Arizona Diamondbacks @ Houston Astros GameThread, Aug 17, 2008 2:05 PM EDT

Gameday Thread, #124: 8/17 vs. Astros

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 12:00 PM EDT

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Houston Astros

Randy Johnson
RHP, 10-8, 4.18

Roy Oswalt
RHP,10-8, 4.52

Baseball-Reference.com preview [opens in new window]

Having crushed the Astros in the first two games of the series, we already have the series in the bag, and have also wrapped up a winning road-trip with a 4-1 record so far. This morning, we go for the sweep, and though Oswalt has the most wins on the Houston roster, our offense has been all but unstoppable so far. This is not quite the same Oswalt who won more games in the majors than anyone bar Johan Santana, between 2004 and 2007. This year, he has been eminently hittable, with batters at a surprisingly-high figure of .292 against him. He still doesn't walk many people: only 37 in 141.1 innings but, given that over his entire career, he has allowed less than one hit per inning, a WHIP of 1.429 is very high.

Randy Johnson has the lowest ERA of any starter in baseball since the All-Star break, with just four earned runs in 33.1 innings, for an overall figure of 1.08. His K:BB ratio over those five starts is an insane 26:2, and opponents' OBP is a miniscule ,238. If he keeps that up, he might just get the six wins he needs to reach 300. It was announced that our front four starters will be going on regular i.e. four days' rest as far as possible the rest of the season. I'll knock something up looking at what exactly that means for match-ups - but if I'm right, it gives the Big Unit nine more starts, including tomorrow - and I think it means Johnson will also take the mound for the last game of the season. I guess the ultimate would be if he had 299 wins and we needed the victory to clinch a play-off spot. I think, overall, I'd rather wrap things up sooner than that!

This Gameday Thread is coming to you courtesy of the 'Schedule for Publish' button in SB Nation v2.1 - hey, you surely don't expect me to get up at 9am on Sunday, do you? However, Mrs. SnakePit has to go buy the makings of film festival trophies this morning, so all things being equal, I should be just about surfaced and conscious in time for first pitch. With a lead in the division again, thanks to the Dodgers losing in extra innings last night, we will hopefully extend our winning streak and put more pressure on Los Angeles.

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Welp...

I’m here. Where are the croissants?

by Azreous on Aug 17, 2008 12:01 PM EDT 0 recs

I don't see any

I had to break down and make my own pancakes.

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 12:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Have been in conference talks...

about galaxies for more than two hours already. Roll on the baseball (and thank God for wifi).

by britdback on Aug 17, 2008 12:28 PM EDT 0 recs

Lineups...

Drew ss .281
Young cf .241
Tracy 1b .283
Dunn lf .238
Reynolds 3b .249
Romero rf .261
Snyder c .249
Burke 2b .207
Johnson p .111

Erstad cf .289
Loretta 2b .269
Tejada ss .282
Berkman 1b .332
Wigginton lf .302
Blum 3b .236
Pence rf .266
Ausmus c .232
Oswalt p .178

Day off for CoJack today, while Burke gets the nod again at second and Young’s in the 2 spot against a righty again. Given the recent results (blah blah sample size blah), it’s hard to complain.

by Azreous on Aug 17, 2008 1:18 PM EDT 0 recs

Jackson's day off

Is largely expected: Melvin was saying he looked in need of it. The last time Jackson didn’t start was back on June 27.

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 1:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yep.

It also lets Dunn back to left field, at least for today.

by Azreous on Aug 17, 2008 1:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Spagetti for tea-check
shiraz in glass -check-RJ on the mound-check
woo hoo let’s go D’backs!

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Aug 17, 2008 1:44 PM EDT 0 recs

Evening all

Think I’m going to watch the first few frames from the ’tub so shall be around later :)

So...time for another drink then?

by Wimb on Aug 17, 2008 1:45 PM EDT 0 recs

Yes, probably for the best

Laptops + water…not a good combination!

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 1:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

soco

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 1:53 PM EDT 0 recs

Crap

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 1:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Go on...

I’m all intrigued now.

by Azreous on Aug 17, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

soco's keys to the game

1) Watch the Rentals’ videos until the game starts
2) Eat leftover stir fry
3) Go to “the Clone Wars”
4) Dessert?

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 1:54 PM EDT 0 recs

has anyone any idea

why gameday audio will play on my crappy lappy and not on the bran spanking new computer with Vista on it?
Everything we’ve tried has failed

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Aug 17, 2008 2:04 PM EDT 0 recs

"with Vista on it"

There is probably your issue, right there. :-(

Try here though – the last post might help:
http://www.mlbsupport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=99

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Though I subsequently note

The thread goes on for another four pages after that… :-(

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

The final solution

In that case was to update sound card drivers from the manufacturer’s site.

But, basically, you are not alone…

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

totes not worked but thanks

I knew it was Vista was the problem

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Aug 17, 2008 2:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Now

If we can just send nine batters to the plate in the first again, we should be fine. After all, we have standards to keep up…

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:04 PM EDT 0 recs

Ahh, they're retiring Biggio's number arn't they?

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Aug 17, 2008 2:06 PM EDT 0 recs

So...

when does the “Magic Number” come back?

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:11 PM EDT 0 recs

I was thinking about adding that

And also the post-season odds percentage. Seemed like tempting fate a bit yet, with forty games still left…

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

I couldn't

remember when you started it last year, but it seemed like it was in August. Maybe not, that might be drugs talking.

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

It was present

On this day last year. Of course, on this day last year, we were four games up, too!

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ah, memories...

That day was the one Webb ran his scoreless innings streak to 42…

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ha!

I KNEW it!

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

No earlier than September, I'd imagine

Probably not until the number is at 20 or lower.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 17, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

On the plus side...

Watching Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is a great way to get psyched for the game. I think.

by Azreous on Aug 17, 2008 2:16 PM EDT 0 recs

Come on

let’s get this damn game going already.

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Why not do this before the start time?

The team that might win, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

by srdmad on Aug 17, 2008 2:17 PM EDT 0 recs

but think of the TV coverage

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Aug 17, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh yeah,

the money.

The team that might win, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

by srdmad on Aug 17, 2008 2:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

If people care about him they would show up.

The team that might win, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

by srdmad on Aug 17, 2008 2:18 PM EDT 0 recs

And for all those who don't live in Houston?

Then what?

Besides, what’s the problem?

by snakecharmer on Aug 17, 2008 2:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

What's the problem?

Game time was 2:05 and it’s now 2:20. Wasting time. If you don’t live in Houston, watch the E.S.P.N. or the nightly news to watch it.

The team that might win, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

by srdmad on Aug 17, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ceremony ran long

and Randy couldn’t get his warmup in until it was over.

by TwinnerA on Aug 17, 2008 2:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

reckon the D'backs will retire 51?

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Aug 17, 2008 2:19 PM EDT 0 recs

Who?

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

I am assuming this is sarcasm

Or, otherwise, these Sunday morning starts are really not your forte, are they? :-)

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

It was

I thought of putting more, but I figured less was more.

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Tall guy, mullet...

May have seen him now and then….

by snakecharmer on Aug 17, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

(That was sarcasm too ;))

by snakecharmer on Aug 17, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Billy Ray Cirrus?

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

lols

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Aug 17, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

He's like

A higher-altitude, fluffier version of Billy-Ray Cyrus…

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Seems a good candidate

To be the first. Maybe they’ll do it when he gets inducted into the HoF?

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Also

if Webb isn’t greedy and stops hating Phoenix, I imagine he’d be another eventual candidate.

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Gonzo too?

Any know if the other expansion franchises have retired any numbers? [Save 42, obviously]

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't know

I’m in the favor of less retired numbers than more, but on the other hand I certainly wouldn’t mind Gonzo getting the nod.

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

To answer my own question

Tampa have retired #12 (Boggs), the Marlins #5 (their president, Carl Barger) and the Rockies haven’t retired anyone.

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

Boggs

with the Rays is a joke, no matter how much of a falling out he had with the Red Sox.

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm digging

some of these new camera angles. I still think it would be great if for the World Series, each game was directed by a different famous director.

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Brian DePalma

Covers the entire game with one, three-hour long tracking shot…

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yes!

I’m all about this.

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

While in the Tarantino version

Sutton and Grace discuss everything but the game for nine innings.

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

But lots of swearing

Yub, yub!

by soco on Aug 17, 2008 2:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Actually

The entire game consists of footage stolen from other, better World Series. And Adam Dunn brings proceedings to a grinding halt so he can discuss comic-books for half an hour.

by Jim McLennan on Aug 17, 2008 2:31 PM EDT up 0 recs