SB Nation User Blog: entropic soul

Good News for Michael Bourn Fans

entropic soul — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:48:41 -0000

Everyone agrees, Michael Bourn was pretty much a disappointment last year. He was, I believe, one of the worst, if not the worst, qualifying offensive player in the game last season. Since Bourn will be our starting center fielder next season (unless something drastic happens) his production will make a difference to an Astros team looking to compete.

It looks like he could be making some progress. Bourn has been playing winter ball for the Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Winter League. I know it's a small sample size, but it's all we have to go on at the moment.

In 12 games and 50 at bats, Bourn is hitting .360 with an on base percentage of .458. He is OPS'ing .978. He's got 4 stolen bases and 15 runs scored in 12 games, so he's pretty much turned into the Carlos Beltran of the Domincan League. Well, it is Winter Ball so who knows what that means for his game in the majors, but it should be noted that he hit .255 with an on base percentage of .323 after the All Star Break. And while, that's not exactly good, it IS an improvement over the .218 average and .273 OBP he was sporting before the break. It's a step in the right direction, at least.

How could we not keep Tejada?

entropic soul — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:01:47 -0000

How could we not keep Tejada after he has said such nice words:

http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2008/11/tejada_optimist.html

"I'm going to the Dominican next week, but I'm not going to play this year," he said. "Because as you know I want to dedicate myself more to this. I look and feel real good. I'm doing a lot of leg exercises. Right now I'm focused on this. They made me a program for spring training. I hope that Houston sees in me this year what everybody has seen in me so I don't go anywhere. I hope Houston has the same love so I don't have to go. I feel good in Houston and I think that's what I want. I hope that's what Houston thinks."

Just to curb any arguements on this before they start: He was not BAD last year. He was bad for $13 million. As a shortstop, he was a little above average all around. Not great, but still not bad. I would use "good" in the blandest form of the word.

When the Astros announced last week that they were freezing ticket prices, I called Ed Wade and...

entropic soul — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:07:37 -0000

When the Astros announced last week that they were freezing ticket prices, I called Ed Wade and asked him if this meant they were slashing the payroll. He said, "We're raising the payroll."

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081103&content_id=3661016&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

The Dodgers?

entropic soul — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:07:13 -0000

The Dodgers? Are you kidding me? The fucking Dodgers? Seriously? The Dodgers? The goddamn Dodgers? Really? You mean the Dodgers that were 7th in the NL in wins? Worse than the Mets and the Astros and the Cardinals? Those Dodgers? Surely, you jest. So you're telling me (let me get this straight) the fuckin' Dodgers are in the NLCS? The same Dodgers that OPS'd 11th in the league? The team that barely managed to win the weakest division in the league? Might go to the World Series?

We better get a shot of a topless Alyssa Milano orgasming on camera for this.

State Senator & Astros Players Speak Out About Miller Park Decision

entropic soul — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:39:40 -0000

Add State Senator John Whitmire and the players on the Houston Astros to the group of those taking MLB commisioner Bud Selig to task on his decision to hold the Astros/Cubs games at Miller Park right after a natural disaster. The senator, Lance Berkman and Doug Brocail all going on record and calling the decision outrageous, unconscionable, putting the dollar before the welfare of the player first and say had it been another team like the Red Sox, then Selig would have allowed the games to be played at the end of the season like everyone wanted

Senator Whitmire:

"...it is unconscionable to have the Houston Astros play in Milwaukee on Sunday night when the players and team staff should be in Houston with their families or in other locations where their families have evacuated. "

Doug Brocail:

"And to make us go up and play at North Wrigley like we had to on no sleep, it was absolutely ridiculous. If it was New York or Boston it would have been played at the end of the season. I truly believe that, and I think 99.9 percent of our teammates believe that."

You can read the very interesting article here: Houston Chronicle

It's Official: Cubs v. Astros at Miller Park

entropic soul — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:54:47 -0000

The baseball Gods have been shining on us a lot lately, so I guess we can't complain, but they decided that the home series versus the Cubs should be held at Miller Park. The Astros will play one game on Sunday and one on Monday, according to an article on Astros.com. The third will be played at Minute Maid Park at the end of the season, if necessary. This essentially means another home series for the Cubs since Miller Park is within spitting distance of Chicago. It also means that we'll just have to sweep the Cubs on the road again.

Link

Saturday's Games Thread

entropic soul — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:14:38 -0000

Just a post where we can talk about today's games between the Brewers and Phillies and the Cards and Pirates, since there is no Astros game today. I have to write at least 75 words, so here's the Wild Card standings coming into today:

NL Wild Card
Team / GB
Brewers - 0
Phillies - 3.0
Astros - 3.0
Cardinals - 5.0

Yesterday's game between the Brewers and Phillies was postponed because of rain. They will make up the game tomorrow night as part of a day/night double header. The Cards were destroyed by the Pirates and pitcher Malholm yesterday, losing 10-2. Malhoun took a shut out into the 9th inning against them too. That put the Cards 5 games behind the Brewers and 2 behind the Astros.

Today's games include an afternoon Brewers/Phillies match-up (which has already started) and an evening Cards/Pirates match up. For those interested, the Mets are hosting the Braves.

Here are your match ups for today.
Manny Parra (MIL) v. Cole Hamels (PHI)
Mike Hampton (ATL) v. Johan Santana (NYM)
Adam Wainwright (STL) v. Kersterns (PIT) (or something.. who cares?)

The Braves/Mets game is currently in the 5th. Both pitchers are pitching good games, but the Mets lead 2-0.

Happy day. The Phillies chased starter Manny Parra in the second inning after 5 runs allowed. Looks like the Brew Crew is on their way to losing yet another game. (Hopefully) 5-2 in the 5th right now.

Everett Back with the Twins

entropic soul — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:23:24 -0000

For those of you who were sad that Adam Everett got DFA'd by the Twins, well.. he's back with them. It wasn't actually a DFA, but a contemplative outright assignment form... which I have no idea what that means, but he had 3 days to accept... He was on the DL, though. As it turns out, the Twins had to place their 2nd baseman on the DL so they activated Everett.

I really like Adam Everett (even though he couldn't hit worth a lick) and he'd be a good defensive replacement for the Astros next year. Well, he WOULD if he hadn't been on the DL like 3 times this year. I'm not sure if he could be an effective defender anymore.

What do you think of signing Everett next year and have him as a defensive replacement for SS with a move of Tejada to 3rd base late in the game? Tejada would have to learn some 3rd base, but he has a very strong and accurate arm. That would keep the team with a superior offensive shortstop during most of the game, with a BIG increase in defense later in the game when we have a slim lead. (Assuming Everett can still play effectively.)

Moehler's Contract Next Year?

entropic soul — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:01:32 -0000

Ok, let's face it. Brian Moehler has been all that and a bag of chips. (to quote late 90's proverbs. :p ) No one that it was going to happen except me. And to tell you the truth, I kinda just guessed. I said he should be the fifth starter from day one of this season and no one agreed with me. I didn't say that so much because I thought he'd be good, but more like... I thought he would be least bad. :p So the way it turns out, he's been our second best starter of the year. Not that it was hard to do.

So why back someone who hasn't had great results until this year? My favortism towards Moehler started back at the beginning of the '07 season when I read an article about him trying to make the team as a reliever. He was in spring training and it talked about how he told his wife in the next few days he'd either be heading north (back to Georgia or wherever he lives) or he'd be headed west, to Houston. That gave him.. a little bit of a personal feel to me. So I've been rooting for him ever since. That, and he had the best spring training results this year, even though they weren't that good.

As a starter this year he's done this:
ERA: 3.98
Games Started: 15 (Record 6-4)
Oppenent On Base: .315
Walks per 9 Innings: 2.41

They aren't the greatest numbers in the league, but they are damn good for a fifth starter. But the question is this: He makes half a million bucks this year, which is near league minimum. How much money do you think the Astros should offer him next year assuming they keep Backe?

If they pick up one starter in the off season?
If they pick up two?

The Onion: Base Runners Agree Albert Pujols Most Awkward First Baseman To Talk To

entropic soul — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:25:34 -0000

The Onion: Base Runners Agree Albert Pujols Most Awkward First Baseman To Talk To

"There's nothing more painful than getting a leadoff single when that guy's covering first," said Houston Astros centerfielder Michael Bourn, noting that Pujols' palms are always noticeably sweaty whenever they shake hands.