Astros franchise-MVP Baseball 2003 |C'est fini!|

[JT_55]

Last time I checked, Bonds was Public Enemy Number One, so him starting was a bit suprising.

Continuing Week 6

Game 9
Intro
One of the best games I ever pitched (apart from a no-hitter by Zito, but that was in rookie mode). Santana against Julian Tavarez. They both pitched very well but Santana's outing was worthy of his real self (did that make sense?).

Game Recap
There is nothing to say. A complete game six-hitter shutout for Santana. There was no scoring apart from a Wells sac fly in the fourth. 1-0 Astros. Final.

He had seven strikeouts while using a new pitch sequence. I usually just use all the pitches in various sequeces, but today, I tried to just use fastball-changeup the first time around and then mix up the slider the next thime through the order. And it worked.

Grades
Pitching: A+
Duh.

Batting: C+
1 tiny run. It was enough, but it's not going to be for every game.

Defense: A-
No errors. Romano made a great play.

Small Ball: A
A stolen base by Lugo set up the only run of the game.

Player of the Game
Johan Santana: 9 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 7 K

Stats

Notable hitters
Ausmus: 3-3
Lugo: 1-3, R

Kendall: 2-4

Pitchers
Santana (W, 3-3): 9 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 7 K

Tavarez (L, 0-5): 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER
Boehringer: 1 IP, 1 H

Moment of the Game
Flashing a little more leather.
[img]http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z134/jt_159/Week%6/Game9Moment.jpg[/img]

Result
Pittsburgh 0, Houston 1


Game 10
Intro
Forgot to write the stats down, so I'll skip that part. Towers against Suppan.

Game Recap
Giles got the score running early in the game with Kendall and Simon in scoring position with one out. He drives it over the left field fence. 3 run shot. 3-0 Pittsburgh.

In the bottom of the inning, Romano takes a 3-1 mistake fastball from Suppan deep. The ironic thing was that one of the commentators just said that Romano "was not the strongest hitter in the league and the pitcher only had to be semi-careful". Well, Suppan was semi-careful and paid for it. 3-1 Pittsburgh.

The game would be tied up in the sixth, when Wells hits a RBI double and Kielty his an RBI single. Kielty would be injured later in the game. 3-3 tie.

Injury Report: Bobby Kielty (concussion) out for 102 days. Replaced by Jason Lane.

I thought losing Eckstein was bad enough. Now my cleanup hitter is gone until well after the All-Star break. That teaches me not to slide headfirst if it's not a close play. Lane would have to step up his game (and does, but not in this one).

Randall Simon got the go-ahead run in extras with a solo shot off Scott Williamson. 5-4 Pittsburgh.

Moment of the game
Ausmus is out at the plate trying to score on a single in the eighth.


Result
Pittsburgh 5, Houston 4


Week 6 (In Progress)
20-15, 1st in NL Central (Cubs 1.5 back)

[jonthefon]

Oosh, another tough injury. Nice pitch-out in the first game though.

And I'm believing in something: how well the Stros will do this season depends on how the Cards play. It seems that whenever the Cards win, Houston wins as well.

[JT_55]

Interesting. I never noticed that. Now all Houston's gotta do is hope for the Brewers and Dodgers to lose 15 straight and the Cards to win 15 straight. Sigh...highly unlikely. But they still have the whole second half.

Continuing Week 6
3 game series in Philly. All of them simmed.

Games 11 -13
Game 11 Result
Houston 10, Philly 8


Game 12 Result
Houston 3, Philly 0


Game 13 Result
Houston 4, Philly 2


End of Week 6
23-15, 1st in NL Central (forgot; Cards are either 0.5, 1, or 1.5 back)

[JT_55]

Note: 2nd post in a row (way too long if put together)

Week 7

Games 14-20
Game 14 Result
Houston 6, Pittsburgh 8


Game 15 Result
Houston 7, Pittsburgh 8


Game 16 Result
Houston 2, Pittsburgh 0


Game 17 Result
Houston 6, Pittsburgh 7


Game 18 Result
Philly 0, Houston 3


Game 19 Result
Philly 1, Houston 0


Game 20 Result
Philly 5, Houston 3


End of Week 7
25-20, Tied for 1st in NL Central with St. Louis

[jonthefon]

The Astros have won five of their last six, all at home, but I can't talk at all. They've been really inconsistent and they were lucky to get away yesterday (they probably should've won it in the tenth).

Holding the fort fine; some tough losses though.

[JT_55]

Week 8
Three game series at home to with the Cards and another three with the Cubs; playing them all.

Game 21
Intro
What can I say? Another complete game shutout by Kennedy. Been there, done that.

Game Recap
With runners in scoring position in the third, Kennedy got the safety squeeze going and helps his own cause with an RBI. Lugo then hits a single into center field and Ausmus tries to score while Edmonds throws to the plate...

...and he slides under the tag, safe! 2-0 Astros.

Nothing significant after that. Ensberg with a RBI single in the fourth, Kennedy another squeeze, and Lugo with a RBI double in the fifth.

Grades
Pitching: A+
It would be a waste of time to ask.

Batting: A-
Nothing special. 5 runs, 11 hits.

Defense: B+
No errors.

Small Ball: A+
Winning run on a squeeze play. No steals nor caught steals.

Player of the game
Joe Kennedy: 9 IP, 9 H, BB, 10 K

Stats

Notable hitters
Ausums: 3-4, 2 R
Lugo: 2-4, 2 RBI

Edmonds: 2-4
Rolen: 0-4, 3 K

Pitchers
Kennedy: 9 IP, 9 H, BB, 10 K

Morris: 5.2 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 K
Crudale: 2.1 IP, 1 H

Game 21 Result
St. Louis 0, Houston 5


Game 22
Game 22 Result
St. Louis 6, Houston 5


Game 23
Intro
Zambrano against Tomko.

Game Recap
Pujols got a RBI single in the second. 1-0 Cards.

Astros responded with Lane's RBI single to make it a 1-1 game.

In the third, with runners in scoring position, Wells hits a 2 RBI double to the gap but sustained another injury.

Injury Report: Vernon Wells (sprained ankle) out for 13 days. Replaced be Brian L. Hunter.

What a relief. If Wells was out for the remainer of the season, I would have been tempted to retire this. Well, he didn't so, Hunter will just fill in at center for two weeks.

Later in the game, with Pujols on at second, Drew hits a single to center. Pujols tries to score from second, but Hunter made a great throw to gun down Pujols at home!

Grades
Pitching: A
Zambrano with an outstanding outing, 6 hits and a run over six and a third innings. Ryan and Williamson doesn't give up any runs.

Batting: B+
Again, 5 runs. This time with 13 hits to go with it.

Defense: B+
Same old, same old.

Small Ball: C
No attempted steals.

Player of the game
Carlos Zambrano: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K

Stats

Notable hitters
Hunter: 2-2, R
Wells: 1-2, 2 RBI

Edmonds: 2-4, R

Pitching
Zambrano: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K
Ryan: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Williamson: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K

Tomko: 5 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 K
Crudale: 2 IP
Yan: 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, BB

Game 23 Result
St. Louis 1, Houston 5


Middle of Week 8
27-21, 1st in NL Central (Cardinals 0.5 back)

[jonthefon]

Heh, Roy Oswalt did make the All-Star Game after all.

Nice wins over the Cards.

[JT_55]

Continuing Week 8

Games 24-26
Intro
What a game. Johan Santana pitched another great game, even took a no-hitter into the seventh. Unfortunately, he was up against Mark Prior, who out-dueled Santana with a complete game shutout.

Game Recap
Recap what? There was only one run scored in the game. In the top of the seventh, Slammin' Sammy led off and slammed a high and tight fastball from Santana into the short porch in left. 1-0 Cubs.

Grades
Pitching: A-
Great game. If only Sosa didn't hit that homer. Santana had 11 strikeouts.

Batting: C-
C'mon guys, it's only Prior. Again, poor hitting with runners in scoring position. Got 12 hits but no runs.

Defense: B
No errors. But what difference does that make?

Small Ball: ~

Player of the Game
Mark Prior: 9 IP, 12 H

Stats

Notable Hitters
Wilkerson: 3-4

Sosa: 1-3, HR, RBI, R

Pitchers
Santana: 7.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 11 K
Soriano: 1.2 IP

Prior: 9 IP, 12 H

Game 24 Result
Chicago 1, Houston 0


Game 25 Intro
One great outing right after the other. Josh Towers's pitching was great, and the offense showed up, too. C.C. Sabathia just wasn't good enough.

Game Recap
In the second, Ausmus hits a RBI double. The next batter, Lane, singles to right and Ausmus tries to score from second. Patterson's throw is in time to get Ausmus. 1-0 Astros.

With Wilkerson on at first, Ensberg hits a two run shot to left off Sabathia. 3-0 Astros

Immediately following a triple by Ensberg, Teixeira hits a RBI single in the sixth to make it 4-0 Astros.

Wilkerson and Ensberg hits back-to-back doubles in the eighth, adding a run. 5-0 Astros.

Grades
Pitching: A+
Another complete game shutout. *Yawn*

Batting: B+
Got a respectable 5 runs.

Defense: B+
No errors.

Player of the Game
Josh Towers: 9 IP, 7 H, 9 K (and all 9 K's without abusing the high heat, too)

Stats

Notable hitters
Ensberg: 4-4, 3 RBI, 3 R
Wilkerson: 3-4, 2 R

Sosa: 2-4

Pitchers
Towers: 9 IP, 7 H, 9 K

Sabathia: 6.1 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER
Cruz: 0.2 IP
Estes: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER

Game 25 Result
Chicago 0, Houston 5


Game 26 Result
Chicago 4, Houston 3


End of Week 8
Standings


Complete stats coming up!

[JT_55]

Recap up to Week 8
Team MVP leader
Brad Wilkerson: .316 avg, .405 obp, 11 HR, 27 RBI

Team Cy Young Leader
Joe Kennedy: 7-2, 2 CG, 2 ShO, 81 IP, 1.89 ERA

Complete Stats
Batting


Pitching



Batting Average: Shawn Green- .378 AVG
Home Runs: Sammy Sosa- 27 HR
Runs Batted in: Sammy Sosa- 69 RBI
Stolen Bases: Kenny Lofton- 23 SB
Hits: Shawn Green- 73 H
Runs: Magglio Ordonez- 49 R
On Base Percentage: Shawn Green- .477 OBP
Slugging Percentage: Sammy Sosa- .826 SLG

Remember Mo Vaughn? He led the league in average, RBI, hits and OBP. He was injured and out for season.

[JT_55]

Ouch. Tough loss against the Mets yesterday. 17 innings. Could've won in the 14th if not for Beltran...that catch reminded me off the one Taverez made in the playoffs a few years ago.

Week 9

Games 27-32
Game 27 Result
Houston 4, St. Louis 2


Game 28 Result
Houston 6, St. Louis 14


Game 29 Result
Houston 3, St. Louis 4


Game 30 Result
Houston 4, Chicago 9


Game 31 Result
Houston 6, Chicago 2


Game 32 Result
Houston 5, Chicago 2


End of Week 9
31-26, 1st in NL Central

EDIT: Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Wilkerson gets injured sometime in this week. But nothing serious. Another sprained ankle.

Injury Report: Brad Wilkerson (sprained ankle) out 11 days. Replaced by Geoff Blum.

[jonthefon]

Another solid week, keep rolling.

Astros pounded the Mets today, good way to finish off. I watched the whole game yesterday, damn was I pissed. Moehler couldn't last, which sucked. Pence blew a chance with bases loaded. Ensberg went Outsberg, but I guess he did score those runs. And of course, the Beltran catch. Tough to swallow.

[JT_55]

Always good to go into the All-Star break on a winning note. Noe only if they can do something in the second half.

Week 10
All but one game played. Start of interleague play. Two series with the O's and D-Rays at home. It will take a whole day to type out all the recaps and stuff so I'll edit them as I get them done. Should get all of them done by tonight or tomorrow.

Games 1-6 (restart count again)
I broke my own rule. It's a impact 5 game but I wasn't in the mood to play a game without Wells, Wilkerson, and Kielty. Wells comes back tomorrow, so I just simmed this one.

Game 1 Result
Baltimore 5, Houston 3


Game 2 Intro
Santana against hard-throwing Sidney Ponson. Wells makes his return here.

Game Recap
Bottom of the third, with Lugo on third, Wells makes his return a memorable one. He takes Ponson deep for a 2-run HR and makes it 2-0 Astros.

In the bottom of fifth, Teixeira hits a RBI double to score Wells, then Lane hits another RBI double to score Teixeira. 4-0 Astros.

Santana was pitching great once again. His no-hit bid was broken in the fifth, but he still pitched six shutout innings and earned himself the win.

Grades
Pitching: A+
Santana, Lidge, and Ramirez combined for a 2-hit shutout.

Batting: B+
Four runs. Not bad. Especially with Wells' homer.

Defense: B+
No errors. Last time I checked, the team is leading the league in fielding pct.

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

Stats

Notable hitters
Wells: Wells: 2-4, HR(11), 2 RBI, 2 R
Teixeira: 3-4, RBI, R

Hentgen: 1-2

Pitchers
Santana: 6 IP, 2 H, 6 K
Lidge: 2 IP
Ramirez: 1 IP

Ponson: 4.1 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 K
Hentgen: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K

Game 2 Result
Baltimore 0, Houston 4


Game 3 Intro
Towers against Rick Helling. Both starters were ineffective but I just have a very itchy hook. Thiller of a game.

Game Recap
Lugo lead off the bottom of the first with a base hit. Romano followed with a double. Now the table is set for Wells. Two runners in scoring position, no one out, and a very low rated pitcher in Helling. Guess what he does. Wells hits a high fly ball...deep...home run! Lane would add a sac fly later in the inning to make it 4-0 Astros.

Think that it would be a cakewalk for Towers from then on? Think again. With the bases loaded and no one out, Deivi Cruz and Fordyce hits back-to-back RBI base hits to cut the lead to 2. Mora gets a sac fly and the score is now 4-3 Astros.

Lugo gives Towers a little more breathing room with a RBI single in the bottom of the second.

Towers will promptly give the lead away when Conine hits an RBI double. Then a bizzare play happens when Cordova gets a base hit to left. Conine wasn't sure if the ball was going to drop. He ends up at third, but between all that, Cordova slips into second base. Both runners in scoring positon, and Fordyce gets his second RBI with a base hit to score Conine. Game tied.

I had enough. Towers out, in comes Soriano.

Ausmus gets the lead back with a RBI base hit in the sixth. 6-5 Astros.

In the ninth, Gagne comes in. Lights out? Far from it. He blow the save with a RBI single from Payton. Game tied again.

He gets the win in the ninth, though. With runners in scoring position and less than 2 out, the outfield comes in during Blum's at-bat. And he takes full advantage. He hits a RBI base hit to the other way (that ball would have been good anyway if the outfield was at normal depth). Game over.

Grades
Pitching: C
Towers...5 runs in 2.1 innings. Gagne, blown save. The bright spots were Soriano and Williamson; 5.2 shutout innings.

Batting: A
7 runs. And another Wells home run.

Defense: B+
No errors.

Player of the Game
Vernon Wells: 1-4, HR, 3 RBI, R

Stats

Notable hitters
Wells: 1-4, HR, 3 RBI, R
Lugo: 4-5, RBI, 2 R

Conine: 3-4, RBI, 2 R

Pitching
Towers: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB
Soriano: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 K
Williamson: 1 IP, 2 K
Gagne: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K

Helling: 5.1 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER
Bauer: 2.2 IP, 2 H, BB
Dotel: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB

Game 3 Result
Baltimore 6, Houston 7

[JT_55]

Continuing Week 10

Games 4-6
Intro
Kennedy against Oswalt (I just swapped them in my custom roster). Nothing really special, except for the fact I have his number (pitch speeds, tendencies, etc.).

Game Recap
With the bases loaded in the third, Wells hits a high fly ball, but to straightaway center field. Does the job, though. Gets a cheap RBI on a sac fly. Blum follows up and gets a RBI single. 2-0 Astros.

In the fifth, Lugo, Blum, and Lane all get RBI base hits to make it 5-0 Astros. Oswalt gets pulled after that.

Wells has homered for two straight days after his return. He makes it three in the seventh, with a solo shot. 6-0 Astros.

Once again, Kennedy looks for the complete game shutout. Huff thinks otherwise. He takes a mistake pitch from Kennedy the other way for a solo homer. 6-1 Astros.

Grades
Pitching: A-
Oh well. Complete game 5-hitter is still good.

Batting: B
Completely dominated Oswalt. The reliever Paniagua? Not so much.

Defense: B+
No errors. I am not going to even bother with this anymore.

Player of the game
Geoff Blum: 3-4, 2 RBI, R

Stats

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

Huff: 1-4, HR, RBI, R

Pitchers
Kennedy: 9 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 9 K

Oswalt: 4.2 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 K
Paniagua: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER

Game 4 Result
Tampa Bay 1, Houston 6


Game 5 Intro
Jennings against Delvin James. Not much scoring (literally, not figuratively) and all the runs were driven in by one swing of Teixeira's bat.

Game Recap
I already told you all I need to say. Teixeira got hold of a pitch inside from James and hit a line drive home run in right. Another reason why I like to play at Minute Maid rather than Miller or Pac Bell.

Grades
Pitching: A
Great pitching from Jennings and Gagne for the shutout. Gave up nine hits, though. That's fine when playing the D-Rays, but against the Yankees...

Batting: B+
15 hits. Got the bases loaded in the eight with nobody out but did not score a single run. Relying on the long ball too much lately.

Player of the game
Mark Teixeira: 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI

Moment of the Game
Gagne gets someone swinging on a wicked slider for the second out of the ninth.


Stats

Notable hitters
Teixeira: 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI
Blum: 3-3, R

Lee: 3-3

Pitchers
Jennings: 8 IP, 8 H, 3 K
Gagne: 1 IP, 1 H, K

James: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 K
Levine: 1.2 IP, 4 H, K
Parque: 1 IP, 3 H, K

Game 5 Result
Tampa Bay 0, Houston 3


Game 6 Intro
Two young pitchers going at it. Zambrano and Brazelton.

Game Recap
In the bottom of the first, Blum hits a RBI double and Teixeira follows up with a RBI single. 2-0 Astros.

Devil Rays respond in the second, with Brazelton's RBI single and Fox's RBI double. Game tied 2-2.

In the third, Lane gets a RBI single . Then, with Ensberg at the plate, a hit-and-run is called and executed perfectly. Runners at the corners for Ausmus, who hits a single to drive in Lane. 4-2 Astros.

Ensberg adds a 2 RBI single in the seventh, and Blum a RBI single in the eighth. 7-2 Astros.

Grades
Pitching: B+
Not horrible. Gave up 11 hits, 2 runs. Typical.

Batting: A
Pretty good. 7 runs on 16 hits. When I get back another home run threat from injury maybe I can score 10 runs then.

Player of the Game
Geoff Blum: 3-5, 2 RBI, 2 R

Moment of the Game
Lugo turns the game ending double play.


Stats

Notable hitters
Blum: 3-5, 2 RBI, 2 R
Ensberg: 3-4, 2 RBI

Fox: 3-4, RBI

Pitching
Zambrano: 7 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 K
Farnsworth: 1 IP, 1 H
Ryan: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K

Brazelton: 5 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER
Levine: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, K
Phelps: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB

Game 6 Result
Tampa Bay 2, Houston 7


End of Week 10
36-27, 1st in NL Central (Cards 1.5 back)

[jonthefon]

Damn, rolling now.

[JT_55]

Oh well. Two-man discussion is better then me talking to myself.

Week 11
Three game set with the Bronx Bombers in the "House that Ruth Built". Game impact of 4, but I played the last game anyway. I guess the CPU hates Josh Towers; all the insane blowouts are against him.

Games 7-9
Game 7 Result
Houston 2, New York 5


Game 8 Result
Houston 1, New York 18


Game 9 Intro
The Rocket against Kennedy. The Yankees' bats were just too much for Kennedy to handle, but I made it difficult for Clemens too. Horrible outings for both pitchers.

Game Recap
Top of the second, with the bases loaded, Lugo gets a straying splitter right in his hot zone and drives it into left centre over Bernie William's head...and drops in front of the wall! Bases clearing double for Lugo. That ball wouldn't have been out even in Minute Maid, so I'm not kicking myself for that one. 3-0 Astros.

Kennedy got a 1-2-3 first, but in the second, things were going bad. Matsui hits a RBI double, Ventura drives him in with a sinlge (advance on throw), and someone (wrote Matsui again in my notes for some reason) hits a single to put runners on second and third. Mondesi hits a sac fly. Game tied at three. But that's not all. Up comes the captain. And captain Jeter hits a 2-run home run. 5-3 Yankees.

Clemens gives the lead right back. Following a Wells double, Wilkerson hits his thirteenth home run and ties the game at 5.

Yankees gets the lead back again in the fourth. Posada hits a solo shot and, 2 batters later, Soriano follows suit. 7-5 Yankees.

Ensberg hits a RBI single in the fifth, Ausmus scores. 7-6 Yankees.

Ventura hits another RBI single in the bottom half of the inning. 8-6 Yankees.

One home run doesn't look like it's enough for Posada. The first batter to face reliever Ramirez, he hits his second home run of the night to cap off the scoring. It's also the moment of the game. 9-6 Yankees.


Grades
Pitching: C-
9 runs. But what did I expect? After all, it is the Yankees.

Batting: B+
6 runs. Not enough for the game, but it's pretty good. Double digit hits again.

Player of the Game
Jorge Posada: 3-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R

Stats

Notable hitters
Posada: 3-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R

Wilkerson: 2-5, HR, 2 RBI, R

Pitching
Clemens: 3.2 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB
Bere: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER
Field: 2 IP, 1 H

Kennedy: 7 IP, 15 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 K
Ramirez: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, K

Game 9 Result
Houston 6, New York 9


Week 11
36-30, 2nd in NL Central (Noooo...lost my lead - 0.5 games back of the Cards)

[jonthefon]

Tough series against the Bankees

18-1? Another ridiculous blowout.

[JT_55]

Bankees ? I have a tough schedule. Yankees then Red Sox, all on the road.

Continuing Week 11
Three game series with the Sox. Played the middle game and simulated the rest.

Games 10-12
Game 10 Result
Houston 4, Boston 7


Game 11 Intro
Again, how can I pass up on a rare game against a AL powerhouse? And with Pedro on the mound I have to play this one.

Game Recap
Suprisingly, it was me who drew first blood with Lane's RBI single. 1-0 Astros.

Zambrano pitched very well today. He got into a bit of a jam in the second, after giving up a single to Man Ram and a double off Jeremy Giambi. But he struck out the next two batters (Walker and Varitek) and got Saenz to line out to short. Still 1-0 Astros.

In the bottom of the sixth, Zambrano's luck couldn't last. He gave up a RBI double to Walker and the game is tied at one.

He ends up winning the game, though. Thanks to Ausmus's RBI single in the seventh. In the same inning, with bases loaded, Wells hits a 2 RBI single to make it 4-1 Astros.

Gagne pitches a spotless ninth for the save.

Grades
Pitching: A
One lousy run, or another shutout.

Batting: B
Not bad. Double-digit hits for the umpteenth time.

Stats
Screw that.

Game 11 Result
Houston 4, Boston 1


Game 12 Result
Houston 3, Boston 5


End of Week 11
37-32, 2nd in NL Central (now 2 games behind the Cards)

[jonthefon]

Yeah, Bankees. From Fairly Odd Parents, one of Timmy's (main character) friends gets really good at baseball on a wish and ends up taking on the "Bankees" (who carry money on the field and have a dollar sign for their logo )

[JT_55]

Week 12

Games 13-15

Intro
First of a three game set with the D-Backs at home. Towers strats for me this time. Guess who the other starters is. He has his own blog...he has a bloody sock...any guesses? Yep, Curt Schilling.

Game Recap
Arizona strikes first, with Bautista's solo home run off Towers in the second. 1-0 Diamondbacks.

In the fifth, with bases loaded and one out, the pitcher's spot was due up. I would usually still go with Towers because it's early, but Blum has been performing really well lately so I put him in. And boy does Blum pulls though. He hits a 2 RBI double to not only give Houston a 2-1 lead, but put runners in scoring position for Lugo. Lugo hits a 2 RBI single and it's now 4-1 Astros.

In the sixth, Ausmus hits a RBI single with runners on the corners. Then Soriano follows that up with a RBI single. 6-1 Astros.

Ausmus wasn't done yet. With Ensberg on at first, he takes a sinker right down the middle from Koplove the opposite way for a home run. 8-1 Astros.

Kent adds a sac fly in the ninth.

Grades
Pitching: B
Gave up two runs. Towers and Soriano combined for 9 strikeouts.

Batting: A+
8 runs. Ausmus' home run was icing on the cake.

Player of the Game
Brad Ausmus: 3-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R

Stats

Notable hitters
Ensberg: 4-4, 3 R
Ausmus: 3-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R

Bautista: 2-4, HR, R, RBI

Pitching
Towers: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 7 K
Soriano: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K

Schilling: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 K
Koplove: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, K

Game 13 Result
Arizona 2, Houston 8


Game 14 Intro
This game is dominated by pitching. Dessens made one mistake. And it cost him. Kennedy didn't.

Game Recap
Bottom of the first, with Romano at second and two outs. Wilkerson gets a pitch up in the zone and hits it outta here! 2-run shot! 2-0 Astros.

Grades
Pitching: A+
Yet another complete game shutout. Kennedy might win the Cy Young at that pace.

Batting: C+
Wilkerson provided the only offense in the game.

Player of the Game
Joe Kennedy: 9 IP, 5 H, 8 K

Moment of the Game
Kennedy gets McCracken to swing way too early at his curve for one of his 8 strikeouts.


Stats

Notable hitters
Wilkerson: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R

Lo Duca: 1-2

Pitchers
Kennedy: 9 IP, 5 H, 8 K

Dessens: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, K
Reyes: 1 IP, 1 H, BB

Game 14 Result
Arizona 0, Houston 2


Game 15 Result
Arizona 7, Houston 3


Week 12 (In Progress)
39-33, 2nd in NL Central (1 back of the Cards)

[KIG1]

Nice two games pitched by Kennedy and Towers, but a tough loss against the D-Backs. Good luck in your next games.

[JT_55]

So much for the two man convo....

Thanks, KIG1. Wait till you find out who my next opponent is...yep, Texas. I'm going to bring my "A" game for sure.

Continuing Week 12
Simmed the first two games and played the last one.
(Note: I played these games before I knew anything of KIG1's franchise. If I did, I would have played all of them to increase my winning chances)

Games 16-18
Game 16 Result
Houston 3, Texas 6


Game 17 Result
Houston 1, Texas 8


Game 18 Result (Recaps later)
Houston 3, Texas 1



End of Week 12-Complete Standings

[JT_55]

Week 13
Three games at Bank One against the D-Backs and then three at home against the Rangers.

Games 19-21
Game 19 Result
Houston 2, Arizona 8


Game 20 Result
Houston 3, Arizona 1


Game 21 Result
Houston 3, Arizona 0


Week 13(In Progress)
42-36, 2nd in NL Central (0.5 back, Cards still in front)

[KIG1]

Nice to see 3 wins in that 5 game stretch. Too bad you fell behind STL (my favorite team), but you will probably catch them by the time that the next series is over.

[jonthefon]

Still sitting on their heels. Too early to be thinking about wildcard?

[JT_55]

Nah. Too early for the wildcard. I'll worry about that after the All-Star break. If I lose a few more maybe.

EDIT: On second thought...

Continuing Week 13
Was supposed to play all three, but I didn't want to play the last game after what happened in the second game.

Games 22-24
Intro
Paul Byrd against Santana. Texas is very good against lefties so I'll get Santana out as soon as possible.

Game Recap
Santana doesn't look too sharp in the first. Bagwell hits a RBI double and Palmeiro drives him in with an RBI single. 2-0 Rangers

In the second, with no one on, Wilkerson shows some patience against Byrd and gets a 3-1 count for his work. He doesn't waste this opportunity, sending the 3-1 fastball over the short right field wall for a solo shot! Ensberg ties the games later in the inning with a sacrifice fly. 2-2 tie.

Wilkerson is not done. Not by a long shot. He gets another fastball, and drills it for his second homer of the night. This one a three-run shot. 5-2 Astros.

Romano gets a insurance run with a RBI single in the seventh.

Grades
Pitching: A-
Not too bad. Santana bounced back from that first inning.

Batting: A
The A is for Wilkerson. Everyone else gets a B.

Player of the game
Brad Wilkerson: 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

Stats

Notable hitters
Wilkerson: 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
Romano: 2-4, R, RBI

Gonzalez: 3-4

Pitchers
Santana: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 K
Farnsworth: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Lidge: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Williamson: 1 IP, 1 H, K

Byrd: 6 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB
Powell: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, K

Game 22 Result
Texas 2, Houston 6


Game 23 Result
Texas 9, Houston 5


Game 24 Result
Texas 8, Houston 6


Week 13 Recap
All right. This is unexcusable. I am going to try and trade to attempt to stop this little silde. Towers, Farnsworth, and Sanchez (inactive) are on the trading block.

43-38, 2nd in NL Central (Cards in front by 2)
Wildcard looks good after all...