Outshined_One

That isn't a number to be crowing about, you know. If you wanted to rub it in, you would have referred us to his 1 HR given up in 47 IP or his 2.68 BB/9. :D He is 19 in high A. I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of strikeouts just yet. I wouldn't either. I just find it odd that someone with his advanced stuff hasn't been striking out more batters in a pitcher-friendly league.

Refreshing from the horrible days of Freddie Byumn, Neifi Perez, Jose Macias batting 6th, 7th, and 8th. Fixed.

Funny how Lou was complaining about how he couldn't move Fukudome to the 2 spot with Reed Johnson in the lineup. I wonder what his excuse is now that he's got Edmonds?

Really? I thought he was like 22. 23, actually.

According to Len during today's broadcast, Lou was toying with the idea of sitting Lee on Wednesday to give him an extra day off, especially now that Hoffpauir is up and can fill in fine at 1B defensively.

While the Reds have the potential to play spoiler down the line, I don't think it would be wise to count on Homer Bailey to give them the boost in the rotation they need to be a serious threat pitching-wise. His numbers in AAA and the majors the past two seasons haven't been all that great. The guy has a world of potential, but he's not striking out guys like he should be. I also think Cueto will improve, but Volquez will regress back to his mean. How much of a correction each will have is anyone's guess.

I would like to point out that, while the Cubs have had a relatively mediocre draft history over the past few years, the Astros have been absolutely atrocious and cheap. They only spent $536,000 total on their first ten picks in the 2007 MLB draft for heaven's sake! That was 30th in all of baseball! By comparison, the Brewers placed 25th by spending $3,177,700. That's just insane. How can you build a competitive team without even an average farm system? They have no one they can trade for better talent and no one they can call up if any of their starters go down.

Box Scores Iowa won 5-4 Box Score CF F. Pie 0/4, RBI, K LF M. Murton 2/3, BB, R, RBI, HR (1), CS (2), PO (1B) 1B J. Dubois 1/4, 2 E (missed catch, pickoff) 3B C. McGehee 1/4 SP K. Hart 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 6/2 K/BB, WP, 7-1 GO-FO RP N. Cotts 1 perfect, 2/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO Tennessee lost 11-5 Box Score CF S. Fuld 0/4, E (1, fielding) SS M. Camp 0/4, K RF T. Colvin 0/3, BB, K 1B M. Craig 1/3, BB, 2 R LF J. Fox 2/4, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B (2), K, CS (2) DH S. Clevenger 0/3, RBI 3B M. Matulia 1/3, BB, 2 RBI SP M. Atkins 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3/2 K/BB, HBP, 6-5 GO-FO RP S. Avery 1.1 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 2 HR, 2-1 GO-FO RP G. Johnson 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO Dayton won 4-3 Box Score CF J. Wyatt 0/4, 2 K, E (1, fielding) SS J. Mota 1/4, R, 2 K, E (3, fielding) LF T. Wright 2/3, BB, R DH Y. Carter 0/4, 4 K (ole!) C/1B M. Reed 0/3, BB 3B J. Lansford 0/4, K 2B T. Thomas 1/3, K SP A. Harben 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3/6 K/BB, WP, 2-4 GO-FO Peoria lost 6-0 Box Score CF L. Johnson 0/4 SS N. Samson 1/4, K C J. Donaldson 1/4, K 3B J. Rosa 1/4, K, E (11, fielding) LF C. Andersen 0/4, K 2B M. Smith 0/3, 3 K RF D. Johnston 1/3, Assist (3B) DH E. Lara 0/3 SP A. Cabrera 5 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 4/3 K/BB, HR, WP, 6-3 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-2

Once Berkman cools off, the Astros should come back down to Earth. The Cardinals and Brewers still concern me. The Cardinals, for all their crazy luck, have pulled this kind of thing off before. They won't win the WS, but they still can do their share of damage. The Brewers have some very good young players and plenty of trading chips to get a big deal done. They need help in the rotation and bullpen, plus their manager is a doofus. However, with a well-timed firing and a good trade or two will get them back in contention.

That isn't a number to be crowing about, you know. If you wanted to rub it in, you would have referred us to his 1 HR given up in 47 IP or his 2.68 BB/9. :D

Well, that was a strangely enjoyable game. It's odd how we lost the two gimmes of the past two series (Estes' start for SD, Zambrano's start yesterday), but won the games we least expected to win (Peavy's start for SD, today's game). I'm ecstatic we went 8-2 on the homestand, but man, we did it in a weird way.

Some early returns... Iowa is getting pounded 9-1. Pie is still hitless. Murton is a HR away from the cycle. The pitchers who sucked are no one of note prospect-wise. Tennessee won 3-2. Russell went 5, giving up 8 hits and 2 ER. Colvin had another 2 walks. Daytona is up early 1-0. Not much of note so far through 2. Peoria lost 5-4. Rosa had another error at 3B. Kreier had a mediocre outing, going 4, giving up 1 ER, striking out 5, walking 2, and giving up 4 hits. Blackford got the loss after giving up 3 ER.

Box Scores Iowa lost 9-1 Box Score 2B E. Patterson 1/4, K CF F. Pie 0/4, 2 K LF M. Murton 3/3, BB, R, 2B (4), 3B (1), Assist (Home) RF J. Kroeger 2/4, RBI, E (3, fielding) 3B C. McGehee 0/4 SP R. Keisler 7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 9/1 K/BB, 8-3 GO-FO Tennessee won 3-2 Box Score CF S. Fuld 0/5, K SS M. Camp 1/5, K (Is this a typo? I know Camp has some experience at 2B, but seeing him at SS is unusual) LF T. Colvin 0/2, 2 BB, 2 R 1B M. Craig 3/3, BB DH J. Fox 0/4, 2 K RF D. Deeds 2/4, R, 2B (9) 3B K. Reynolds 1/4, K C S. Clevenger 1/4 SP J. Russell 5 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2/1 K/BB, WP, 9-5 GO-FO RP G. Johnson .2 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO, HBP Daytona won 7-5 Box Score 2B J. Mota 3/5, 2 R, CS (1), PO (1B) LF T. Wright 1/3, BB, R, RBI DH R. Harvey 0/2, BB, RBI, K C W. Castillo 1/4, R, RBI, K CF Y. Carter 2/4, R, 3 RBI, 2B (4), HR (2) 1B R. Canzler 1/4, R 3B J. Lansford 2/4 SS D. Barney 1/4 SP M. Carrillo 6 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 0/2 K/BB, WP, 2 HBP, 8-10 GO-FO RP C. Lambert 1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/1 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO Peoria lost 5-4 Box Score CF L. Johnson 0/5, 3 K SS N. Samson 1/5, K 2B M. Smith 0/3, 2 BB, E (7, fielding) 3B J. Rosa 2/4, 2B (17), K, E (10, throw) LF C. Andersen 0/3, BB, R, K, Assist (2B) DH B. Guyer 1/3, BB, 2 R RF D. Johnston 0/4, K SP K. Kreier 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5/2 K/BB, 2 WP, 3-2 GO-FO RP T. Blackford 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1/2 K/BB, Balk, 4-1 GO-FO RP J. Latham 2 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, WP, 4-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-2

He was barely out. Paulino stepped on his non-sliding leg and veered Soto off-course on the slide, causing Soto's foot to miss the plate by a few inches.

The way this game ended was vaguely painful, but it's a loss I can stomach. Last year's team would have lost this one in worse fashion, imo.

Caught at the edge of the warning track.

Nady faked me out on that, too. He started backing up on the warning track before taking a few steps in to make the catch.

Uggggggggggggggh.

Don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal don't steal.

ATTN: Lou Piniella Reed Johnson cannot hit RHPs worth a damn. Stop it.

Eff you McLouth.

I think Theriot tried rolling that to Lee.

Wow, that was a hell of a play by Marte, in all fairness.

That inning sucked.

*Holds prosthetic arm* And that's why you don't bunt with your #5 hitter.