Didn't watch the game last night, so I'm a day late. Manny hit # 497 to dead center in Detroit off the 1st pitch of Freddy Dolsi's MLB career.
Lance Berkman is #1 fantasy baseball player right now, and Utley is not even that close in 2nd. What a start to the year for Lance, who is usually a slow starter. Could be a career year for him. If it is, the Astros have a shot at the division or the wildcard. Still missing a strong #2 starter, hopefully the Stros will have enough sense to go out and get one by the deadline. Oswalt #2 Rodriguez Backe Chacon If they get that #2 guy in the rotation, then this team has a legit chance to make some noise, with the offense they put out on the field. And Bourn and Pence have not even hit this year. And with Wiggs back, they have a strong #7 hitter. I just hope Bourn turns it on, cuz with him setting the table (could end up with 80 steals if he hits at all), it makes this offense doubly tough. Here are the projections for Sir-Lance-a-lot for the year (at the pace he is currently on): 170 runs 210 hits 157 rbis 52 HR 28 steals That would be a season for the ages.
cmon now. big puma wont even get to double digit steals. he would need 9 right now. astros have no shot realistically but with milwaukee's rotation in complete meltdown maybe 1 chance in 4. gallardo going down is a huge blow with parra and bush trying to cover. not happening. sheets will be on the dl again soon enough. astros problem is no pitching and this will be exposed as the season wears on and the weather heats up. chris sampson is the #5 guy and they have no arms in the minors to replace him. he will be a sure loss, wandy will lose all his road starts and oswalt is simply above average now as i predicted. when the cards get mulder and carp back the astros will not catch them or the cubs.
I agree with everything there except Mulder. Not only has he been getting lit up in triple-A, but a strained rotator cuff is putting his rehab on hold. It's not like he was dominating when healthy either. Since leaving Oakland his era is over 5. My guess is Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers, Reds, 'Stros. I'm not totally writing the Brewers off. If Braun and Feilder get going (the warm weather should help) they have a chance. Gallardo was horrible blow, but Parra is talented. It all depends on how many innings they can get from Sheets. He's bound to go on the DL, but as long as its something relatively minor they have a shot. The bullpen is their biggest problme imo.
oh i know hes been getting lit up but hes essentially in spring ball. he will just be an innings eater once he returns and carp will be just a notch above. but thats important by limiting the rotation's pitch counts and you can basically use a 6 man rotation. reyes was sent down and wainwright is a legit ace already. brewers rotation is already on life-supprt and the astros are simply outscoring teams. wont happen consistently once their pitching is shot. i saw the gallardo game when he was injured. i could not believe they left him in after he fell and twisted his knee so badly. even in hs and college they take precaution if a pitcher breaks a nail since you never know for sure. this guy tore his ACL in his knee and pitched another 3 or 4 innings. terrible management by the brewers. i suppose mike maddux is still there.
yes and I saw him steal 3rd twice this year in tied games late. also matt kemp has 7 in his last 7 games. doesnt mean hes stealing 50. 50/50 if berkman gets double digit steals by end of year. after today, brandon webb will have won 8 straight games and 12 in a row going back to '07. not just decisions but each game he has started resulted in 12 straight w's. thats amazing.
