Another One Gets Away

The frustration of another game that could have...or should have been won by the Astros, but wasn't played on Cecil Cooper's face during his post game media session Friday night.

An almost weariness accompanied his words that the Astros had let the game get away. He wasn't referring to the two runs scored on Alberto Arias in the 8th that took an Astro lead and turned it into a Cardinal win. He was referring to that and a whole lot more. He was thinking of the first inning when Michael Bourn led off with a double and Miguel Tejada had a single but Carlos Lee lined out to left and Geoff Blum popped to first. If you are counting that's only two out. The other out had to be charged to Coop. For some reason he had Kazuo Matsui sacrifice Bourn to third after his opening double. Playing for one run in the first? And when the runner is already in scoring position. And when the meat of your order is coming up--as it always has a chance to do in the first inning? That was an eyebrow raiser. But the one run was better than the none the Astros scored in the second after a leadoff walk...in the third after having a runner to third with only one out...in 4th after a leadoff double and two walks...or even in the 9th when they had fallen behind 4-3 and had a lead off single.

The Astros did score one run in the fifth after they got a runner to third with one out. But it took a ground out to get him home. What followed was a single, hit batter and walk to load the bases again, but no more runs scored.

The ONLY offensive inning that was impressive was the 8th when the Astros broke a 2-2 tie. With two out and none on Ivan Rodriguez snapped an 0-18 nine strikeout stretch with a single up the middle. It was nice to get it, but he had struck out twice earlier with a total of four runners in scoring position. After Pudge's single, Chris Coste followed with another. The the Astros best pinch hitter this season, Matt Kata, came through again with a single that scored Pudge and gave the Astros a 4-3 lead. His heroics shouldn't have been necessary. The Astros should have had more runs earlier.

And that is why this club is not likely going to win a division title. They don't have the bats needed to score in large quantities or even modest quantities enough. The Cardinals do. The Cubs do. Probably the Brewers do.

Recently the collapse of the late Astro Russ Ortiz and the shakey ground Astro Mike Hampton have raised the fans' ire. Very much justified, but don't forget the hitters. A good number of good starts such as Brian Moehler's on Friday and Wandy Rodriguez' last outing in Chicago have been squandered due to poor offensive output.

Even with a healthy Lance Berkman this year's club does not have much power. Neither of the corner outfielders are big power hitters. Carlos Lee can reach 30 on a good year. Hunter Pence is not there yet. And at every other position except Lance's first base there are players who can only hit the long ball on rare occasions. The Cards, Cubs and Brewers can score runs in a hurry thanks to that long ball. The Astros need to string hits. That is not easy, nor something they have done very well.

Hopefully Roy Oswalt will be able to rejoin the rotation next Tuesday against the Giants. We see Wandy vs the Cards on Saturday and Bud Norris in his major league starting debut on Sunday. Best thing to do is just keep your fingers crossed.

Chicago

A few random shots of Chicago... the Biograph Theatre on Lincoln where the FBI got John Dillinger is still standing. Even more tourists can be seen snapping shots of the place that ever before since "Public Enemies" hit the screen. Other shots include the Jack Brickhouse statue across the street from the Wrigley Building and next to the Chicago Tribune downtown. Brickhouse was the long time sports voice of the Cubs, White Sox and Bears during his long career. He was the first of the Peoria sportscasters that went on the bigger things. The list included Jack, Vince Lloyd, Jack Quinlan, Phil Samp, Bob Starr, Chick Hearn, Bob King..yours truly and the long time voice of the Florida Gators, Mick Hubert. All except Hubert worked as major league play by play announcers in baseball, basketball or football.

The "American Gothic"is also located in that same area. (Harry Caray has a statue outside Wrigley Field.)

Also pictured is the Chicago River from the Michigan Avenue bridge.

I have left off any shots from Wrigley Field for reasons based on what went on there this week. The Astros play--mainly the pitching made it too far an ugly picture.

I was going to ignore the game Thursday, but it seems everyone was at fault almost. Cecil Cooper for making strange managerial calls early in the game. First having a position player, Jeff Keppinger sacrifice in the 2nd inning when light hitting Humberto Quintero and pitcher Russ Ortiz coming up. The Cubs were unimpressed. They were going right after Quintero, but a pitch by Kevin Hart got away and hit him loading the bases for Ortiz who promptly bounced into an inning ending double play. No way of knowing what Keppinger would have done had he not bunted, but giving away an out early with a position player is very questionable.

The second decision came in the bottom of the inning when with one out and runners on 2nd and third the Astros elected to intentionally walk light hitting catcher Koyie Hill (.206) to set up a double play with light hitting pitcher Kevin Hart coming up. Hart was retired, but not on a double play so the Astros had to face Kosuke Fukudome with the bases loaded. The end was in sight when Fukudome singled in two runs to take the lead. Before the inning was over the Cubs had scored four.

So, while it is legitimate to question Cecil Cooper for those moves we can't forget it was the team that failed to pitch or execute the rest of the game. Ortiz was absolutely awful and Tim Byrdak had to be pushed longer than desired due to the condition of the bullpen that has been practically wiped out by the horrid work by the Astro starters. Well, horrid in three and injured in the other.

That is why we show pictures of Chicago and none at the ballpark. Wrigley Field--as beautiful as it is-was a house of horrors for the Astros this week.

THE TRIP CONTINUES

The Astros move into St. Louis for a weekend series starting Friday at 6:30 with Astros Live Pregame on FS Houston. Saturday and Sunday games will both be aired on KTXH-TV20 and not on Fox Sports Houston. During Astros pregame on Friday we expect to feature a conversatin with new Astro Bud Norris as part of the show.

It Only Counts as One

So, the Astros were drubbed by the Cubs Wednesday afternoon. It only counts as one loss whether its 2-1 or 12-0. It didn't make for entertaining baseball unless you were a Cub fan with a thirst for blood. But its over and done. The Astros try for a split in the series on Thursday afternoon with Russ Ortiz on the mound.

Everyone got out alive--we think. No additional DL listings. Only Mike Hampton's ERA goes for a ride. Lets face it. He was horrible. That can happen to any pitcher but Mike has had too many poor starts. Wednesday was just the crowning disaster.

Bud Norris made his debut and was good. He went three innings and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out four. He has great stuff and actually it was good for him to be able to debut in a non pressure situation. The Astros already trailed 9-0.

Since there was no indication the Astro offense was going to take part in the game there was little damage Norris would be working while a comeback was being mounted.

Do I sound frustrated? I am. But that is only for today's game. Tomorrow is a whole new ballgame if I can use a cliche. Once the game got into runaway mode the players were even to laugh at their predicament--with the exception of Hampton.

Rookie Norris was put in a tough situation taking post game questions. He had to be sure that everytime he said he was happy with his work he added that losing the game was the big thing. I don't know if he pulled it off. But even the vets in the clubhouse remember their first day in the big leagues and will give him some slack.

After the game when Coop was asked if three innings by Norris would make him unable to start on Sunday in necessary his answer was a short one. Roy Oswalt is still scheduled to pitch Sunday. (Norris could start if needed since it woud be three days between work instead of a starter's normal four.. but he only went three innings...and he is young.) Long time baseball fans remember the old four man rotations. So don't worry there. Hopefully he WON'T start because Oswalt can.

So, lets put this one to bed. Its over, fini, done. Just one loss. The Astros will try again tomorrow afternoon. Astros Live Pregame at 12:30 on FS Houston with gametime set for 1:20. In our additional pre game segment after the top of the hour I will be looking back at some great moments in Wrigley between the Astros and Cubs. My pregame interview hopefully will be with rookie Bud Norris.

UPDATE: Bright Spot

Just an addendum to my last blog... Wesley Wright, after examination at a local Chicago hospital was not diagnosed with appendicitis after all. Intead dehydration was the cause of his abdominal discomfort Tuesday night. He was treated with fluids and released. He won't pitch for a couple of days likely due to his 2+ innings of work on Tuesday, but has been cleared of anything more serious.

Now THAT was a Game that Had EVERYTHING!

I can't recall a single baseball game or the post game news afterward that had as much going for it than Tuesday's 11-6 Astro win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

We had two pitchers go down... one to the hospital in Chicago...the other set to return to Houston for further examination.

We had two pitchers get their first major league hits...one of them (Wesley Wright) on his first major league at bat. The other (Jeff Fulchino) hit a double then had to dive back into third when the next hitter (Michael Bourn) hit a single up the middle flagged down by the second baseman who had an ideaFulchino might be unfamiliar running bases. We had a ball hit into Fulchino's shirt for a single. We had the Astros lose their most veteran star pitcher in the second inning then survive relievers giving up ten walks--four of them that scored and still win!

Before the game we had a pitcher, LaTroy Hawkins, put on the disabled list due to an extreme case of shingles that had settled in his back. His replacement is a 42 year old pitcher, Doug Brocail, coming back from a revolutionary treatment for a torn hamstring that involved injecting his own concentrated blood platelets into the injury site to speed healing. And it has apparently worked.

After the game the media received the news on Wright that he had been sent to a Chicago hospital with an apparent case of appendicitis

Starter Roy Oswalt is flying back to Houston Wednesday to be further examined. He left the game in the 2nd inning with a left lower back strain. After the game he said he couldn't throw his fast ball after he struck out Aramis Ramirez in the 2nd...so he used curves and slow stuff to fool Bradley into a called strike three before having to give it up with a 1-1 count on Soriano. Bud Norris has been called up from Round Rock and another pitcher may be needed as well.

Deduction says Wright has to go on the DL due to his appendix...and Oswalt may be headed that way as well. So, at this moment--although Cecil Cooper was plain in saying nothing had been decided yet--it would appear Norris would go into the rotation and one more pitcher would have to join the staff. We will know more tomorrow possibly. However, since Oswalt doesn't pitch for five more days and the need right now is for bullpen help Norris may have to work in that role as early as tomorrow for an inning or so. He could still start on Oswalt's normal day next weekend.

Oh, the game? Eleven runs on 17 hits outpaced six runs on five hits plus those ten walks. Miggy Tejada had a two run homer and five RBIs. Jeff Keppinger, starting at second base, had four hits and three RBI's including a two run triple that broke open a 7-6 lead. The Astros got that lead from a 6-6 tie on a Geoff Blum solo homer.

Houston had a 4-0 lead disappear after the walks starting happening and maybe the appendix pain started too. Wesley Wright walked five batters in his last inning giving up three runs. That cut the Astros lead to 4-3. The Astros made it 6-3 on Tejadas homer. But the Cubs got to a tie off Fulchino when Fukudome led off the 5th with a bouncer up the middle that Fulchino tried to glove and then couldn't find. It had snuck inside his shirt. A base hit granted. After getting an out he walked Derrek Lee. Then Aramis Ramirez tied the game at six on his 8th HR.

Enter Blum in the 7th...then Keppinger in the 8th..and finally Coste with an RBI bloop single to score Hunter Pence who had doubled in the 9th.

Tim Byrdak and Jose Valverde closed things out. The Astros won...now back within two of the Cubs, but there is a new (old) leader in the NL Central. The Cards are back on top. Wonder if the Chicago Tribune will play the fall back to second for the Cubs like they did the jump to the top two days ago? I guess not.

Not much rest... day game on Wed... FS Houston will have Astros Live pregame at 12:30... First pitch at 1:20... and Twitter coverage as well to get things started.

The Hitting has been worse than Pitching

Really it has been that all season. But it is not evident initially when one checks batting averages. The Astros have had one of the better team batting averages all season. But they have not been driving in nearly enough runs with those batting averages and have been less than average in the clutch.



The big story in the Chicago papers Tuesday morning will be Soriano hits grand slam walk off homer to lead Cubs over the Astros 5-1. However, from the Astro perspective it was game of lost chances...often with the right people at the plate.



The top of the 13th should have led to a run. Bourn started it with a base hit. Now, old line baseball strategy says bunt him to second. But this is Michael Bourn the top base thief in the National League. Yes, he was thrown out once earlier in the game when for some reason only known to Michael he tried to steal on a 3-0 pitch to Kazuo Matsui, but this was a different catcher. Or to be more specific is was a mostly infielder who had caught two innings in the major leagues. Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver disdained the bunt. You can be sure he would not have bunted here and given up an out. He would have told Bourn to steal so the lead run would be in position with three full outs left to get him in.



Coop followed the book. Even though Bourn was on first he used an out and had Matsui bunt. Everything worked well. Tejada was unintentionally intentionally walked. None of the pitches were very close. That brought up the Astros top RBI man, Carlos Lee, to the plate.

Unfortunately when the big guy quickly fell behind in the count 0-2 the die was almost cast. Carlos becomes a contact hitter with two strikes. He alters his approach to make contact and not strike out. Generally, that is a sign of a good hitter. But it also has a drawback. It can lead to hitting into a large number of double plays. And that is exactly what happened.

Would the Astros have won had Carlos singled to give the club a 2-1 lead to the bottom of the inning? It would have all depended on who pitched.

A one run lead could not have been protected by Chris Sampson any more than the tie was. All he would say after the game was that he missed his spots in the 13th. That is certainly true, but why he missed them perhaps more the story. He had been excellent in the 12th. He was hitting his spots. He had just come off the DL. So was it the right thing to do to try and squeeze two innings out of him? As Coop said after the game there wasn't much left. His two lefties would not have been good matchups against the Cubs righthanded sluggers. And while he was in the pen in the 13th for awhile Jeff Fulchino just pitched two innings on Sunday and was on the borderline of really being available. So Chris stayed in...wasn't good in the 13th...and was the loser.

The Astros pitching, though, was good. It was the hitting that again failed. Not just the Carlos Lee at bat in the 13th, but repeatedly when one single would have plated a run. It has been that way all year. The team batting average is pretty good. But the clutch hitting and big hitting has been below par.

Lance Berkman is missed. However, Lance and his fellow big man, Carlos Lee, are running well behind their RBI and HR totals for a comparable period in 2008. It has been that way all year. The Astros get some hits and the team batting average is good. But when they get the hits or the inability to string them together often enough has been a major problem.

Maybe Tuesday...for in baseball there is always a game tomorrow.

On to Chicago

A major league baseball season can be so frustrating. One day you eat the bear...the next the bear eats you. Uh, probably that was a poor choice of metaphors since the Astros are now in the city of the Bears although they will have to deal directly with the baby version--the Cubs--starting Monday night.

The Cubs are ferocious enough. They are now where the pre-season polls all said they would be. They are in first place in the National League Central. OK its not by much of a margin--only a half game over the Cardinals, but still first place.

If the Astros could have beaten the Mets AND then won tonite THEY would have been in first place on Tuesday morning. But that brings mind another old adage, "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts..."

No doubt a number of Astro fans who were cautiously starting to believe lost some of their faith on Sunday. I don't think Sunday is supposed to be the day people lose faith, but for baseball reasons maybe some did.

The Astros had won four straight including that sweep of the Cardinals. The severely decimated Mets were coming to town. And after the Astros actually won the game that was considered a long shot on Friday the let down on Saturday and Sunday was extreme.

But to pull out yet another old bromide from a famed Astro of the near past, "That's baseball."

Now the Astros have to get rolling again behind the two aces of the pitching staff, Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez. The way Manager Cecil Cooper has things set up both Wandy and Roy will have two starts each on this seven game foray into the heart of the Central Division here in Chicago and later in St. Louis. That should be a very good thing. If the Astros can just win four of seven--regardless which games go their way-- the trip will be a success, although not enough so for them to take over first place.

Its probably hard to believe right now, but the Astros DID win four of six on their last homestand. It just came to a grinding halt when they lost the last two to the Mets. Both were not well pitched. But both were team losses. The offense was missing on Saturday and on Sunday only played the first inning. The three runs scored in the first likely could have been more but for some daring (or foolish) base running. Three Astros, Carlos Lee, Chris Coste and Geoff Blum are not sure bets to score on any single from second base. Even a poor throw wasn't enough to get Blum home in the first. That was one out. Hunter Pence, who has a poor stolen base percentage, being thrown out was another. So, when I said team losses we might include coaching as part of the team, too.

OBSERVATIONS AND THOUGHTS
Watching both the losses a couple things came to mind. Alberto Arias looks like the amount of work he is getting may be tiring him. Cecil Cooper downplayed that idea following the game Sunday after Arias had his poorest outing of the year allowing 3 runs and five hits in two innings. That had been preceeded by three his in one inning on Friday and outings in four of the last six games. Coop said Arias was just up with some pitches. Of course, baseball people know that when a pitcher is "up" it often is caused by fatigue.

The Astros will have Chris Sampson on Monday since he is back from the DL. Good thing, too, since a published report on Astros.com says LaTroy Hawkins back problems have driven him to have an MRI. The club has not confirmed that officially yet, but Brian McTaggart has reported it to be true. It IS known that Hawk has not been feeling physically sound for some time, but has been trying to pitch through it.

Another wonder, especially after his performance, was why Pudge Rodriguez was catching on Sunday-a day game after a night game--somewhat rare for catchers and especially 37 year old ones.

Pudge struck out three times and grounded out for the final out of the game. He also made an uncommonly poor throw to second base on a stolen base by Cory Sullivan and picked up an error when Sullivan advanced to third.

We know of no injury to Humberto Quintero since he was out early on Saturday making throws to second base. Pudge may have simply been playing because his bat had been hot. Whether it was Livan Hernandez or Father Fatigue something cooled that bat to ice on Sunday.

WHAT IS AHEAD
The road ahead this week is very tough and very important. A bad week and the club could fall enough behind never to recover. Or perhaps even a bad week can still be overcome. There is enough time. However, tempting fate usually results in failure. Winning is the best idea. Let's see if the Astros can pull it off.

GAME TIMES
Monday and Tuesday are night games. Astros Live Pregame with Bart Enis hosting starts at 6:30pm on Fox Sports Houston. Game time is set for about 7:10. Wednesday and Thursday are day games at 1:20 with Astros Live Pregame at 12:30pm. Friday will be on FS Houston, but both Saturday and Sunday's games from St. Louis will be aired on Channel 20 in Houston.

At Least They Didn't Lose Ground-- Much!

In one of her Tweets Astro Director of Digital Media--and occasional FS Houston analyst Alyson Footer called the game with the Mets Saturday night, "an old fashioned stinker." Correct, of course, but many of those in the sold out crowd may have had stronger thoughts.

After all, the scoreboard was showing the Cardinals 14-6 loss to the Phillies all night. That meant had the Astros won they would have begun Sunday only a half game behind the Cards. The Cubs with their win over Chicago gain that honor, but the Astros are still only 1 1/2 back. So they didn't lose ground to the Cards. The Cubs simply passed them. Oh, and I guess the Cards probably were calling their game a "stinker" too.


Bottom line is that the Astros can still win another series with a victory on Sunday before they hit the road to both Chicago and St. Louis this week. Four of the seven games will be pitched by the Wandy Rodriguez-Roy Oswalt duo. There won't be any "stinkers" in those four unless the Cubs or Cards are doing the stinking.

Some of what makes a "stinker" is almost unavoidable. For instance, Chad Paronto has not been good in his two appearances with the Astros this year. He is the guy who goes in games with huge leads and not much left to play OR...as was the case Saturday in games when the club trails by a large margin with the odds against them. In both cases it saves the members of the bullpen who will have to work in close games. In Chad's case the fact that Chris Sampson was expected to be activated from the DL on Sunday and he was really an "extra" pitcher since he would be the man returned to Round Rock made it even more a cinch he would be used.

No one who bought a ticket or stayed with us on FS Houston is happy with the night. Heck, I started writing this before "the last man was out." We HATE games like Saturday night. Some of it is for selfish reasons. The post game clubhouse has fewer accessible players. The Manager is usually in a foul mood and wishes he didn't have to meet the media. Our post game talent can only say so much about a game like this and likely won't have as much clubhouse interview support to help the show.

But there WAS one bright spot on Saturday. It was the debut of "Spotlight-Miguel Tejada" on FS Houston. It aired twice, but will have other airings. Please check the listings and make sure you catch the story of a very poor boy in the Dominican Republic who made it in baseball and was able to take his whole family out of poverty forever. Great job by Patti Smith and Max Mejia.

In the meantime...baseball moves on... Saturday's debacle is over... 12:30pregame and 1:05 first pitch as the Astros try to take the series from the Mets on Sunday. All on Fox Sports Houston. Then its off to Chicago and St. Louis for a a very big week of baseball out of town.

Timely Hitting Timely Defense

Acquiring Chris Coste off the waiver wire goes down as yet another very astute move by Astro General Manager Ed Wade. Add that to Alberto Arias, Jeff Fulchino and maybe even someday German Duran. Coste for the second straight game filling in for Lance Berkman is an offensive star. On Wednesday his double in the 9th innin brought in the tying run in a game the Astros would win in the same inning on Miguel Tejada's walk off single.

On Friday against the Mets his two run double in the 5th gave the Astros a lead they would never lose in holding on for a 5-4 victory. That means the Astros have won three of their last four games by one run. That's what winners do.

Even being able to score five runs off such a stalwart starter as the Mets Johan Santana is what winners do because very few teams of any skill can score that much in a Santana start.

How the Astros won,however, was timely hitting to be sure, but also very solid defense including a great throw to the plate by Hunter Pence to nail a very slow Jeff Francouer trying to score the tying run with two out in the 7th and some double plays that helped keep both Mike Hampton and reliever Alberto Arias from serious trouble.

The Astros remain 1 1/2 games behind the Cards even with the win. The new Cardinals were big contributors to their win over Philadelphia on Friday. Julio Lugo, playing 2b, had a triple and home run. Matt Holliday was 4 for 5. The new guys were obviously quite helpful for the Cardinal offense on Friday.

But then the Astros are happy with their new guy, too. Coste has been a big man in both the last two wins. As he pointed out after the game he is just trying to help hold down the fort till Lance Berkman is ready to come back. So far, the fort looks pretty strong.

TEJADA SPECIAL FIRST RUN
The Fox Sports Houston Spotlight is on Miguel Tejada with the first two airings of the 30 minute special set for Saturday at 5pm (right before Astros Live Pregame) and 10pm (or after Astros Live Postgame). Producer Patti Smith is very proud of this show. It delves into a whole lot more than just Miguel Tejada, all star shortstop, including the abject poverty he and his family had to deal with when he was a youth.

GAME TIME REMINDERS
Don't forget Saturday games begin an hour earlier than mid-week night games. Astros Live Pregame commences at 5:30 on Saturday with the first pitch set for 6:05. Russ Ortiz man the mound for the Astros.

Computer Woes

Often I wonder if we are not too tied into computers. For instance I have one credit card that requires payment electronically. (I still prefer using the U.S. mail so I get the statement and can file the paper once the bill is paid and sent.) Paying electronically through a computer is certainly very easy and quick. But what happens when the line goes dead...or the computer goes out...or, if tied into a DSL line as I am at home, the line dies?



We all already know the answer... unless there is a back up system nothing can be accomplished.



That is my problem right now. Fortunately I have a backup system. I have a Verizon Wireless broad band transmitter (actually just a direct line to the Verizon wireless system) that I can plug into my computer. I normally use it on my lap top when travelling or when another system is not available.



Today my home system is not available. Not only is my DSL out...so is the phone line it is attached to. AT&T says it should be fixed BY SATURDAY NIGHT! So, I have no main phone line or computer connection in my house.



What I really think relying on computers so much has done has required many of us to spend extra for backup systems. We have cell phones to use if our home lines are down. Or, we have backup computer on line options (like my Verizon plug in). Many of us also have more than one computer at home in addition to whatever we may have in our offices.



Don't get me wrong. I love the freedom that fully operational internet and phone connections can bring. I would be lost--and wasting a whole lot more time and effort without them.



I just wish they would work 100% of the time instead of 95%. Perfection, thats all I want!

Here's Something to Take Note Of

You might want to write down or circle the date, Saturday August 1 and time time from noon to 4pm. That is when the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame will feature Jimmy Wynn in an autograph session as part of a sports memorabilia display and sale. The event will be held at the Holiday Inn/Reliant Stadium located at 8111 Kirby Drive. Parking and admission is absolutely free.

Jimmy, who doubles as an Astros adviser and Fox Sports Houston pre/post game analyst, will be signing autographs starting at 1pm. The first 100 in attendance receive a free 8x10 photo of Jimmy. Fee is $15 with proceeds going to the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame.

A silent auction will be held throughout the day with successful bidders announced at 4pm. Proceeds will benefit the TBHOF Scholarship Fund.

Organizers are also more than willing to accept items of interest that folks might want to donate to the cause. Donations for the TBHOF Scholarship Fund are also welcomed. For more information you may call 713 721 0075...or check out the website SportsCollectablesofHouston.com

WOW!!

The headline is succinct but it certainly fits the Astros 4-3 come from behind win over the Cardinals on Wednesday night. It will be very hard to see a better game from many standpoints than what the 37,619 fans at Minute Maid Park and thousands more on FS Houston saw.

The Astros won on a two run rally started by a couple of aging vets. Thirty seven year old future Hall of Famer Pudge Rodriguez started it with his second hit of the night...a single up the middle. Then 36 year old Chris Coste, only playing because Lance Berkman is sidelined with his strained calf failed to get a bunt down. So,he ripped a double to deep LCF that scored Pudge from first to tie the game. That was Chris' second hit of the night, too.

Pinch hitter Jeff Keppinger knocked a single to left...too shallow to score Coste from 2nd. He had to stop on third. Michael Bourn hit a short fly to left that was not deep enough to score Coste. Chris was tagged out at the plate when Card second baseman Joe Thurston made a quick, and probably wrong decision to go to the plate instead of start a double play on a ball sharply hit by Matsui. So now, two outs and Keppinger on 2nd, Matsui on first. Miguel Tejada became the hero when his single scored Kep with the winner.

For much of the game it appeared the Cards aggressiveness on the bases and the Astros caution might be the difference. In the first inning Bourn singled and stole second (made possible by a well placed foot in glove with the ball rolling out). Matsui singled to center,but with no outs third base coach Dave Clark followed the age old baseball adage that says you take no chances with none or one out. So he held Bourn. In this case with Michael's speed an attempt to score might not have been a bad call especially in a Carpenter-Oswalt matchup in which runs figured to be at a premium.

Bottom line was the Astros did not score in the first as Tejada lined out and Lee bounced into an inning ending double play.

The Cardinals scored first on a solo homer by Mark DeRosa, his third of the series. The Astros tied on a fielder's choice bounce out by Lee. St Louis took a 3-1 lead thanks to aggressive baserunning. Molina singled to left with Ludwick at 2nd. He was only touching third when Carlos Lee fielded the ball. But coach Jose Oquendo sent him anyway with only one out. Lee's throw was true, but had little on it. Pudge Rodriguez tried to catch and sweep tag at the same time and couldn't hold in. The Cards led 2-1. They scored a third run when Brendan Ryan lofted a short fly to centerfield and DeRosa on third left for the plate after Bourn's catch. Michael practically three the ball into the ground. St. Louis had a 3-1 lead.

The Astros got one of them back in the 7th. They had four hits starting with Pudge Rodriguez' double just under the yellow line in deep left center. Coste reached on an infield hit but Pudge had to hold second. Lance Berkman came in to pinch hit and ripped a single to right. Again, Dave Clark was conservative and Coste held third. Coste is very slow so that again was not a bad decision. After Michale Bourn was called out on strikes Matsui singled up the middle to make it 3-2.

That set things up for the 9th inning heroics by the Astros. It all came off Cardinal closer Ryan Franklin who came in to save the game for Chris Carpenter, but failed miserably.

Astros closer Jose Valverde who pitched the top of the 9th got the win.

The Astros have Thursday off to savor the sweep of the divsion leaders. Next up the New York Mets starting Friday and then on the road to Chicago and St. Louis next week.

Things are heating up as much as Minute Maid Park in the summer. And we've still got 60 plus games to play. WOW!

Real Milo and NOT Milo

For some unknown reason when I am out and about Minute Maid Park fans often recognize me...or something like that. They recognize that I have something to do with Astros baseball on television, and they are sure they know me. Yesterday for instance I had to leave the park to go to my car and drop something off right before the gates opened. Fans were waving or giving me that second look indicating they knew the face, but they weren't so sure...

Then there were four separate fans and one person who actually works the the club that openly said, "Hi." As in, "Hi Milo!" That is nothing new. I have also been Bill Brown a few times and I have a definite theory. It's all in the hair. Brownie isn't anymore and of course neither am I. We are about the same age. Milo is a lot older, of course, but when the hair turns white I guess we are all alike. Wonder if I shaved my dome I would start being confused with J.D?

NOW The BIG ONE!

The Astros will go into Wedesday nights game with the Cardinals having a chance to be within one game of the top of the NL Central when it is over. With more than 60 games still to play that doesn't guarantee anything. But as Richard Justice of the Chronicle pointed out they have knocked seven games off their largest distance from the top spot in just 47 games. Continuing to play at that pace would easily put them on top by a good margin.

I have said it many times, but I repeat it again. If the pitching continues to perform as well as it has over that 47 game period this team will be very hard if not impossible to stop.

Notice that little word "if" was in that sentence. Anything less than the work of the last month and a half may not be enough.

Tuesdays game was like one of those spring training games in which to evaluate it you must look at what the MAIN guys did. Do not be upset with Chad Paronto for being ineffective with a 10-1 lead. He was the perfect pitcher to use. Big leads with little time left is exactly when any manager would have used Chad. He won't be pitching in close games. He won't even be on the club as soon as Doug Brocail is ready to come off the DL. That could be in about a week.

I feel sorry that Chad was so ineffective because like everyone on this club he is a very nice guy who has been banging around the high levels of the minors with some forays onto a big league club for more than a decade. He probably is what he is... a 4A type pitcher. Better than most in Triple A, but not quite a major league pitcher.

What is more important may be the way the Astros bats came alive. Certainly Todd Wellemeyer is not one of the Cards' aces, but he is in their rotation. I like the Ortiz', Moehlers and Hamptons better than the St. Louis back of their starting five.

Even if you suggest that Carpenter and Wainwright are better than Rodriguez, Oswalt (and you will get some great doubters around here) they do not have a better staff than the Astros. The Cardinals ERA is lower, but in the "what are you doing for me now" category the edge goes to Houston.

Carpenter will not be allowing the Astros to score eleven runs on Wednesday. But how many can the Cardinals get against a red-hot Oswalt?

You can catch the action at Minute Maid Park--which we all recommend, but if not Astros Live Pregame will get you set up for the game telecast starting at 6:30 on FS Houston.

Will it be a one game deficit or three after Wednesday. Even if it turns out to be three with a St. Louis win the Astros would have still won the series and cut a game off the deficit coming in. They are already in a no lose situation.

Thats ONE!

Thanks to Carlos Lee's three run homer and stout pitching from Brian Moehler and his bullpen buddies the Astros take game one of the big three game series with the Cards 3-2.

While it is only one game it pitted a couple pitchers-- Moehler and Kyle Lohse of comparable achievements this season...the #3 or #4 guys in their respective rotations who had higher earned run averages than desired, but both capable of keeping any given foe in check. On Monday night both did. The Astros mounted no real offense except for the timely Lee homer with two on. The Cards mounted only one inning of offensive fun when they plated their two. Other than those two frames either the offenses were weak or the pitching was great.

At least today the Astros are within three games of the leading Cardinals in the division. They gained a game on the second place Cubs. Ordinarily with Wandy Rodriguez and Roy Oswalt pitching the next two games things would look rosy. If there is a must game in the next two for the Astros to win the series it is Tuesday. Wandy Rodriguez at 9-6 2.81 faces Todd Wellemeyer and his 7-7 5.56. On Wednesday it will be Roy Oswalt for the home team, but the Cards have their ace, Chris Carpenter and his 8-2 2.26 numbers to throw out on the mound.

Winnning two of three is the Astro goal. It would only hold on to the game they gained tonight. But it would be a gain with more than two months yet to play.

ODDS N ENDS
Carlos Lee, always reluctant to do a post game interview, was as usual when he does come over great. Always smiling and often with a quip the self effacing Lee didn't even seem to realize he had driven in all the Astro runs with his three run homer. To get him to come over I always have to negotiate, but to Carlos' credit he always agrees. Our tape guys have to be on the ball because he wants the camera rolling as soon as he steps in front of it. Low first cameraman Robin Barrow is always quick with the light and focus so we don't hold the big man. Tell you what, though. I'll keep negotiating with Lee to get him on our post game if he keeps being the big man and winning games.

Lance Berkman obviously hobbled with that nagging left calf strain swung the ball well. He doubled and nearly drove the ball out of the park in deep left center in another at bat. Hopefully, there won't be any repercussions from him playing on Monday. The Astros need his no longer sleeping bat to keep climbing in the division.

Better not sell this Astro pitching staff short. That includes not just Oswalt and Rodriguez but has to include Ortiz and Moehler as well. Mike Hampton has been the most erratic of the group lately, but even he has has some strong outings over the last month. While the bullpen will have a blip every so often, on balance it is a good crew. Fellows like Arias and Fulchino have been real finds to help out the core group.

Tuesday the TV action of FS Houston starts at 6:30 with Astros Live Pregame. Don't forget we will have another Batting Stance Guy feature. I think it will be tougher than what we had on the debut. No problem picking out Jeff Bagwell's stance and mannerisms even if a big exaggerated with the squat. When you see it you can guess on our Twitter page.

Better than Kissing your Sister

It has been long said a tie is like "kissing your sister." But the "tie" the Astros had in their four game series in Los Angeles was better..and worse...than that.

It was better because the Dodgers are the elite record team in the National League. Winning two of four in Los Angeles is a tough job for anyone and had the Astros been guaranteed that success before the series began they would probably have been happy.

However, the monkey wrench in this is that after winning the first two...greed kicks in. No one was happy with the split as it turned out because it mean losing two in a row. Furthermore in Sunday's game the Astros could (I won't say should) but could have won. The did have a 3-0 lead. But two things happened. They couldn't get Brad Ausmus or Matt Kemp out when it counted. They also couldn't score any more runs after those first three.

Theyhad chances, too. In the early innings they got runners to second with no outs and could not move them let alone drive them in. You cannot squander chances. Invariably they come back to haunt. They did.

Positives: Russ Ortiz, except for his problems with Ausmus and Kemp, was pretty good. He kept the Astros in the game...in fact in the lead 3-2 when he left for the 7th.

Alberto Arias pitched well in the seventh. He just couldn't field. As for LaTroy Hawkins let me say this. If the ball he gave up the game winning homer on to Matt Kemp was not hit out the park the Kemp should have been fined... It was a 3-2 pitch right down the middle thigh high. Good-bye. And good-bye ballgame.

So, the Astros finish this trip where they started... at .500. The Cards come to town Monday. Winning two of three is almost mandatory to keep the Cards from starting to build a margin over the Astros. Its getting fun. But its also getting very serious. Will Lance Berkman be able to return to the lineup? That may almost be a big and as important a question as anything else going this week.

Fox Sports Houston will have the telecast with Astros Live Pregame at 6:30. Oh yes, there are tickets available for this very important series. Hope to see you there.

Never Said "Sweep"

The Astros ran into a very good young lefty starter in Clayton Kershaw on Saturday and that turned out to be enough for the Dodgers to hang on with a 5-2 win.

But consider this. Joe Torre is rated as a great major league manager, right? Well, what if Cecil Cooper had done what Torre did Saturday with HIS starter. He lifted Kershaw after seven innings. Clayton had allowed only two hits and no runs. Yes, he had thrown 103 pitches and held a 5-0 lead. But what if the Dodger bullpen (which they threatened to do) had blown it?

The Dodgers did hold on, of course, but the Astros had the bases loaded with the tying run on first in the 9th before closer Jonathan Broxton got himself together to strike out pinch hitter Ivan Rodriguez to end the game. The Astros who trailed 5-0 never quit. They even had a chance in the 9th.

I like that. I REALLY like that and all Astro fans and followers should like it too. There is no quit with the club. They may be beaten or occasionally lose games they should be able to win. But they have never shown any quit.

HAMPTON SURVIVED--FOR AWHILE
After a very shaky first inning where every ball hit--even the outs were right on the money--Mike Hampton got himself together and was very effective for the next four innings. In the sixth things sort of fell apart with the key plays an rbi base hit by Mark Loretta and a strange error by Hampy who failed to catch a ball he was throwing to himself! After the Loretta hit the ball was returned to Hampton who tried to slam the ball in his glove disgustedly. But he missed! The ball got away and the Dodgers had an extra run.

ASTROS LOSE ONE ON BAD CALL
The Astros also lost a run on a bounder up the middle with two out and a runner on third. The ball was hit by Jeff Keppinger and was fumbled by Orlando Hudson. He recovered in time to get the out (despite replays showing the throw was late.) Cecil Cooper argued and was told by ump Casey Moser that he, Moser, got it right. Moser got it wrong as replays showed. So, the Astros lost a run there. Hopefully for Russ Ortiz Moser is a better home plate ump. That's where he will be when Russ starts the series finale Sunday afternoon.

CARDS LOSE SO ITS STILL THREE
Three games off the first place spot in the NL Central is where the Astros remain as both they and the Cards lost on Saturday. The Astros dropped back in the pecking order, however, as the Cubs led the NL Central winners.

SERIES THERE FOR THE TAKING
The Astros are fully capable of taking this series three games to one. Whether Lance Berkman returns to action on Sunday is still debatable, although he told me before Saturday's game he expects to play. His fill-in on Saturday, Chris Coste, was impressive. He had a double in three official at bats with a walk. He also lined out for one of his outs and was flawless at first base, finishing up behind the plate. In fact it was somewhat ironic that Coste and Jason Michaels both started to get more righty bats in the lineup against lefty starter Kershaw. They both got hits after Kershaw was gone and righthanded relief was in. And Darin Erstad got his pinch hit single against a lefty. So much for percentages. If a pitcher is tough it makes really no difference what arm his using. He is just tough. Clayton Kershaw was certainly that on Saturday night.

If Roy and Wandy Could be Like This...

...from now till the end of the season the Astros would be a tough team to keep out of the NL Central throne room.

Hey, these two performances back to back by Wandy Rodriguez and Roy Oswalt were NOT against the Pirates and Padres and some of the other lesser clubs the Astros were playing before the All Star Break. These came against the Dodgers WITH Manny. The team in the NL with the best record.

As a result the worst the Astros can do is split the four games here. Now, of course, that would be a major disappointment. They need to win at least three of the four to make things really successful.

While the Astros have moved into a virtual three way tie for 2nd in the NL Central, they still trail the Cards by three. Albert Pujols may not have been on his "A" game for the All Star event, but he is back. Two more homers on Friday as the Cards rolled again. The Astros may have take things in their own hands starting Monday. That will be a HUGE series. Hope you've already gotten tickets. Roy and Wandy will both pitch in the series.

OTHER ITEMS
Lance Berkman's sore left calf kept him out of Friday's game. With 16 hits he was not missed. So, many would not be surprised to see him sit out Saturday against the lefty Clayton Kershaw. That could give Chris Coste a start at first base to get another righthanded bat in the lineup. It would also get Lance even more ready for a return Sunday or at the worst Monday against the Cards.

Chad Paronto joins the Astros to take over for DL'd Chris Sampson. Chris had not been pitching well of late and the soreness in his right shoulder he can't shake was a major contributor. Paronto had been doing well at Round Rock with 15 saves. Alberto Arias moves into the role Sampson had been filling although he had actually been handling it recently already.

Aaron Boone will be joining the club on Monday for the rest of the season. He won't be on the active roster likely until September, but will continue working himself back into shape. His recovery from heart valve surgery in March has been probably even ahead of schedule.

And Doug Brocail worked a 30 pitch simulated game Friday. Afterward he pronounced himself pleased. A bullpen session on Sunday is next then some rehab work at either Round Rock or Corpus for a few games.

Riding up on the elevator back at the hotel after the game with Doug and Roy I asked Roy what he thinks it will be like when he is pitching at Doug's age. Roy nearly lost his post game meal. Pitching to age 42 is definitely not in Roy's plan.

How About That One?

Alyson Footer, Jesus Ortiz and Greg Lucas can all attest the Astros looked very good in Los Angeles on Thursday night. (Actually, Brian McTaggert can, too, but he didn't make the picture.)

Seriously, Wandy Rodriguez was outstanding again...not allowing a run and leaving the game with a narrow 1-0 lead on the first homer of the year by Humberto Quintero then some add-ons to give the club some room in holding off the the Dodgers.

For the first time this year the Astros are OVER .500 at 45-44 and gained a half game on the idle Cardinals to trail by just three games in the NL Central. The win over the Dodgers, who have the best record in the whole league at 56-33 was Houston's third against just one loss.

This test of the Astros mettle is far from over. Three more games to play. LA could easily win all three or... With Roy Oswalt pitching on Friday one cannot ignore the Astros solid chances to gain at least a split. That would signify a semi-satisfactory, but not good series. Only winning at least three of the games would bring full satisfaction.

ARIAS IS A KEY

Alberto Arias continues to sparkle in relief. With Chris Sampson not fully healthy and less effective of late moving Arias to the 7th inning spot makes a lot of sense. Just the numbers show why. He has pitched his last 20.1 innings allowing no runs. On top of that he doesn't allow the runs charged to the preceding pitcher either. Alberto has entered games with 15 runners on base and only ONE has scored. That is incredibly good. He can then turn things over to LaTroy Hawkins in the 8th and Jose Valverde in the 9th. That trio is pitching as well as any in the game right now.

VIEWING REMINDER

We at FS Houston had a transmission problem during Astros Live Pregame on Thursday. If you were watching you did not see any input in the show from Dodger Stadium. I had a couple interviews ready and Brownie and JD were ready to make their points. However, our signal could not get to the FS Houston downtown studio and thus Patti Smith and Steve Sparks had to do their best version of Ad-Lib Theatre to fill the half hour. The game itself was not affected. Just another example of what can make live television an adventure.

Things are expected to be fine on Friday. Astros Live pregame hits the air at 8:30 central with the first pitch slated for 9:10pm central.

RESPONSES AND/OR COMMENTS WELCOME

Feel free to add comments to any blog or commentary written in this spot. I would love to hear from you in addition to any comments you may make on the main FSHouston blog or Twitter sites.

Mannyworld and the Astros

The Astros are in cool and sunny Southern California for the next four games which are significant as any non division games in the season so far. These are great "test" games for the Astros since they will be going against the team with the best record in the National League. Not only that, but they games are on the road where there will be a festive atmosphere working for the home team Dodgers.

Manny Ramirez is back and will be playing his first game in from of "Mannyworld" since his 50 games suspension was lifted. His eligibility began with the Dodgers in San Diego before the All Star Break. Those games were sell outs, but not thanks to Padre fans. It was Dodger fans who trekked 100 miles down the freeway to welcome their strange, but very good Manny Ramirez back into action.

So far Manny has not disappointed. In the nine games he has played since returning he is hitting .379 with three homers and nine runs batted in.

THE REAL STORY
That brings me back to the real story of tonight's game as far as the Astros are concerned. Being able to sit on their 44-44 .500 record at the All Star Break (ASB) and the statistically easiest part of the schedule behind them the club while only 3 1/2 games off the National League Central (NLC) lead must show they are not only really worthy of being that close to the top, but can be a contender and hopefully even a winner the rest of the season.

That starts with this four game series in Los Angeles. The Astros did beat Los Angeles two of three in Houston back in April. Russ Ortiz was wild, but went five innings allowing three earned runs to win an 8-5 opener. Carlos Lee hit a two run homer in the three run third inning as the Astros rallied to win. In the second game the Astros lost a 2-0 lead in the 6th when Roy Oswalt gave up four runs including back to back homers by Manny Ramirez and Andre Ethier and a two run homer by Casey Blake. But they tied the game on a two run double by Jason Michaels in the bottom of the frame and won it with an rbi single by Pudge Rodriguez in the 8th.

The third game was more like the Dodgers of 2009. Chad Billingsley and Jonothat Broxton shut down the Astros offense on only four hits in taking a 2-0 win. Wandy Rodriguez was the losing pitcher but he was stout. He only gave up one run in six innings.

Wandy will be on the mound tonight. Another good start from him can get the Astros off on the right foot. In fact with Oswalt tomorrow the club will be able to with its strongest pitchers to open the post ASB season. Winning them both would be wonderful and make others start to take a look at the Astros as a true contender--not just a mathematical one.

STRONG FINISHES ARE BEING NOTED
The Astros recent history of finishing seasons strong is being noted by others outside the Astros Media Relations department. In their weekly power rankings (where the Astros are still in the middle of the pack) it was pointed out today the club has the 4th best post ASB record in all of baseball since 2004 and that the NL must be aware of that.

This season if they finish strong will be an even greater achievement. There is more age on the club which doesn't always play as well down the stretch of the hot summer plus the aforementioned schedule is rough. Still, this club has some vets who won't mail it in.

MAYBE WE ARE A BASEBALL CITY
Houston Chronicle blogger and media columnist David Barron reported on Thursday that the ASG TV ratings in Houston were higher than most national sports ratings in the market. In fact the Houston ratings for the game on Fox TV (Ch 26) were 31st highest of the 56 large markets measured. For most events other than special football games the market is a staple in the bottom ten percent. With only two Astros on the NL team and fans slow to embrace this season's club (as evidenced by the attendance drop off of approximately 5000 per game) that may show more latent baseball fandom than the market has been given credit for by those who seem to think everything is football and football only around here. There ARE some baseball fans and a lot of them. You know what. There are also a LOT of NBA Houston Rocket fans, too. Time to recognize not everyone ranks football as #1. Most everyone follows it to some degree when its in season. Let's just be sure to realize that we have a bunch of fans of other sports too.

Its Not by Much but AL is just Better

The history of baseball shows the differences between the American and National Leagues runs in cycles. From the first All Star Game until the late 40's the AL dominated. They for the next 25 years the National League was top dog. Since then the shift has gone back to the AL. Just why has it been so?

The initial AL dominance came during the period when the AL simply had more strong teams and players led by the Yankees of the 30's and 40's, but aided by some pretty darn good players on other teams like Ted Williams, Bob Feller, Hank Greenberg, Joe Cronin. Lefty Grove and others. The National League never had the depth of stars as the AL.

The tide turned about the same time Jackie Robinson and other great black ballplayers entered the game. The National League was far more welcoming in the early years. Therefore, the NL teams were ahead of the game in scouting and development. Plus, before the draft, when players could sign with anyone playing in "Jackie's League" was a common desire. While the AL still had a now aging Williams and DiMaggio the NL came up with Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, Frank Robinson, Roy Campanella, Roberto Clemente, Ernie Banks and the next generation that followed. The AL was still playing catchup till the 1980s.

Now the field is level racially. Both leagues are not only similarly integrated, but similarly international. The AL uses the designated hitter which is not uses in the NL. That shouldn't be a factor in AL All Star Game dominance since it isn't used in the ASG. Not only that with interleague play and more interleague trading and free agent signings a much larger number of players on both teams have played in the other league. There are even a number each year who have been All Stars in both leagues.

With any given year one can feel one team or the other has the better roster. But that still doesn't explain the NL losing streak. If nothing else LUCK would have given them a few wins during this period--especially in recent years with so many games decided by one run.

Maybe its very simple. Maybe its just that Mariano Rivera IS the greatest closer who ever lived. He DOES have four saves in ASG play. Maybe the AL just has a few more clutch hitters. In the game Tuesday night Ryan Howard certainly was in position to be a hero for the NL. But he failed. Brad Hawpe could have been one, too, but his fly ball to the wall was six or eight inches too short. Maybe its a combination of no luck AND the fact the AL is just a tiny bit better. In one run games that is all it takes.

CHARLIE TRIED
Can't fault Charlie Manuel in the loss. He managed as closely to a regular season game as one can do in an all star affair. He had his favored pinch hitter ready to hit in the game winning spot. He didn't try to get everyone in the game when it looked like the game could go to extra innings. That was too bad for Hunter Pence and a few others, but the way you have to play it if the game counts.

FOUR OUT OF SEVEN TO AL CHAMPS
So, the American League rep in the World Series gets the four game to three advantage in a full seven game series. That can hurt, but the NL has won some recent World Series without the home field edge which is probably less important in baseball than for any other sport. Even so, put me in the club that if we have to do away forever with the old rotating league format I favor the league with the edge in interleague play. All of those games are played to win since they count in the standings. That sort of thing is cyclical, too. When it started the NL seemed to dominate. Now in recent years the opposite has been true.

NEITHER IS FAIR
Neither using the All Star Game nor Interleague play results are fair. The matchups in interleague are not balanced. Some teams annually have a rougher go than others. In 2008 the Astros played both the Yankees and Red Sox. This year they played Kansas City and Detroit. Yes, Detroit is a division leader, but no one thinks they are as good as either NY or Boston. If the Astros had this years interleague schedule last season they probably would have made the post season lineup.

What is probably the best idea is to go back to the alternating year schedule. But that just won't happen. As much as baseball is criticized for not keeping pace with modern society and changing with the times, they have done a great deal of changing over the last decade. Expansion (actually starting over 47 years ago), the DH in the AL (like or not, it was a change), divisional and league championship playoffs, inter league play in season and the merging of the two umpiring groups and leagues just to name the most prominent changes we have seen.

BOTTOM LINE
The main story out of the game just played was that it was entertaining, quick, didn't have much offense which has been a major theme ever since pitchers starting working only one inning primarily, and that the AL won again. The AL team will have the home field advantage in the World Series. But most importantly its time to get back to work. There are some pennants to be won. Be talking with you from Los Angeles Thursday night when the 44-44 Astros begin the toughest stretch of their season to date. Four games with the NL West leading Dodgers, then back home for three with the NL Central leading Cardinals. See you on FS Houston from LA and at Minute Maid Park in person for the next seven VERY important Astro games.

Its The Break or Intermission

The major league baseball season has reached its so called midway point. Never mind that in a 162 game season the real midway point for the Houston Astros was more than a week ago. This is still considered the midway point. The Astros have played 88 games so far.

Perhaps we should just call this the baseball season intermission. A movie or play with an intermission always has less of the show left after than the audience has already seen. Its the same with baseball.

Semantics aside the Astros are not in a bad spot at all. Remember most pre season polls had the Astros picked solidly behind everyone except the Pirates. I even saw one poll with the Pirates ahead of the Astros.

Why was that? In some cases it was the chances the Astros were about to take with older (Brian Moehler) or recently injury plagued (Mike Hampton, Russ Ortiz) or fading (Roy Oswalt?) or minimally improving (Wandy Rodriguez) starting pitching. In others cases it was the result of questionable young players (Michael Bourn) or young players who were not as impressive in their second season as in their first (Hunter Pence.)

Maybe it was the feeling that the shortstop was losing a step on defense and offense (Miguel Tejada) or the fact the team had no real established third baseman or catcher.

There were some solid reasons to doubt this club could still be in a pennant race at the season intermission. And there were very strong reasons not to expect the team to be within three games of the top spot at this point.

Certainly, a 44-44 record is not earth shattering at all. In 2008 the Astros had a better record at this point, but were further from first place. So which is most important? I go with being closer to the lead myself. Don't tell me the Red Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, Tigers and others are so very much better. Maybe they are. But the Astros still have a chance to be right there with them when the post season schedules are drawn up. Winning the NL Central is the primary goal. It is not to have the best record in baseball. Heck, Seattle won 116 not to many years ago. What did it do them? Nothing. Oh they made the post season, but never got to the World Series.

Even fans in Houston should realize that. The best team this franchise has ever fielded--the 102 game winning 1998 Houston Astros-- were ousted in the first round of the playoffs. It was the Wild Card entrant in 2005 that actually made it to the big show. That club had pretty good pitching, but was no match for the 1998 club in overall talent.

So, while this 2009 Astros team is not one of the best clubs to ever wear the Astro uniform they are at this point still one of the best teams in the NL Central. You can look it up. The standings don't lie. Will that hold thru the part of the season after the intermission?

Needless to say those who picked the club to finish fifth or sixth still probably don't think it will. Maybe they will be correct. But just maybe they won't.

What will it take to make the forecasters wrong? Age cannot catch up to the club. I don't mean to suggest players wheezing around the bases...or calling for relief on the mound after only three innings. No, age in sports almost equals injuries. Older players are injured more easily. A long baseball season makes even the strongest and youngest players more vulnerable to injury. Age increases the odds. So, first and foremost, the Astros must stay healthy.

Secondly, the starting pitching must be at least as good as it has been over the last month. Anything less will not be good enough. Remember, the Astros are playing a much stronger schedule after the All Star Break. This includes some key games within the division against the Cards and Cubs.

Thirdly, those teams perceived...or perhaps actually better than the Astros can not get hot. The Astros may have the type of team able to hang in the race, but only if no one else gets hot. The Astros have not shown the capability of getting hot and winning six or seven in a row. Luckily no one else in the division really has either. The Astros have been steady--with the occasional blowout loss or two. Only one long (seven game) losing streak.

And finally, the big guys like Berkman, Lee, Pence and Tejada simply have to hit all year. Lance started slow, but has been much more solid over the last six weeks. Pence struggled into the All Star Break... Lee has been consistent, but not as much as sure bet in RBI situations as in the past. As for Miguel Tejada--he has been amazing as a hitter. For every step backward he may have taken as a defensive shortstop he has take two steps forward as a hitter.

Bottom line on this is that I am cautiously optimistic. The Astros got to the All Star Break at .500 and only about 3 games off the NL Central lead. I have to like their chances in the games remaining. We will all learn more together.

SCHEDULE NOTE:
I will not be filing a new column until sometime on Wednesday. So, I wish everyone a Happy All Star Break with hopes for good things from Hunter Pence and Miguel Tejada and a National League win.

Infamous Anniversary

Thirty years ago today, July 12, 1979, will live in baseball infamy. That was the date of the Chicago White Sox fame "Disco Demolition" promotion that got out of hand. A game was cancelled and forfeited. A field was damaged. A riot took place. Just another fun night at the ballpark.

It started innocently enough as a promotion for a local Chicago radio station, WLUP-FM, which did not feature disco music which was sort of the rage at the time. In fact, the organizer of the Disco Demolition night, DJ Steve Dahl, had been fired by a station prior to joining WLUP when they went to an all-disco format.

The plan was for fans to bring disco records to the game. They would be turned in and the fan could buy a ticket for only 98 cents. Between games of the scheduled doubleheader between the White Sox and the Detroit Tigers those records would be brought to mid field in a large container and blown up.

The promotion was far too successful and the power of Steve Dahl and his radio station too strong.

An estimated 75,000 or more "fans" showed up. Comiskey Park only had seats for slightly over 50,000. Not everyone got in, although they tried. Some attempted to climb walls and fences. Off ramps from the adjacent expressway were closed once the stadium was filled to capacity.

During the first game a lot of those on hand were not paying any attention at all to the game. Many were socializing and/or lighting up marijuana cigarettes. Even on the broadcast level the acrid "burning leaves" smell could be detected. Some of those who had brought additional records to the game started heaving them like frisbees.

But the real problem started during the mid game event. Dahl who was dressed in army fatigues and helmet went to center field where the large box filled with records had been placed. The bomb exploded destroying the box. Disco had been demolished! Unfortunately, so had a huge section of centerfield. When Dahl and his party hopped in a jeep for an exit thousands of fans jumped onto the field. Som lit fires. Other ripped up grass. Still others pulled up the bases.

Ultimately after police in riot gear made their way to the wild scene peace was restored. Thirty nine of the rioters were arrested. Luckily there were only six minor injuries reported. That is, if you don't count the field. It suffered major injuries. The Comiskey Park turf was so torn up the second game had to be cancelled--and thus forfeited to Detroit.

TRIVIA NOTES

White Sox outfielder Rusty Torres holds a unique place in history. The riot was his third forfeit inducing affair during his career. He had played for the New York Yankees at the last game played by the Washington Senators at RFK Stadium in 1971. Fans rushed the field prematurely in that one. And he had been with the Cleveland Indians at the poorly thought out "Ten Cent Beer Night" in Cleveland in 1974.

BY THE WAY

The Disco Demolition game was the last forfeit due to riot in the American League. The last in the National League was in Dodger Stadium in 1995 on "Ball Night." Yes, thats what happened. The balls given out prior to the game didn't go home with a lot of fans who decided it was great sport to throw them on the field.

Musings and Doings

Let me wander a bit in this effort... first of all now that the Astros have joined the class of "non-losers" i.e. .500 or better will they enjoy it so much that they keep winning games? We all hope so,but also know that the post All Star Break schedule will likely make or break them.

Chris Coste joins the team. He can catch, play third...or first, but is pencilled in primarily as a right handed extra bat. Probably should run out and buy his book now that he is an Astro. I think its titled "The 33 Year old Rookie". Anyway, it still can be found on local bookstores.


Big Adam Dunn and I will conduct our annual interview prior to Saturday's game. He is a good guy and fun to chat with. It will be part of Astros Live Pregame on FS Houston between 5:30 and 6pm.


Big flap over Russ Ortiz post game comments and manager Cooper is over. Both met in Coop's office before Friday's game and apparently understand each other. Russ is still in the rotation.


Same can be said over whether Geoff Blum hustled or not on his double on Friday. The reality is that he did not run as hard as he could because he knew he had a double. What he didn't know and what happened was the Nationals would fumble around and third COULD have been reached had he been running hard from the start. Strategically it is very true third should only be attempted with no outs if it is a cinch it can be made. Blum didn't think that was possible.

But you know what? That whole thing is a dead story after what Blummer did Friday night. Three hits and a walk including a hustling double. AND his third walk off game winning hit at MMP in one season. Some guys in their whole career never get to be pounded on by their teammates after they come through in the clutch like that. When Geoff joined me on the post game on field interview all he could say was, "They messed up my hair!" Looking at it that doesn't seem possible.

This Washington team is not good at all. But wins are wins. Scary though that Oswalt had to leave in a similar situation to what happened back on May 5th. That turned out to be the infamous suspended game. It almost looked like deja vu, too. Sampson relieved and was ineffective. But this time the Astros thanks to Tejada, Pence, Rodriguez and Blum gave the story a happy ending.

Two more wins to the All Star break would be wonderful for the Astros. They have passed the Reds and Cubs in the NL Central. Only the Brewers and Cards are above. What a story so far.