Friday, September 23, 2005

This just in: Clemens will miss his next start on Saturday. Astacio will start in his place. Just heard this from the Astros announcers. I guess Clemens's hammy in acting up again. Damn. Better safe than sorry, I guess. We need Clemens healthy.

Astros at Cubs, Friday, 9/23:

CF Taveras
2B Biggio
3B Ensberg
1B Berkman
RF Lane
LF Burke
SS Everett
C Chavez
P Wandy

SS Neifi
2B Walker
1B Lee
3B Garciaparra
RF Burnitz
C Barrett
LF Murton
CF Patterson
P Rusch

Burnitz has been a bust for the Cubs. Sure has 23 homers and 84 RBI, but his averages (.263 / .328 / .445) are less than stellar. As bad as Burnitz has been, Patterson has been worse. He seems to swing wildly at everything, and his numbers (.221 / .258 / .361) show it. Ugh. Murton has good stats -- a .950 OPS -- in 11 at-bats. And Garciaparra, after an awful start and a bad groin injury, has an .848 OPS in the second half, most at third base. Let's do it.

7 comments:

Andy said...

Ensberg lines a two-out single to right, but Berkman strikes out on a full count to end the inning.

C'mon Wandy.

Andy said...

Wandy had a rought first two innings... gave up four hits and a walk in the first, giving up three runs right off the bat.

Biggio homers in the third, but not much else.

3-1 Cubs, bottom of thr fourth.

Andy said...

Lee and Nomar are killing us. Cubs go up 5-1, scoring twice more in the bottom of the fourth.

But the Astros come roaring back in the fifth with a little help from JOse Macias and Corey Patterson. Scott grounds to second, but the ball glances off Macias's glove for a single. After a Taveras pop out, Biggio lines a double to left, scoring Scott. Ensberg flies out but Berkman delivers with a line shot to center. Lane singles and Burke squirts a little Texas Leaguer into center. Patterson gets his glove on it but can't hold on.

5-4 Cubs... Let's go!

Andy said...

OH man. Still 5-4 Cubs... Top eighth... Lane appears to pop out to left, but the wind keeps in shallow and neither Murton nor Neifi can get to it.... Lane gets to second... Goes to third on a Scott Williamson wild pitch.

Burke, who was at 0-2 trying to lay down a bunt for Lane, works a walk and Everett lays down a bunt, but it's not a squeeze... I don't know about this call... BAgwell pinch hits and gets plunked by Williamson.

So it's bases loaded, one out and JOSE VIZCAINO pinch hitting against Roberto Novoa. Hold on tight.

Andy said...

Wow. Viz grounds to Lee, who throws home for the force. Yikes. Two outs.

Andy said...

SHIT. Taveras strikes out. End of inning. NO runs. HOW do you score no runs with a runner on third and NO OUTS!?!? YOu don't freaking give away an out, even if it is Adam Everett. Garner's an idiot. Any ground ball scores a run.. who cares if it's adouble play? We'd tie the game!!! DAmmit, Garner, you suck. We're still down 5-4. UGhhhh...

Andy said...

We lost. Biggio singles into the hole to lead of the ninth... Ensberg strikes out... Berkman grounds out to second but Biggio was running on the pitch and got to second instead of a game-ending GIDP. Lamb pinch hits and Ks.

Wow. Garner made a terrible move in the eight. Runner on first and third with NONE OUT and he sacrifices with Everett. No, not a suicide squeeze, just a sac bunt to move Burke to second. How dumb. So stupid.

Let's think here: what are the odds you score a run if you swing away here... Odds have got to be better than 50 percent. If you GIVE AWAY AN OUT, the odds have got to be around 30 percent to csore any runs. Yes, a single will score two runs instead of one, but you;ve got to score one ruin first! GOD, what a dumb move.

C'mon Cincy.