Tag: Houston Astros

Categories
MLB General

The Full Count: Clemens now 0-2

1. Outdueled–again: Roger Clemens hasn’t had much luck in his first two starts. On June 22 he took a loss to the Twins even though he pitched decently. Last night he pitched six innings, allowing only 2 runs (1 earned), but took the loss again in a 4-0 defeat to Detroit. That pushed his record on the year to 0-2 despite a fantastic 2.38 ERA. This is rather reminiscent of last season, when the Rocket led the majors in ERA but was just 13-8. This time Clemens was outdone by the Tigers’ Nate Robertson, who is having a quiet yet awesome season. Robertson is 8-3 with a 3.14 ERA (3rd in the AL) after his 7 inning, shutout performance against the Astros. Though teammate Justin Verlander gets more attention, Robertson has bested him so far in most statistical categories. The Tigers are on a roll, with 15 wins in their last 17 games and a 10-1 record against the National League. The `Stros, meanwhile, have fallen behind Milwaukee in the NL Central.

2. Burnett is back: Toronto’s AJ Burnett, in his second start after a long time on the DL, finally showed the Blue Jays why they signed him for $55 million. He pitched an efficient complete-game shutout of the Washington Nationals, throwing only 92 pitches. It was the most successful by far of four total Burnett starts this season, and it lowered his ERA almost 2 full points to 3.24. Jays outfielder Alex Rios, who had struggled mildly after exploding to a .360 average through May, got back on track with a 3-4, 2 RBI performance. For the Nationals, Alfonso Soriano continued his June struggles, going 1-4 in the loss. He is hitting just .224 on the month and has lowered his OPS from .950 to .888.

3. The stuggling Bucs: The Pirates are bad enough against the National League. But against the American League, they suck even more. They have lost 12 games in a row, 10 of those coming against AL teams. They even got swept by the Royals, who they are now tied with for the honor of “worst major league team.” Yesterday they lost in Game 1 of a three game set against the White Sox. Next, they’ll face Detroit, meaning the Pirates could go 0-for-the American League very easily. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if they lose 24 games in a row, as they travel to New York and Philadelphia when they return to NL play. And even more bad news: starter Oliver Perez, once thought to be one of the brightest young pitchers in the game, has performed so poorly he was demoted to the bullpen. At least you Pirates fans can go to the All Star game at your beautiful new ballpark. Other than that, there’s not much hope.

4. The other New York-Boston rivalry: The Red Sox sure hate those Yankees, and this week the other New York team, the Mets, travel to town. We’re not sure if the hatred exactly carries over, but anyway, it’s still a very good matchup. Boston took game one of the 3-game set, as rookie Jon Lester picked up the win. In 4 career starts Lester has performed well, with a 3-0 record and a 2.95 ERA in his limited action. Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek, and Alex Gonzalez drove in 2 runs each for Boston in the 9-4 romp. For the Mets, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado each hit their 21st homer of the year. The next two games in the series will each feature great pitching matchups: Martinez vs. Beckett in Game 2 and Glavine vs. Shilling in Game 3.

5. Mr. Baseball: Peter Gammons has probably been the most influential reporter in baseball history, with stints at the Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated, and currently ESPN. But now the world’s brightest baseball mind will be in the hospital for a while, as Gammons suffered a brain aneurysm on Tuesday. He is currently in the intensive care unit and will hopefully be alright. No exact details have been released about the problem, but it must have been sudden as Gammons worked Sunday Night Baseball a few days ago. In a sports world that is filled with mindless talking heads, Gammons is one of the few who stand out and is an insightful and interesting reporter. Again, we hope he’s alright.

Categories
MLB General

The Full Count: Fun in Lexington

1. The Single-A leader in attention-getting: The Lexington Legends have been in the news twice in their lifetime, both times ironically this month. First they were host to Roger Clemens’ first rehab start, and yesterday they hosted one of the wildest tantrums in baseball history. Joe Mikulik, manager of the visiting Asheville Tourists, was just slightly upset about an umpire’s call about a second-base pickoff attempt. When Koby Clemens (yes, that Koby Clemens) was called safe at second, Mikulik ran out of the dugout, argued with the ump, and was ejected. Of course he didn’t stop there, picking up second base and throwing it into the infield, covering home plate with dirt, and throwing bats onto the field. Milkulik said, “I could get two mannequins at Sears and umpire better than what I saw this series.”

2. A comeback for the ages: It was a shame the Chicago White Sox lost to the Houston Astros Sunday night, because if they hadn’t it might have been considered one of the great all-time MLB comebacks. The Astros simply dominated the first 7 innings of this ballgame. Ace Roy Oswalt allowed 2 runs in seven and struck out Jim Thome 3 times. Lance Berkman hit a homer and 3 RBIs. Sox starter Javier Vasquez allowed 9 earned runs, and the Sox trailed at this point 9-2. People were even starting to leave the stands at US Cellular Field. But the performance they missed was legendary. Tadahito Iguchi, the White Sox’s unremarkable second baseman, hit a three-run homer in the eighth that set the score to 9-5. Then Houston closer Brad Lidge came on in the ninth even though it wasn’t a save situation. Two singles, two outs, and a walk brought up Iguchi again. Iguchi homered again, a grand slam that tied up what was once an eight run game. Iguchi’s seven RBI in the last two innings to tie it up would be one of the most memorable individual performances in MLB history had this been the postseason. But it wasn’t, and there was no storybook ending for Chicago. Willie Taveras hit a single in the 13th inning to win the game for Houston. The loss ended a 9-game winning streak for the White Sox.

3. Mr. Excitement: Jose Reyes was struggling about three weeks ago at this time. He was only hitting .246 in the leadoff spot for the Mets, with a measly .308 on-base percentage. But now he has proven himself as one of the best table-setters in the game, as a 13 game hitting streak has increased his average to .302. In June he is hitting .430 with 15 steals, a substantial portion of his major-league leading 34 in the latter category. Yesterday he helped the Mets to a 7-4 win over Toronto, with 4 hits, a homer, and a steal. This is what the Mets have always hoped for from Reyes, who in his first full season last year posted an OBP of just .300. With Reyes’ help the Mets are one of just two NL teams with a winning record in interleague play (the Rockies are the other).

4. Just what the Braves needed: The Braves haven’t been able to buy a win in June, as both their pitching and hitting has floundered. But yesterday they finally found some hope, as first-time starter Chuck James allowed just 3 hits and a run in 8 innings pitched. James, who is considered by one scouting service the #7 prospect in the big leagues, allowed just one hit through seven innings to Tampa. He is filling in for the demoted Jorge Sosa and brings a young talent the Braves desperately need from their pitching staff. The Braves won the game 4-1, and captured their first series win since May 25-28 vs. the Cubs.

5. Pros vs. Joes: The Yankees and Marlins played a doubleheader yesterday, significant because of the $185 million difference in payroll between the teams. It also allowed the Yankees to preview some of their future players when the Marlins dump everyone after winning the 2008 World Series. Anyways, the first game marked the best pitching duel of Sunday, as Mike Mussina took on Dontrelle Willis. Both were excellent, Willis allowing 2 runs and Mussina just one. Johnny Damon’s two run homer allowed the Yankees to take Game 1. But Game 2 was a different story, as the Marlins blanked the Yanks 5-0. Anibal Sanchez, in his first major league start for Florida, won the game with an impressive 5.2 inning performance. The Marlins’ bullpen allowed no hits the rest of the way as the team cruised to victory. In the department of the unordinary, just 6,800 people showed up for Game 2, the lowest total at Yankee Stadium in more than 10 years. It was almost like giving the Marlins home-field advantage, as they are used to those kind of crowds back in Miami.

Categories
MLB General

The Full Count: Liriano steals the show

1. Overshadowed: Roger Clemens, making his first start of the season, got all of the attention before and during last night’s game against the Twins. The home crowd loved him, and so did ESPN, as the network showed montage after montage of him before the game. But in the end, it was the pitcher Clemens was facing who should have got the attention. Francisco Liriano, the Twins’ fantastic rookie pitcher, continued his success this season. He threw 8 innings, allowing just 4 hits and 2 runs. Meanwhile, Clemens was just average. He allowed 2 runs in 5 innings, but was ineffective in working the count. The Rocket threw 100 pitches, three more than Liriano, just 59 of them for strikes. Meanwhile, Liriano improved to 7-1 this season with a 2.17 ERA. Unless he completely fails down the stretch, he should be a leading contender for AL Rookie of the Year. Oh by the way, the Twins won, 4-2.

2. The scoring stops here: The first two games of the White Sox-Cardinals series featured an outstanding 44 combined runs from both sides. How bout Game 3? Not so much on the offensive side. Cardinals pitcher Anthony Reyes, in just the third start of his career, shut down the White Sox the first 6 innings. He allowed no hits during that time to a team that had collected 40 hits the previous two games. But then one swing by Jim Thome changed everything, as he took a ball deep to right field for his 24th homer of the season. The hit was not only all the White Sox needed to win the 1-0 game, but it also was the only hit of the night for the team. Freddy Garcia and Bobby Jenks combined to shut out the Cardinals offense, which included Albert Pujols in the lineup for the first time in 20 days. Pujols went 0-4, and the Cardinals took a sweep from the defending World Champs.

3. A Royal-like performance: What hasn’t already been said about the Braves failures this year, as their recent horrendousness has been one of the top stories in all of baseball. This team just cannot find a way to win, as they have lost 10 in a row. Only the Cubs and Pirates have worse records among all NL teams, their bullpen is the worst in baseball, and only the Brewers, Royals, and Orioles have allowed more runs. And there is no end in sight to the Braves’ failures, at least for this year. They lost again last night to the Blue Jays, 3-2, as Mike Remlinger blew his third save of the year. Meanwhile, AJ Burnett returned to the mound for the first time since April, going 6 decent innings for the Jays. Toronto is only three games back of the Red Sox in the AL East, and if Burnett is successful that gap could close quickly.

4. Not a Royal-like performance: Okay, it’s hard to make anything out of a sweep of the 29th best team in baseball. Unless you’re the 30th best team in baseball. That’s right folks, the Kansas City Royals got a sweep over the Pirates. Now the Royals have won an astounding four games in a row, and their record has improved all the way to 22-49! Last night they won a sloppy 15-7 game over Pittsburgh, with 9 combined unearned runs and 4 combined errors. But at 25 games out of first place, we don’t think the Royals care how they win ballgames.

5. Due punishment: Ozzie Guillen has been out of control recently, to say the least. Not long after sending down a rookie pitcher for not hitting a batter, Guillen was suspended one game after another questionable beanball incident on Tuesday. Ozzie was also fined and sent to sensitivity training for his much-publicized slur against Jay Mariotti. Guillen has not apologized to Mariotti, and it doesn’t seem like he will anytime soon.

Categories
MLB General

The Full Count: He’s back!

Many happy returns: The most highly anticipated return to the mound this year takes place tonight. Fans have waited months to finally see their key starter rejoin their rotation just in time to save them from third-place oblivion. That’s right, folks
… AJ Burnett is back! Kidding. Burnett does return to the mound for the Blue Jays in Atlanta tonight, and a healthy and effective Burnett bolsters the Jays’ rotation; but there’s a slightly more newsworthy return about 810 miles west of Turner Field. Roger Clemens finally makes his season debut for the Astros at Minute Maid Park in a nationally televised game against the Twins tonight. The Astros have been meandering around the .500 mark for most of the season and feel that the Rocket’s return will give them the boost they need in the NL Central. One, small thing, however: Clemens might not be the best pitcher on the field. Twins phenom Francisco Liriano, about half Clemens’s age, starts for the Twins. Liriano is 6-1, with a 2.16 ERA and 67 strikeouts.

Perhaps a crowbar?: That’s what you might need to take the smile off Tony LaRussa’s face right now. How could LaRussa be smiling, after his Cardinals have been outscored 33-11 in two games by the White Sox? Because the Cardinals received the wonderful news that the wonderful Albert Pujols could return to the lineup as soon as Monday against Cleveland. Pujols, out since June 3 with a strained oblique muscle, took batting practice and did some running the past few days and could be in the lineup even sooner. It would be a godsend for the Cardinals, who’ve been able to maintain their division lead in the NL Central since their star slugger went down. Pujols is still tied for the league lead with 25 homers and fell only one RBI behind Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard despite missing the last 16 games.

A great night spoiled: Ever do a really good job on something, like write a great paper only to have ink poured all over it? Or paint your entire house, only to have vandals spray graffiti on it? That’s what Jose Reyes of the Mets must have felt like after last night’s game against Cincinnati. Reyes went 4 for 5 and hit for the cycle against the Reds, with a homer, double, triple and single. Then Billy Wagner spilled all over it in the top of the ninth by blowing his fourth save of the season. Wagner got the first two outs, but then loaded the bases and gave up a game-winning, two-run single to Brandon Phillips. The Mets could have extended their lead in the NL East to double digits, since no other team below them won, but the 6-5 loss means their lead remains at 9 ½ games.

Good night for good, Kerry?: While other pitchers are getting healthy, including teammate and DL buddy Mark Prior, the Cubs’ Kerry Wood is having no such luck. Wood told reporters that he might not be able to pitch again this year. “With each passing day, I get more and more doubts,” he said. You almost have to feel sorry for the guy. The hard throwing Texan, once thought to be the next Nolan Ryan, has made only four starts this season, and missed most of last season. He was to possibly return Sunday, but said, “it seems to shut down on me,” after getting to 65-70 pitches in a simulated game. There is no timetable as to whether he will throw again soon. Perhaps Wood should seriously consider this idea.

An old friend, indeed: There probably has been no bigger free agent bust in recent baseball history than Adrian Beltre of the Mariners. Ever since leaving the Dodgers after a monster 2004 in which he hit 48 homeruns, only Beltre has stunk more than the dead fish they toss around at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. This hasn’t stopped him from torturing the Dodgers the last few nights, however. Maybe returning to Chavez Ravine (and being loudly booed) has woken up the 64 million dollar man. Beltre has gone 5 for 8, with a homerun, four RBI and four runs scored against his former team. His two-run double in the eighth inning last night broke a tie game in an 8-5 Seattle triumph. Now, if Beltre can only do something against the other 27 teams in the league, he might be able to live up to that contract.

Categories
MLB General

The Full Count: Roger Clemens makes up his mind

1. He’s coming back: After denying contacting the Astros on Tuesday, Roger Clemens signed a huge contract with the team yesterday. The deal would be worth an outrageous $22,000,022 over the whole season, but because Clemens won’t be coming back until June 22 at best, he’ll get a prorated portion that comes out to over $12 million. Not bad for a 43-year-old entering his 23rd major league season. But before Clemens can join the major league roster, he’ll have to make at least 3 minor league starts. The first will be with single-A Lexington, where his son Koby plays. Then he’ll start with the Double and Triple-A Astros teams, and then make his return as early as June 22.

2. Happy to be a Royal: Not many people in the world of baseball want to be a Kansas City Royal, as the team has absolutely no hope for about the next decade or so. But former Atlanta assistant Dayton Moore is, as he will be replacing fired Allard Baird as Royals GM. Moore said he is “looking forward to joining the team and becoming part of the Kansas City community.” Whatever. He has a lot of work to do, as the Royals have been the worst team in the majors for two years running now. Through their first 50 games they are 13-37.

3. Duel of the Year: Anybody who didn’t think that the Pedro Martinez-Brandon Webb matchup wouldn’t live up to the hype was proved wrong on Wednesday night. Neither pitcher allowed a run in a game that didn’t see a score until the 13th inning. Webb pitched seven innings and allowed just four hits and one walk. His scoreless inning streak is now at 25 after two complete-game shutouts last week. But Pedro was even better, going eight innings, striking out eight, and allowing five hits. No runs were put on the board in regulation, but in extras the Mets’ Endy Chavez won the game on a bloop single. The Diamondbacks took the hard loss and are virtually tied with the Dodgers for their division lead. The Mets lead the NL East by 4.5 over the Braves.

4. Carrying his team: Jason Bay, playing in Pittsburgh where he never gets any media attention, is having a flat-out spectacular season. Last night he hit another homerun in the Pirates’ 6-1 win over the Brewers. He finished May with 12 homers and 35 RBIs on the month, which makes up most of his 17 and 46 on the year. Bay has also hit .302 and has been one of the only positives on a 19-34 team that altogether lacks pitching. If Bay ever gets traded to a contender, he will become an absolute superstar.

5. Are they really the best?: The Tigers have played some bad competition for the majority of this season, which diminishes their 35-18 record. But now that they will begin to face some playoff-caliber teams, we’ll see if they’re for real. Well, so far in their murderous upcoming stretch they’ve proved the doubters right, as they are down 3-0 in their series against the Yankees. Last night they lost 6-1 to New York, who featured a complete-game shutout from Mike Mussina. Alex Rodriguez got three hits and drove in two for the Yankees, who are still tied with the Red Sox for the division lead. Meanwhile, the Tigers are still leading the White Sox in their division, though they probably won’t be after facing Boston, Toronto, and new rival Chicago in their next three series.

Categories
MLB General

The Full Count: Waiting on the Rocket

1. Still waiting: After reports that Roger Clemens was once again going to become an Astro, the deal is not officially done yet. Clemens’ agent, Randy Hendricks, denied even speaking with the Astros but said Clemens is “very close with a final decision.” Of course, this means that he probably has spoken with them and they’re likely very close to a deal. But nothing is official yet. The Astros do need the powerhouse pitcher as soon as they can get him–they’re 27-26. St. Louis, who they beat last year in the NLCS, leads the NL Central by 6.5 over them. Clemens won the Cy Young in 2004 and came very close in 2005.

2. Power surge: The Red Sox’s Josh Beckett had been excellent so far this season, but he was no match for the Blue Jays offense on Tuesday. Both of Toronto’s big power hitters, Troy Glaus and Vernon Wells, had huge games. Wells highlighted the effort with 3 homeruns, two of them coming off Beckett. Glaus added two of his own, increasing his total to a team-high 17. Wells (15) became the third player this year to have a three-homer game, joining Albert Pujols and Alfonso Soriano. Beckett gave his worst effort of the year, allowing 7 runs and 4 homers in less than five innings. Toronto starter Gustavo Chacin allowed no runs in five innings, upping his record to 6-1. Closer BJ Ryan picked up his 12th save, and his ERA stands at an incredible .69.

3. An 11-inning blowout: It’s not often a game goes into extras and still results in a one-sided victory. But that happened in the Yankees-Tigers game yesterday, with the game tied at 6 going into extras but the Yankees emerging 11-6 victors. New York scored five runs in the 11th, including Jason Giambi’s first homer since May 10. Giambi started the scoring with a solo shot, his 13th of the year, and three singles scored the other runs. Mariano Rivera pitched a season-high three innings, allowing no runs in the process. For the Tigers, Ivan Rodriguez drove in three runs and fell a homer short of the cycle. The Yankees win combined with the Red Sox loss results in a tie for the AL East lead.

4. Reversal of fortune: The Rockies shut out the Padres 5-0 on Monday, but on Tuesday it went the other way. Padres starter Chris Young, in his best effort of the season, allowed no runs in 8 innings and took a no-hitter into the eighth. Young’s effort for the first no-no in Padres history was ended when Brad Hawpe hit a leadoff double, but the Padres still won 2-0. Trevor Hoffman came on for the save, his 10th in 10 tries. Both teams now have identical 27-25 records.

5. At last: After a 5-0 April, Greg Maddux had been waiting all of May for another win. Though he wasn’t perfect last night, allowing three runs in 5.1, he was able to get the W as the Cubs topped the Reds 8-3. Jacque Jones hit his eighth homerun of the year and drove in 4 Cubs runners. Maddux (6-4, 1-4 in May) is now tied with Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton on the career wins list with 324. Cincinnati is still in second in the NL Central division.