Astros Fan Signing In [aka all things ASTROS thread]

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Hey everybody. Some of you may know me from the Mickey Mantle's Liver board, but I'm unfamiliar with most of you. However, I do manage a team on the ILB Fantasy League, the Texas Metrosexuals, and last time I checked I was in last place. But that's OK, because Lance Berkman is starting to heat up!

Anyway, I live in Dallas now, but I'll be moving back to Houston in August, just in time for that parade in late October.

― boldbury, Wednesday, 14 April 2004 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

yay, welcome! go wade miller!

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 14 April 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Much love for anyone named Miller.

― Leee O'Gaddy (Leee), Wednesday, 14 April 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

boldbury, please weigh in over here when you get a chance (that goes for you too Morbs):

Welcome to I Love Baseball! Please Introduce Yourselves!

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 14 April 2004 16:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Being fan of Terry Puhl, Enos Cabell and Jose Cruz Sr., all of which had awkward batting stances, I welcome you.

I died with along many Astro's fans when they lost that epic game to the Mets in 86.

― earlnash, Wednesday, 14 April 2004 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

earl, what's your take on Counsell's "swinging from a rope whilst trying to hump the air" stance?

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 14 April 2004 18:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw Enos Cabell at the airport once. I think his mother was on my flight.

Enos used to do some side line reporting for Astros TV broadcasts back in the late 80s. He has a high, scratchy voice that is none-too-pleasant to listen to.

― boldbury, Wednesday, 14 April 2004 18:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't get how Counsell does it. Mitchell Page who played for the A's in the early 80s had a similar swing.

Dwayne Murphy also of the A's used to cock the bat up high like Jose Cruz Sr. and Cabell, but he didn't also have the high leg kick like Jose. Cruz's batting stance was weird all the way around.

Puhl's batting stance was the inverse of Brian Downing.

― earlnash, Wednesday, 14 April 2004 19:35 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

how long until lidge ousts dotel from the closer spot?

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 14 May 2004 02:00 (twenty-two years ago)

So does Piazza punch out Carb-Faced Roger this weekend, or wait til he catches him in the All-Star game?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 14 May 2004 13:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, whatever - it was 4 years ago, and the best way to get back at KKKlemens is to just whup the shit out of him, which the Mets (circa 1986) (plus McGwire, Bonds, & Sosa circa 1998) can do with ease.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 14 May 2004 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

luckily for clemens it's neither 1986 nor 1998.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Friday, 14 May 2004 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

how long until lidge ousts dotel from the closer spot?

d00d! You're as bad as those hoodlums over on the other Astros boards I post on.

Since when does one blown save mean it's time to start callig for the closer's job? Lidge blew one last week in Atlanta so right now they're even in that department, with Lidge having fewer opportunities. I'm not taking a side either way as far as who has better stuff, it's just that Dotel has been here longer and filled in for Wagner in 2000 when he had surgery so that's who the job got handed to. Last year, there were folks saying that Dotel should be closing over Wagner (not a lot, but there were some). It's like the college backup quarterback syndrome. If a team loses one game, suddenly everybody is calling for backup to start. The problem is, if that happens, then the starter becomes the new backup and the issue just reverses itself.

― boldbury (boldbury), Friday, 14 May 2004 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Pitching just the eighth or just the ninth: usually no fucking difference.

The Mets whipped Clemens in 2002 (on a Shawn Estes HR, no less).

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 14 May 2004 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Lidge: 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, .186 BAA, 14.40K/9, 32K/8BB = 4.00 K/BB
Dotel: 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, .220 BAA, 11.65K/9, 22K/8BB = 2.75 K/BB

Lidge has better stats in almost every available pitching category... Why wouldn't you want the better of the 2 pitchers to close the game?

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 14 May 2004 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

But that's for the first fifth of a season ... Dotel was better over all of last season. And according to today's Adjusted Runs Prevented on BP, the Astros' best reliever THIS year has been Dan Miceli.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 14 May 2004 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Then Miceli shall be called upon to preserve the 3-run leads in the 9th!

― mattbot (mattbot), Friday, 14 May 2004 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha. Ha ha ha. Ha HA ha.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 14 May 2004 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I wouldn't trust Dan Miceli to save money on his car insurance by switching to Geico, let alone save a 3-run lead.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 14 May 2004 17:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Why not? His numbers look good. And he's from NEWARK, man, just like me!

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 14 May 2004 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

puh-leez, until last night there were a couple ugly lidge blow-up's this month that gygaxor is ignoring for his own nefarious fantasy baseball reasons. (i, on the other hand, support dotel for purely unselfish reasons....)

― bnw (bnw), Friday, 14 May 2004 20:10 (twenty-two years ago)

FANTASY BASEBALL: YOU ARE THE MANAGER

(this is exactly why i love MVP 2004).

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 14 May 2004 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

New stat for the Elias Bureau to foist upon the great unwashed: Jimy Saves.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 14 May 2004 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow, excellent and timely article, thanks for linking David.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 14 May 2004 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

checking in again... any new thoughts?

― gygax! (gygax!), Sunday, 16 May 2004 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

i knew this was coming........! that piazza guy ain't exactly an easy out.

― bnw (bnw), Sunday, 16 May 2004 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

That was sweet! Eat shit, Rocket ...

*cough* Dan Miceli, 2 scoreless innings.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 17 May 2004 12:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Here you go:

Dotel, 20.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .214 BAA, .310 OBPA, .347 SLGA, .767 OPSA, 29K/10BB = 2.90K/BB, 13.05 K/9
Lidge, 22.0 IP, 2.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, .171 BAA, .247 OBPA, .289 SLGA, .537 OPSA, 34K/8BB = 4.25K/BB, 13.91 K/9
Miceli, 25.1 IP, 1.78 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, .240 BAA, .274 OPBA, .307 SLGA, .581 OPSA, 27K/4BB = 6.50K/BB, 10.03 K/9

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 17 May 2004 13:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Ugh! I don't even want to look at the Astros boards today because I know this will be the only topic of conversation.

― boldbury (boldbury), Monday, 17 May 2004 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

my cardinal love is greater then my fantasy love, so i was glad to see dotel blow it

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 17 May 2004 19:44 (twenty-two years ago)

(that's what i keep telling myself)

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 17 May 2004 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

so can we get an update on those Lidge stats :)

― bnw (bnw), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 01:19 (twenty-two years ago)

still computing, it might take a while.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 13:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Whew! It feels good to be back in the winner's circle. Roy-O with a great outing, combining with Miceli and Dotel on a three-hitter. Some nice clutch hitting from Berkman. And best of all, it came against the hated Cubs and a pitcher that flat-out owned the 'Stros last year (Zambrano had an 0.85 ERA in 4 starts against Houston in 03).

Now, if we can only do something about the Cincinnati juggernaut.

― boldbury (boldbury), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Bring back Bob Boone. That'll burst their bubble.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 12:44 (twenty-two years ago)

OK gygax!, your boy got a cheapie win tonight. He was the fourth reliever to work after Pettitte left after the fourth (I've heard two stories: elbow discomfort and/or sore forearm), yet Lidge was assigned the win by the OS. That's what three up, three down on 11 pitches will get ya.

― boldbury (boldbury), Thursday, 27 May 2004 02:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Edit: Struck out the side on 11 pitches.

― boldbury (boldbury), Thursday, 27 May 2004 02:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Sweet. The Cincinatti Juggernaut lost for the second consecutive day, pushing the Good Guys to within a 1/2 game of first and putting them in perfect position to take over the lead with a good series against the Cards this weekend.

― boldbury (boldbury), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I thought Lance Berkman had won over the Bleacher Bums with his Twinkie-fueled home run last year, but I guess there are many who are still harboring a grudge over his negative comments about Wrigley:

http://www.rightfieldsucks.com/hecklezone/berkman.htm

And according to the Houston Chronicle, Berkman ran out to his position in left field yesterday and made a wide circle along the fence with his hand to ear, imitating Sosa's ritual. Did anybody see this?

― boldbury (boldbury), Tuesday, 1 June 2004 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Reds clubbed another half dozen homers and retake the game back yesterday. They hit like a beerleague softball team.

― earlnash, Tuesday, 1 June 2004 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah man, they're just a machine. Like a big... red... MACHINE!!! Hey, that has a certain ring to it.

Actually, I kinda like The Cincinatti Juggernaut. It's very imposing.

― boldbury (boldbury), Tuesday, 1 June 2004 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

The Hudepohl Beerleague Juggernaut jacked three more HRs and came from behind again to win tonight in 10 innings. They are freaks.

I think I need to start a Reds thread before I get on the Astro fan's nerves.

― earlnash, Wednesday, 2 June 2004 02:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, this feels pretty good. Winning two out of three in Wrigley is never a bad thing, especially since that makes the Astros 4-1 against the hated rivals for the season. Hopefully the team is pulling out of it's May funk and primed to track down the Cincinnati Juggernaut.

― boldbury (boldbury), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

it's astounding to me that berkman is batting fifth, with no real protection. he's been IBBd 9 times this season and that's going to keep going up as long as he's hitting and hidalgo is sporting a .760 OPS.

― John (jdahlem), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 20:52 (twenty-two years ago)

You know "protection" has never been proven to aid a batter, right, JD?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 21:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Morbs, care to comment on the spikes in performance of Rich Aurilia 2001, Jeff Kent 2002, and Marquis Grissom 2003-2004?

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Berkman is in a line up filled with good hitters, they have to pitch to someone. Hidalgo may not be consistent, but he has been a strong hitter at times in his career.

Marquis Grissom is somewhat of an underrated player. I think he had a good year last year partially because he was healthy for the first time in a couple of seasons.

The person in a lineup that has a real hard time in the NL is who is batting 8th. That guy really gets pitched around.

― earlnash, Wednesday, 2 June 2004 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

it may or may not improve actual performance (ie make him hit better), but that's not the point. it would get berkman ABs instead of IBBs. IBBs when used judiciously and against a hitter with a .350 BA/.700 SA are going to bring that hitter's value down if the guys behind him aren't knocking him in, and a ~league average OPS behind him isn't going to cut it.

berkman's got a .500 OBP and is tied for 16th in the NL in runs, and i predict he'll drop from the T-3 RBI slot as he's pitched around more and more, unless HIDALGO reverts to 2000/2003 form.

― John (jdahlem), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 22:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Berkman, NL Player of the Month!

― boldbury (boldbury), Thursday, 3 June 2004 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Alright, heckuva win last night. It always feels good to win a 1-0 game. Clemens goes 6 2/3 for his 9th win. Astros score the only run on a shallow sac fly from Morgan Ensberg that Bagwell scored on by knocking the ball loose from the catcher and then scrambling back to tag the plate.

gygax! will be interested to hear about Brad "Luby" Lidge's outing last night. Brought in the get the final out of the 7th, he gives up a lead-off triple in the 8th when Biggio badly misjudged a drive by John Olerud (to be fair, it was a rocket hit right at him, which is just about the toughest play to read in the game). Lidge then proceeded to coax a pop-up out of Bret Boone and then strike out Scott Spiezio and Dave Hanson.

― boldbury (boldbury), Wednesday, 9 June 2004 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 18 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Beltran to Astros, Dotel to A's just announced on WGN.

REY ORDONEZ PLEASE GO AWAY.

― mattbot (mattbot), Friday, 25 June 2004 00:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow!

Is this how gygax! envisioned Lidge taking over the closer job?

― boldbury (boldbury), Friday, 25 June 2004 00:48 (twenty-one years ago)

http://killthehill.com/

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 25 June 2004 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Roy Oswalt must have gotten the message. Winning 1-0 in Arlington in June is quite impressive.

Nice catch by old man Biggio out in left field today, it saved a run.

― earlnash, Monday, 28 June 2004 01:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Even better was Beltran's catch in the first on a ball Michael Young hit that would have been out. Beltran ran to the base of the wall, jumped, came down on his rear, looked in his glove and hung his head. After Young rounded second in his trot, Beltran stood up and threw the ball in.

And Biggio's was with nobody on, so it probably didn't save a run. Still, it was a gutsy play.

― boldbury (boldbury), Monday, 28 June 2004 03:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I only saw the highlights, I thought someone was on 2nd when Biggio made the catch.

― earlnash, Monday, 28 June 2004 04:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyone catch Dotel's debut for the As?

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Besides me?

― Leeefuse 73 (Leee), Monday, 28 June 2004 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

i meant to ask: did anyone physically catch pierzynski's homerun off dotel while in the bleachers (eg, Leee)?

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 28 June 2004 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I caught the HR on TV.

― Leeefuse 73 (Leee), Monday, 28 June 2004 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

did you jump up? clap? smirk?

????

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 28 June 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

And did you get more Mountain Dew?!!

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 28 June 2004 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

No, no, yes, no.

― Leeefuse 73 (Leee), Monday, 28 June 2004 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

The Astros explained:

TOO DAMN OLD.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 16:09 (twenty-one years ago)

What about the Giants?

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 16:15 (twenty-one years ago)

TOO DAMN CRUZ.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 16:18 (twenty-one years ago)

It's startling just how bad Biggio is in LF. I know he had very limited range for a CF, but he was quite dependable as far as catching the balls he got too. But since he moved to left, he has dropped or misplayed at least three balls that have played big roles in Astro losses. I guess he's having a hard time adjusting to the different angles and spins you get as a corner outfielder. It's just bizarre that he went from being a slow but steady CF to a complete butcher in LF.

And the kicker is that he's been the only Astro to stay immune to the team's Reznorian Spiral at the plate. His average has hovered around .300 all year and has never dropped below .295. His HR pace is about what it has been troughout his career. So you can't very well bench his ass.

― boldbury (boldbury), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

OK, so the Astros picked up a couple of games over the weekend and are 5 back in the WC race. They have scored at least 5 runs in each of their last 8 games. Previous to that, it took them 29 games to score at least 5 runs in a game 8 times.

Four-game series with AZ starting today and they miss RJ, so maybe they can keep this thing rolling.

― boldbury (boldbury), Monday, 26 July 2004 12:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Did Kent grab an ump last night?

I haven't seen highlights and the game recap is a bit vague. A Cubs board I visit said he and the ump had ahold of each other's shirts.

Bob Watson's going to need an industrial-sized In box this week.

― mattbot (mattbot), Monday, 26 July 2004 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

the 1st base ump grabbed him first to separate him from the home plate ump, kent grabbed the ump in the same fashion. then they looked longingly into each other's eyes and realized they were meant for each other.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Monday, 26 July 2004 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

Where the hell did the Astros come from?

With the Cubs loss tonight and Astros win, they are now in the lead of the Wild Card by a 1/2 game.

I wouldn't put money on them staying for the next few days looking at their projected starters in the next three games. Clemens and Oswalt will start again this weekend. Then again, they are playing the Pirates, so they have a shot at keeping the streak alive with the dreg starters.

Cincinnatti has been the rag doll of every team in the pennant chase. Their pitching has turned to complete suckola and it wasn't very good to start.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Thursday, 9 September 2004 01:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Houston and SF are in a virtual tie for the wild card lead by a 1/2 game over the Cubs.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 9 September 2004 02:56 (twenty-one years ago)

>Cincinnatti has been the rag doll of every team in the pennant chase.

If you mean the wild card race, I think you're confusing them with the Mets (or the Win Howes?).

I think Berkman is edging toward MVP Runnerup contention.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 9 September 2004 12:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Unfortunately, Berkman's MVP hopes will be (wrongfully) quashed by that phantom HBP incident from a couple weeks ago.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 9 September 2004 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

The Mets have definitely helped SF and the Marlins. Both the Reds and Mets seem to be looking forward to playing golf more than being a spoiler. St Louis also has beaten the tar out of Cinci of late, I think sweeping them twice or maybe winning 5 of 6.

Say what you want about Frank Robinson, the Expos are at least giving teams a game. They definitely are not cutting the Cubs any easy breaks and the Cards recently had some close games with Les Expos.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Thursday, 9 September 2004 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

berkman over beltre or edmonds would be an absolute crock at this point.

― John (jdahlem), Thursday, 9 September 2004 21:07 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

What a crappy call at the plate that cost the Cards a run (and a tie) last night...

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 30 September 2004 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Damn, it feels good to be a 'Stro Fan.

― boldbury (boldbury), Sunday, 3 October 2004 21:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Signs Your Team is Living the Charmed Life: HOF-bound projected starting pitcher for the day's game can't start because of a stomach virus; unproven rookie makes the start in HOF's stead, and drives in the first two runs of the game.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 4 October 2004 01:31 (twenty-one years ago)

there were a lot of 'god is on our side' postgame interviews coming out of that clubhouse. (which is a good sign for those who wish to see carlos beltran get re-signed, since his approach to his contract negotiations is going to be pretty similar. oh well and also scott boras is on his side, too, though i'm not sure if that's more or less important than the big man being there.)

― maura (maura), Monday, 4 October 2004 09:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm glad for Bags & Biggs.

Boston v Houston, a Kerry vs Enron Series??

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 4 October 2004 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

A guy in my grad program is from Boston and he's rooting hard for a Sox-Stros Series.

there were a lot of 'god is on our side' postgame interviews coming out of that clubhouse.

The Astros employ the majors' only full-time team chaplain. Good for the them, I say.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=1888427

― boldbury (boldbury), Monday, 4 October 2004 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

four weeks pass...

Whoa! Front Office Shocka in H-town today! Gerry the Hun steps down.

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/hou/news/hou_news.jsp?ymd=20041101&content_id=908765&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp

― boldbury (boldbury), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 04:40 (twenty-one years ago)

is that good or bad news in houston?

― John (jdahlem), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 04:46 (twenty-one years ago)

It's bad news, but probably only mildly so. Hun had become very adept at working within McLane's budget restrictions and maintaining a competitive team. In his nine years here, the Astros finished lowere than second only once, and that was the 2000 hiccup that occured when they moved into the new park. The good news is that his successor, Tim Purpura has been with the organization for a while and was being groomed for this. He had been in charge of player development in their minor league operations, so he knows what talent is in the pipeline. The big question remaining is will he have the knack for pulling off nice trades that Gerry has shown in his time here. Plus, Hunsicker is staying on as an advisor for a year, so he'll still have his hand in things.

However, this has the potential to get worse later on. If and when he decides to be a GM again, I have a feeling he could do some real damage for a team like the Yankees or the Cubs that would offer him a lot less payroll restraint.

― boldbury (boldbury), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 08:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Tim Purpura is a SABR member!

Y'all should hope this means Ausmus is gone.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 5 November 2004 16:21 (twenty-one years ago)

This sucks. Berkman tore his ACL playing flag football at a church picnic.

http://astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/hou/news/hou_news.jsp?ymd=20041105&content_id=910780&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp

― boldbury (boldbury), Saturday, 6 November 2004 03:58 (twenty-one years ago)

wow. playing w/ a hill in the outfield and he fucks up his acl playing flag football.

that's surprising.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Saturday, 6 November 2004 22:42 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Brad Lidge:

2004 1.90 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .174 BAA, 6W-5L, 29 Saves, 8HR (8% HR/IP), 30BB (2.58BB/9), 157K (14.93K/9, 5.23 K:BB)
2005 2.29 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .223 BAA, 4W-4L, 42 Saves, 5HR (7% HR/IP), 23BB (2.93BB/9), 103K (13.12K/9, 4.48 K:BB)
2006 6.53 ERA, 1.84 WHP, .266 BAA, 0W-2L, 12 Saves, 3HR (15% HR/IP), 17BB (7.40BB/9), 28K (12.19K/9, 1.65 K:BB)

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 25 May 2006 15:09 (twenty years ago)

That decline in K/9 is atrocious.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 25 May 2006 15:27 (twenty years ago)

Sure he's fine. He's made dozens of lousy pitches over the last couple months, and on yesterday he gave up three hits and a walk without recording an out, but that's not entirely his fault as he plays in Minutemaid Park with the roof closed. His strikeout rate is excellent, his control's been okay. He's not going to win any awards this season, but I like him just as much today as I did last year.

― Rob Neyer (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 25 May 2006 15:40 (twenty years ago)

I respectfully disagree. Opposing hitters have a .850 OPS (On-Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage) batting against him this year, and while it is a small sample size, it doesn't change the fact that over two months span, hitters are not having trouble piling up XBH (Extra Base Hits) against him.

― John Kruk (polyphonic), Thursday, 25 May 2006 16:25 (twenty years ago)

I can get on board with that.

It is indeed a small sample size.

Lidge had 23 walks last season, and only 17 so far this year. At this rate Lidge will only issue 6 walks the rest of the season.

And the same with homeruns: 5 HRs last season vs. only 3 HRs in the past 7 weeks. This small sample size dictates that Lidge will only give up 2 more HRs for the remainder of the season.

― Rob Neyer (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 25 May 2006 16:31 (twenty years ago)

You guys should switch aliases at this rate.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 25 May 2006 16:39 (twenty years ago)

Ah, but therein lies the comedy!

― Gregg Easterbrook (polyphonic), Thursday, 25 May 2006 16:40 (twenty years ago)

You forgot the cheerbabe pic.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 25 May 2006 16:42 (twenty years ago)

Dude, check my contributions to the King Felix thread... seeing is believing. Lidge is just a little unlucky with BABIP and the short porch in left and Flagpole Hill and a few mix-ups with Ausmus' signs... that's all, no biggie!

― Rob Neyer (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 25 May 2006 16:43 (twenty years ago)

People are saying that there's something wrong with Lidge's mechanics but I shook his hand last week, and let me tell you, that was as firm a handshake that I've ever received. It was a man's handshake, that's for sure. Not only that, but he made sure to shake with his non-throwing hand. That's the sign of a pitcher who's got a head on his shoulders. He's off to a slow start because of the cool spring weather in Houston, but trust me, Lidge is fine. It's nothing a four-inning, 85 pitch relief outing won't fix.

― Dusty Baker (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 25 May 2006 18:01 (twenty years ago)

The Stros are lighting up poor Matt Lecroy:

BASERUNNING
SB: P Wilson 2 (5, 2nd base off T Armas Jr/M LeCroy, 3rd base off T Armas Jr/M LeCroy); E Bruntlett 2 (2, 2nd base off T Armas Jr/M LeCroy, 3rd base off T Armas Jr/M LeCroy); W Taveras (6, 2nd base off S Rivera/M LeCroy); C Burke (3, 2nd base off S Rivera/M LeCroy); M Ensberg (1, 2nd base off J Rauch/M LeCroy)

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 25 May 2006 18:53 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

Brad Lidge, bless his heart... he may never be the same.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 03:18 (nineteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.