Astros Lose Pivotal Game Before Deadline

Roger Clemens put up his best performance of the year, absolutely man-handling the Arizona Diamondbacks for seven straight innings Sunday.  With a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Clemens was removed for a pinch hitter.  The Astros bullpen gave up 6 runs in two innings to lose the game, undoubtedly the most deflating loss of the season for the struggling ’stros.

As you might imagine, Astros fans are ready for change.  Here are some excerpts from  fans at the SportsJustice blog:

…a 5-1 lead and our two best bullpen players cant get the job done for ROGER CLEMENS, what a joke! trade qualls, lidge, huff, everett, ausmus, backe, and lane… get pence in the bigs put albers and sampson in the rotation get tejada and blalock and move on from these worthless players.

“I wish we could trade Garner…..He has got to be the biggest nucklehead on earth. How many games has he lost for us this year? I would venture to say at least 10. Clemens has 90 pitches and is rolling through 7 and you pull him for our bullpen?? I don’t get it! Garner has single handedly made poor decisions by not letting Roy O and Rocket finish games, just to have the bullpen choke! Fire Garner!!!”

Just admit it people, Pujols screwed up Lidge beyond repair. I think that the aura that surrounds him is just ruining the entire team. He looks defeated as soon as he gets on the mound. Get him off the team (I don’t care if you trade him, release him, send him to the minors….whatever) and this team will improve…

Also, Astros owner Drayton McLane has reportedly order GM Tim Purpura to “get a deal done”.  T-minus 22 hours and counting, Timmy.

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Last Minute Trades: Brewers Send Lee to Rangers for 2 Major Leaguers

Let the last minute trades begin! The Rangers, hoping to make the playoffs for the first time in…a while, have dealt Mench (Shrek), reliever Cordero and former major leaguer Laynce Nix to the Brewers for slugger Carlos Lee.  The Brewers, who probably weren’t going to hang on to Lee after 2006, were smart about getting something for him this year. (They were apparently $35 million dollars apart in early negotiations for a contract extension.)  Lee is a solid run-producer who has been healthy and reliable for several years now, and he should bolster the Rangers offense significantly.

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Astros Score Six in One Inning

I can’t believe what I’m seeing…the weak-hitting Astros have managed six runs against Reds started Bronson Arroyo (no slouch here) in the fifth inning.

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Carlos Beltran Reminds me of my Nintendo

While watching the Mets / Astros series last week, something struck me.  The way Carlos Beltran handles the outfield is outfight amazing.  It reminded of playing baseball on my Nintendo system (yeah, the NES).  Whenever a fly call was hit to the outfield, the fielder simply had to run to the red X on the field and wait for the ball to drop.  When Beltran fields, his paths are so straight I wonder if he can somehow see a red X.

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