This Week in Baseball 6/25 - 7/1

[vivalaultra 0]

viva, what do you think about the vast conspiracy hatched by the Astros to ensure that Biggio gets #3,000 at MMP--the right thing to do, or is Uncle D just trying to sell a few more tickets and t-shirts?

 

I think it's the right thing to do. I mean, it's not like Biggio's setting the world on fire hitting on the road anyway, so it's no real loss to hold him out of the lineup in favor of Loretta, Burke, or Bruntlett. Also, Biggio, along with Bagwell, is the face of the franchise and the most identifiable figure in Houston sports. I think it's only right that he gets 3,000 at home in front of the fans who have loved and supported him for the past two decades. And, besides, the team's 13 games under .500, so ya gotta give the fans SOME reason to come to the park.

[Guest George's Box]

Would it kill the Astros to win a fucking game today? I mean really.

[vivalaultra 0]

They're doing the best that they cannnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MFer 0]

Speaking of the Astros. I heard that Richard Justice absolutely killed them in his latest article.

 

Also, doesn't Biggio have 600+ doubles as well? If that's not a hall of famer, I don't know what is.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Justice hates the Astros based on anything I've ever read from the guy.

[vivalaultra 0]

Biggio has 658 doubles, 6th all-time and the most of any right-handed hitter in the history of baseball (Pete Rose is 2nd all-time with 746, but he was a switch-hitter).

 

As far as Richard Justice, I personally think he's a complete tool for the most part. He's one of those sportswriters that speaks glowingly of everyone involved when the team is going good and completely rips them to shreds and acts like a complete prick when they're not going well. A lot of times he comes off as condescending and kind of a dick. When the team goes on a long losing streak, he does nothing but bitch and complain, but then when they win a few in a row, he's the first one to say, "See? I told ya not to give up on the Astros!" and all that.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I heard some idiots on ESPN Radio the other day saying how weird it was that Craig Biggio was about to get 3,000 hits. Why did they think it was weird, you ask... because they said that we might have to consider him for the Hall of Fame now because of the accomplishment. Supposedly without the hits his name would never be associated with that sort of greatness.

 

To that I say... in what sort of crazed, drug-induced alternate reality is Biggio not an absolute lock, first ballot Hall-of-Famer?

[vivalaultra 0]

Well, without the hits, Biggio would have 0 hits for his career, which would, most likely, keep him out of the Hall.

 

Smarminess aside, I can see how some casual fans might be surprised of how prolific Biggio's career has been just because they don't pay attention to Houston sports. But for guys on ESPN to say that is just ridiculous. Biggios top 10 comprables include 7 current Hall of Famers (Yount, Morgan, Molitor, Sandberg, Ripken, Brooks Robinson, and Charlie Gehringer), 1 guy who's a lock for the Hall (Roberto Alomar) and two borderline HOF candidates (Lou Whitaker and Vada Pinson). Add in the fact that Biggio has outperformed Yount, Morgan, Sandberg, Robinson, and Gehringer in many offensive categories and I don't see how people can possibly be surprised that Biggio will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Dear Astros,

 

Score a run. Then in turn, do not allow the Brewers to do likewise.

[Guest George's Box]

White Sox are about to give Mark Buehrle a four-year extension. Well, that was not what I expected.

[vivalaultra 0]

Dear Cubs:

 

Sowwwie!!!!!

 

Love,

 

The Houston Astros

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

White Sox are about to give Mark Buehrle a four-year extension. Well, that was not what I expected.

 

??... that's perplexing.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Well, the Brewers just finished sweeping the Astros. Bring on the Cubs.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Lets see if Bedard can outpitch Clemens tonight..

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Clemens has another built in excuse to lose tonight, with the heat and humidity of Baltimore. 5 days ago he couldn't breathe in the thin air in Denver. Bahhhh.

[Guest George's Box]

Well, the Brewers just finished sweeping the Astros. Bring on the Cubs.

The Cubs just finished sweeping the White Sox and Rockies. Bring on the Brewers.

[Brett Favre 0]

The Yankees are about to lose 2 out of 3 to both the Orioles and Giants. Bring on the Athletics.

[Guest George's Box]

Bring out the Hellman's. Bring on the best.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The Yankees are about to lose 2 out of 3 to both the Orioles and Giants. Bring on the Athletics.

back when things were going better for the Os in early April, they took 2 of 3 from the Yanks and shoulda had the sweep if not for the ARod grand slam..

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Best game I've ever been to.

[vivalaultra 0]

The Astros are 14 games below .500 and the bullpen gave up 35 runs in 25 innings on the roadtrip. Bring on the Little League World Series!!!!

 

When does the LLWS start, by the way? I always enjoy watching the kids from Curacao introduce themselves. Everybody on the team lists Andruw Jones as their favorite player...except for that one kid that always likes David Oritz.

[CanadianChris 0]

When does the LLWS start, by the way? I always enjoy watching the kids from Curacao introduce themselves. Everybody on the team lists Andruw Jones as their favorite player...except for that one kid that always likes David Oritz.

Two weeks before Labour Day.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Ryan Howard just crushed a 3-run HR over the batter's eye brick wall in center field in Philly to give the Phils a 3-0 lead over the Reds.

[KingPK 0]

Dice-K is getting absolutely nothing from his offense lately. He holds Seattle to a measly run, but Boston loses 2-1 in 11 in their annual "Lose to Seattle in extra innings" game (at least this one didn't go 16 or so like a few years ago).

 

Here's Matsuzaka's June starts:

 

Today - 8IP, 1ER, 8K (ND)

Run support: 1

 

6/22 @ SD - 6IP, 1ER, 9K (W)

Run support: 2

 

6/16 vs. SF - 7IP, 0ER, 8K (W)

Run support: 1

 

6/10 @ ARI - 6IP, 2ER, 9K (L)

Run support : 1

 

6/5 vs. OAK - 7IP, 2ER, 8K (L)

Run support: 0

 

5 total runs in five starts. He should have been 5-0 this month, not 2-2 with one ND. This team does NOT need Mark Buehrle, they need their fucking bats to wake up.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Lets see if Bedard can outpitch Clemens tonight..

 

I think he did.

[Brett Favre 0]

Not really a surprise. Bedard is nasty.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Shea Hillenbrand's an idiot. His behavior may get limited attention from mainstream media, but this guy's worse than any other controversial player in baseball today. The guy is playing for a first-place team and demands a trade because he isn't playing every day. Never mind his performance over recent years suggest he's nothing more than a role player now. This guy is a clubhouse cancer made worse by the fact that he doesn't even back up his antics on the field.

[Guest Smues]

According to PTI Scott Boras wants the World Series to go to a best of 9 format, with games 1 and 2 on a neutral site. No. No. No. Fuck you Boras.

[CanadianChris 0]

Blue Jays get another win over Minnesota. It's been a while since I've seen a team commit four errors in a game and win. The bullpen really came through in the last three innings, though.

[strummer 0]

Mets win 2-0 over the Cardinals in a rain shortened 5 1/2 inning game. Anthony Reyes is now 0-10.