Houston Astros @ Milwaukee Brewers GameThread, Jul 26, 2008 6:05 PM CDT

Game Thread #104: Astros (47-55) at Brewers (59-44)

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 26, 2008 4:10 PM CDT in Game Threads

Houston Astros @ Milwaukee Brewers

Opportunity knocks again--the Marlins beat the Cubs in 12 innings this afternoon, after Carlos Marmol gave up a run in his sixth inning of work when Hermida and Cantu came up with back to back doubles off of Chad Gaudin.

The matchup tonight is Brandon Backe and Dave Bush. Bush hasn't pitched since the Truman administration, while Backe hasn't pitched well since...okay, he threw 7 shutout innings 13 days ago, but that was against the Nationals. Amazingly, this is the fourth time this season we're facing Backe--we're 2-1 against him so far in '08.

Game time is 6:05 CT, and here's the BR Game Preview.

Go Brewers!

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Allow me to suggest

“Backe hasn’t pitched well since the Dewey administration.”

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 4:16 PM CDT 0 recs

Boy howdy,

It’s feeling rather presidential around here…er, I guess that one’s Gore-Presidential, but close enough.

"I think this decision could go either way," Baseball Tonight legal analyst John Kruk said.

by ZTK Always on Vacation on Jul 26, 2008 4:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

clever, very clever.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 26, 2008 4:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 4:22 PM CDT 0 recs

Every time I see the L flag I feel like untucking my shirt.

by juggernaut400 on Jul 26, 2008 4:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Fun fact

Yesterday was the first time all season the Cubs lost at home while giving up three or fewer runs. They obviously couldn’t wait to double that number.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
"We're only playing .575 ball. That isn't championship stuff." - Hal Trosky, 1940

by TheJay on Jul 26, 2008 5:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

That sweep is getting harder to assume

Even math is sliding towards the door muttering about needing to find cooler people to hang out with.

by Getting Yosted on Jul 26, 2008 6:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Classy organization/fans

the Chicago ninth, Mark DeRosa slid head-first to beat a throw from shortstop Hanley Ramirez, and was called out at first by umpire Rob Drake. First-base coach Matt Sinatro slammed his helmet to the ground and argued the call, and was immediately ejected.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella then came out and also was tossed by Drake. It was Piniella’s second ejection this season; he also was tossed June 29, and also by Drake. Fans in the bleachers threw garbage onto the field, briefly delaying the game. Hitting coach Gerald Perry took over the first-base coaching duties, and bench coach Alan Trammell subbed for Piniella.

(bold by me)

I mean that screams class right? Untucking shirts and admiring home runs is just the lowest of the barrel.

Visit my baseball blog ...or else!

by dixieflatline on Jul 26, 2008 4:26 PM CDT 0 recs

And the frosting on the cake is that after showing a variety of replays, the ump had the call right.

by ol Pete on Jul 26, 2008 4:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

Why the heck did he slide if it was a throw from short?

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by jihad on Jul 26, 2008 4:32 PM CDT up 0 recs

grit / scrap

by warwick5s on Jul 26, 2008 4:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

there was a penny on the bag?

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jul 26, 2008 4:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

To derail the train?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 4:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

Marmol 35 more pitches today

I thought “arm falling off” was a figure of speech, but that theory could be tested if that keeps up, especially with the after-game desk lifting sessions.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by jihad on Jul 26, 2008 4:30 PM CDT 0 recs

He looked pretty good too. Not awesome, but he was getting his fastball over.

by ol Pete on Jul 26, 2008 4:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

The thing is the Cubs are still like 90% to make the playoffs according to BP

There just is no need to keep working Marmol to death. Even if they don’t win the division the WC looks very winnable.

Visit my baseball blog ...or else!

by dixieflatline on Jul 26, 2008 5:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

But without Marmol

Who is closing games?

Ryan Braun: He loves it.

by SRB on Jul 26, 2008 5:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

Samardzija, obviously

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 6:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Valverde vs LH/RH

These numbers will help explain why Yost kept Durham and Branyan on the bench in the ninth inning of last night’s game.

Valverde vs LH .190
Valverde vs RH .306

by statsllc on Jul 26, 2008 4:32 PM CDT 0 recs

Kapler then?

by ol Pete on Jul 26, 2008 4:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

He was on deck to hit for Villanueva

by statsllc on Jul 26, 2008 4:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

In Valverde's career his splits are exactly equal

if that’s why Ned didn’t make the move, he wasn’t looking at a large enough sample.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by jihad on Jul 26, 2008 4:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

Reasoning like that must be why Dusty Baker continues to use Ken Griffey in the number three hole in the batting order instead of dropping him to sixth or seventh.

by statsllc on Jul 26, 2008 4:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

Fine, 05-07 splits

vs. LHB: .227/.309/.374
vs. RHB: .211/.279/.308

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 4:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Jason Kendall as RHB, 05-07: .271/.340/.325
Ray Durham as RHB, 05-07: .276/.352/.504

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 4:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

Durham would have hit lefty against Valverde

by statsllc on Jul 26, 2008 4:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

But you just "proved" that righties hit better

As long as we’re playing hypotheticals, why not?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 4:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

So you are saying Yost should have used Durham and have him hit RH? Now that would have really casued some debate. I think I would have enjoyed that scenario.

by statsllc on Jul 26, 2008 4:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

If Valverde supposedly is much worse vs RHB and the choice is between Durham and Kendall, why not?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 4:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

FWIW (not much), Durham has 12 career PAs vs RHP as a RHB

.222/.417/.333

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 4:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

His two hits

are two more than either Branyan (0-5) or Kendall (0-4).

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jul 26, 2008 4:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

why not bring in rivera for kendall

"Cubs fans boo again – 99% of these people can’t see the plate." -Ueck

by dux2bux on Jul 26, 2008 5:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

No one wanted to risk getting cut by the flying glass

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 5:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

speaking of last nights game

I wondered about Riske rather than Villy. In the post-game I’m pretty sure it was McCalvy who asked something along the lines of “you brought in Riske to get a grounder?” Ned’s answer was something like “yeah, a grounder, a pop-up, or a strike out. Riske is a veteran guy – blah – blah.”

by ol Pete on Jul 26, 2008 4:41 PM CDT 0 recs

An interesting sidebar to Parra’s outing. There were no putouts by a Brewer outfielder until Riske entered the game.

by statsllc on Jul 26, 2008 4:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

I was wondering

How deep were those sac flies?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 5:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

Deep enough to score the runners from third base.

by statsllc on Jul 26, 2008 6:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

Uh, thanks?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 6:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

heh.

Danny: Which one is the amazing Yen?
Rusty: He’s the little Chinese guy.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jul 26, 2008 6:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think this is the less defensible move...

I definately would’ve brought Villy in then rather than Riske. Or gasp even Gagne to try to get the strikeouts. But we carping because it didn’t work out.

I think in the other situation, who can you really trust off the bench? It seems like Branyan and Kapler are falling back to earth, and Hammy looked awful at the plate in his start last night. I think Yost just plain trusted Kendall more at that point. I still think that he should’ve rolled the dice with Branyan for the home run ball, but I don’t think it’s worth roasting the guy over.

"I think this decision could go either way," Baseball Tonight legal analyst John Kruk said.

by ZTK Always on Vacation on Jul 26, 2008 4:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

Excuse me

Hammy’s start was two nights ago…in a game that I should remember just a bit better.

"I think this decision could go either way," Baseball Tonight legal analyst John Kruk said.

by ZTK Always on Vacation on Jul 26, 2008 4:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

We have a player named Hammy?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 5:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

Let me try to explain

durHAM

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by jihad on Jul 26, 2008 5:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

at least that's what I think it means

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by jihad on Jul 26, 2008 5:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

Haha, I know

I’ve just never heard that nickname for him before. Do they really call him that?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ned probably does

“Durhamy” doesn’t flow off of the tongue

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by jihad on Jul 26, 2008 5:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's why you say Durhmy

Emphasis on the “Dur”

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
"We're only playing .575 ball. That isn't championship stuff." - Hal Trosky, 1940

by TheJay on Jul 26, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

Pitchers spot was due up to hit.

Maybe they hoped for the best with Riske. Leaving Villy to pitch the 8th and 9th. I doubt torres was up for another outing if the Brewers were to have taken the lead.

by Flag Up on Jul 26, 2008 6:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

I was thinking that, too

But they could’ve double-switched Kapler in for Hart.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
"We're only playing .575 ball. That isn't championship stuff." - Hal Trosky, 1940

by TheJay on Jul 26, 2008 6:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Later tonight

Webb vs. Lincecum in San Francisco. This has 1-0 written all over it. (Unless Jeff predicts it, of course.)

Also, Jorge De La Russa, who some of us (ahem, me) were sad to see traded away, takes his 6.71 ERA into Cincinnati against the Reds.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jul 26, 2008 4:54 PM CDT 0 recs

Does JDLR have some pitching-change fetish or drunk driving habit that I'm unaware of?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 26, 2008 4:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

Definitely a pitching change fetish

That’s the real reason he struggles to go five innings.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
"We're only playing .575 ball. That isn't championship stuff." - Hal Trosky, 1940

by TheJay on Jul 26, 2008 5:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Top of the order tonight

Durham leading off and playing second, Counsell at short. Say what you will about Durham, it’s odd to see a number like .377 in the OBP column for a Brewers leadoff hitter.

Did you know that Brandon Backe has the fifth-highest OPS this season among the eighteen hitters in the starting lineups?

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
"We're only playing .575 ball. That isn't championship stuff." - Hal Trosky, 1940

by TheJay on Jul 26, 2008 6:06 PM CDT 0 recs

Yes to one and no to two.

by ol Pete on Jul 26, 2008 6:08 PM CDT up 0 recs