AstrosFanInExile

2005 SEASON

APRIL 11-14: HOUSTON @ NEW YORK

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2005 (Game 6) - Houston @ New York Mets

NY 8, Houston 4

Spent the afternoon at work, editing a System Design Document (which is due for delivery this Friday), and taking occasional peeks at the Astros game on Sportsline Gameday. It’s probably against some rule to run an automatically updating applet at the Agency. Not to mention watching a baseball game (albeit on a very part-time basis) while working. That’s okay, I took an hour off my billed hours, to make up for the 20 minutes of distraction. I finished the section I was working on before I left for the day.

I guess I intellectually know and accept that even the best team isn’t going to win every single game. But the Astros lost to the Fucking Mets. The Mets didn’t really even beat them this time; the Astros just played bad enough to give it away. Garner’s comment after the game: "We could very well have won the game, but we were very charitable today."

I don’t like for the Astros to lose, but I hate for them to lose to the Mets. It’s an ancient hatred, rooted in my childhood, when the Colt 45s and the NY Metropolitans were born as twins in 1962. The worst form of sibling rivalry: The Mets are the Astros’ Evil Twin. Then add on the indignities of 1985 and 1986, when it was really Houston’s turn to go to the World Series… I should update my hit list at this point in time. It makes a lot more sense to hate Atlanta, and of course, St. Louis. But I don’t. Just the Fucking Mets.

Okay, I had to break down and watch the archived game. What can I say? There’s no game tomorrow; I’ll get withdrawal symptoms.

High points:

Pettitte had a good start -- threw 104 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. Lots of pitches for a guy just coming off half a season injured. Gave up 3 runs on 9 hits and 2 BB, with 5 Ks. But didn’t give up any runs until the 6th inning.

Ensberg went 3 for 3.

Biggio was 1 for 4, keeping alive his hitting streak that started opening day.

The Good Guys are still tied for first in the Central Division, with a 4-2 record, tied with Milwaukee. (But hey – they’ve mostly been playing against Pittsburgh!)

Disappointments:

Really sucky fielding. Burke and Taveras bumped into each other in the 1st (Taveras caught it). Then they let a ball drop between them in the 2nd. But the worst was the crash between Biggio and Lane in the 8th; Lane dropped the ball and the Mets went ahead. Lane got the error, and the Astros never recovered the lead.

Sucky relief pitching. To be fair, Wheeler did okay for 1 1/3 innings. But in the 8th, with the Astros tenuously ahead, 4-3, things fell apart. First Springer gave up 5 runs (2 ER) on weak pitching and bad fielding judgement, earning a BS and the game loss. Then Franco came in and gave up a hit -- Springer got credited with the 2 unearned runs that scored, since he put them on base, and Franco got to keep his 0.0 ERA. Qualls came in for 1/3 inning and didn’t do any damage. But 5 runs scored in the 8th, and the Astros lost.

So where was Lidge, the Savior of the Bullpen? Garner was determined not to use him – he’d just pitched three consecutive days, and it’s not like it’s the end of the season yet. So Garner put in Springer instead of Qualls in the 8th, saving Qualls to close, and well, it didn’t work out. But presumably Lidge will be well rested, with the day off and no game tomorrow, so I’m hoping to see him strike out a few of the Very Bad Guys on Wednesday.

After hitting HRs in each of the past two games, Bagwell was 0 for 5 today. I only managed to catch him up to bat on one of my quick game-checking GameCenter forays: Bases loaded, two out in the 5th inning, 3-2 count. Struck out looking. If it were anyone else, I’d probably curse at him, but I really love Jeff Bagwell. Then, after watching the archived game, I saw the rest of the story. The called 3rd “strike” was nowhere near the bag – it appeared to be several inches inside, from the birds-eye camera. Even the Mets announcers said that Bagwell was robbed of an RBI walk. I did get to see one rare sight on the video: Bagwell was pissed and argued the call with the umpire. Usually when he strikes out on a called strike, he gets a disgusted look, shakes his head, and walks off. But this time he gave the ump an earful – well deserved if the tape didn’t lie.

Ausmus continues on his no-hitting streak. He’s only hit in one game so far this season (game 2 when he went 2 for 3). Otherwise, zip. Cute little leg kick, but no hits.

Notes on the Other Good Guys:

The Nats lost to the Braves, 11-2. With shutout losses in 2 out of the previous 3 games, the Nats aren’t looking too good.

Boston beat the Yankees, in a game that kicked off with the World Series ring and banner ceremony.

Notes on the Other Bad Guys:

Cubbies lost, 1-0, to San Diego. Wahahahaha.

St. Louis has the day off.

Final123456789RHE

Houston 1000001204 91

N.Y. Mets « 00000305x8131

W: R. Hernandez (1-0) L: R. Springer (0-1)

==============================================================================

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2005 (Game 7) - Houston @ New York Mets

NY 1, Houston 0

It was a lonnnnnnnnnng pitchers’ duel to the bottom of the 11th inning, when the Mets won, 1-0. Roger Clemens was brilliant: Seven shutout innings, 2 hits, 9 Ks, 1 BB on 94 pitches. Fast ball didn’t seem as fast as usual, but good slider. Struck out the side in the 3rd. Left the game with an ERA of 0.64.

Unfortunately, the Mets pitcher Kaz Ishii was just about a mirror image. The Astros couldn’t score on him -- or on any of his replacements, despite loading the bases in the 10th inning. The Astros relievers did great too – well, right up until Wheeler gave up the winning run. Qualls pitched nearly perfectly in the 8-9th innings, and Franco/Wheeler were fine in the 10th.

Wheeler blew it in the 11th. But I’m not sure why he was still pitching. I wish that Garner had brought in Lidge, when a runner got into scoring position, or maybe even when Wheeler walked the leadoff batter. Lidge is rested (hasn’t pitched since Sunday), and had plenty of opportunity for warming up over several innings. Maybe after so many innings, he was worn out from warming up! Just kidding; the kid’s a power mower. Nothing says the Good Guys would have ever scored, and there’s a limit to how many innings Lidge can pitch (I think!). But maybe they would have gotten another chance.

Reminds me of a game I attended in the Astrodome 37 years ago this week– April 15, 1968 (the month before Jeff Bagwell was born!). Astros 1, Mets 0 – in 24 innings. The Astros won when Bob Aspromonte hit a grounder through the Mets shortstop’s legs, scoring the Astros’ Jewish player of that time, Norm Miller, on the error. I actually did not see that play, since Dad took us home at midnight, after the 18th inning. (And Mom was upset that he kept us out that late.) I guess I should be thankful that if the Astros were going to end up losing tonight, at least I didn’t have to stay up until 2 AM to see it. But still, they might have won in 24. I wonder if Lidge would still be pitching? Or maybe one of the rookies, coming in from the outfield to pitch in the 22th inning?

Well, anyway, bummer. For Clemens not to get a win on such a fantastic start is criminal. (I’m sure that Ishii feels the same way about not getting a decision, but at least his team won.) So the Fucking Mets take the series, even if the Astros beat them tomorrow night. I mean, even WHEN…

High points:

Clemens totally rocks.

Biggio got a double to continue his hitting streak, which dates back to the first game of the season.

Bagwell got a funny payback in the 8th for his bad umpire call from Monday’s game. Qualls threw a pickoff to him, and he tagged runner Marlon Anderson for an out. That is, the umpire called Anderson out, but in the replay (shown 27 times, with complaints from the indignant Mets TV commentators), it sure looked like Bagwell never actually laid a glove on him. Don’t ask, don’t tell.

Disappointments:

Biggio was hit on his right forearm, batting in the 9th, resulting in several minutes of laying on the field, an ugly swelling bruise on his arm, and many impressive facial grimaces. The NY fans, thinking that he had actually swung (he didn’t according to the replay), booed him. It didn’t stop him from trying to steal; he made it to second when Bagwell grounded out, but failed to score. Garner took him out after the inning.

Luke Skywalker came in in the 10th, after Biggio was taken out – Burke went to 2nd, and Luke took his place in left field. Came up to bat with the bases loaded and 2 down. A great chance for heroics – but he struck out. (I’m glad it was Luke, and not Bagwell again!)

Bagwell did get one of the rare hits of the game (each team got 4), but went 1-5 (2 Ks), and missed a couple of opportunities to help the Good Guys with an RBI. Bagwell’s batting .231, not a big-bang start to the season. He’s streaky, so I expect some binge batting soon.

Freshman fielding: Taveras and Burke almost crashed with Everett in the first inning, fielding a fly ball. Everett caught it so no harm done.

Ausmus is now 2 for 21 this season, and both of the hits were back in the second game.

Home plate ump (Paul Nauert) sure made a lot of iffy calls (if you believe the replay on the birds eye camera). Didn’t seem to help either team disproportionately but the players seemed kind of confused about the strike zone. I think 5 Astros players struck out looking (including Bagwell again in his first at-bat – that must have been a bummer after the bad call strikeout on Monday).

Notes on the Other Good Guys:

The Nats beat Atlanta, 11-4, second win in two days -- to win their first series against the Braves.

Notes on the Other Bad Guys:

Cubbies split a double header with the Padres; both games were 8-3.

The Reds beat the Cards (WOO HOO), 6-5, after letting them win yesterday.

Milwaukee won again. The Brewers are now a half-game over the Astros in the NL Central. But it’s still against the Pirates. Does that count?

Final 11th12345678910 11 R H E

Houston 0000000000 00 4 1

N.Y. Mets « 000000000011 4 0

W: M. DeJean (1-0) L: D. Wheeler (0-1)

==============================================================================

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2005 (Game 8) - Houston @ New York Mets

NY 4, Houston 3

Bar Mitzvah party for the F-ing Mets tonight: The last time they screwed the Astros out of a whole 3-game series in Shea was April 1992.

For the third night in a row, the Astros got excellent starting pitching, and the relievers lost it for them. Brandon Backe pitched 6.1 innngs, giving up 5 hits, 1 ER, 4 Ks and 2 BBs, before leaving the game with a couple of guys on base. Franco came in and let the guys score, dumping another 2 ER on Backe, who didn’t get a decision. Then Wheeler came in and let Franco’s runner come in. To be fair – it was a ground ball with a very bad hop and a fielding error by Lamb.

Seems to be a pattern here: When you see Lidge on the mound in a game, the Astros win. When you don’t they lose. Hmmmmmm…..

High points:

Backe helped out at the plate as much as on the mound – hitting a triple and scoring in the 2nd, then hitting an RBI single in the 6th. He started out as a position player, not a pitcher – and bats like one.

Biggio, who was expected to sit out a couple of games with his injured arm, was 2 for 4. He hit a double in his first at-bat, scoring on Luke Skywalker’s single. That extends Bidge’s hitting streak to 8 games – all 8 games. That was Biggio’s 5th double of the season, tying him for the NL lead.

Luke Skywalker was 3 for 4 (all singles) with good clutch hitting – the first one with the bases loaded in the 1st (his first Major League RBI!). He also got a stolen base – another first for him.

Bagwell was 2 for 5, but neither of his two singles helped the cause by scoring a run. Another very iffy called strike three; he looked very disgruntled but didn’t say anything to the umpire this time. (Monday’s tantrum was a real aberration for him.) Meanwhile, at first base, he got another lucky tag on Marlon Anderson tonight – another case with a bunch of replays and skeptical (Mets) announcers.

In the only good reliever news, Chad Harville pitched practically Lidgerly in the 8th – gave up a hit, then struck out 3 in a row.

Disappointments:

The Astros are getting the hits (10 tonight), but leaving way too many guys on base – left the bases loaded in the 1st and 3rd – both times Ausmus came up to bat and made outs. They left 2 on base in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and one in scoring position in the 8th. Any one of those runs would have tied the game and given the Astros another chance. This game just should not have been this close; the Good Guys should be running up a big bill. The Astros are just about last place for runs scored this year.

The relievers just aren’t sharp enough to make up the difference. Franco is still holding onto a very misleading 0.0 ERA – he lets other pitchers’ runners score, and they get stuck with the ERs. Isn’t there a stat that shows how many runners you keep from scoring?

Ausmus continues to not hit, abysmally – he’s now 2 for 24 (.083), and left 6 runners stranded tonight. Everett isn’t in much better shape, average-wise, but at least he has a couple of RBIs.

Notes on the Other Good Guys:

The Nats beat Arizona in their home opener, 5-3, with George W there to throw out the ceremonial first ball – probably thinking that the “W” on their caps was for him.

Notes on the Other Bad Guys:

The rest of the NL Central was napping today.

Final123456789RHE

Houston 1100010003100

N.Y. Mets « 10000030x4 8 1

W: M. Matthews (1-0) L: J. Franco (0-1) S: B. Looper (1)