As far as I'm concerned, we still have as good a chance as any other team out there. We just have to play well. As for MadMax and his accusatory tone stating "everyone abandons the team" bullcrap, I couldn't disagree more with those comments. I've never abandoned my team since I started watching them back in the 70s. I think I've earned the right to make a critical comment or two about my team based on my years of support. MadMax, you can sit back and play the optimist all you like. It doesn't mean every one has to share your viewpoint or they have "abandoned the team". Get real. This is a tense stretch of playoff-like baseball and, if the Astros are blowing games we feel they should win, then I and everyone else should be able to speak their mind without some holier than thou fan coming along telling them their abandoning the team. Does it mean we lack optimism? Hell no as you can still have optimism and make critical comments about how your team is performing down the stretch. Therefore, I don't understand where you "get off" with your comments personally. If you feel someone is abandoning the team, then you should point fingers rather than emphatically declaring everyone is guilty. That's ridiculous.
I agree, simply because we still have 3 games with the Giants & 6 games with the Cards left. We needed a 4 out of 5 weekend. Its not over yet & we seem to play better with our backs to the wall. I think I see another 12 game winning streek coming!
Who is this guy throwing for the pirates? 5 K's and no hits thru 4 innings... and he's faced the MINIMUM! And Oswalt is already at 70 pitches, and we're not out of the 4th inning. Arrgh... doesn't look like a good day for Houston sports fans.
now, no-hit through 5.... are the Astros late for a dinner in St. Louis or something? They're swinging at the 1st or 2nd pitch on almost every AB.
geez pitch comparison alone oswalt laboring thru 6 with nearly 100 and this "GUY" (dave williams) has 55 pitches through 5 and a no hitter
Agreed... although I was a bit more optimistic, given the fact that they recently knocked some Cincy guys they'd never seen before... I guess this team couldn't stay HOT forever. EDIT: No-hitter broken up by single by Biggio... break out the champagne!
Check out this managing job this inning by Garner: Pinch-hit Viz.... reaches on fielders choice, Lamb scores on Error. Pinch-run Bruntlett for Viz... Bruntlett steals third. Pinch-hit Ensberg... Ensberg his RBI single (softly) that scores Bruntlett probably because he was at 3B due to the steal. Pinch-run Taveras for Ensberg... Taveras takes second on wild pitch, and promptly steals third. (he was out at home on the FC, but it gaves us a good chance for a run). Meanwhile, Jimy would have pinch-hit for Oswalt in the 6th, because we were being no-hit, and he had already thrown 60 pitches. (just kidding... but I kinda like a manager who makes moves for a visible reason, not just because the percentages and past history tells him it works more often than not... without taking the game situation into account).
It'll have to be a 2-inning save tonight for Lidge... that's how important this game is... and he gives up 1 run with 2 outs in the 8th. Inning over... 4-3 now.
for some reason espn game cast and cbssportsline's tracker still has the game in the 8th inning...that cant be right.. does anyone know whats really goin on?
Goto astros.com and click on their gameday... its super fast, it gives pitch location... frankly its the best of all the java pitch-by-pitch applets. Update - Craig Wilson just hit a pinch hit, game-tying HR. $%&T. Now, all those "genius" moves I mentioned earlier by Garner basically = game over for the Astros, if this game ends up tied... we don't have any players left to pinch-hit! EDIT: nobody else scores... game goes to extra innings... expect Brandon Backe to be a pinch hitter at some point.
Astros have already used up Palmeiro (didn't even get to bat... he was pinch hit for while he was a pinch-hitter), Ensberg, Chavez, Biggio, Kent, Alfaro and Vizcaino. Burke, Taveras, Bruntlett and Ausmus remain in the game. I only have Lane left available on the bench.... is that what everybody else has? EDIT: Bruntlett... leadoff double... this run HAS to score.
