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Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

TransMonk May 13 2011 07:41 AM

What do YOU know about the Astros that you can share with the rest of us?

Edgy MD May 13 2011 07:41 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Craig Biggio: retired.

Ceetar May 13 2011 07:46 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Beltran's gonna get booed.

TransMonk May 13 2011 07:47 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Friday, May 13, 8:05 PM ET Dillon Gee (RHP) 2-0, 3.80 ERA vs. Bud Norris (RHP) 2-2, 3.16 ERA Saturday, May 14, 4:05 PM ET R.A. Dickey (RHP) 1-4, 4.50 ERA vs. J.A. Happ (LHP) 2-4, 5.75 ERA Sunday, May 15, 2:05 PM ET Chris Capuano (LHP) 2-4, 4.93 ERA vs. Aneury Rodriguez (RHP) 0-1, 5.50 ERA

metsguyinmichigan May 13 2011 07:56 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

If the roof is open, a player can earn $500,000 by breaking the window of the owner's office with a loooooong home run. And, the turf in the bullpens came from the Astrodome.

bmfc1 May 13 2011 08:02 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

They have that stupid hill in center field. I hope that Carlos Beltran gives Jason Pridie a lesson in how to navigate that artificial impediment. From Wikipedia: In contrast to the ease of hitting a home run to the Crawford Boxes, it is quite difficult to hit a ball out in center field, as the dead-center wall is 436 ft (133 m) from home plate. Fielding is a challenge there as well, due to the 90-foot (27 m) wide center field incline known as Tal's Hill, for team president Tal Smith, an element taken from Crosley Field and other historic ballparks (in a bit of gallows humor, the hill is also known as the "Grassy Knoll"), and the flagpole in play, an element taken from Yankee Stadium before its remodeling in the mid-'70s and Tiger Stadium among others. Milwaukee Brewers player Richie Sexson once hit a ball off the flagpole and there is still a mark there. While Crosley Field's infamous left field terrace, which was half as steep (only 15 degrees) as Tal's Hill (30 degrees), was a natural feature of the site on which the park was located, Tal's Hill is purely decorative. Both structures have been held in equal disdain by the respective outfielders who have had to patrol those areas. This hill has caused some of the most replayed catches in recent baseball history, and plenty of controversy as well. Lance Berkman said, "If the ball rolls onto the hill, it's not steep enough to roll back, so you have to go get it. Then there's the chance of running into the flagpole that's on it and getting hurt.” Fans started an online petition to remove the hill and flagpole, though the petition has since been discontinued.

batmagadanleadoff May 13 2011 08:03 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15 Edited 3 time(s), most recently on May 13 2011 08:15 AM

Best Mets that played for the Astros -- Dwight Gooden, Rusty Staub, Carlos Beltran, Jerry Grote. Best Astros that played for the Mets -- Nolan Ryan, Mike Scott, Mike Hampton, Rusty Staub Best trade (Mets POV) --- the first one: Tom Parsons for Jerry Grote. Worst trade (Mets POV) -- Mike Scott for Danny Heep.

bmfc1 May 13 2011 08:04 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Saturday, May 14, 4:05 PM ET R.A. Dickey (RHP) 1-4, 4.50 ERA vs. J.A. Happ (LHP) 2-4, 5.75 ERA Elias needs to tell us if this is a record for most combined initials by the two starting pitchers.

metirish May 13 2011 08:13 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Ceetar wrote: Beltran's gonna get booed. it's got to be the most redundant booing going on at the moment. Gary will be incredulous about the booing.

Gwreck May 13 2011 08:14 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

J.A. Happ's real name is John Anthony, but he spells it "J.A." and pronounces it "Jay." Make up your mind already! We knocked him around in his major league debut in 2007 when he was with Philadelphia. He went to Houston in the Oswalt deal.

Ceetar May 13 2011 08:17 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

metirish wrote: Ceetar wrote: Beltran's gonna get booed. it's got to be the most redundant booing going on at the moment. Gary will be incredulous about the booing. I think Howie's the one that reminded me he'd get booed. I'd forgotten. He hits pretty well against the Astros, i closed the br page but it was above .850 OPS with a bunch of home runs. I'd like to see his numbers in Minute Maid Park as a Met, but I haven't quite figured out where I can do those double splits.

Edgy MD May 13 2011 08:20 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

The starting catcher for the Astros is Humberto Quintero, a righty batter with really big arms. He's nonetheless displaying a lack of power production that defies both his strength and home park, with zerio homers this year and 13 in his 323-game big-league career. Catchers can be like that. Maybe it'll come. He only started one game at Citi and went 0-3. He controls the running game well and he's got a Brad Ausmus-like nose for picking runners off, so be on your toes. He's a Venezuealan of a Euro-Indian complexion. Good plate blocker, too: Wifey: Michelle Backing him up is J.R. (Justin Richard) Towles, whose probably good on D also, because he's a career .201 hitter. But hol' on. Something's amiss. Because that .201 includes a .271 / .386 / .458 // .844 line in 59 plate appearances this season. So maybe he's turning a corner at 27. Maybe he's taking the job away from Quintero. I dunno. He looks kind of scrawny for a catcher, not unlike a petty thief/closet homosexual from a petty cop show that gets in over his head messing around with the big boys, know what I mean? He's handsome, but a little pretty and a little nervous he's about to be found out. Twitchy, you know? Cops in the seventies could see right through a guy like that. Anyhow, back in 2008 he ran with a girl named Brittany who seemed silly short for him and, well, jailbaitishly young-lookin' at the time. What's going on at first base?

Gwreck May 13 2011 08:30 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Brett Wallace is Houston's first baseman and is hitting pretty well: .328/.396/.454 although without much power. Wallace was a college teammate of Ike Davis at Arizona State (Wallace played 3B at the time) and won the Pac-10 triple crown twice. He was a first round pick of St. Louis in 2008 and was the key prospect sent to Oakland when they acquired Matt Holliday. Oakland flipped him to Toronto as part of the Halladay deal (Toronto got a prospect from Philly that they sent to Oakland). Toronto flipped him to Houston as part of the Roy Oswalt deal (Houston got a prospect from Philly that they sent to Toronto). Needless to say, the top prospect shine has worn off, although he still may wind up as a productive major leaguer.

themetfairy May 13 2011 08:46 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

bmfc1 wrote: They have that stupid hill in center field. I hope that Carlos Beltran gives Jason Pridie a lesson in how to navigate that artificial impediment. That's my thought. One day that stupid thing is going to cause a serious injury. They also have a stupid train in the outfield that runs when an Astro hits a home run. Artificial and lame. The place does have incredible chili cheese fries, though....

Benjamin Grimm May 13 2011 09:00 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Seeing the name of Humberto Quintero reminds me that the Mets, in their 50th season, still have never had a player whose last name starts with the letter Q.

Ceetar May 13 2011 09:04 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

themetfairy wrote: bmfc1 wrote: They have that stupid hill in center field. I hope that Carlos Beltran gives Jason Pridie a lesson in how to navigate that artificial impediment. That's my thought. One day that stupid thing is going to cause a serious injury. They also have a stupid train in the outfield that runs when an Astro hits a home run. Artificial and lame. The place does have incredible chili cheese fries, though.... i'm surprised it's not in the rule book that the playing field has to be flat. But I guess way back when there used to be flag poles there, but it was 490 feet away, not 400. But I guess those non-mandatory rules about uniform playing surfaces are what makes baseball great too.

Benjamin Grimm May 13 2011 09:09 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

I hate artificial quirks. The older stadiums were quirky because they had to squeeze into a city block, or because they were playing in an arena designed for another sport. In these new stadiums the quirks are like windmills on a miniature golf course. They're just stupid.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 13 2011 09:14 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Bill Hall is the regular second baseman. One of those guys who's still starting for a shitty team but might be better as a "young veteran" reserve for a good team.

soupcan May 13 2011 09:28 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I hate artificial quirks. The older stadiums were quirky because they had to squeeze into a city block, or because they were playing in an arena designed for another sport. In these new stadiums the quirks are like windmills on a miniature golf course. They're just stupid. I agree but I do love this at Petco. When I took a tour there I learned that the official status of the stadium is an 'addition' to the Western Metal building as the building was the older and pre-existing structure. That's cool.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 13 2011 09:29 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 13 2011 09:40 AM

Bill Hall ain't all that young anymore. Also, he's still about as efficient an air-conditioning unit as one can get to man second base-- 40 fans in less than 120 PAs, and a .216/.279/.315 to go with. (Cue the 4-5, 2 HR day on Saturday.) He's occasionally spelled by Angel Sanchez, a decent-fielding middle-infield widget. Decent glove, slappy-no-power bat... so nondescript, in other words, his mother probably forgets about him when planning holiday meals. Also splits time at short with... Clint Barmes. Former Rockie, formerly derailed for a few months by deer meat. Ginger.

seawolf17 May 13 2011 09:32 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Bill Hall is the regular second baseman. One of those guys who's still starting for a shitty team but might be better as a "young veteran" reserve for a good team. Bill Hall is a terrible major leaguer who's coasting on the fact that he had that incredible 2005 where he hit like 35 home runs.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 13 2011 09:33 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Starring on my roto team, that's how bad he is.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 13 2011 09:41 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Starring on my roto team, that's how bad he is. I'm not sure that's something you want to talk about in polite company, man.

batmagadanleadoff May 13 2011 09:42 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I hate artificial quirks. The older stadiums were quirky because they had to squeeze into a city block, or because they were playing in an arena designed for another sport. In these new stadiums the quirks are like windmills on a miniature golf course. They're just stupid. Agree. Totally. I'm already missing the cookle-cutters. Who says you can't design an architectural cutting edge symetrical donut?

Chad Ochoseis May 13 2011 09:48 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

The guy with the baseball goatee, the goofy expression, and the Texaco attendant's cap is Chris Johnson, second-year third baseman for your Houston Astros. After a surprisingly productive rookie season (.308 batting average, 11 HRs in 341 ABs), he's off to a slow start this year, batting .185. Or maybe he's just a .185 hitter who got lucky last year. His BABIP for 2010 was a ridiculous .387. Bleacher Report states that he swung at 43.1% of pitches outside the strike zone, which means that Jeff Francoeur could give him a few lessons on improving his batting eye. He does have 3 HBPs this year, seventh in the NL, so he hits the ball with his body about as frequently as he hits it with the bat. No need to worry about this guy. Keep the ball off the plate and watch him swing. Next up, shortstop. And, yeah, what Grimm said about artificial quirks.

smg58 May 13 2011 10:13 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Wallace is a prime example of a prospect whose bandwagon filled prematurely and then emptied prematurely. His first 144 ABs in the majors had lots of people writing him off, but he seems to have adjusted. The power may or may not come, but I think he's a legit .300 hitter. Brandon Lyon was ineffective as a closer and then got hurt. The closer of the moment is Mark Melancon, a young guy with a live arm. Wilton Lopez might actually be the better pitcher, but he was just getting back from an injury himself when Lyon went down, and groundball specialists have a way of getting passed over when the closer role is vacant.

Frayed Knot May 13 2011 10:26 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Carlos Lee is the Astros' LFer and he's just really awful at this point. Oh, he can still hit a few jacks now and then, but he's currently raking to a tune of .229/.268/.366; IOW, low average, few walks, and only occasional power from a guy who plays a power position in a home stadium where the only LF walls that are closer are covered with the name of the local Carvel so as to cue all the players where to bug their parents to take them after the game. Lee is listed at 265 lbs but the team is probably just reprinting that figure each year the way American men of a certain era reflexively quoted the weight from their army induction physicals long after that figure was closer to their belt size than actual poundage. Meanwhile I seem to remember him making two fairly nice catches against us in the earlier series - at least one with several on base that probably saved the game for them - but since those two represent at least one nice catch over his usual seasonal total we can pretty much count on that not happening again. The aforementioned small left field in Orange Juice Park is perfect for him though since he has the range of a lawn gnome. In fact, the LF is so small there that OUR left fielder is going to hit multiple HRs this weekend. You heard it here first.

themetfairy May 13 2011 10:30 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

soupcan wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: I hate artificial quirks. The older stadiums were quirky because they had to squeeze into a city block, or because they were playing in an arena designed for another sport. In these new stadiums the quirks are like windmills on a miniature golf course. They're just stupid. I agree but I do love this at Petco. When I took a tour there I learned that the official status of the stadium is an 'addition' to the Western Metal building as the building was the older and pre-existing structure. That's cool. Yes - the Western Metal Building doesn't count as an artificial quirk because it was there first. The stupid hill at the Juice Box, however, has no excuse.

attgig May 13 2011 10:37 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

lee's had multiple good defensive plays this year: http://mlb.mlb.com/search/media.jsp?que ... PerSite=10 as for the SS position, currently listed on top of the depth chart is Clint Barmes. After overcoming a broken hand earlier in the spring, he has become the starting SS for the astros because of the inability for Sanchez to get any hits. currently sporting a line of .194/.275/.278, it's obvious that Clint has been a godsend for the astros.... or not. Angel Sanchez is the backup. but if he's being replaced by clint barmes for offensive reasons... he shouldn't be anyone to worry about either.

seawolf17 May 13 2011 10:39 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Starring on my roto team, that's how bad he is. My team is undefeated (we play head-to-head weekly). Thank you, Jose Reyes. Clint Barmes is the 'Stros SS, which surprises me because I thought he was still in Colorado. So, apparently, does a Google Image Search. 7-for-36 since coming back from a hand injury. 14-for-100 career against Mets pitching, so something tells me he'll break out this weekend. (Looks like attgig beat me on this, but I'm posting it anyway.)

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 13 2011 10:49 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Covered SS on the first page. I don't say that to brag, but merely to make sure that the fact that Clint Barmes was once felled by deer meat gets its proper re-airing.

metsguyinmichigan May 13 2011 11:57 AM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Confession: I like Tal's Hill. I wasn't allowed to walk on it during the tour, but I could stay on the gravel in front. The train in kinda hokey, but I like it, too. And they did a decent job of incorporating Union Station.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 13 2011 12:03 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Bulletin-board material here. We are way too respectful of the enemy. Hey Houston, uh, you suck!

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 13 2011 12:30 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

How about this: Houston isn't hard to talk smack about... frankly, they're beneath it. They're a fat, flat, polluted commuter town that obliterates or ignores what little history it has... they're Washington without the government, football achievements, and civic charm. Everything that's half-decent about Houston-- zoo, space museum, Vietnamese-American culture, etc.-- can be found in bigger, better, or far-more-contextually-interesting iterations elsewhere. Houston's not a city... it's an atherosclerotic mall.

TransMonk May 13 2011 12:44 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Centerfielder Michael Bourn is good at running...and not much else. .261/.340/.348/.688 Bourne is 13 for 13 in stolen base attempts and leads the league in steals (but Reyes is just 1 behind, and don't think he doesn't know it).

seawolf17 May 13 2011 12:53 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Closer Mark Melancon is a Yankee reject who was traded for Lance Berkman; as a Berkman fan, I've deleted all memory of his pinstriped career from my mind. Melancon is also Batman, so he's got that going for him if this baseball thing doesn't work out.

Benjamin Grimm May 13 2011 12:57 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Really? He's Batman?! I didn't know that!

seawolf17 May 13 2011 01:07 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

That's why we do the KTE.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 13 2011 01:09 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Hunter Pence is having something like a career year, leading the league in doubles, and posting a .376 wOBA. He still has a look about him like the Astros sent away for a Ryan Braun kit, assembled it the best the could, then found extra pieces in the box when they were done.

Ashie62 May 13 2011 01:15 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

How about this: Houston isn't hard to talk smack about... frankly, they're beneath it. They're a fat, flat, polluted commuter town that obliterates or ignores what little history it has... they're Washington without the government, football achievements, and civic charm. Everything that's half-decent about Houston-- zoo, space museum, Vietnamese-American culture, etc.-- can be found in bigger, better, or far-more-contextually-interesting iterations elsewhere. Houston's not a city... it's an atherosclerotic mall. I kinda liked it (:

Ceetar May 13 2011 01:23 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Hunter Pence is having something like a career year, leading the league in doubles, and posting a .376 wOBA. He still has a look about him like the Astros sent away for a Ryan Braun kit, assembled it the best the could, then found extra pieces in the box when they were done. Pence is leading the league in doubles? If so, only because Carlos was conceded the league by hitting all his fly balls OVER the wall yesterday. and Reyes only chimed in with the RBI single, no doubles.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 13 2011 01:27 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

How about this: Houston isn't hard to talk smack about... frankly, they're beneath it. They're a fat, flat, polluted commuter town that obliterates or ignores what little history it has... they're Washington without the government, football achievements, and civic charm. Everything that's half-decent about Houston-- zoo, space museum, Vietnamese-American culture, etc.-- can be found in bigger, better, or far-more-contextually-interesting iterations elsewhere. Houston's not a city... it's an atherosclerotic mall. I kinda liked it (: I'm trying to go scorched-earth here, mang.

Edgy MD May 13 2011 01:28 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Reyes is leading the league in doubles plus the sort of hits that would be mere doubles for a lesser man.

TransMonk May 13 2011 01:30 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Actually, Pence, Reyes, Beltran and Larry Jones are all tied for the lead league.

Frayed Knot May 13 2011 01:31 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Mark Melancon was one of those Yanqui pitchers destined to win about 15 Cy Youngs acc to various unbiased (cough ... Suzyn Waldman) sources. He was "the future" before Joba was and before Ian Kennedy was and before Phil Hughes was. And, while on the subject of Astros traded for Melancon, how about the start Berkman is off to in Saint Louie! He not only looked D-O-N-E with the Yanx but in his previous season or two with Houston too. I don't mean totally done, but I was surprised to see him even offered a full-time job by a decent team and assumed he'd have played his way out of one already. Instead he's .357/.444/.705 with 10 HRs and nearly half (19 of 40) his hits going for extra-bases. Hunter Pence has some talent but he's given to dopey mistakes at times and both looks and plays like some un-tamed colt. The way he swings, the way he runs, the way he throws, everything, has that 'I'm not quite in control of all my limbs' sense to it. The guy doing a preview in the Astros site suggests that a Hunter bobblehead give-away should have not only the head bobbling but its arms and legs too.

Ceetar May 13 2011 01:42 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Mets are 106-172 @Houston. 2-2 there last year. This says Dillon Gee is 0-0 0ERA against the Astros, but 02 2.37 at Minute Maid, which must be a typo.

Gwreck May 13 2011 01:58 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Starring on my roto team, that's how bad he is. I'm not sure that's something you want to talk about in polite company, man. Maybe he's in an 18-team NL-only league or something.

seawolf17 May 13 2011 02:03 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Ceetar wrote: Mets are 106-172 @Houston. 2-2 there last year. This says Dillon Gee is 0-0 0ERA against the Astros, but 02 2.37 at Minute Maid, which must be a typo. He played them on JCL's fantasy team.

Edgy MD May 13 2011 02:29 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Don't have a lot of Houston music. But I have the Drells. [youtube:jkofzm1o]Wro3bqi4Eb8[/youtube:jkofzm1o]

G-Fafif May 13 2011 03:41 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

Carlos Beltran: King of the Hill Composed in the wee hours of July 8, 2007 A man built a park A man built a field A man said "quirky!" Is what I'll yield I'll make one wall close Make one wall far I'll make another wall stand Behind something bizarre Gonna have a hill Gonna put it where? Puttin' it in center Way the hell out there Nobody digs it Everyone complains But at least there's a roof In the event it rains Two teams played a game Two teams played forever What time would they finish? The teams said “whenever” Cut to the chase Get to the point Arrive in the fourteenth A victor to anoint Lamb on first Burke on third Joe Smith on the mound Now isn't this absurd? Houston had Scott I've heard that before They once had a Scott From the hardware store Not that Scott It wasn't Mike But with first and third What was there to like? One out was needed To keep things tied When Luke Scott connected We nearly died His ball is long His ball is deep His ball might end it That Houston creep Wait just a minute! Wait just a sec! His ball is headed To that pain in the neck It's heading for the hill It's heading there now It's gonna take a miracle Scott can take a bow The hill IS quirky The hill IS high I suspect the same Of the architect guy It's a Crosley tribute? Unique incline? The rest of us think It's just asinine Nobody could catch up Nobody could hope Unless CAR LOS BEL TRAN! Was workin' his lope Carlos ran long Carlos ran deep Carlos kept climbing Carlos went steep He lunged and he grabbed He secured it and soon He fell and held on Like he was Al Toon The Astros were stopped At the one-foot line Wanna play some more? The Mets said “fine” Minute Maid Park Is truly the pits I mean can you believe Where that silly hill sits? But hitting it to Beltran Is your mistake Boo him all you want Go jump in the lake He drove in the winner The 'pen did the rest Tal's Hill is the worst That catch was the best!

Fman99 May 13 2011 07:47 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

This is the "We are the World" of KTE's. Heady, impressive stuff.

Edgy MD May 13 2011 08:27 PM Re: Communal Astros KTE - May 13-15

I'll come in late like Ray Charles did then and mention that a good way to get these guys is to get into their bullpen as early as possible.