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5/18/08 game day thread

Th_buckykatt_tiny by Adam J. Morris on

Houston @ Texas


Trying for the sweep...

Kason Gabbard v. Brandon Backe...

Go Rangers...

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rangers don't like to sweep

they wouldn’t know to handle so much winning at one time. they like to win the first couple games of a series so that they know they could sweep and then lose the last to feel normal

Rare Gnats Sex

by ab03 on May 18, 2008 1:28 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

It’s odd, but if we sweep, I have this horrible feeling our hot streak might end on this road trip.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

David Murphy rocks, so Ellsbury can just go get himself a taco or something.

by lonestarJon on May 18, 2008 1:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think I saw

Gabbard taking some grounders at 1B earlier.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 18, 2008 1:30 PM CDT   0 recs

I don't believe that!

I heard it was Byrd-man.

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on May 18, 2008 1:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Alfonso Soriano

Is there anyone hotter than Soriano, when he gets hot?

7 straight multi-hit games, and he has a single already today.

by Adam J. Morris on May 18, 2008 1:37 PM CDT   0 recs

lance berkman?

well, this month anyway. sori is definitely insanely streaky.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on May 18, 2008 1:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

Sori can be very streaky.

by baseballismyboyfriend on May 18, 2008 2:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hilarious

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on May 18, 2008 1:44 PM CDT   0 recs

oops...

reply to t ball

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on May 18, 2008 1:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

TVAnts

Is there a TVants broadcast today?

by Doc Mabee on May 18, 2008 1:53 PM CDT   0 recs

Should be up

a bit late.

Check here: http://www.myp2pforum.eu/mlb-baseball/21201-mlb-today-may-18th-streaming.html

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on May 18, 2008 2:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

interestin aside

last night i went to ESPN.com, clicked on the basesball scoreboard and noticed an odd little coincidence:

at the top of the page they alway have there 3 “top performers”, which were:

1. alfoso soriano
2. rod barajas
3. ryan ludwick

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/scoreboard?date=20080517

just thought it was interestin’

Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.

by red shoe ranger on May 18, 2008 2:04 PM CDT   0 recs

astros arnt a very good matchup for gabbard

could be dicey.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on May 18, 2008 2:07 PM CDT   0 recs

What do you mean?

It’s a bunch of hackers and Lance Berkman. That’d seem like a pretty good lineup for Kason Gabbard (he needs a nickname).

And Lance Berkman isn’t a good matchup for anyone right now.

by FirebatM3 on May 18, 2008 2:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

because of all the righties and that their lefty isnt weak against lefties

but yeah, the hack factor does play into his hands.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on May 18, 2008 2:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

delicious....

my favorite pirtcher, Gabbard, has elected the greatest of all Ranger uni’s…thank you Kason.

I was just bitchin about this yesterday…..
http://www.lonestarball.com/2008/5/17/519659/saturday-morning-things#6156926

Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.

by red shoe ranger on May 18, 2008 2:08 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

I like these uniforms too. I like the crisp simplicity of them. Although, I also like the blue jerseys.

by baseballismyboyfriend on May 18, 2008 2:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Didn't Josh and Tom say that Bourn had the lowest OBP of any player in the league?

His OBP is .251. Care to explain to me why he is hitting leadoff for them?

by uthornfan on May 18, 2008 2:09 PM CDT   0 recs

because hes fast!

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on May 18, 2008 2:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ok

In 2007 his OBP was bad and he hit leadoff too much. In 2006 his OBP was bad and he hit leadoff about half the time. In 2005 he barely hit leadoff. Before that I don’t really see anything too much out of whack.

by DaheelzCM on May 18, 2008 2:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm not saying his OBP sucked for his whole career

but last year he finished with a sub .290 OBP and they hit him leadoff. Obviously, they aren’t concerned with having a leadoff hitter that can consistently get on base.

by uthornfan on May 18, 2008 2:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gabbard

Uno loss in his last 21 starts.

Holy Crap!

/Lewin

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on May 18, 2008 2:12 PM CDT   0 recs

Blalock at first?

when he comes back? I like the idea.

Hey, it could be worse...

by HighPlainsGrifter on May 18, 2008 2:17 PM CDT   0 recs

Ground ball machine

Man Gabbard is looking great, at this point I would not be upset if he was all we got from the Red Sox for that terrible half season of Gagne, that trade just keeps looking better, wow great K on hunter Pence!!!

by phina on May 18, 2008 2:22 PM CDT   0 recs

Yak Yak!

that curve was perfection

Hey, it could be worse...

by HighPlainsGrifter on May 18, 2008 2:24 PM CDT   0 recs

I hate

Jon Barry.

by brettgardner on May 18, 2008 2:24 PM CDT   0 recs

+1 MM

"When I am pissed off, I get angry." - Miles 5/06/08

by Chase Irwin on May 18, 2008 2:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gabbard scares me

‘cause he’s so damn good!

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on May 18, 2008 2:24 PM CDT   0 recs

why

is Salty in the majors right now?

Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.

by red shoe ranger on May 18, 2008 2:28 PM CDT   0 recs

to make either he or Laird trade bait...

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 2:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

how does

Salty’s value go up sitting on the bench?

Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.

by red shoe ranger on May 18, 2008 2:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He catches about the same amount as Laird right now...

He had a homer two nites ago…

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 2:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Cuz he's beastly!!!

Just ask Lonestarjon or Salty’s dad.

by DaheelzCM on May 18, 2008 2:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Our offense

not so good with out Roy Hobbs.

by coolaid on May 18, 2008 2:32 PM CDT   0 recs

Loretta..

has always been able to hit

Hey, it could be worse...

by HighPlainsGrifter on May 18, 2008 2:32 PM CDT   0 recs

Gabbard

bringin’ the K’s

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 2:35 PM CDT   0 recs

Nice

I wonder how many 10-K games he’d have in the NL?

by Inkara1 on May 18, 2008 2:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

are we enjoying

Gabbard’s “pinpoint” accuacy?

Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.

by red shoe ranger on May 18, 2008 2:35 PM CDT   0 recs

Strikeout.

Little. Yellow. Different.

by brettgardner on May 18, 2008 2:35 PM CDT   0 recs

Gabbard

I can’t decide whether he’s lucky or good. I change my mind a few times every game.

by Randy Richardson on May 18, 2008 2:40 PM CDT   0 recs

he's lucky that he's good

everybody wins!

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 2:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

he's lucky

that he’s good more often than lucky.

"When I am pissed off, I get angry." - Miles 5/06/08

by Chase Irwin on May 18, 2008 2:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes

Sir!

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on May 18, 2008 2:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

E.V's line today...

Cincinnati Reds
Pitchers IP H R ER BB SO HR PC-ST ERA
E Volquez 6.0 4 2 2 4 5 1 111-66 1.33
J Affeldt 0.0 3 2 2 0 0 0 7-5 3.71
J Burton 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 10-8 4.19
Totals 7.0 8 4 4 4 6 1 128-79

He will never learn to throw strikes….IMO

Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.

by red shoe ranger on May 18, 2008 2:47 PM CDT   0 recs

I thought

He was out.

by brettgardner on May 18, 2008 2:52 PM CDT   0 recs

shwoops

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 2:54 PM CDT   0 recs

where's that bastid..

with my 20 bucks?

Hey, it could be worse...

by HighPlainsGrifter on May 18, 2008 2:58 PM CDT   0 recs

Welchin' Bastahd

is too ashamed…

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on May 18, 2008 3:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Towles isn't much of a hitter...

.152 for the season

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 3:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

OK . . .

what’s the point?

by Randy Richardson on May 18, 2008 3:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why

Don’t you understand? He’s saying the guy’s not a good hitter so it was surprising and disappointing that he hit the ball so well.

by brettgardner on May 18, 2008 3:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

it's baseball

why would it be surprising that he hit a ball well?

Are you surprised when Manny Ramirez doesn’t hit a home run?

by Randy Richardson on May 18, 2008 3:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Huh?

How is that related at all?

The point was about the relative strength of the lineup. Are you saying that you should expect a pitcher or the 9th hitter to have just as good a chance to hit the runner home as the 3-hole guy?

by brettgardner on May 18, 2008 3:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No,

my point is that all hitters at the major league level are capable of hitting the ball well. It shouldn’t surprise anyone for a guy to hit a double. Not surprising at all, even pitchers hit some balls hard.

by Randy Richardson on May 18, 2008 3:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

the point was that of all the guy sto hit it, it was Towles...

this isn’t rocket surgery

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 3:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I just don't understand

why it would particularly surprise anyone that a good, young hitter (who happens to be in a slump) hit a double.

by Randy Richardson on May 18, 2008 3:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

he's a career .215 hitter

and he’s hitting .077 his last 7 games

What makes you think he’s a good, young hitter?

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 3:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

he had a

.976 OPS as a 23 year old @ AA last year.

by Randy Richardson on May 18, 2008 3:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

what bearing does that have on his MLB stats?

none…

a player’s AA record has no bearing…

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 3:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

So...

No young player that has had a good minor league career but struggled in his first couple of months in the big leagues can be classified as a “good young hitter”.

Noted.

by DaheelzCM on May 18, 2008 3:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In that case

Salty is a horrible young hitter. He is hitting about .210 this year and didn’t really hit that well last year. And I thought he was a good young hitting prospect.

by uthornfan on May 18, 2008 3:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He said that if a young player struggles in the majors

it means they are not good. Regardless of it they have a good track record in the minors. If that is indeed true, Salty sucks just like Towles.

by uthornfan on May 18, 2008 3:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That's not

What he said at all, actually.

by brettgardner on May 18, 2008 3:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

what I said is that someone's AA record doesn't mean they will rock ML pitching

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 3:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Your right, it doesn't

but when a guy rakes in AA, you have to give them more than 150 MLB at bats before you decide they suck and will never amount to anything.

by uthornfan on May 18, 2008 3:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

When

Did he say that?

You really need to analyze better.

by brettgardner on May 18, 2008 3:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He said Towles isn't a good hitter

and since Towles has about 150 career at bats, that must have been what he was basing it off of. People who actually follow the minor leagues, know that Towles has a track record of hitting very well. Therefore, when he is in a mini-slump his rookie season, we are not saying he sucks and can’t hit.

by uthornfan on May 18, 2008 3:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No he didn't

Find that quote.

You’re a very poor reader, and to be taken seriously in an argument, you must avoid strawmans and look at what was actually said.

by brettgardner on May 18, 2008 3:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He said numerous times that he wouldn't call Towles a good hitter

but I am done arguing this. It is apparent who actually knows anything about Towles and who doesn’t, so I am finished.

by uthornfan on May 18, 2008 3:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

troll

end of story… you’re just looking for an argument…

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 18, 2008 3:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How am I a troll?

Because I actually follow the minors and know that Towles is the Astros top prospect?

by uthornfan on May 18, 2008 3:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

you are a troll

because you took a simple premise, that of Towles being the one guy, given his MAJOR LEAGUE track record and his horrible slump lately, who would be unexpected to get the hit in that situation. Not that he has never hit a ball in his life or that he won’t be some All-Star like you seem to believe, but in that situation it was unlikely. It wouldn’t matter if he hit 1.000 in both AA and AAA. If you have a streak of 7 games in which you are hitting .077, you aren’t the guy everyone is going to expect an RBI double from.

You turned this into some ‘OM