Houston Astros vs L.A. Dodgers Game III Preview: Stros Go for Sweep

Houston has already won this series and has a chance for their first series sweep of the season and their first 3 game win streak.
 
Tonight’s 9 versus the righty Billingsley:
Matsui
Tejada
Berkman
Lee
Blum
Erstad
Rodriguez
Bourn
Wandy
 
Darin Erstad will get his first start of the season for Hunter Pence, who hit a monster two run jack last night, for his first start of the season.
 
Can Wandy and the offense keep it up for the sweep?
 
Let’s go Wandy!
Let’s go Stros!
Post info: By cardsjason on April 23rd, 2009
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Houston Astros Take Game One, End Dodgers’ Streak

Boy was this a long game.
 
Houston 8
Dodgers 5
 
After Ortiz struggled through the first I thought we were gonna be in trouble tonight.  However, Ortiz battled and got his first win in nearly two years.
 
The Astros bullpen did well aside from Jeff Fulchino giving up a 2 run shot to Manny who actually didn’t stand at the plate.
 
Carlos Lee hit a monster 2 run shot and Houston performed much better with RISP this evening.
 
Jose Valverde came in with a the run lead and gritted through the inning to get his first save. Gutsy performance by Jose.
 
Good performance up and down the line up tonight. Hunter Pence was the only Astros to not reach base.
 
Matsui 1-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB
Tejada 2-5, 3 RBI,  R, K
Berkman 1-4, RBI, K
Lee 2-4, 2 Run HR, 2 RBI, R
Pence 0-4, K
Michaels 1-3, 2B, BB
Rodriguez 2-4, 3 R
Keppinger 2-3, R, HBP
Ortiz 0-1, Sac Bunt
Bourn 0-0, Sac Bunt
 
Matsui, Tejada, and Lee were the stand outs for tonights offense but Rodriguez and Keppinger were also major cogs as well.
 
Pitching Lines:
Russ Ortiz
5 IP, 5 BB, 3 Hits, 3 ER, 2 K
Wesley Wright
1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER
Jeff Fulchino
1 IP, 2 H, BB, HR, 2 ER, BB
LeHawk
1IP, 1 H, 0 ER
Jose Valverde
1 IP, 1H, 1 Error, BB, 2 K, first save
 
Good News: Haven’t been able to say this much this season but the offense.  Great job getting key hits and driving in runs, giving Ortiz his first win of the season.  Carlos Lee hit his second home run in as many games.
 
Bad News: Seems like Houston has left the bases loaded at least once the last few games.  Bullpen was a little rough but better.
 
Russ Ortiz W (1-0)
Jose Valverde S (1)
 
Tomorrow Houston has their ace on the mound in Roy Oswalt and he will face Randy Wolf. Game time 7:05 Central
 
Great win tonight for Houston who end the Dodgers streak.
 
Houston (5-9)
L.A. (10-4)
Post info: By cardsjason on April 21st, 2009
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Houston Astros Vs Los Angeles Dodgers Game I Preview

This is going to be Houston’s toughest game of the series as far as who they face on the mound.  Clayton Kershaw has been lights out so far this season.  I have some optimism about tonight’s game however. 
 
Why, you ask?  Because Houston played really well against good teams last year, ie Cubs, Rays, and Red Sox.  I think they will step up tonight and put up some numbers for Ortiz.
 
Do I think they will win? No.  Ortiz is going up against a tough line up and a tough pitcher.  If the stros pull out a W tonight I’ll be one happy camper.
 
Tonight’s 9:
Matsui
Tejada
Berkman
Lee
Pence
Michaels
Rodriguez
Keppinger
Ortiz
No Bourn? Considering the lefty righty match up I guess it  makes sense.  Also glad to see Coop is leaving Pence in the 5 hole. Take that JJO.
 
Let’s go Stros! Come on Russ!
 
Post info: By cardsjason on April 21st, 2009
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Houston Astros vs L.A. Dodgers Series Preview

First off, let me say that I really don’t like Manny Ramirez.  Not because he is such a good hitter and is a tough out, but because I don’t like the way he plays the game. 
 
If I was a pitcher and Manny stood at home plate after hitting a home run I would ask the umpire for a new ball and bean him as he ran around the bases.
 
That being said, here is a look at your series pitching match ups:
 
Tuesday:
Russ Ortiz (0-0 6.23) vs Clayton Kershaw (0-0 1.50)
 
Earlier this week Steve Phillips was comparing Kershaw to Sandy Koufax on Baseball Tonight which could spell trouble for our struggling offense.
 
Wednesday:
Roy Oswalt (0-2 4.26) vs Randy Wolf (1-1 3.93)
 
This is Randy’s first start back at MMP after leaving the Astros in the offseason.  Maybe Houston can get Roy his first win.
 
Thursday:
Wandy Rodriguez (1-1 1.89) vs Chad Billingsley (3-0 2.84)
 
Wandy needs to keep up his pace and keep the struggling offense in the game.  Although, you can’t ask for much more from our starting staff.
 
Astros can win this series if: If they can keep Manny Ramirez from hurting them and somehow figure out Kershaw.  Also, Jeff Keppinger will get starts in the first two games if he stays healthy.  He will need to bring some production to the line up.
 
Astros won’t win this series if: They can’t score runs and their bullpen doesn’t get it together.  L.A. is on a roll coming in to Houston so the Astros are going to have to step it up.
My series prediction: Lance Berkman heats up and Hunter Pence takes tonight’s loss personally and starts being productive in the 5 hole.  Houston takes series two games to one.  The one loss to Kershaw, sorry Russ.
 
I’m going to be at the game Friday night when Houston takes on the Brew Crew and I personally can’t wait.  Hopefully Houston is 7-9 come Friday.
Post info: By cardsjason on April 21st, 2009
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Houston Astros Waste Good Start by Hampton, Drop Series to Reds

Reds 4
Astros 3
Mike Hampton pitched 6 + innings giving up 3 earned. 
 
Geoff Geary came in for Mike Hampton with a runner on 2nd in the top of the 7th and proceeded to give up a single and a walk to load the bases for Joey Votto. 
 
Tim Byrdak was brought in to face Votto and gave up a 2 run double.  Bourn, Tejada, and Rodriguez teamed up to gun down Hairston at the plate preventing him from scoring on the double as well.
 
Houston had a great opportunity to tie the ball game in the bottom of the 8th with Berkman at the plate and runners at 1st and 3rd after a lead off double by Jason Michaels and a walk by Miguel Tejada.  Berkman couldn’t come through and eventually Hunter Pence was struck out on a called 3rd strike to end the inning with the bases loaded.  Hunter is 0-4 this year with the bases loaded.
 
Matsui 1-3, K, sac bunt.
Tejada 0-3, BB, GIDP
Berkman 1-4, HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
Lee 1-3, HR, BB, 1 RBI, 1 R
Pence 2-4, K, R, 4 LOB
Blum 3-4
Rodriguez 1-4, RBI, GIDP
Bourn 1-4, K
Hampton  0-2
Michaels 1-1, 2B
 
Pitching line:
Hampton 6.1 IP, 8 H, BB, 5K, 3 ER
Geary 0.0 + IP, 1 H, BB, 1 ER
Byrdak .2 IP, 1 H, 1K
LaHawk 1 IP, BB, HBP, K
Valverde 1 IP, K

Good news:  Berkman and Lee each hit homers, Berkmans first from the left side.  Mike Hampton pitched 6 strong innings.

 
Bad news: Houston has managed to blow 3 out of 4 great starts from their starting pitching. The club continues to struggle with RISP. Hunter Pence left 4 on tonight and Berkman failed to bring home a gimme RBI.  Geary is not pitching well right now either, earning his second loss tonight.
 
Geary (0-2)
Arroyo (3-0)
 
Houston (4-9)
Post info: By cardsjason on April 20th, 2009
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Houston Astros Media Round Up 4/20

Richard Justice chips in on the Drew Sutton/Jeff Keppinger trade.
 
Brian McTaggart gives some exciting info on the pitching staff at Lexington.
 
Fan blogger Chip Bailey takes a look at Wandy’s numbers in April urging readers not to get their hopes up.
 
Finally, thanks Big League Stew, for bringing this video of a Michael Bourn interview during spring training to my attention. Pretty funny stuff.  Mike is a lady’s man.
Post info: By cardsjason on April 20th, 2009
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Houston Astros Lose Game III to Cincinnati Reds

0-11 with RISP.  Is there anything else I really need to say?  Houston’s offense has been a ghost with RISP this year it seems.
 
Good News: Felipe Paulino.  I’ll go as far as to say he earned himself another start, especially with Moehler most likely missing his next start.
 
Bad News: Our offense.  Anyone seen Lance Berkman lately?
 
The bad call may have cost Houston some runs but that’s baseball and this wont be the last time it happens.  Sometimes it’s in your favor, sometimes it isn’t.
 
Houston (4-8)
Geary L
Post info: By cardsjason on April 19th, 2009
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Some Reactions to the Extension of Cecil Cooper

Richard Justice thinks Houston is smart for extending Coop.
 
JJO, who has been taking the Astros to task recently, thinks this will give Cooper some breathing room.  Check out the article for quotes from Miggy as well as Bourn.
 
Chip Bailey has his take here.
 
I like Cooper.  I think anyone who can manage a club with such a terrible run differential as the Astros had last year, combined with the question marks surrounding our pitching staff, and almost get them to the post season deserves an extension.
 
People say Cooper has lost the vets in the clubhouse and I really hope that this is not the case, and if it is, this will help out the situation some.
 
Who thinks Cooper lasts through the season?
 
Here’s to hoping.
Post info: By cardsjason on April 18th, 2009
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Houston Astros Defeat Cincinnati Reds 7-0 on Two-Hit Effort from Rodriguez

One of those games where you would have taken some of these runs last night but a great win for Houston.
 
Wandy Rodriguez pitched another great game getting his first win of the season.
 
Geoff Blum led the squad today with 3 RBI.
 
Bourn 1-5, 1 H, 1 R, 3 SO, 4 LOB, SB
Tejada 1-4, 2 R, SB
Berkman 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 LOB (Berkman has as many strike outs this season as he does walks. 11)
Lee 3-3, 3 Hits, 1 RBI, 2 R, BB
Pence 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 K, 4 LOB, SB
Blum 3-4, 3 RBI, 1 R,
Rodriguez, 2-4, 2 RBI,
Smith 0-4, 2 K (not looking good for Jason)
Erstad 1-1 (first hit of the season and remains as the only bench player not to have a start)
Michaels 0-1
 
Great game out of the offense today, now if they could only put up some runs with some consistency.
 
Pitching Lines
Wan-Rod!!
7 IP, 2 H (that’s right, 2 hits), 2 BB, 10 K (ties a career high for Wandy, who got 10 K’s during a previous contest against the Reds)
Sampson 1IP, 1 BB
Fulchino 1IP
 
0 earned for Houston pitchers tonight.
 
Good news: Wandy freaking Rodriguez is pitching like the ace of the staff right now.  That’s 3 solid starts for the little lefty who got his first win tonight. 
 
Houston scored 7 runs tonight also a good sign.  Carlos Lee had a great game tonight but the offensive mvp goes to Blummer who got his first RBI of the season tonight and added 2 more to give him 3 on the day.
 
Bad News: Houston stranded 9 runners on base.
 
Something has to be wrong with Lance Berkman.  He hasn’t done anything from the left side this year and he already has 11 K’s.
 
Wandy Rodriguez W (1-1)
 
Tomorrow will have Felipe Paulino facing Edinson Volquez at 1:05 Central.
 
Houston (4-7)
Cincinnati (5-5)
Post info: By cardsjason on April 18th, 2009
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Houston Astros Pick Up Cecil Cooper’s Option

This is all I got from chron.com and JJO:

“Hoping to lift doubts about Cecil Cooper being a lame duck, the Astros pick up the manager’s extension for the 2010 season.

“This is so we can move forward,” Astros owner Drayton McLane said before the team’s press conference with Cooper.”

Not much from the chron but interesting indeed.  I was hoping they would do this so Coop could relax a little bit.  Hopefully this will somehow translate to some more W’s.

Post info: By cardsjason on April 18th, 2009
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