vivalaultra

Lidge for A-Rod!!!!!11!!!!11!!1!!!!

Yeah, I don't trust Olney. I think he was one of the ones last year talking about how a Clemens trade was imminent. I do, however, go by the theory that if four or more ESPN guys report something, there has to be at least a nugget of truth in it somewhere. In other news, Morgan Ensberg had a good rehab game at Round Rock tonite, going 4 for 4 with a HR and 2 doubles. If he comes back and is hitting the way he should be, we might not be lost without Tejada. But, then again...a lineup with Ensberg hitting the way he should, Berkman, Tejada, and Aubrey Huff would be nice...

After losing to the Reds earlier this season to drop his lifetime record against them to 15-1, Roy Oswalt's trying to start an undefeated streak against the D'Backs. With tonite's win, he's 5-0 against them lifetime. In the 5 starts, he's gone 38 innings, struck out 36, walked 6, given up 4 runs, and given up zero hits with runners in scoring position. And hey! Lidge looked decently sharp in picking up his 23rd save. I read something by Buster Olney that now the Astros are "close" to sending Brad Lidge to the Rangers for a big bat, but off the top of my head, I can't think of a big bat the Rangers would be willing to give up that would fit the needs positionally for the Astros. C'est la vie.

The Houston Astros sent down my third favorite starting pitcher, Taylor Buchholz, and recalled Chris Sampson, who you might remember went 7 innings of 1 hit shutout ball against the Cubs. Sampson is 11-2 with a 2.62 ERA at Round Rock. He seems to a pitcher very similar to Brandon Backe, but with better control. I still think Buchholz will be a future #1 or #2 starter with the Astros, but he's been hot/cold and needs to work on some things.

Look out Blue Jays...the Astros are continuing to grasp at straws. According to Baseball Prospectus's Will Carrol, they've made their final offer for Miguel Tejada, and, if that doesn't go through, they've got their sights set on Julio Lugo. Lugo was ok when he played in Houston a few years ago, but got run out of town after he allegedly beat his wife, which was later found out to be untrue. I'm sure that Lugo could be gotten cheaper than Tejada, and the current GM of the D-Rays, Gerry Hunsicker, is the former GM of the Astros, so I'm stepping off the Tejada Train and onto the Lugo Locomotive. Choo-choo!

Andy losing is great news to me. You are being over optimistic about winning the Wild Card when you have 10 other teams to compete with. I don't think I am, but thanks for your opinion. And why is Andy Pettitte losing "great news" to you? Do you have some secret vendetta against Andy Pettitte?

Here's an answer to a trivia question that'll be asked circa 2016...Luke Scott became the first Astro to hit for the cycle since Craig Biggio against Colorado in 2000. He also became the first rookie to hit for the cycle since Eric Valent. However, my Astros lost. The good news is that they came from behind 3 times and banged out 14 hits and 7 runs. The bad news is Andy Pettitte got the loss in relief. The good news is that I'm cautiously optimistic that if the 'Stros get either Tejada or Soriano, they'll get the Wildcard. The Reds have to start fading soon, right?

The daily Astros/Tejada update: Baseball Prospectus says that the Astros are really, really commited to getting Miguel Tejada. Roger Clemens is one of the most vocal endorses of Tejada. The new deal proposed by the Astros, which I think is worse for the O's but better for the 'Stros, is Everett, Nieve, and Morgan Ensberg for Tejada. What the Orioles would want with Ensberg when they have Melvin Mora, I'm not sure, but...hey...that trade would be great for the Astros.

Really? I thought the "Bi, Bi, Bi" one was funnier. That one made me spit out Berries & Cream Dr. Pepper.

Quick! Before it happens...what do you see happening to Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee, and Miguel Tejada? And who would my beloved Stros be best off acquiring?

It's too bad he never became an astronaut. He coulda become the second gay man in space...I'm lookin' at you, Buzz Aldrin. And he's apparently dating a famous guy who was on the Amazing Race. I don't watch that show so I don't know if he was gay then or if Lance Bass brought him into the tangled web of gayness.

Fuckin' Lidge...fuckin' offense. Matt Albers looked great, though. I hope Lidge gets traded before he loses value. I bought Larry Dierker's new book and got him to sign it for me, but he spelled my name wrong. Fuckin' Dierker. We better do well against the fuckin' Diamondbacks.

Pence is only 23, and the only reason he's still in AA is because of, like sfaJack said, the Astros having a thing about elevating prospects at a galcial speed. By pretty much all scouting accounts, he's a 5-tool player that could make a difference at the major league level tomorrow. I imagine that if the Astros get Tejada, it will involve either Pence or Hirsh along with Everett and Lidge, but not Burke (kid's got hustle~!). If they won't go for that, I'd inquire about Soriano or Carlos Lee or someone else.

I agree. The other day on ESPN 790, Tim Purpura said he wanted to move Pence up to AAA, but his reason for not doing it is that there are too many outfielders already in AAA. I just hope that Pence doesn't go the route that Jason Lane went and finally get called up only to be a pinch hitter for 3 years before finally getting a shot. Although I think the ceiling on Pence is much higher than Jason Lane's. It seems like alot of time when the Astros call up young prospects, they're not ready (i.e. Willy Taveras) and when they hold off on calling them up, they fizzle out (i.e. Jason Lane). Edit: Hirsh, Pence, Lidge, AND Burke or Everett? I could see 3/5 of that deal being done. Give Leo a chance to fix Lidge. Let Everett reunite with C-Pat. Either flip Hirsh or Pence...hard choice, but I'd say Pence because Hirsh is going to be needed in our rotation next year. But there's no way Burke's going anywhere. If the Astros ever get rid of Burke, I'll become a Rangers fan. Kid's got hustle.

Yeah, I listened to Tom Petty's new CD today, and I like his newer stuff more than Neil Young's newer stuff. I dig Explosions in the Sky, but they're playing at the same time as Iron & Wine, and I dig Iron & Wine more. "Friday Night Lights" was a great movie. Tim McGraw was a good asshole. Austin City Limits last year did have some more big names, but some of the big names they had last year, I had no interest in, whereas this year, there's more uh...mid-name bands I wanna see. Austin City Limits still comes on PBS, but I haven't seen it since M. Ward was on it last year.

Yeah, so I just bought tickets for the 2006 Austin City Limits festival taking place Sept. 15-17 in Austin. I went last year by unforseen hurricane circumstances and the lineup was friggin' stacked. It was easily the best musical experience of my life. A brief summary of performers I can recall off the top of my head include: The Arcade Fire (I actually saw them twice that weekend, once at ACL and once at Stubb's BBQ in Austin), The Black Keys (Saw them twice, too.), The Black Crowes, The Allman Brothers, Oasis, Wilco, Coldplay, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, The Decemberists, Blues Traveler, John Prine, Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle, Drive-By Truckers, Built to Spill, The Walkmen, M83, The Fiery Furnaces, Tortoise, Bob Mould and more. It was wonderful, with cheaply priced for festivals merchandise and refreshments and a good cross-section of people. A few performers couldn't make it due to the hurricanes, but nobody I cared to see. Last year, I didn't get tickets until like..the day before the festival and had to pay $150 each for two tickets. This year, I got two tickets for $115 each, which, as the ACL website tells me translates to 88 cents a band. This year's festival looks to be ridiculously good as well. The lineup includes (but is not limited to): Tom Petty Willie freakin' Nelson Van Morrison Massive Attack The Flaming Lips The Shins Gnarls Barkley Cat Power Damian Marley Iron & Wine Calexico The New Pornographers Son Volt Deadboy and the Elephantmen Stars Wolf Parade Sparklehorse Nada Surf The Raconteurs The Secret Machines Aimee Mann Explosions in the Sky and a buncha local bands and probably more to be added later. I have no particular discussion to bring about with this topic, I just like to share. Edit: Took the freakin' outta Van Morrison cuz he doesn't like "Brown-Eyed Girl" and added it to Willie Nelson, cuz he's Willie Nelson.

Two new news reports about the Astros: Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle mentioned today about how Fernando Nieve is working as a closer in AAA Round Rock, leading him to speculate that the team is looking to deal Brad "Wild Thing" Lidge before Monday. Ken Rosenthal at foxsports.com mentioned that the Astros are looking to be involved in a megasuperhuge deal and "every player in the lineup is up for grabs". I doubt that, but he mentioned by Soriano and Carlos Lee as players that could be involved. Either way, it should be an interesting weekend. As long as Burke, Hirsh, or Pence aren't traded, I'll be happy with a deal. Edit: John Lopez of the Houston Chronicle wrote today on his blog that the chances for a trade involving the Houston Astros either tonite or tomorrow has "gone up exponentially". He says that the FO does not want to give up uber prospects Jason Hirsh or Hunter Pence, but have talked today about dealing Brad Lidge and Willy Taveras. He said that if either the Tejada deal or a deal for Soriano don't happen, the Astros are very interested in looking at Carlos Lee. He also said that FO has been getting upset over reports from ESPN saying that Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte are on the market. He said that a couple phone calls came in about Clemens and Pettitte's availability and when the caller was asked where they heard that the two were available, the caller said "ESPN", to which Astros execs responded, "They've got alot of time to fill right now. Don't believe it." Jayson Stark on ESPN reported today that the Astros have stepped up efforts to acquire Miguel Tejada, but not for Pence or Hirsh, and that the Tejada sweepstakes was a two-horse race, with the Astros competing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim California United States Northern Hemisphere Earth Milky Way.

The 'Stros held on to beat the Reds 8-5. Brad Lidge might be out of a job. He came in to close it but gave up a hit and a HBP before striking out Freel. He then got yanked in favor of Trever Miller, who, in turn, got yanked for Dan Wheeler after getting Jr. Griffey. Tomorrow nite, we need to win against my brother's favorite pitcher...Elizardo Ramirez. My brother's got weird taste. If we take 3 outta the next 4, I think our 33:1 odds will improve.

And Berkman unloads on another one. Berkman's hit 2 homers tonite, for a total distance of about 900 feet. Berkman's got 34 career homeruns and 96 career RBI in 92 games against the Reds.

After Brandon Arroyo sat down 10 Astros in a row and Andy Pettitte pitched like his usual sub-par self, the Astros score 6 runs in the 5th thanks in large part to a majestic 450+ ft. homerun by my MVP, Lance "Big Puma" Berkman.

The contract's only $12 million or so, so I'm pretty sure the sellouts for the Rocket, along with the ridiculous prices of food and drinks, help to pay some of it back. And Clemens has so much invested in being a Houston Astro. He's got his restuarant opening. He's got TV commercials out the wazoo. All kinds of stuff. I doubt he'd blow all that just to go play in the Northeast. Sorry if I sounded huffy. I just got done watching Around the Horn where all the East Coast journalists were once again pretty much saying a deal between the BoSox or the Yanks and the Astros was "imminent". I had to rely on Jay Mariotti to be the voice of reason, which is never a good thing. I'm not sure if the Astros are still targeting Tejada. Drayton McClane said he was backing off on the deal because the contracts between Tejada and the players we were gonna trade for him didn't match up, but I've still got a suspicion that something's gonna go down.

There was talk last year, when the Astros were farther back than they are now, about dumping Clemens. Sources would have had everyone believe that deals were imminent. However, everyone in the Houston front office and Roger Clemens himself found the rumors ridiculous and unfounded. I imagine much the same this season. And I still don't think being 6 games back of the Wildcard with about 60 games left against teams either under .500 or directly in front of the Astros for the Wildcard is out of the race. The Cubs...are out of the race. The Astros aren't. 80% of the Astros PR department revolves around Clemens. Drayton McClane is assured of a sell-out everytime Clemens pitches. Clemens gear sells out by the truckload. There's no way in Hell he'd get rid of that. Clemens has a personal service contract for the Astros after he retires...for real. There's no way he'd be a good PR man if he ditched his hometown team after talking about how much pitching at home means to him. "Rocket Sports Bar and Grill" at the Houston Memorial Mall would get vandalized daily.

No. The Astros aren't "out of the playoff race" just yet. They're six back with 8 games to go against WC leading Cincinnati. Although the situation looks grim, there's still time for the Astros to either pick up a bat or not pick up a bat and go on a run regardless. Clemens could have signed with either the Yankees or the Red Sox, but didn't because he wants to pitch in Houston. He wants to win a World Championship in Houston. If Clemens pitches in the postseason this year, it will be in Houston.

I thought he wanted to live with me in the mountains and bathe with me in the sea and stay like that forever until the stars fell down on him.

The first time I went to a casino, I was perfectly happy playing quarter slots. I got goaded into playing blackjack and learned the hard way that you do not double down on 13, nor do you answer your cell phone at the table. I lost my shirt.