MVN - Most Valuable Network

Happy 4th Of July

For the first time in years, I am going to spend Independence Day not watching the Astros. We’re off to Galveston to go to the beach and watch the fireworks. Back tomorrow sometime.

Brandon Backe Leaves The Ball Up And J. R. Towles Drives In The Only Runs

Well, Brandon couldn’t seem to throw the baseball below the mid-thigh level. Now I’ll excuse him for 2 of the popup hits - in the first inning, Clank sashayed over when James Loney hit a popup which unfortunately fell a couple inches to the right of the foul line and went into the stands for a GR double. Clank being Clank. And later, Loney hit a popup that went into the 1st row of the Crawford Boxes, maybe 340′ - would have been an out anywheres else, but hey, the CB giveth and the CB taketh away, as the saying goes. And he also had a tough time because the HP ump, Tim Timmons had an EXTREMELY inconsistent strike zone. Doug Brocail, uh, explained nicely that 2 of the 4 “balls” he threw were right in the middle of the strike zone and the ump suggested he go get a beer and a massage. I think.

Anyhow,

the hitters, um, well, let me say that Billingsley didn’t have to break a sweat, except in the 5th, because the Astros swung at the first or second pitch and got their own fool selves out. Pence is slumping badly, and why on earth any pitcher throws him a FB I don’t know. There IS such a thing as being over aggressive. And Tejada - sigh - well, let’s say he has no business being elected to the ASG, let alone over Hanley Ramirez. The guy hasn’t hit worth a darn since May.

So here is an open letter (song) from me to the Astros Ball Club:

Midseason, gettin’ uptight.
Where are you?
You said you’d compete,
now are yall going to?
You know I’m hangin’
but I’m still wantin’ you.

Hey, Jack, It’s a fact
they’re talkin’ in town.
You won’t come back
and you’re messin’ around.
Aren’t you feeling foolsh
You like lookin’ like a clown???

I think of y’all ev’ry night and day.
You took my time
then you took my dough awayyayyayayay

And

Ah HATE MAHSELF FER LUVVVIN YEW
CAIN’T STOP WATCHIN THE DUMB THINGS YEW DO
AH WANNA QUIT N FIND OTHER THINGS TO DO
YEW CAN’T PLAY GOOD, BUT AH RUN TO WATCH YEW
THAT’S WHY AH HATE MAH SELF FER LUVVVVIN YEW!!!!

Daylight, spent the night writin bout you.
Cuz I’ve been dreamin’ ’bout the winnin you used to do.
Drayton, us fans iz angry ’bout the hell you put us through.

Hey, man, you just can’t not treat us fans right.
You just don’t know what this team is missin’ all right
I wanna see your face and say forget you just from spite.

Which is why

I hate myself for loving the Astros
Can’t break free no matter how bad it goes
I wanna walk but I run back to see,
How bad the Astros doin on the TV

oh yes

AH HATE MAHSELF FER LUVVIN YEW
CAIN’T STOP WATCHIN THE CRAPPY PLAYIN YEW DO
AH WANNA LEAVE THE STROS FANCLUB ITS TRUE
CUZ AH HATE MAHSELF FER LUVVVVIN YEW

I think of my old team ev’ry night and day.
You took Luke Scott
then you gave Brad Lidge away.

I hate myself fer watchin yew
Cain’t pitch, hit or field and yall suck, it’s true
The Good Guys were good PLAYERS, Drayton you fool
And I should boycott until my ardor cool

but

I KNOW ah cain’t stop luuuvvvin Stros
Into your pocket my money it goes

sigh

AND AH HATE MAHSELF FER LUVVIN YEW
CAIN’T BREAK FREE FROM WATCHIN YEW
AH HATE MAHSELF FER LUVVIN YEW
AH HATE MAHSELF FER LUVVIN YEW

(with apologies to miss jett)

Thank You Carlos Lee For Making Sure Astros Are Not Shutout

Dave Borkowski and J.R Towles returned to the Astros for this game.

Bork pitched very well - he said that Burt Hooten had fixed him right up, corrected his motion. Interesting. He pitched 2 innings, striking out 2, giving up a pop single that Tejada didn’t get, and a single to right.

Towles got one of the Astros 6 hits - so that is good, but he was responsible for one of the Dodger’s runs, by making a throwing error which allowed a runner to advance from first to third - and the runner scored on a squeeze. I know, I like that particular play, what can I say. He also had a passed ball, but it didn’t lead to a run. He just might could have been a little nervous. But at least he’d caught Runelvys before, so at least he didn’t have that to worry about.

And speaking of Runelvys, well, he gave up 2 walks, 4 K and 6 hits and all but one were really smashed - a 430′ triple to the Hill, 3 doubles, a homer to the upper decks of right and a single. He lasted 5 innings and threw 79 pitches, giving up 4R/3 ER in 5 innings. Coop pinch hit for him in the bottom of the 5th.

It was a good idea - Newhan singled, then Towles singled and with only 1 out, Coop pinch hit Erstad.  Unfortunately, Newhan got his fool self picked off second, so when Erstad doubled, he wasn’t there to score. And then Bourn didn’t drive in Towles and Erstad.

sigh

At least Carlos hit a bomb almost to the tracks just to the right of the warning track with 2 outs in the 9th so the Astros didn’t get shut out.

Tomorrow afternoon, Backe faces Chad Billingsley, age 23, RHP - first round pick by the Dodgers in 2003. He was called up in 06, threw 90 innings of 3.80 ERA ball, albeit with a 1.67 ERA and a .272 BAA.

In 07, he improved, throwing 147 innings of 3.31 ERA ball and lowered his WHIP to 1.33 and BA to .241. This year, he’s 7-7 in 16 GS and 2 in relief over 96 IP - 3.31 EA, 1.34 WHIP, .234 BAA.

But the Astros have actually done well against him - he’s 1-2 in 3 GS over 19 IP - 2 HR, 7 BB, 17 K - 4.74 ERA, .243 BAA.

Let’s hope good Brandon shows up.

Breaking News: Villareal DFA And Borkowski Called Up

I actually didn’t think that the Astros were ever going to admit that Villareal was having significant pitching problems, as they had signed him to a 2 year contract for 2.85 mill.

Ed Wade worked for the Phillies for years and he should have known all about John Schuerholz’ outstanding judgement about pitchers - if he lets one go, the probability is that the pitcher is not good. Notable exceptions being Adam Wainwright and Jason Schmidt and perhaps Jason Marquis.

Anyway, I’m sure the Organization wants him to try to work out his troubles in the minors - perhaps Burt Hooten is a better pitching coach than Dewey Robinson.

This year, Villarreal has pitched in 35 games over 37.2 IP - 42 H, 25R/21 ER, 12 HR, 17 BB, 21 K: 1.57 WHIP, 5.04 ERA, .286 BAA, .365 OBAA, .585 SLGA, .948 OPSA.

He only had 8 appearances in which he didn’t give up a hit or walk and didn’t give up any runs, whether his own or inherited runners. Not great. The guy is only 26 and I hope Hooten is able to straighten him out.

In Round Rock, Borkowski has appeared in 12 games, 19.1 innings - 16 H, no HR, 5 BB, 16 K - 1.07 WHIP, 2.29 ERA.

By the way, Chad Paronto, another option, has appeared in 28 games, 40.1 IP - 46 H, 2 HR, 9 BB, 44 K - 1.35 WHIP, 3.15 ERA. Kyle Middleton - 9 games, 24.1 IP - 17 H, 2 HR, 6 BB, 17 K - 0.95 WHIP, 2.59 ERA.