The Pitchers:
- Cardinals: Kyle Lohse battled with the Pirates early last week, allowing 2 earned runs over 7 IP. Lohse won, but struggled at times, allowing six baserunners and throwing 108 pitches. Still, Lohse was 3-0 against the Astros in 4 starts last year with a 2.42 ERA. I generally have luke warm feelings about Lohse. I expect 6 or 7 innings, 3 or 4 runs allowed. Hopefully that will be enough.
- Astros: Wandy Rodriguez, a pitcher that throws the ball with his left hand, was 1-2 against the Cardinals last year in four starts. Great, right? Only problem: he had a 1.11 ERA over those four starts, allowing a mere three runs over 24 1/3 innings. That is not good news for the Cardinals. In his first start this season, Rodriguez allowed 1 run in 6 IP, with 4 hits and 3 walks given up. This is also not good news for the Cardinals. Personally, I hate it when the Cardinals face this guy for one simple reason: His name is Wandy. Losing to a guy named Wandy is like getting beat up by a girl.
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Albert Pujols has been pretty dreadful against Rodriguez (actual surprise!). Pujols only has 3 singles in 18 ABs against Rodriguez. I am NOT saying that we should sit Pujols, expecially since he is a MAN who hits MAN-SIZE homeruns, but Tony might give it some thought since the Cardinals have so many consecutive games to start this season. Pujols' defense should keep him on the field, in my mind.
- Astros: Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Geoff Blum have hit pretty well against Lohse. Berkman hasn't been so bad either. These happen to be the Astros off to the best starts (Pence and Blum) and the Astros that are most fearsome (Lee and Berkman). Still, these guys haven't been very good this season, and I am pretty confident they won't be very good Sunday.
UPDATE: Bernie had a great piece on Pujols in today's paper. His point: Pujols is an Indescribable Winner. The point is well taken. I have only been writing this blog for a week, and I have to agree, Pujols makes it hard to not feel like you're repeating yourself. Anyways, read the article, it is written MUCH better than anything you'll find here.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
Showing posts with label Houston Astros. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houston Astros. Show all posts
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Break It Down! April 11th Edition
The Pitchers:
- Cardinals: According to ESPN, "Adam Wainwright loves to see the Astros. He's 5-0 in his career against Houston, with a 2.14 ERA as a starter." My thoughts exactly. Still, Wainwright wasn't that good in his first start. WAY too many pitches. 5.2 IP and 5 walks aren't going to cut it. The Astros aren't quite as patient as the Pirates though, and I expect an improved performance. 6-7 IP, 1-3 runs.
- Astros: I can't stand Roy Oswalt. He used to own the Cardinals, I think. So I look it up and I am right, only Oswalt did not own the Cardinals last year. It was a small sample size (2 starts), but was 0-1 against the Cardinals last year with 6 ER in 13 IP - nothing stellar. Anyways, Oswalt was pretty sharp in his first start this season against a good lineup (the Cubs), and I expect him to make life difficult for the Cardinals tomorrow.
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Albert Pujols (surprise!) is the Cardinals with any meaningful success against Oswalt. Molina has been crap against Oswalt (.100 BA), so I won't be surprised if Jason Larue (.276 BA) gets the start Saturday. Ludwick may also sit Saturday, but since he is one of the hottest hitters wearing the birds on the bat right now I'd be surprised if he has to sit.
- Astros: Lance Berkman has 2 dingers and a .300 BA against Wainwright. Everyone else has sucked against him, basically. Hunter Pence is off to a decent start this season, so maybe keep an eye on him. Ugh. I just can't stand these guys.
UPDATE: Matt Leach has today's Cardinals' lineup. Raises a few of the same issues that I did, and then some.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
- Cardinals: According to ESPN, "Adam Wainwright loves to see the Astros. He's 5-0 in his career against Houston, with a 2.14 ERA as a starter." My thoughts exactly. Still, Wainwright wasn't that good in his first start. WAY too many pitches. 5.2 IP and 5 walks aren't going to cut it. The Astros aren't quite as patient as the Pirates though, and I expect an improved performance. 6-7 IP, 1-3 runs.
- Astros: I can't stand Roy Oswalt. He used to own the Cardinals, I think. So I look it up and I am right, only Oswalt did not own the Cardinals last year. It was a small sample size (2 starts), but was 0-1 against the Cardinals last year with 6 ER in 13 IP - nothing stellar. Anyways, Oswalt was pretty sharp in his first start this season against a good lineup (the Cubs), and I expect him to make life difficult for the Cardinals tomorrow.
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Albert Pujols (surprise!) is the Cardinals with any meaningful success against Oswalt. Molina has been crap against Oswalt (.100 BA), so I won't be surprised if Jason Larue (.276 BA) gets the start Saturday. Ludwick may also sit Saturday, but since he is one of the hottest hitters wearing the birds on the bat right now I'd be surprised if he has to sit.
- Astros: Lance Berkman has 2 dingers and a .300 BA against Wainwright. Everyone else has sucked against him, basically. Hunter Pence is off to a decent start this season, so maybe keep an eye on him. Ugh. I just can't stand these guys.
UPDATE: Matt Leach has today's Cardinals' lineup. Raises a few of the same issues that I did, and then some.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Break It Down! April 10th Edition
The Pitchers:
- Cardinals: On Friday Joel Pineiro takes the bump for the Cardinals for the first time in 2009. (Editorial Note: For the remainder of this post, and maybe the remainder of the season, I will call Joel Pineiro "J.P." (I have been misspelling his name "Piniero").) J.P. had a good Spring by most accounts. He hasn't face the Astros since 1007, however, so Lord knows what he is going to do against the fellas. What I do know is that last season J.P.'s ERA was better at home than on the road, it was better during at night than during the day, and it was best during the month of April. A lot of signs point to J.P. pitching well, but I ain't convinced. I expect 6 IP, 3 or 4 runs allowed.
- Astros: Ten years ago Mike Hampton won 22 games for the Astros. That seems like a lifetime ago, right? Since then he has become generally regarded as the most fragile pitcher in baseball. Most recently, Hampton has bounced around a little bit, but he hasn't been terrible when he has been healthy. I'd expect a quality start from him, 6 or 7 IP, 3 or 4 runs allowed.
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Albert Pujols (surprise!) and Khalil Greene have enjoyed some success against Hampton. I don't expect LaRue to get his first start of the season, he is only 2-for-11 against Hampton. Since Hampton is a lefty, Rasmus and Schumaker may sit.
- Astros: Carlos Lee (1.199 OPS), Lance Berkman (1.417 OPS) and I-Rod (.967 OPS) have had some success against J.P. Berkman and Lee have both homered twice off of J.P., but that may have been at Houston's juice box, I am not sure. Whatever the case, I am concerned about J.P.'s ability to get through the middle of this lineup.
UPDATE: Cards lineup:
1. Skip Schumaker, 2B
2. Khalil Greene, SS
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Ryan Ludwick, RF
5. Chris Duncan, LF
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Rick Ankiel, CF
8. David Freese, 3B
9. Joel Pineiro, P
Ankiel has fallen to 7th already? Thanks, as always, to CardsClubhouse.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
- Cardinals: On Friday Joel Pineiro takes the bump for the Cardinals for the first time in 2009. (Editorial Note: For the remainder of this post, and maybe the remainder of the season, I will call Joel Pineiro "J.P." (I have been misspelling his name "Piniero").) J.P. had a good Spring by most accounts. He hasn't face the Astros since 1007, however, so Lord knows what he is going to do against the fellas. What I do know is that last season J.P.'s ERA was better at home than on the road, it was better during at night than during the day, and it was best during the month of April. A lot of signs point to J.P. pitching well, but I ain't convinced. I expect 6 IP, 3 or 4 runs allowed.
- Astros: Ten years ago Mike Hampton won 22 games for the Astros. That seems like a lifetime ago, right? Since then he has become generally regarded as the most fragile pitcher in baseball. Most recently, Hampton has bounced around a little bit, but he hasn't been terrible when he has been healthy. I'd expect a quality start from him, 6 or 7 IP, 3 or 4 runs allowed.
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Albert Pujols (surprise!) and Khalil Greene have enjoyed some success against Hampton. I don't expect LaRue to get his first start of the season, he is only 2-for-11 against Hampton. Since Hampton is a lefty, Rasmus and Schumaker may sit.
- Astros: Carlos Lee (1.199 OPS), Lance Berkman (1.417 OPS) and I-Rod (.967 OPS) have had some success against J.P. Berkman and Lee have both homered twice off of J.P., but that may have been at Houston's juice box, I am not sure. Whatever the case, I am concerned about J.P.'s ability to get through the middle of this lineup.
UPDATE: Cards lineup:
1. Skip Schumaker, 2B
2. Khalil Greene, SS
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Ryan Ludwick, RF
5. Chris Duncan, LF
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Rick Ankiel, CF
8. David Freese, 3B
9. Joel Pineiro, P
Ankiel has fallen to 7th already? Thanks, as always, to CardsClubhouse.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
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