Astros Franchise-MVP Baseball (World Series!)

My first franchise didn't work out as well as would've liked it to...so I'm starting a new one.

Difficulty: All-Star (best)
Pitching Cursor: Fade
Fielding: Assisted
Fielding Aid: Off
Vector line: Off
Throwing Meter: Off

Excpet for EA's official patch or something like that, I have installed no mods/patches to the game.

Rosters, stats, standings, and the first month coming August 1 at the latest. See my old franchise for as this roster is mostly the same as the old one. Oh, and I put Oswalt is in this one.

Rosters
Batting Order


Pitching Staff

Last edited by JT_55 on Mon Sep 03, 2007 4:53 am, edited 18 times in total.

Stats Central

Batting


Pitching




Top 5
Batting Average
1-J. Giambi (.361)
2-A. Rodriguez (.339)
3-J. Lugo (.339)
4-Ichiro (.337)
5-B. Boone (.335)

Home Runs
1-M. Ordonez (36)
2-V. Guerrero (33)
3-A. Soriano (32)
4-A. Jones (30)
5-M. Lowell (30)

Runs Batted In
1-M. Ordonez (91)
2-A. Jones (85)
3-J. Kent (80)
4-C. Delgado (79)
T5-J. Giambi (76)
T5-M. Lowell (76)

Last edited by JT_55 on Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:27 am, edited 5 times in total.

Standings

AL East


AL Central


AL West


NL East


NL Central


NL West

Last edited by JT_55 on Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:05 am, edited 4 times in total.

Injury Report/Transactions

Injury Report
Apr. 17: Brad Wilkerson (fractured hand) out 38 days. Replaced by Geoff Blum.
Apr. 29: Morgan Ensberg (sprained ankle) out 10 days. Replaced by Adam Everett
May. 21: Joe Kennedy (tendinitis of the achilles) out 30 days. Recalled P Carlos Hernandez from Triple-A (a.k.a. Inactive Roster)

Transactions

Trade
To New York Mets: Brad Wilkerson and Adam Everett
To Houston: Ty Wigginton and Jae Weong Seo

Trade
To Boston: Jae Weong Seo
To Houston: Gabe Kapler

Horrible trade for me...but considering I'm going for an Astro player and that Wilkerson is batting Mendoza-ish with no dingers, this might be a good trade for me. Going to play Ty at 3rd and Kapler at LF.

Last edited by JT_55 on Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:21 am, edited 5 times in total.

Heh, better hope nothing wrong goes on with this one, ay?

Good luck-looking forward to discussing another dead baseball thread

Nice man, will be following.

Thanks, guys. In case you don't know, KIG1, I accidently overwritten my other franchise with the one I'm posting. Hopefully nothing will happen to this one as I made a backup copy of the new one.

To try and get back on schedule I'm going to cut down on my pics and games played. I'll gradually work 'em back in. I want to finish this thing before the end of summer, so I guess I'll have to play MVP for 6 hours a day or so.

Week 1

Game 1
Intro
I'm not playing many games, but I'll still play the season opener. Roy Oswalt pitches for the Astros and Bernero for the Rockies.

Game Recap
I didn't expect a pitcher's duel. I certainly didn't expect the Rockies to score first. And I definately didn't expect Bernero holding me to just one run in seven innings. But that's what happened.

Estalella hit a solo home run in the fifth off Oswalt. Estalella of all people. No knock on the guy, but he's no A-Rod or Manny. Rockies 1-0.

In the sixth, Wells hits a sac fly that cashes in Oswalt and the game is tied 1-1.

The game would go to extras as no more runs were scored during the latter third of the game. Jimenez comes in for the Rockies in the tenth, and he gives up three hits and puts runners on the corners for Wells...no, Wells didn't get a home run this time. But a RBI single does the job as the Astros win their home opener 2-1 in extras.

Notes
That was my second season opener that went to extras in as many tries. Both times Wells came up with the game winning hit.

Grades
Pitching: A
Only gave up one run. More or less the same result I usually get with Oswalt. Ryan pitched a fantastic three innings to earn the win.

Batting: C+
Almost no run support for Oswalt. Still got 10 hits, though.

Player of the game
B.J. Ryan (W, 1-0): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 K

Stats

Notable hitters
Oswalt: 2-3, R
Wells: 1-4, 2 RBI

Estalella: 1-4, HR, R, RBI

Pitchers
Oswalt: 7 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K
Ryan: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 K

Bernero: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Rekar: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K
Jimenez: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER

Game 1 Result
Colorado 1, Houston 2


Games 2-6
Game 2 Result
Colorado 17, Houston 3


Game 3 Result
Colorado 4, Houston 2


Game 4 Result
Houston 1, St. Louis 0


Game 5 Result
Houston 1, St. Louis 5


Game 6 Result
Houston 2, St. Louis 3


Week 2

Games 7-10
Game 7 Result
Cincinnati 2, Houston 5


Game 8 Result
Cincinnati 6, Houston 0


Game 9 Result
Cincinnati 0, Houston 1


Game 10 Result
St. Louis 1, Houston 2


Game 11
Intro
I had to play at least one game in a while. Oswalt for the Astros, Morris for the Cards, who has a ERA going into this game of 0.

Game Recap
Morris tries to extend his shutout streak, but he couldn't even chalk up one inning in this outing. Mohr tags him with a RBI double, then Wilkerson hits another RBI double to give the Astros a 2-0 lead. Goodbye to Morris' egg.

Oswalt's working on a egg of his own. He still has yet to give a run after eight innings, but what he does in the ninth...you'll have to see after the bottom of the eight, when Teixeira hits a RBI single, Oswalt does the same, Romano a RBI double, and Wells ends this offensive outburst with a 2 RBI single. 7-0 Astros.

Oh, and Oswalt gets a 1-2-3 ninth for a complete game shutout.

Grades
Pitching: A+
Suprise, suprise.

Batting: A
7 runs. Got that huge inning in the eighth, so that was nice.

Moments of the game
Oswalt strikes out the side in the fifth, blowing away Rolen, getting Martinez to chase a 2-seamer, and Renteria just couldn't catch up with the fastball.




Player of the game
Roy Oswalt: 9 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 11 K
Roy Oswalt: 2-4, R, RBI

Stats

Notable hitters
Wells: 2-5, R, 2 RBI
Oswalt: 2-4, R, RBI

Drew: 2-4

Pitchers
Oswalt: 9 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 11 K

Morris: 6.1 IP, 11 H, 2 R, 2 ER
Crudale: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 K
Kline: 0.1 IP, 0 R

Game 11 Result
St. Louis 0, Houston 7


Game 12
Game 12 Result
St. Louis 10, Houston 6


End of Week 2
6-6, 2nd in NL Central (2 behind Cards)


Weeks 4 coming later today.

Solid start, I know you'd like to have a couple more simmed wins but hey, Roy pitched well.

Yep, Roy pitched well. That's the only thing that matters (for now).

Week 3
Like last time, weeks 3 and 4 are all simmed.

Games 13-19

Game 13 Result
Houston 16, San Francisco 2


Game 14 Result
Houston 6, San Francisco 5


Game 15 Result
Houston 1, San Francisco 7


Game 16 Result
Houston 1, Milwaukee 0


Game 17 Result
Houston 8, Milwaukee 0


Game 18 Result
Houston 0, Milwaukee 2


Game 19 Result
Houston 3, Milwaukee 2


Week 4

Game 20 Result
Houston 2, New York Mets 4


Game 21 Result
Houston 1, New York Mets 3


Game 22 Result
Houston 3, New York Mets 7


Game 23 Result
Houston 7, Montreal 9


Game 24 Result
Houston 2, Montreal 0


Game 25 Result
Houston 3, Montreal 4


End of Week 4
12-13, 2nd in NL Central (1.5 behind Cards)


April Recap coming tomorrow.

Last edited by JT_55 on Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

Tough Week 4 there. At least you haven't fallen off the pace too early.

Does this game not allow you to zoom in and take screenshots or something? Cause sorry but frankly they are pretty small and drawn back.

It can, but the graphics are not as sharp considering this game was made back in 2003. I can't do anything until after Week 8 cause I played it already, but I can after it.

Finishing up April (Start of Week 5)
Two games with the Braves and then it's May.

Game 26
Intro
For the third time in as many games that I've played, Oswalt takes the mound. This time against Marquis. The streak will be broken next game when I use Kennedy.

Game Recap
No score heading into the bottom of fourth, but LaRue changes that with one swing. With Wells on at second, it's a two-run shot, 2-0 Astros.

The Braves got a few fluke hits and managed to get the bases loaded with one out in the fifth. Lucky for Oswalt, the pitcher's spot was due up and he strikes out Marquis to stop the sac fly threat. But Blanco somehow hit the ball over Teixeira (couldn't help but think Bagwell would have caught that) and that scores two. Game tied 2-2.

Astros' bats come alive in the sixth, Blum a RBI single, Ensberg a RBI double, Oswalt helping his own cause with a 2 RBI single, and Romano's RBI single gives the Astros a 5 run lead. 7-2 Astros.

Another bizzare play happened in the eighth. With a runner on, Lugo hits a double off the wall in left and it bounces into foul territory. Chipper Jones, however, walked away as if the ball had been out of play! Lugo comes in to score (heck, Bengie Molina couldn've scored there) and it's 9-2 Astros.

Game should've been over, but Andruw Jones couldn't leave without doing some damage. Oswalt gives him a good curveball on the inside corner, but he just gets it over the fence. The other Jones also scores. 9-4 Astros.

Grades
Pitching: B+
Braves got lucky. A few bloopers here and there, and Andruw's homer.

Batting: A
Well, I got lucky, too. But nine runs couldn't all come from pure luck. Then again, maybe it can...

Player of the game
Jason LaRue: 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

Stats

Notable hitters
LaRue: 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Oswalt: 2-4, R, 2 RBI

Jones: 3-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

Pitchers
Oswalt: 9 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 11 K

Marquis: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER
Holmes: 1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER
Gryboski: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER

Game 26 Result
Atlanta 4, Houston 9


Game 27
Intro
Kennedy against veteran Greg Maddux.

Game Recap
Astros jump at the early lead with Mohr's RBI single. Two batters later, LaRue drives in another run with a single. 2-0 Astros.

My, how quickly time flies by...no runs score until the eighth, when LaRue hit a RBI double, and Teixeira follows up with a 2 RBI double to the gap in right.

Kennedy got another complete game shutout, the second complete game by a Astro pitcher in two games. He can still get the fastball up there in the late innings; here, he blows away Chipper Jones for the final out of the game.


Grades
Pitching: A+
A complete game three-hitter, with nine strikeouts piled on top.

Batting: A-
Could've done a bitt better. Got just one more hit than last game, but scored four less runs.

Player of the game
Joe Kennedy: 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 9 K

Stats

Notable hitters
LaRue: 2-4, R, 2 RBI
Mohr: 3-4, 2 R, RBI

Sheffield: 1-3

Pitchers
Kennedy: 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 9 K

Maddux: 7 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 2 ER
Hernandez: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER

Game 27 Result
Atlanta 0, Houston 5


End of April

Schedule Recap


Stats and complete standings are posted in the second and third posts.

Week 5

Games 28-30

Game 28 Result
Atlanta 7, Houston 5


Game 29 Result
Florida 3, Houston 12


Game 30 Result
Florida 0, Houston 1


Game 31
Intervened this game so I'll do a short recap.

Short Recap
Intervened some time in the later innings with the score 3-3. And it would stay that way until the thirtheenth, when someone drove in the game winning run on another bug in the game. If the lead runner gets overlapped, the player is ruled out. But that didn't happen.


Game 31 Result
Florida 3, Houston 4


Week 6
Three game set with the Pirates and Phillies. First at home, the second on the road.

Game 32

Game 32 Result
Pittsburgh 4, Houston 5


Game 33
Intro
Jennings going up against Josh Fogg in this one.

Game Recap
First inning, Dustan Mohr gets a juicy one, right down the middle and he smokes it to the far porch in left centre! It's a 2-run blast. 2-0 Astros.


The longball keeps coming. Second inning, this time Mark Teixeira with a solo shot. 3-0 Astros.


Unfortunately, I'm not doing as well with Wells as in my first franchise. I have yet to get a home run with him while playing. He doesn't get one here, but a sac fly in the third boosts his RBI total. 4-0 Astros.

LaRue goins the home run party. Another solo homer. 5-0 Astros.


Jennings had a small breakdown in the seventh. Gonzalez's RBI double pu the Bucs on the board, then Aramis followed that up with a RBI single (advance on throw), and Reese got the Pirates within two as he drives in Ramirez with a RBI double. 5-3 Astros.

LaRue gets an insurance run in the eighth with a RBI single.

Grades
Pitching: B
3 runs on 6 hits...typical outing. Enough to give Jennings his second win of the season.

Batting: B+
6 runs on 9 hits is okay, but I would've liked more.

Player of the game
Dustan Mohr: 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

Stats

Notable hitters
Mohr: 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
LaRue: 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI

Ramirez: 2-3, R, RBI

Pitchers
Jennings: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 10 K
Lidge: 1 IP, 0 R
Gagne: 1 IP, 0 R, 1 K

Fogg: 5 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 K
Mahomes: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Boehringer: 0.1 IP, 0 R

Game 33 Result
Pittsburgh 3, Houston 6


Games 34-38

Game 34 Result
Pittsburgh 5, Houston 3


Game 35 Result
Pittsburgh 14, Houston 4


Game 36 Result
Houston 2, Philadelphia 1


Game 37 Result
Houston 3, Philadelphia 2


Game 38 Result
Houston 2, Philadelphia 6


End of Week 6
21-17, 2nd in NL Central (1.5 back of Cards)

Great week there, but those Cards are following your every move.

Kinda like your observation on thee real Cards and Astros, huh?

Stats and standings (for week 6) are updated.

Week 7
Four games in Pittsburgh, and three at home against the Phillies.

Games 39-45

Game 39 Result
Houston 5, Pittsburgh 4


Game 40 Result
Houston 8, Pittsburgh 7


Game 41 Result
Houston 7, Pittsburgh 4


Injury Report
May 21: Joe Kennedy (tendinitis of the achilles) out for 30 days. Recalled P Carlos Hernandez for Triple-A (a.k.a. inactive roster)

Game 42 Result
Houston 1, Pittsburgh 3


Game 43 Result
Philadelphia 4, Houston 3


Game 44 Result
Philadelphia 2, Houston 4


Game 45 Result
Philadelphia 7, Houston 6


Week 8
I'm only done the three game set with the Cards in week 8.

Game 46
Intro
Shades of Dustin McGowan? Not quite. More like Roy Halladay. That should be a big clue in what happens in this game as Oswalt takes the mound for the Astros against Woody Williams and the rival Cards...

Game Recap
As you may already have noticed, in the new franchise. I seem to have this really wierd tendency to score in the early and late innings and not score at all in the middle. And no one can score earlier than this. Dustan Mohr's 2 RBI double in the first gives the Astros the early lead.

Oswalt cruising through seven innings, giving up no runs and just two hits...

Bottom of the seventh, Teixeira 's RBI single extends the lead to three and Oswalt helping his own cause again with a RBI single.

Oswalt would give up just one more hit en route to a complete game three-hit shutout.

Grades
Pitching: A+
Self-explanetory.

Batting: B-
Err...4 runs is good when Roy's pitching, but when Towers takes the mound, I'll need way more.

Player of the game
Roy Oswalt (duh): 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 11 K

Stats

Notable hitters
Mohr: 1-4, 2 RBI
Blum: 2-4, R

Pujols: 1-3

Pitching
Oswalt: 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 11 K

Williams: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB
Crudale: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER

Game 46 Result
St. Louis 0, Houston 4


Games 47-48

Game 47 Result
St. Louis 8, Houston 5


Game 48 Result
St. Louis 3, Houston 2


Week 8 (In Progress)
26-22

Pics will be upgraded as per the request (don't know how else to say it) by Jing.

I'm getting lazier by the minute...I'm only done one game. But what the heck, I'll post it anyway.

Continuing Week 8

Game 50

Intro
Never played Towers yet so I'll do so now. After that, the only pitcher I haven't played is Santana, but he's on a simmed hot streak (7-0) and I don't want to alter it.

Game Recap
The trend continues...Astros jump out at the lead with Mohr's RBI single to cash in Lugo. 1-0 Astros.

Towers helping his own cause again, a RBI double down the right field line in the second. 2-0 Astros.

I still haven't gotten a home run from Wells yet. Until now. Third inning, bases empty, Powell hangs a splitter right in Wells' hot zone, and he smacks it barely over the fence. 3-0 Astros.


Towers may have to appeal this one. In the fourth, Bako hits a routine fly to left, but Blum being a converted third baseman and not the best of fielders in the first place, dropped it. It counts as a base hit for Bako. A run scores. 3-1 Astros.

Karros narrows the lead in the fifth with a RBI single. 3-2 Astros.

LaRue is now my offical insurance run man (just as long as I don't have to pay him premium). RBI single in the eight, gives Gagne a little more breathing space (as if he needs it). Cubs go down 1-2-3 in the ninth. 4-2 Astros.

Grades
Pitching: B+
Of course, Towers only gave up one earned run in reality...but still a solid outing.

Batting: B
Didn't I say that four runs wouldn't be enough with Towers on the mound? I guess I have to take that back. Still, not a very good effort.

Player of the game
Vernon Wells: 2-4, HR, R, RBI

Memorable moments

Bako cut and misses at a sinker from Towers


Sorry Craig, not this time: Biggio gets tagged by Romano as he tries unsuccessfully to steal second.


Stats

Notable hitters
Wells: 2-4, HR, R, RBI
Mohr: 2-4, R, RBI
LaRue: 2-4, R, RBI

Biggio: 3-4, R

Pitchers
Towers: 6 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 (1) ER, 3 K
Lidge: 1 IP, 0 R, 1 K
Williamson: 1 IP, 0 R
Gagne: 1 IP, 0 R, 1 K

Powell: 4 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 K
Cunnane: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K

Game 50 Result
Chicago 2, Houston 4


Hopefully I can get the month of May done by tomorrow.

Nice win over the Cubs.

Seems like Gagne is pitching really well for you.

Gagne is pitching a little too well. League leading 20 saves...and no BS, too.

Trade made! See Transactions post!

Game 51
Intro
You'll know why I didn't use Oswalt n my first franchise after you read this one.

Game Recap
Both Oswalt and Prior were fantastic. Unfortunately for Prio, he gave up one run. And that was all the Astros needed. A sac fly by Romano in the third made the score 1-0.

Oswalt: another complete game shutout. This time giving up just two hits. Two little bloopers. If both of them were hit just slightly off, I would've got my fisrt no-no.

Grades
Pitching: A+
Another complete game shutout. I almost knew this was going to happen as soon as I put Roy in the franchise.

Batting: C-
Could do better. Way better. Even Roy doesn't get shutout every day.

Player of the game
Roy Oswalt: 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 K

Memorable moments

Bobby Hill robs Teixeira of a base hit.


Oswalt gets Biggio to wave at his curve to end the game.


Stats

Notable hitters
Romano: 1-3, RBI

Karros: 1-3

Pitching
Oswalt: 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 K

Prior: 8 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K

Game 51 Result
Chicago 0, Houston 1


End of Week 8

Roy is just hangin'.

He's in unbelievable form when you pitch with him.

Ain't too hard when you got a mid-90s fastball and a wicked curve going your way. The weird thing is is that my favorite pitch for Oswalt is actually his worst pitch: a 2-seamer that both cuts in on the outside corner and sets up a straight fastball off the plate. Sick.

Week 9

Games 52-56

Game 52 Result
Houston 1, St. Louis 4


Game 53 Result
Houston 3, St. Louis 1


Game 54 Result
Houston 12, St. Louis 3


Game 55 Result
Houston 4, Chicago 2


Game 56 Result
Houston 2, Chicago 3


End of May


Standings and stats are posted.

Week 9+10
A game with the Cubs (carried over from May) and then interleague: two series with O's and D-Rays, both at home.

Game 57

Game 57 Result
Houston 4, Chicago 1


Games 58-60

Intro
The youngster Carlos Hernandez against Rodrigo Lopez.

Game Recap
The very first inning, Wells gets a sac fly to put the Astros in the lead. 1-0.

Third inning, another sac fly fly by Wells (I got a thing for sac fly; Lugo got four once, remember?) and Mohr followed it up with a RBI single and the Astros are up 3-0.

Sixth inning, the pitcher Hernandez gives himself and the bullpen some breathing space as he gets a RBI single.

Seventh inning, Mohr finds his home run stroke. A solo blast, puts the Astros up five.


The Orioles looked to mount a comeback in the eighth. Hairston Jr.'s RBI double and Marrero's two-run homer cut down the Astros lead to two. But that's all they would get as Gagne closes it out for his 22nd save.

Grades
Pitching: B+
Hernandez got a great outing, but the bullpen almost blew it.

Batting: A-
5 runs, Mohr got a homer, not too bad.

Player of the game
Dustan Mohr: 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI

Memorable moment

Hairston Jr. could not get a hold of Hernandez's curveball. See ya later, alligator!


Stats

Notable hitters
Lugo: 3-4, 2 R
Mohr: 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI

Marrero: 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI

Pitchers
Hernandez: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 K
Lidge: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER
Farnsworth: 0.1 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K
Gagne: 1 IP, 0 R

Lopez: 6 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB
Rivera: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB
Brock: 1 IP, 0 R

Game 58 Result
Baltimore 3, Houston 5


Game 59 Result
Baltimore 2, Houston 1


Week 10 (In Progress)
34-25, 2nd n NL Central

Your gonna need some wins in the next few games to catch STL.

Ty Wigginton is having a solid year for you.

Darn. Lost a half an hour's load of work cause of having to re-login. Have to shorten this up then. Originally typed up a recap of game 60, but screw that now.

Finishing Week 10
Final game of the rubber match against the O's and a three gamer with the D-Rays.

Game 60-64

Game 60 Result
Baltimore 8, Houston 4


Game 61 Result
Tampa Bay 1, Houston 7


Game 62 Result
Tampa Bay 12, Houston 9


Game 63 Result
Tampa Bay 4, Houston 1


Week 11
Three game set at the Bronx Zoo with the Yankees (or the Bankees, whichever you prefer).

Games 64-66

Game 64 Result
Houston 4, New York 2


Game 65 Result
Houston 7, New York 15


Game 66 Intro
Oswalt is scheduled to pitch today and his counterpart will be Mike Mussina. So close...so close...

Game Recap
No scoring for the first two innings, until the third, when Romano breaks the deadlock with a sac fly. 1-0 Astros.

Oswalt is in fine form today. He struck out the side in the first, and is perfect through four. You know where I'm getting at...

Top of the fifth, Romano at it again. A RBI double into the gap off Mussina, and it's 2-0 Astros.

Bottom of the fifth, bases empty, two outs, Matsui at the dish. Oswalt gives him a 4-seamer on the low inside corner...and he hits it up the middle for a base hit. There goes the perfect game along with the no-hitter. And to make things worse, he doesn't give up anything else for the remainder of the game.

Grades
Pitching: A+
Complete game, 1 hit shutout. 1 hit... But he does gets 15 strikeouts.

Batting: B-
Not too good. If not for Romano, this game would go o extras. But I think Oswalt could work well into the twelfth.

Player of the game
Roy Oswalt: 9 IP1 1 H, 0 R, 15 K

Memorable moments

Bernie Williams swings too early at the hook.


Blum smacks a ground ball past third baseman Zeile. The turf at Yankee stadium is a little different; Zeile would have easily caught that at Minute Maid.


Yankees down to their final strike. Soriano can't catch up with the fastball. Game over.


Stats

Notable hitters
Matsui: 1-3

Romano: 2-3, 2 RBI

Pitchers
Mussina: 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K
Lieber: 2 Ip, 2 H, 0 R

Oswalt: 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 15 K

Game 66 Result
Houston 2, New York 0


Week 11 (In Progress)
37-28, 2nd in NL Central (finally gaining some ground; 0.5 back of Cards)

Really gaining ground now. Oswalt taking it easy still...have you even given up more than two runs while playing as him?

I don't think I did, not in this one. But I'm sure I did in my other franchise, back in the day when I don't know how to pitch correctly.


I'm gonna do a summary as well as a recap; see which one you prefer.

Finishing Week 11
Three games at Fenway.

Games 67-69

Game 67 Result
Houston 2, Boston 3


Game 68 Result
Houston 2, Boston 0


Game 69 Intro
Sinkerballer Derek Lowe battles the 9-0 Johan Santana.

Game Recap
There was no scoring until the top of the third, when Lugo got a clutch RBI single with 2 outs. The next batter, Romamo, smacked a hard liner into the right field corner for a triple that scores Lugo. 2-0 Astros.

Astros keep coming at it. Mohr's RBI double and LaRue's RBI single in the fourth made it 4-0 Astros.

Manny did the same thing Romano did in the seventh, a line drive that made the baseball look more like a pinball as it rolled around inthe right field corner. It's a RBI triple for Manny (I think Ichiro or Furcal could've made it around there). 4-1 Astros.

Wigginton gives the Astros some more insurance as he hits a RBI double in the eighth. 5-1 Astros.

The Astros tack on more runs in the top of the ninth with Kapler's RBI single and Lugo's RBI double. 7-1 Astros.

The Red Sox get a couple more runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it would not be enough as the Astros win 7-3.

Grades
Pitching: B+
Another bad outing by BJ. I haven't given up one user-controlled run through August last time, and this time I give up 6 in two outings?!?

Batting: A
More or less what I hoped. But I would've liked to take advantage of the green monster more; I got just one hit off it.

Memorable moment

Wells showing off his cannon again, as he guns down Man Ram at the plate.


Player of the game
Johan Santana: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 K

Stats

Notable hitters
Ramirez: 2-4, 2 RBI

Mohr: 2-4, 2 R, RBI
Kapler: 2-4, 2 R, RBI

Pitchers
Lowe: 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 K
Mendoza: 3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 K

Santana: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 K
Ryan: 2.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 K
Gagne: 0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 K


Summary
(Note: this is just the recap, stats, and intro crammed into one big paragraph; if you like this better I'll replace the recaps with the summary. Likewise, if you like the recaps better, I'll stick with that. But if we got the same amount of people liking different ones...then we got a problem)

The Astros face the Red Sox in Fenway for the rubber match of this three game series. 6-4 Derek Lowe faces the fantastic (or fluky, if I say so myself) 9-0 Johan Santana. The Astros got off to a good start, as they took a 2-0 lead in the third on Lugo and Romano's RBI base hits. They add two more in the fourth, this time the ribbies coming from Mohr and LaRue. Santana was pitching wonderfully, giving up no runs through six innings, after which he was pulled in favor of reliever BJ Ryan. The Red Sox gets one in the seventh and the Astros get it right back in the eighth. Both teams trade a pair of runs in the ninth as the Astros cruise to 7-3 victory. Mohr and Kapler had a great night for the visting side, as both went 2-4 with two runs and a RBI. Manny's performance (2-4, 2 RBI) was a good one but wasn't enough to spark the home side's offense, scoring just 3 runs on 9 hits.

Game 69 Result
Houston 7, Boston 3


End of Week 11
39-29, 1st in NL Central (Cards 1 back!)