Rounded Up: Astros 4, Phillies 3

by WholeCamels on Sep 6, 2009 6:15 PM EDT

Game recap direct from Houston. I went to the game and well, yecch.

Things started out nicely, with a leadoff home run from Jimmy Rollins. Cole Hamels pitched pretty badly, his command was mediocre and he put himself in situations where he could be undone by dinks and dunks, and a couple of hard hit line drives to the outfield. The Astros put up three runs in the fifth inning, on a two-run single by Carlos Lee and an RBI double from Miguel Tejada, that turned out to be all the Astros needed on the day.

All of the Phillies scoring came on solo home runs -- Rollins in the first, Ben Francisco in the fourth, and Jayson Werth in the eighth.

The Phillies hit a lot of balls hard, including several hard outs off Bud Norris, the Astros' rookie starter, but luck wasn't on their side on balls in play. Astros closer Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the save.

Oh, and that Michael Bourn guy, with two singles, two stolen bases on botched pickoffs, and two runs scored, gave us all bad flashback memories of Juan F. Pierre, 2003 model.

A couple notes about Minute Maid Park, after the jump:

1. Indoor baseball is really disorienting. But given the oppressive humidity outside, it was strongly preferred. I actually called the stadium before heading out to make sure the roof would be closed (it was!).

2. Astros fans are, in general, very relaxed. Except about football. Between the fourth and fifth inning they played highlights from yesterday's college football action, which got the same response from the fans as the action on the baseball field. They were really psyched about the BYU-Oklahoma highlights.

3. They've retired about a zillion numbers. I always give the Phillies credit for not "over-retiring" too many uniform numbers. I mean, Mike Scott? Really?

4. You can get frozen margaritas there.

So the Phillies are gonna try to prevent the sweep tomorrow. They'll send J.A. Happ to the mound, versus Brian Moehler for the Astros.

Hey, at least the Braves and Marlins lost.

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Does anybody know the record for blown saves in a season?

by fan since late 40's on Sep 6, 2009 9:32 PM EDT reply actions

Phillies record is 12 and not by Mitchy Poo. I can’t remember who they said.

What about the brief case? You forgot the brief case! I'm going home! So clear a path, you motherf*ckers! Clear a path! I'M GOING HOME! -Bill Foster

by BudVugger on Sep 6, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

from wikipedia (dude...just google 'most blown saves in a season')

Single season

   1. Rollie Fingers, Oakland Athletics (1976) – 14
   2. Bruce Sutter, Chicago Cubs (1978) – 14
   3. Bob Stanley, Boston Red Sox (1983) – 14
   4. Ron Davis, Minnesota Twins (1984) – 14
   5. John HillerL, Detroit Tigers (1976) – 13
   6. Rich “Goose” Gossage, New York Yankees (1983) – 13
   7. Jeff Reardon, Montréal Expos (1986) – 13
   8. Dan PlesacL, Milwaukee Brewers (1987) – 13
   9. Dave RighettiL, New York Yankees (1987) – 13

by Bilzo on Sep 6, 2009 9:37 PM EDT reply actions

Wow

All pretty good pitchers at some point. Three of those guys are Hall of Famers: Fingers, Sutter, and Gossage, and a couple others – Hiller and Reardon – were league leaders if I remember right. Of course, usage of closers was a lot different in the ‘70s and ’80s, the pre-Eckersley era, so some of those blown saves probably occurred in the 7th and 8th innings. Might be interesting to see if Lidge’s 10 blown saves are a record for the 9th inning.

by phillyinportland on Sep 7, 2009 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions

AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

by Wet Luzinski on Sep 6, 2009 10:48 PM EDT reply actions

I love this...

Been bored with baseball for a few weeks. Need the Phils to make September exciting.

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Sep 6, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions

Sigh

At least the Marlins lost. And at least we didn’t have another blown save…

by ajay on Sep 7, 2009 12:11 AM EDT reply actions

That's the spirit!

Looking at the bright side… I like it!

What’s been happening has been frustrating. But let’s put some things into perspective:

1. The Phils didn’t hit a lot against the Braves or Giants in part because those teams can pitch really well. If they had lousy team ERAs then it would be a different story.

2. The Phillies can’t beat Houston. Sorry, they just can’t. The Astros have their number. It’s just one of those things. The only problem is that we play them again tomorrow, then near the end of the season.

The hitting will straighten itself out as it always does. I am more concerned about Brad Lidge and Cliff Lee right now. Hopefully Lee is just experiencing a little dead-arm or something which can be overcome with a little time. Two God-awful starts in a row from your staff ace is not good.

I don’t need to mention Lidge’s struggles. My concern has more to do with Charlie’s loyalty to him than anything else. I’d understand his sticking to Lidge more if it were July, and if we didn’t have someone else on the team who has proven himself to be a capable closer as Brett Myers has. But obviously there’s only a month left and it’s time to get the team on a roll. If this means that Lidge has lost his job for the time being, so be it. He’s been given enough chances to redeem himself.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Sep 7, 2009 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions

No worries!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phillies win today 5-0!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Labor Day!

by SFCEAGFAN on Sep 7, 2009 4:02 AM EDT reply actions

You were there too?

Small world it seems…I was there yesterday too, sat in section 127, row 35, seat 12, right behind a few other Phillies fans. I’m working on my history thesis on the team right now and thought it would be kinda neat to see my thesis in action one more time (I go to school in Dallas, so I got lucky this semester). Assuming you live closer to Philly, what brought you to Houston?

by Aspeed8 on Sep 7, 2009 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

OMFG

That was me you were sitting behind (I was there with my wife and her sister, who moved to Houston last month). You were there with a young woman too if I remember, right? I remember you were taking copious notes, so now it makes sense!

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Sep 7, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

ever ’twas thus with nerds: Same Section, Different Worlds.

’Twas.

by Wet Luzinski on Sep 7, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Namaste

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Sep 7, 2009 12:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

That’s wild.

by FuquaManuel on Sep 7, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

If you would call scoring the game “copious notes,” well then yeah, I was doing some work…although not nearly enough on the visitor’s half. Otherwise the details as you remember them are correct. I liked that 2008 shirt you had on…which reminds me, I scoured Citizens Bank Park for a 2008 replica flag all summer and couldn’t find one, though I saw one on display in the Majestic store and another fan who had one. Any idea if I can buy one online?

by Aspeed8 on Sep 7, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember muttering some snide comments about Raul Ibanez in your direction. Then he got two hits. I like to think he was motivated by me.

That “2008” shirt is a Birdland tee, go see TheFightins.com.

As for the 2008 flag banners, they gave them out on Opening Night at CBP, but they were really cheap and have (I think) a big W.B. Mason logo on them. As for good quality banners for sale, who knows?

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Sep 7, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

And we still lead the NL East race by a touchdown -.5

The magic numbers stands at 21, so we shouldnt be packing it in just yet, but going with a 6 or 7 man rotation might not be the worst idea. Also, days off for the big 5 here and there would probably get the team rejuvinated for the playoffs, as well as giving some of the minor leaguers a taste of the big leagues (to bad stupid Micheal Taylor picked the WORST time to get hurt).

by philiafan14364 on Sep 7, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions