Well, crap.

Getting shutout in 2 straight games at home against the Pirates sucks. This reminds me of the beginning of the year. Our lineup yesterday included Chris Burke, Eric Bruntlett, Jose Vizcaino, Adam Everett, and Brad Ausmus. That's all that needs to be said.

Some late information:

Astros LF/2B Chris Burke was not part of a proposed deal that would have brought Mariners lefthanders Jamie Moyer and Ron Villone to Houston. The Mariners' package likely would have included RH reliever Chad Harville, RH starter Ezequiel Astacio and at least one other prospect, but Moyer nixed the trade by invoking his no-trade rights. . . .

Wow. Harville, Astacio, and one other prospect for Moyer and Villone? Unless the other prospect was Hunter Pence or Brooks Conrad, that sounds like a great deal for the 'Stros, even if Moyer and Villone are both rentals. Harville can't throw strikes and Astacio only gives up home runs. Ok, that's a little unfair, but at the moment both look unlikely to even be average major leaguers, and plugging in Moyer and Villone to a rotation that includes two rookies with ERA's around 6 would have been real nice. Can't fault Moyer for rejecting the trade, though - he's 43, and his family likes Seattle.

Also, Roger Clemens wins Game 7 of the World Series against the A's this fall, and it's offseason time, one guy I hope we go after is Bengie Molina. Yes, that Bengie Molina. (Assuming we can't land Ramon Hernandez.) He's a free agent, and yeah, he's 31, but he rips on lefties, is solid defensively, and blocks a lot of balls that might get past other catchers because he's wide. Yep, he's your big boy. Ideally I would play him against LHP and sign another lefty catcher cheap to play against most RHP's. Catcher seems like a good position to platoon as much as possible, anyway. Maybe someone like Mark Johnson of the A's?

I'm flying home to Houston tonight, and I should be going to the Andy Pettitte - Greg Maddux matchup tomorrow. That's a heck of a game; we need to start winning a lot from here on out. And we need some offense. If Garner goes with Taveras / Biggio / Berkman / Ensberg / Lane / Palmeiro / Everett / Ausmus for the rest of the year, I'll take it. Every time I see Burke, Bruntlett, or Lamb, it makes me cringe.

Glendon Rusch vs. Wandy Rodriguez tonight at 8:05.

Some of the Astros' numbers against Rusch:

Lance Berkman, 5-25, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 715 OPS
Craig Biggio, 9-40, 1 3B, 4 BB, 586 OPS
Brad Ausmus, 6-27, 1 2B, 2 HR (!), 731 OPS
Morgan Ensberg, 9-22, 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 BB, 1000 OPS
Adam Everett, 2-13, 1 2B, 0 BB, 385 OPS (ouch)
Jason Lane, 4-14, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 946 OPS (please let him start)

Let's go 'Stros!