2009 Projected Standings / Power Rankings

Check out what BaseballProjection.com thinks of the Astros. 

Ouch.

Honestly though, if I had to pick one team to exceed its projected record, I would pick the Stros.  Take a look.  What do you think?

Brad James goes all Chuck Knoblauch on us.

Alyson Footer had a piece the other day about Brad James catching a case of the “yips,” also known as “Steve Blass Disease.”  Turns out he was scared he would hit one of his own teammates, then he started thinking too much, and then he hit Humberto Quintero.  He started throwing away from the hitter instead of pitching to the catcher.  

This might just be a little thing he goes through, but I see this having huge potential for disaster.  If the Astros’ top pitching prospect is battling his own thoughts, doubts, insecurities like this, look out.  He is the next Jason Lane.  Lane’s potential was never realized because he was so scared of failure.  He kept trying not to mess up, and when you do that, you start to mess up, and on comes the vicious circle.  

Footer quoted Cecil Cooper as saying: “We know he’s got a lot of ability. Sometimes he’s doubting himself a little bit, not feeling good about himself. We’re talking to him, trying to work through it.”  

They had better keep it light and be careful not to give this kid too much to think about, or it will make matters worse.  I suggest they watch the movie “Swingers” for inspiration.

Coop: “You’re so money and you don’t even know it!”

Brad: “That was humiliating.”

Coop: “You don’t look at the things that you have, you only look at the stuff that you don’t have.  Those guys are right about you – you’re money.”

Brad: “I hit Q, is he okay?”

Coop: “That was so fucking money. That was like the Jedi mind-shit.”

Ivan Rodriguez

I love when national sportswriters provide analysis of the Astros’ roster or offseason moves, even when it’s just a tiny blurb at the end of a news and notes piece. This is because those writers are disinterested and detached enough from the club that they don’t come accross as Drayton’s spin doctors.  Ken Rosenthal had this to say about the Stros’ catching situation:

The Astros need a catcher after losing potential backup Toby Hall to shoulder surgery, but the team continues to indicate that it cannot afford free agent Ivan Rodriguez unless his price drops significantly. That’s a problem: Humberto Quintero probably is more of a backup than a five-day-a-week catcher, J.R. Towles batted .137 last season and Rule 5 pick Lou Palmisano is not the answer.

How is it that we don’t have $1 mil to spend on Ivan Rodriguez?  Granted, Pudge today isn’t the same guy that put up some decent numbers for that other Texas baseball club, but he would certainly provide plenty more than what we’ve got.  I’m not even a guy who expects a lot of pop from the catcher’s spot.  I love Brad Ausmus types.  The catcher’s primary role is to handle the pitching staff.

However, last year in 447 innings under Quintero, Astros pitchers had an ERA of 4.89. By contrast, the team ERA under Ausmus was 3.65 in 569 innings. Like Ausmus, Pudge knows how to call a game, and with so many question marks in our starting rotation, he would be an instant pitching upgrade.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a “Q” fan all the way. Not so much because of his numbers (not good), but because of the effort he puts in. He’s done everything the club could ask for, despite the fact that they have passed him up, taken him for granted, and stunted his development for so long.  This spring he has made an effort to meet with all the pitchers to put in all the preseason prep work he can, realizing that so much of what a catcher does is off the field.  Still, there’s a reason he has cleared waivers multiple times. Rosenthal is right: Q is a back up, and strictly a back up.

Pudge would pay for himself.  Houston fans love the big names.  Unfortunately, they sometimes care more about what a player has done than what he will do (see fans expectations of Miguel Tejada last year or Mike Hampton this year).  Even if Pudge is a Brad Ausmus equivalent, the fans want to see him with a star on his hat.  How many $1 million deals have the potential to wake a hibernating fanbase?  This would show Astros fans that Wade and McLane are still trying.  I’m ready to be excited about something, and seeing Pudge as our backstop would get me out to Minute Maid.

Here’s to New Beginnings

Well, it’s about time for a new start, just ask Mike Hampton, Russ Ortiz and Danny Graves. This blog needs to get rolling. Where have we been? Berkmaniac? Beckeesh? Y’all out there? Because I think we could all use some positive thinking.

I need someone to find a way to convince me that Aaron Boone is worthy of a platoon split at third base, and Jason Michaels is a worthwhile backup corner outfielder. I want someone other than the Houston Chronicle to tell me that taking a chance on Mike Hampton’s health is a good idea. (By the way, I guess the organization forgave him for sleeping with Bagwell’s now-ex wife. Heck, those two guys were on the winter caravan together.) Or maybe someone can show me that Brandon Backe is gonna put it all together this year … on the mound, not at the plate.

The more I look at this roster of David Newhan, Tim Byrdak, Michael Bourne, and four AAA catchers (update: make that three AAA catchers), the more it feels like Berkman, Oswalt and Lee are the big names at a charity softball event. I feel for you guys. Baseball Prospectus says you’re gonna go 70-92. I can’t imagine it being that bad, but I also can’t see our pitchers missing many bats.

Well, at least it’s not the NFL or NBA. Hello again, good guys.

Damn You, Law of Averages!!

Goodbye six game winning streak, hello four game losing streak. A .600 winning percentage ain’t bad, but it’s sure not what it looked like we had going before Ike washed all our mojo away. Goodbye .305 team batting average, hello .092 team batting average. Goodbye 32 1/3 scoreless innings, hello four run first. Wait, back up, we’re hitting .092??!! Over four games??!! Okay, things will get better over the remaining games. Things CAN’T stay like this.

Chances are, we aren’t going to make the playoffs, but heck, is this a team that deserves to go to the playoffs? We’ll finish with a winning record, which is pretty darn impressive for a team that had to trot Runelvys Hernandez onto the bump more than once. Honestly, if this team does regain the magic to make the playoffs, I’ll be overwhelmed, overjoyed, and also a bit worried about the validation that would provide to the tactics of Ed Wade and Drayton McLane (more on that next time).

The law of averages catches up to a team like this, to guys like Brian Moehler, Randy Wolf, Darin Erstad and Geoff Blum. It was fun while it lasted, but now it’s time to salute a group that didn’t quit after being in last place at the All Star break. These guys are winners.

Fish and Shits/Radio Spot Re-Mix

 

OOOOOKKKKAAAYYYY!!! Berkmaniac here. So what the hell is going on?  I couldn’t tell you. I’m still set pretty firm in my mindset from my last post, but this Marlins loss has me reeling (hah!).  And the Astros are floundering in South Florida, even with a Bulldog on the mound. How in the holy crap did we get so cold so fast?

Wicked embarrassing, but we still have a chance to get out of it.  I honestly never thought we’d sweep in Florida, but I also thought we’d take two of three from the Cubs, not lose two nasty jokes up in Wisconsin. 

We can still be okay. Remember, the Mets were farther up at this time against the Phillies last year. But now? Now it’s do or die in this fish fry. If we don’t take this series, then we need as much luck for us as we’ve just had against us to stumble into the postseason. We need 12 out of 13, 11 MINIMUM to have a shot.  And to tackle these game fish, we need to hit, we need to drop triples into their “Bermuda Triangle”. Maybe actually wake up. I think we need a bigger boat. 

    NOTE:   If you’re someone who hates saying “we” with our sports teams and only wants to hear “the team” or “the Astros”, then I can’t help you. I do believe we can all say “we” if we’ve been suffering fans our entire lives. No, I don’t think we have ANY effect on the game outcomes (unless a ball comes into the stands- See Berkman almost breaking Gagne’s saves streak for details) I just like to feel involved. I think I and my father’s wallet have earned it.

Radio Spot Re-Mix 

So, being a man of my word occasionally,  on my walk to work I called into the local weekday A.M. show Monday morning, the “Waddle and Silvy” show on ESPN 1000, and I got through! I told the engineer/screener my spiel and he dug it.

When I got on, Silvy said “Stephen in Chicago, what’s goin’ on?” or something close, and I’ll try to repeat, for our three readers, what I said verbatim.  “Hey guys, I’ve been an Astros fan five year, I’ve been an Astros fan all my life, and I’ve lived here in Chicago five years (I was a little nervous) and I just wanted to let you know there will be no whining and complaining from our fan base, we got beat fair and square, Zambrano threw great, we’re moving on, and we’ll see you guys in the playoffs.”  I tried to stay brief to be clear and purposeful, I hate rambling radio call ins, but I may have been too brief.  This is basically a Cubs sports show, but I think the hosts dug it. It’s hard to hear the immediate response from them, ’cause your radio has to be turned down, But I did hear Silvy say, “I like that attitude” and Tom Waddle say ” Sorry , Stephen, I don’t think that’s gonna happen”, so I guess the call went pretty well.  I thought about plugging the blog, but I would have been laughed off the airwaves. I think I made my point. Now let the Astros prove it.

Final Note: The Sega game Triple Play, which I referenced in my last blog, has a menu after the cheap ’94 credits finish. The first selection option is “Resume Season”. I’d like to officially select that option for our Astros RIGHT NOW. Maybe they thought we hit ‘start’ instead of ‘C’.

Astros at Cubs, 8/5/08

I’m back to post photos from yesterday’s tough loss.  WAY #1 again, Cubs 11, Astros 7. 

Alyson Footer, Take a Walk!

 

 Before I begin rantastic ravings, I’d like to point out beckeesh’s good call on the Brandon Backe game in the last post. Backe wasn’t responsible for all six, but the final was 6-4 brew crew. Interesting. 

  Now, though I’m not for homers with rose colored glasses working the press beat for the Astros, I AM for Footer either cheering up and getting off her high horse, or getting the hell out of writing for the Astros on the official website.  She’s either organically become a bitter person, has been slighted by the organization (anyone heard anything?), or has some agenda against the team.

  As I remember, her columns and observations used to be enjoyable, two years ago, but now it’s doom, gloom, sneers, and, oh my god, Footer, are you pouting? What the hell kind of team writer are you? Here’s an idea: look on the bright side, maybe once a season? Jesus!

  She not only undermines the good intentions and efforts of players and managers, (Ed Wade, Hunter Pence, Tejada, Valverde), she insults her readers with a smug attitude I find insufferable.   

  So Ms. Footer, here’s my smug response to all of your sighing, windy, dismissive “Mailbags”.   A team reporter’s job, it seems to me, is to provide accurate, accessible, and slightly biased reports towards the team in question. If you doubt your team’s character, management, and ability, do so in a way that does not crush the hope of the fan base. OF COURSE the Astros probably aren’t doing a damn thing this season, but that is not the point or spirit of baseball!  A fan’s job is to understand that their team is finished clinically, logically, but to harbor that fever of that possible impossible comeback in the deep of their chest. Kids read this website lady, and they pull for the team no matter the odds! They love the anticipation of the possibility.  And no team has earned more of a right for this ridiculous hope from the fans than the Houston Astros. Or have you all, Houston writers, completely forgotten about the thrilling Cardinals chase two years ago, or the “Gravestone World Series” before that? We pay a lot of good money for our irrationality. Respect that.

  And be grateful our new GM plays to win. Forget the farm system.  A good draft helps restore it every time, and last time I checked we still have a lot of ammunition down  there in Corpus and Round Rock. I love that Wade plays to win, and plays for the now, even if it is illogical! Or would you all like to rebuild for the next eight years, a la the Brew Crew, Royals, and A’s? Hey, know what’s worse than getting swept by the Pirates?  Trading Pence before the deadline to the Red Sox for two “highly touted” AA prospects. That would be boring and sad. Period.  I love the Wolf deal. It’s low risk and balls at the same time. 

Ms. Footer, you write for the fans. It is a privilege. Treat it as such. And THAT means NOT talking down to them during your mailbag column. Respect our intellect and our irrational optimism. It’s your job. You ain’t writin’ for the Washington Post. Please stop being so dry.  Let reading the website become enjoyable again. 

  Rediscover the fun, Ms. Footer, or take a vacation.

It’s a Long, Long, Long, Long Road Trip

 

Aretha says it baby. “It’s  a heartache.”  That’s an Astros road trip all over. Especially to St. Louis.  Need I bring up the rally killed by a pick off at first in 2000, or countless Jim Edmonds dive bomb catches, or the endless dreary cold Missouri nights mediocre pitchers like Jason Marquis shut us down like Sandy Koufax?  The fact we won in boring fashion in game 1 of this series is no small triumph.  So if we can bring back some World Series clinching magic, and actually win a series in St. Louis tonight I’ll be happy.    And there’s my point. Even when we win in St. Louis. Even when we clinch our first and only World Series berth in our history, what clip do we most often see from the 2005 NLCS? It’s the damn Pujols game winning three run homer in Houston.  Not the Jason Lane (remember him?) catch that clinched, or the Roy Oswalt screwdriver strikeout of Pujols in game 7 in  ugly Busch stadium. Always the Pujols shot. What about the historic double play? “They’re not going to turn two, or are they?” Look up this Joe Buck call. It’s worth another listen my friends. 

So, hopefully, this postseason, we’ll create our own memorable home run, or game winning single ala Luis Gonzalez, and make the Highlight Reel of the Ages.

Prediction: If we win each road series this late May trip, we’ll return home in first place.

                            Sending Oswalt the Karma,

                                 Berkmaniac