Astros Franchise-MVP Baseball (World Series!)

Well, been away for three days on camp. Astros sneak home against St. Louis. Still up for next year though, September is calling.

And seems like you're slipping a little here. Hopefully you can rework back into form by the end of the season.

Wow, first US and now camp. Lucky you. I'm stuck at home all the time.

Ah. Tough luck for Pineiro in the last one. (don't ask)

Week 26
Last week of the year! Seven game homestand to finish things off: three with the Giants and four with the Brewers.

Game 156 Result
San Francisco 0, Houston 8


Game 157 Intro
Kennedy against Damian Moss.

Game Recap
Both Moss and Kennedy were really good, the game was tied at zero through 6. But in the seventh, Moss was finally cracked. A 2 run shot by Teixeira gave the Astros a 2-0 lead.

Wells added a RBI double in the eighth.

Gagne came in with a three run lead. Good thing it wasn't a one run lead, cause he gives up a RBI single to Durham. Except for his ERA, no harm done.

Grades
Pitching: A
Kennedy pitched fantastic, but Gagne...eh, not so much.

Batting: B-
Not very good. Only got 8 hits, too.

Memorable moments

Teixeira hits it out of the yard to break the deadlock.


And Johnny Mac shows off his glove again. Another diving catch to rob a base hit.


Player of the game
Joe Kennedy: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 8 K

Stats

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

Grissom: 2-4, R
Bonds: 0-0, 4 HBP

Pitching
Kennedy: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 8 K
Williamson: 1 IP, 0 R
Gagne: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER

Moss: 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 K
Brower: 1 IP, 1 BB

Game 157 Result
San Francisco 1, Houston 3


Game 158 Result
San Francisco 4, Houston 3


Mid-Week 26

Standings


So I clinch a playoff spot, but winning the division is a task not yet completed.

Game 159 Result
Milwaukee 1, Houston 6


Game 160 Result
Milwaukee 5, Houston 2


With St. Louis winning one in their series, they are now within one. The next game for them is crucial (same day, earlier time as Game 161), and they won it, now their just 0.5 back. If I don't want to be on the verge of elimination tomorrow, I have to win this game. Good thing Oswalt is starting...

Game 161 Intro
Oswalt and Glendon Rusch.

Summary
Good thing I got the offense working early. Three in the second on a solo shot by Alcantara and McDonald and Lugo tack on two more. The Brewers never had a chance against Oswalt, and the Astros secure it with two more in the late innings. Needless to say, Oswalts gets a complete game shutout for his 27th win of the season.

Game 161 Result
Milwaukee 0, Houston 5


Again, Cards are one back. They won the game earlier, so if I win this game I clinch first place, and a playoff game will be scheduled if I don't.

Game 162 Result
Milwaukee 0, Houston 4


YEAR END REVIEW

Standings


Awards






Season Stats

Batting


Pitching


Season Summary


Onwards to the playoffs!

Actually, camp sucked. Hahahahahahaha Bonds with four HBPs.

Wells with a superb year, but Roy with 26-3, that's unbelievable. And moving on to the playoffs!

Uh...yeah, Oswalt's win total is not very realistic. Maybe I should try it without the pitching cursor (the thing that shows where the ball is going to go) next season.

Division Series

Preview


Game 1
I intervened in the seventh trailing 6-2.

Short Recap
I thought I had no chance in this one, but the offense explodes in the eighth, picking up 5 runs on Lugo's sac fly, Wells's bases clearing double, and LaRue's RBI single gave the Astros a slim lead heding into the ninth. Not enough breathing room for Gagne. He gives up a run and the game goes into extras. But no worry, Wells finishes it off in the tenth with a RBI base hit.

Game 1 Result
Atlanta 7, Houston 8


Game 2
Oswalt pitched this one, and again I intervened in the seventh, this time leading 2-0. No runs would score, so doing a blank recap is a waste of time.

Game 2 Result
Atlanta 0, Houston 2


Game 3

Intro
I played this game, try to sweep the Braves. Santana against Russ Ortiz.

Game Recap
Playing away from Minute Maid, I thought the home runs would go down. Nevertheless, Woodward jumps all over a hanging breaking ball and slams it over 400 feet into straightaway centre. Wells was on a first, so it's a two run shot.


Speaking of Wells, he gets another hanger from Ortiz. He makes no mistakes with it and it's a solo blast. 3-0 Astros. Not done yet. Woodward goes back to back when he turns on one and sends it a few rows back in left. 4-0 Astros.

Santana was pitching well, but in the third, Furcal put the home side on the board with a sac fly. 4-1 Astros.

Wells adds a RBI double in the eighth as the Astros win easily. 5-1 Game and series over.

Grades
Pitching: A
Great outing by Santana and the bullpen was good.

Batting: B+
The only offense cam from the same two guys.

Player of the game (shared)
Vernon Wells: 4-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Chris Woodward: 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

Stats

Notable hitters
DiFelice: 2-3, R

Wells: 4-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Woodward: 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

Pitchers
Ortiz: 7 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 K
Hernandez: 1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Bong: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R

Santana: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K
Harper: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
Ryan: 2.1 IP, 0 R, 2 K

Game 3 Result
Houston 5, Atlanta 1


End of Division Series


Astros win series 3-0.

League Championship Series

Preview


Game 1

Short Recap
Uncharacteristically, Oswalt gets a meltdown, and he gives up 4 runs in five innings. Ramirez gave up two more, and I find myself down 5 when I intervened. No miracle this time, as the Cards tack on two more to take the first game of the series.

Game 1 Result
St. Louis 8, Houston 1


Game 2

Short Recap
Seeing as the game simmed a 7-0 lead for me, I decided to leave well enough alone.

Game 2 Result
St. Louis 2, Houston 7


Game 3

Short Recap
Oswalt only pitched five innings last time, and had full health coming into this game. He wasn't really that effective again, giving up 6 in 4 and two thirds. Having to save him from being charged with the loss, I intervened while down 6-4 in the seventh, and got three runs off Esteban Yan in the eighth. Williamson holds, and Gagne pitches a shutout ninth for the save.

Game 3 Result
Houston 7, St. Louis 6


Game 4

Short Recap
I have managed to get back from a four-run and two-run deficeit and still win. But I just can't get this one. Down 2-1 in the seventh, I gave up a RBI single to Rolen.
That was a big mistake and I paid for it when Woodward's RBI double was not enough to tie the game.

Game 4 Result
Houston 2, St. Louis 3


Series tied at two, and this next one is very important if I don't want to be facing elimination.

Game 5

Short Recap
Stupid computer. Gave the Cards another lead, this time a two run lead. But I manage to crawl out of it as Romano's RBI triple sets up a sac fly for Lugo, and we are all square. Isringhausen gives up a RBI single to Mench in the ninth, and Gagne finishes this game off. Now I'm in the driver seat.

Game 5 Result
Houston 5, St. Louis 4


Game 6

Intro
Oswalt got enough rest, I'll start him against Matt Morris.

Game Recap
I didn't know what happened, but I lost a bit of control with Oswalt in the first inning. An errant throw by Kapler didn't help him much either; two unearned runs scored. Rolen's sac fly and Edmonds with a home run to left. 2-0 Cardinals.

I was struggling to get something going against Morris early, but LaRue hit a soft fly ball to the wall and Wells scores. 2-1 Cards.

Woodward gets Oswalt off the hook when he absolutely crushed a curveball from Morris. 2-2 tie.

Oswalt only pitched five because I wanted to conserve him for the next series (and also game 7 if need for an inning).

Astros take the lead in the eighth, as LaRue gets a sac fly and Teixeira gets a RBI double. One more inning and it's the World Series!

Gagne doesn't give up any runs in the ninth, and the Astros win the series!

Grades
Pitching: A-
Oswalt was so-so in the five innings, but the bullpen was fantastic for the final four.

Batting: B-
Er...4 runs, not to great but it was enough.

Player of the game
Chris Woodward: 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI

Stats

Notable hitters
Woodward: 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI
LaRue: 2-3, 2 RBI

Martinez: 2-4

Pitching
Oswalt: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 K
Harper: 1 IP, 0 R, 2 K
Soriano: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K
Ryan: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Lidge: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Gagne: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K

Morris: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER
Crudale: 2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER

Game 6 Result
St. Louis 2, Houston 4


End of League Championship Series


Astros win series 4-2.

World Series coming tomorrow!

Woah, Oswalt not so great there. But World Series coming!

And for some reason, my first post didn't show up. It was about me believing that Lidge's troubles were always from "Podsednik-itis" rather than "Pujols-itis". Losing dominance because of a three-run shot to one of the best hitters in the league in a game which turns out to be a nothing is poor. Giving up a walk-off homer to one who hadn't hit one all season to give a team a nice cushion in the World Series is a much bigger thing to lose your dominance for.

Of course, the opposite argument can be made that Pujols' home run took away Lidge's confidence and led to Podsednik's homer, but you've got a point. People have been saying that after Lidge came back the year after and struck Pujols out he would get his mojo back, but he didn't. Guess he'd have to face Podsednik to do that.

World Series
The moment you've all benn waiting for...the World Series!

Preview


Game 1

Short Recap
Game simmed a 8-1 lead for Boston...I couldn't bother to work another miracle. So I'm down 1-0 in the series.

Game 1 Result
Boston 8, Houston 4


Game 2

Short Recap
Game gave me a 5-2 lead. I made it 7-2 with Woodward and Teixeira delivering RBI singles. Boston got one back with Damon's RBI single.

Game 2 Result
St. Louis 3, Houston 7


Game 3

Intro
decided to play a few more since this is the world series. Perfect time to make a statement with the series tied...Oswalt going against Burkett.

Game Recap
What the **** is happening to Oswalt? Seems like in the playoffs, he loses it totally, at least in the first inning. A 2 RBI double by Big Papi got the Red Sox up 2-0.

Not much harm done by Ortiz, as the Astros get a run in the second and eventually gain the lead back in the third, thanks to a RBI single from Lugo and a error by Manny. 3-2 Astros.

Although the field is not meant for home runs, it's perfect for a gap hitter (just ask Wade Boggs). I take advantage of that in the fifth, as a string of singles and doubles led to LaRue drivng in one with a single, Texieira following him with a double, and Mench drives Teixeira home with a single. 6-2 Astros.

LaRue adds a sac fly in the seventh. 7-2 Astros.

Boston tries to come back in the eighth, but Manny's RBI triple and Nomah's sac fly just wasn't enough. 7-4 Astros.

Grades
Pitching: B
Oswalt with a breakdown in the first, and Wright with another one in the eighth.

Batting: A-
Good. 7 runs, could do with that more often than not.

Player of the game
Kevin Mench: 3-4, 2 RBI

Stats

Notable hitters
Damon: 3-5, R
Ortiz: 2-4, R, 2 RBI

Woodward: 2-4, 2 R
Mench: 3-4, 2 RBI

Pitchers
Burkett: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 K
Seanez: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K
Mendoza: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER

Oswalt: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 K
Santana: 2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 K
Wright: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 K
Gagne: 1 IP, 0 R

Game 3 Result
Houston 7, Boston 4


Game 4

Short Recap
Game gave me a 7-5 lead, made it 8-5 with Wells' RBI single. Gagne gets yet another save.

Game 4 Result
Houston 8, Boston 5


Leading 3-1 now, great position to win the series while Boston is facing elimination...

Game 5

Short Recap
Game tied 0-0 in the seventh, but I made a big mistake: I hung a slider right at Manny. And that is not good. Perhaps a 100% chance of home run. I don't know what the odds are, but he jacked it out of the yards to keep the Red Sox alive as they win Game 5 by a score of 2-0.

Game 5 Result
Houston 0, Boston 2


I'm plying the next game to try to wrap this one up.

Game 6

Intro
Santana against Robert Person. Oswalt is ready if needed, but I'm saving in case of game 7.

Game Recap
This was a pitching duel I didn't expect. Both offenses were completely shut down for seven innings, and it wasn't like Person has some kind of nasty stuff like Pedro. But when reliever Davey came in, I got a breakthrough: Romano's 2 RBI double in the eighth put me in a great position to win it all!

Ninth ninng. One more and I win. Gagne is not fully rested, so I have to keep Williamson on the mound. Not looking too good though; as he gives away two hits while just getting one out. Nomar is up, Williamson hung a splitter right down the middle and Nomar sends it out! Not good! 3-2 Boston.

Kim sends my offense down in order, Boston barely escapes.

Grades
Pitching: A-
It was good until that one pitch that lost it. Now a flukly game 7 will give Boston the title. But giving up 15 hits, I consider myself lucky to be ahead for a while.

Batting: C
Horrible. Any else to add?

Player of the game
Nomar Garciaparra: 4-5, HR, R, 3 RBI

Stats

Notable hitters
Mench: 2-3, R

Nomah: 4-5, HR, R, 3 RBI
Jackson: 3-4

Pitching
Santana: 5 IP, 5 H, 5 K
Soriano: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 K
Williamson: 2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 K

Person: 7 IP, 3 H, 3 K
Davey: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB
Kim: 1 IP, 0 R, 1 K

Game 6 Result
Boston 3, Houston 2


Ok, I'm going to be lying if I denied that I wanted the Series to go to seven and "accidently" gave up the Garciaparra home run. Well, here it is:

Game 7

Intro
Oswalt against Ryan Rupe, who is 0-2 in the playoffs.


Game Recap
Since Oswalt is starting, I figure one run should win this game. And good news! Astros jump on a very early lead with Woodward's RBI single in the first. 1-0 Astros.

Just to be on the safe side, Woodward adds a sac fly in the third.

Yes, Oswalt is pitching fantastically, seven shutout innings thus far. And he gets more help when Romano hits a RBI single and Wells hits a sac fly.

There was no "bases loaded, two out, full count, game 7 of the world series" type of situation, in case you're wondering. Oswalt set the Sox down in order in the ninth. Astros win! Let the celebration begin!



Grades
Pitching: A+
Complete game shutout, 5 hits, 12 K's.

Batting: B-
It was passable...

Memorable moments

Oswalt gets Manny to flail way too early at the curve.


Wells executes the hit-and-run perfectly.


Player of the game
Roy Oswalt: 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 12 K

Stats

Notable hitters
Romano: 4-4, 2 R, 2 RBI
Wells: 2-3, RBI

Giambi: 2-3

Pitchers
Oswalt: 9 IP, 5 H, 12 K

Rupe: 6.1 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 K
Timlin: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R

Game 7 Result
Boston 0, Houston 4


World Series Result





Off-Season

Budget
Budget has increased by 15 %.

Retirement
Chad Kreuter retires due to age.

Re-signing
A note: If you're not familiar with the game, you have to know that the player's salary is not based on real money, but points. 100 points is the minimum, and 8515 is the maximum. Most of the players I have won't sign for more than 1000. Normally, if a player's default salary is 100, they will sign for that amount for the rest of their career (unless the player is really good like K-Rod).

Players re-signed
J. LaRue re-signs for 496/2 years
M. Hedrickson re-signs for 100/4 years

Players let into free agency:
B. Moehler
R. Villone
D. Brocail
M. Venafro
R. Chaves
J. Johnson
W. Nieves

Draft
Houston drafts 29th.

I picked right fielder J. Erstad in the first round, because he has all-star potential for power, and great contact and fielding. His baserunning is only average.

I picked catcher P. Cresse in the second round. He only has a average bat, but his fielding is great.

I let the AI draft the rest.

Signing rookies
J. Erstad signs for 331/3 years
P. Cresse signs for 100/ 4 years
L. Aldrige (great bat-computer drated him) signs for 100/4 years

Free Agency
Cliff Lee signs for 100/4 years
Oliver Perez signs for 100/5 years
Jared Sandberg signs for 100/4 years.

Now for a break. Next season will come eventually, but it might be a week before that happens. Updates also will be more scarce from now on.

Yeah, you should take a break. A whole season of baseball in a couple of months! Woah. Just wondering: how many saves did Gagne get in the regular season? 40? 50? 60?

And one last thing about the Lidge case: I just don't think it works to lose confidence over something that doesn't matter. If only he was like Mariano Riviera. When he blew an important save, he shrugged it off.

And the RL Astros blew another one thanks to the bullpen. If they'd kept even half of what they'd lost this year from +6 innings onwards, the Astros blog at crawfishboxes.com said they'd be in first for NL Central.

Gagne got 40 out of 43. Two of the BS were one run games, but he should've got them anyways.

That maybe because Mariano knew that if he blew a big one, the offense will come right back and win the next game. Unless Oswalt pitches the day after, I don't know if Lidge will be not in as much pressure. And if Lidge is a good as Mo; Astros might have a world series ring by now.

Screw Derek Lee. But he was just doing his job.

And also, along with you pointing out how good the Yankees offense is, Mo's also relaxed and not really mentally...unstable, which means blowing a big save (like 2004 ALCS) didn't screw up his mojo. I'm not sure if Lidge hadn't given up that run to Podsednik, that the Astros would've won the game or the series anyway. They didn't bat it well in the big situations.

If the Astros get past the Reds and out of the NL basement, this September will be a success. Should give a reasonable platform for next season.

And the M's finally break their losing streak...Ichiro with 200 hits again...yawn and yawn...that guy's can't-describe-with-a-wordly good...blah blah. I haven't checked those Red Sox but has Gagne recovered from his setup struggles yet? Or he just isn't playing right now?

That's why Mo is considered to be one of the best of his generation (and also maybe all-time) and, well, Lidge is not. But, yeah, the Astros might not have won...but they would have gotten another chance.

Yeah, the Astros can get past the Reds...and maybe play a bit of spoiler, too. I don't really fancy the Mets too much .

Hmmm...I would've taken you for a Mariner supporter just because they refused to "signed Alex Rodriguez for an unexplainable amount of cash" . Of course, they turned around and did the same to Sexson and Beltre. Seattle is my "geographic team" . What is the record for most seasons with at least 200+ hits? Ichiro might break that if it's not too long, but considering he only joined when he was like 29 or so, he might have a few problems.

Not too sure about Gagne, but he sure sucked a few weeks ago.

Congrats, World Champs Astros, could've surely happend in 05, but not in 07, good job man!

Thanks. I won in the game, but it was too bad it didn't happen in real life. Your post was prefect timing, though. Just when I was trying to abstain from posting in this thread for a week...

Shoot. Astros just about got shut down by Glavine and the Mets...still in the basement. Wow, Glavine's is on this past while, winning eight of his last nine decsions.

New Season

The new season, as promised. Some changes in the lineup through trades, and it look like this:

SS Julio Lugo
2B Jason Romano
CF Vernon Wells
3B Chris Woodward
LF Dustan Mohr
C Jason LaRue
1B Mark Teixeira
RF Gabe Kapler

Week 1
Three game set at home with the Bucs

Game 1
As always, I play the season opener.

Starting Pitchers
Houston: Roy Oswalt 0-0, 0.00 ERA
Pittsburgh: Kris Benson 0-0, 0.00 ERA

Game Recap
Benson was not very effective. He gave up 7 straight hits in the third en route to a 4 run inning for the Astros. Lugo had a RBI double, Romano with a 2 RBI single, and Mohr with a RBI double. 4-0 Astros.

Oswalt was vey effective. He struck out 6 of the first 7 batters he faced.

In the sixth, Oswalt grounded into a RBI double play. 5-0 Astros.

Woodward added a sac fly in the seventh. 6-0 Astros.

Rookie Jim Erstad came in earlier to pinch hit for Kapler, and he drove in one with a RBI single in the eighth, and later in the inning, Lugo adds a sac fly. 8-0 Astros.

Just when this game was starting to get out of hand, Oswalt gets a rare meltdown in the ninth. Lofton a solo shot, and Giles a 2-run blast. But of course, it wasn't big enough a meltdown to lose the game. 8-3 Astros.

Rookie Watch
Jim Erstad: 2-2, RBI

Grades
Pitching: B+
Oswalt's pitching wasn't worthy fo the 3 runs he gave up...still a great outing.

Batting: A
8 runs on 17 hits...would like to drive in a few more, but 8 is good enough.

Memorable moments

Giles hits a 2-run shot.


Oswalt settles down an srikes out a rookie (I don't know his name).


Player of the game
Jason Romano: 2-5, R, 2 RBI

Stats

Notable hitters
Romano: 2-5, R, RBI
Woodward: 2-3, RBI

Giles: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI

Pitchers
Oswalt: 9 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 11 K

Benson: 4.2 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 K
McKnight: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 K
Boehringer: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER

Game 1 Result
Pittsburgh 3, Houston 8

Easy win on opening day. And yeah, another tough loss. Sums up the year.

Lost again to the Mets. I wonder if they're mathematically out of it yet? I know Tampa Bay is.

At least you're happy. Cowboys hang on and win over Giants!

Game 2

Trying to pitch without the cursor this time.

Starters
Pittsburgh: Jeff Suppan
Houston: Joe Kennedy

Summary
I hope that not being used to the lack of a cursor is a good enough excuse for Kennedy to give up 2 in the first; a solo by Lieberthal and a RBI single from Atchley. Kennedy settles down, retires the last 19 batters he faces. Astros get one right back with Wells' sac fly, and they take the lead in the sixth when Woodward and Mohr each drive in a run. Wells and Lieberthal both had good nights; Wells went 2-3 with a run and a RBI, while Lieberthal had a homer and another hit.

Pitching Lines
Kennedy: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 K

Suppan: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER

Game 2 Result

Another series of blown chances...don't feel like complaining anymore about it. Looking forward to Spring Training.

Well, I'm very busy this past while and haven't got time to update...

Anyway, Astros won big today, 15-3 the Bucs. What do you think, this will give them some momentum to get out of the basement?

And the 'Boys got another big win today, sure made Trent Green look bad. 4 picks!

Well, rolling up against the Brew Crew looking to win the Central will be tough, although Braun might've pissed them off enough.

And the 'Boys were pretty good today. It was ineffectual in the first half but they eased betterwards.

Gagne Gagne Gagne Gagne Gagne Gagne Gagne. Oh dear.

lol I was going to post that. I watched the game since the only basic sport channel were showing the Blue Jays (up here in Canada, what do you expect?). He looked like he was going to get through easily, but the walks, the walks, and the walks...I kinda feel embrassed using him in the game now...maybe I should trade him for K-Rod.

Astros lost again. That grand slam just killed them. But Seattle won , but so did the Yanks...

And I'll make another comment on Lidge.

The guy is a real proper gamble at his price. If he were cheaper, I guess we'd deal with him being dominance one day and home run bait another, but six million a year? Come on. I guess he needs to be "pumped up" to do well.

Also, the Bankees win again, Pettitte gets win number 200. He's doing his 05 "pure dominance" thing all over again, he's something like 10-2 with 2.5 ERA.

But if the guy can't get pumped up enough in a tied ball game in the World Series and game 6 of the NLCS with a chance to send your team to the series by striking out one of the leagues best hitters, I don't know what can. I agree, the guy's too pricey to be that inconsistent.

They get Ed Wade to be the GM now. Never heard of him, but he was "fired for eight seasons without a playoff appearance"? Wow.

Time to pencil in Yanks for the NL East.

EDIT: Oh yeah! 18-1 whooping over St. Louis. Now only if the offense can stay this consistent for the rest of the way. It's been a few huge wins and some shutouts. But enjoy today while it lasts. JR Towles, what a guy! If he keeps it up, we don't need Ausmus no more.

ANDY PETTITTE PURE DOMINANCE. Sorry, I just can't get over that. Sweet win for Astros today, Towles with 8 RBIs? He's gotten himself a great chance to start at catcher next year.

The Mets are really taking a choke. I thought they were gearing themselves up during that sweep they gave us.

Pirates in the basement where they belong

And 200+ IP and 140 K's on the year doesn't look too bad with his 14 wins. He is on fire, and partly that's why the Yankees are going to win the East (as the Red Sox are slumping).

Even the Braves have a chance now with the Mets flopping. Looks like the might pull off a Seattle.