FanNation

All Star Game

Well, at least we can be proud of OUR GUYS!! Lance, with his RBI; Miggy with his run around the bases and run scored--not to mention that superb bases-loaded sideways spectacular throw to first! Hopefully this means we get the old Miggy back. He sure wasn't playing like that for us at the break!

Still don't completely understand how neither of the top 2 RBI leaders in the NL don't make it to the All-Star Game. The NL sure could have used a little help from Howard and Carlos! Too bad Hurdle went with Wright as the replacement instead...

Is there something going on with Angel Campos?

Working with a native of Wisconsin, I get to hear a lot about the Brewers (which is funny because this individual was VERY Quiet prior to last year).  Watching the game last night with a little extra zeal, based on the opponent, I had an epiphany.  What's up with Angel Campos?

I am older, and have slept since then, so I need help.  In Colorado last year, Berkman was thrown out for saying "no way" to a called strike on his check swing.  The ump, wasn't it Campos?  And didn't we get the short end of a couple of calls in that series.  It was later in the year, and we were out of it, but still.

Cooper starts bench vs. Cards...

Astros score 6 runs. Point proven.

Even though only 3 of those runs were earned, it at least proves that "The Wise Men" have really good karma.

Unfortunately, if his "strategy" is anything like Phil's was, Saturday we'll be seeing Wednesday's lineup again. Let's hope Coop can take a hint.

Why Bourn should NOT be starting...

So he's fast. We get it, Coop. So do the pitchers and catchers by now. But lately all he's been doing when he's not getting thrown out is causing an occasional balk. Our bench could do that, too, if they tried. But with a team struggling to score runs, the last thing you want to be doing is taking chances on the base paths--even if it is with your fastestrunner. Bourn has had 50+ chances to produce, but has yet to prove his worth

So, why else should Bourn not play? How about for the simple fact that there is at least one better option on the Astros' bench, namely Darin Erstad.

Perhaps the most telling statistic as far as what a hitter contributes to the team when he's in the game is the "Runs Created" statistic. If you want to know more about it, Google it or do a Wikipedia search for it. I'm not going to detail it. All you need know is, the higher the number, the better. Anyway, so let's take a look at some comparisons between MB's stats and our Center Field bench's stats, shall we?

The List, Part 1

NL All-Star balloting totals so far were released today. The Astros seem to be the only NL team with all eight position players in the top vote-getters* of each position.

1B - Lance Berkman - 1st
2B - Kazuo Matsui - 2nd
3B - Ty Wiggington - 4th
SS - Miguel Tejada - 2nd
C  - J.R. Towles - 5th
OF - Carlos Lee - 7th
OF - Hunter Pence - 10th
OF - Michael Bourn - 15th

The Cubs had the second most top vote-getters, with seven, all of which are in the top 5 in their positions (including OF).