February 27, 2008

Roger Clemens Dog


I heard his name is Muscles.

February 26, 2008

Trouble for you!

For the other teams of the NL Central, you can just stop playing now. Roger Clemens was throwing BP in Kissimmee today for spring training. You know what that means? All of our pitchers will be adding 20 pounds of muscle in the next week and will bounce back from injury in record times. Tommy John surgery??? Using the Clemens recovery method the pitcher will be back at full strength in two weeks. Pulled hammy??? 15 minutes of rest.

On a more serious note I have a bit of bad news. As I’ve said a few times, I’m in Chicago on a project. Looks like my end date is….March 28th. That’s four fricking days before opening day! Maybe I can get them to extend to the next Thursday then I spend Friday at Wrigley watching the Astros continuing their undefeated start to the season. Speaking of Chicago, if you’re ever up here during the week, I recommend the bar at Tavern on the Park on Randolph, right next to Millennium Park. Tell them Joel sent ya and you’ll probably get double charged. Just kidding. Good people, great service.

Don’t worry Carpet Hugger…your bet will be accepted, I just haven’t had time to respond. BTW – am I the only one who blogs? Come on guys…the National Figure Skating Championship is over…time to think about baseball.

Actually on to golf. Will Tiger win every tournament he enters? Discuss…

February 21, 2008

Astros vs. Cubs linup

This is listed as a response to a comment, but I decided to make it a post also. Started as as Cub fan saying that their offense is better that the Astros. So I did some digging.

Chachi...sigh...they must be putting some strong chemicals in carpet these days.

To start, I'll give you starting pitching and 3rd base. Especially 3rd base, no contest, at least at the plate. I'll take the bullpen (having the league leader in saves in an off season deal is big) 2nd and SS like you say.

The rest
LF - Soriano vs. Lee
Soriano .299/33/70 19SB...but 130SO in 135 games. Ouch. Also has only hit 100 RBI in his carrer twice
Lee - .302/32/119 10 SB, only 63SO in 162 games. Hit 100 RBI three times in career and is smart enough a player to know that if you're going to break someone's leg, make it the worst offensive player on the team. Offensive got BETTER after that.
I'd take Lee

CF - Pie/Suld - Bourn

Pie - Um...you do know Pie hit .215 last year with a .271 OBP and has never hit .300 at a higher level than AA? Is he batting 8th?
Bourne - .277 - 18 out of 19 steals, .350 OBP
Bourne's the pick

RF - Fukodome vs. Pence
Fukodome has never hit major league pitching and when he played against top compitition as in the World Baseball Classic only hit .182
Pence .322/17/69 good defense playing out of position.
I think with Fukudome a 31 yr old Rookie vs. Pence who hit .322 as a rook and is only 24, I'll take Pence with a bigger upside...however...I'll give you a push until we see how Fukudome does in NL.

Catcher - Soto vs. Towles
Soto .389/3/8 18 games 14SO in those 18 games has to scare you a bit.
Towles .375/1/12 14 games only 1 SO (Ausmus is the back up)
Both young, too early to call, I say Push.

That leads us to 1B. Both Lee and Berkman are good players, but statistically Berkman has put up better numbers.
Last year:
Lee - .317/22/82
Berkman - .278/34/102

Since Berkman came into the league, season averages:
Lee (excluding 06 when he was out most of the year) - .281/30/87
Berkman .300/32/105
Lee hit 100 RBI once in his career, Berkman five times.
Over their career, Berkman has better numbers in .OBP, .SLG, AVG, HR and RBI in 172 less games. I'll take Berkman.

Like I said before, offensively, with the exception of 3B, Astros are equal or better than the Cubs at every position.
Cubs - 3B
Astros, LF, CF, 2B, SS, 1B
Push - C, RF

Should be interesting. Astros are going to score runs, no doubt as I think they are solid 1-8. If your #8 hitter is a .278/22/70 guy, I'm feeling pretty confident.

I guess that's why the play the games, but isn't this a fun part of the season?

February 20, 2008

Justin Timberlake to portray Astros Minor Leaguer in Movie

I’m sure it’s the allure of Whataburger.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5556475.html

Not a Good Start

I’ve heard of stupid injuries and bad starts to the season, but running through a sliding glass window while going to the hot tub is pretty high on the list. That’s right Astros’ fans Hunter Pence went to the emergency room with lacerations all over his body, including a big one on his knee, after shattering a sliding glass window in his apartment. Looks like he’ll only be out a week, whew! I’m sure that will be the Astros’ only injury of the year. Yeah right.

February 14, 2008

Pitchers and Catchers Report!

Now’s the best time of the baseball season, the beginning of spring training. Everyone, even Cubs fans, think they have a chance to win the World Series. I’m the same way with the Astros. This is our year. I don’t care the Mets signed Santana, (what does playing Black Magic Woman have to do with baseball?) The Astros will have one of the best offenses in the NL. Pitching is going to surprise people. Maybe we have to bring back Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott, but things will be better. Watch the young guns. Mark my words, at least one player you’ve never heard of will break through on the mound.

This might be my last blog. I let it slip around the office in Chicago that I’m doing an Astros blog, so if the word spreads, I might be in fear for my life. Then again, what’s to be scared of when the mascot is a little furry teddy bear? Not even full grown. Do men get embarrassed when they root root root for the Cubbies? Just kidding Kim, keep me anonymous.

To answer a comment on a previous blog, Popeye ate spinach so BIOYA!