That could result in a disaster prospects for veteran trade.

What would the team think if they had played to their Pythag last year and there was a team this year with a normal division-leading record? They'd be thinking that they were on the cusp of the success cycle, with last year being a rebuilding year and this year a step up to .500. The kids are coming along great, and starting in 2009 we'll have a good couple-year run.

Obviously the playoffs were great for the team last year and if they can win a weak division this year, that's fine, but it's just gravy. They need to:

dance with them that brung them