IGD: Padres @ Cardinals (25 Sep 06)

Mon, Sep 25, 2006Ballhype: hype it up!
by Geoff Young

first pitch: 5:10 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: David Wells (2-5, 4.80) vs Jeff Suppan (12-7, 4.07 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
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The Padres head to St. Louis in a matchup of the two NL division leaders that are still looking to clinch a playoff spot. The Padres’ magic number is 6, while the Cardinals’ is 5. The Friars also are up 2 1/2 games on St. Louis in the battle for home-field advantage in the first round.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

David Wells remains in search of his first win since returning to the Padres. Right now he is easily the weakest link in the rotation, and it’d be nice to see him get into a groove. The good news is, he hasn’t looked terrible in his four starts for San Diego. The bad news is, “hasn’t looked terrible” doesn’t really cut it when you’re gunning for the playoffs.

Current Cardinals are batting .293/.321/.537 against Wells in 147 at-bats. Scott Rolen (.444/.444/1.222 in 9 AB), Jim Edmonds (.314/.351/.629 in 35 AB), and Juan Encarnacion (.292/.320/.583 in 24 AB) have been the chief culprits.

Meantime, Jeff Suppan continues to excel at getting the maximum out of the minimum. He allows a ton of hits, he doesn’t have impeccable control, and he doesn’t strike people out. All he does is win games and post respectable ERAs. And unfortunately for the Padres, he’s got a couple other things working for him: Suppan has a 2.97 ERA over 97 innings at home this year, and a remarkable 2.04 ERA over 83 2/3 innings since the All-Star break. Difficult to explain, but there it is.

Current Padres are batting .326/.379/.624 against Suppan in 178 at-bats. Mike Piazza (.533/.533/1.533) has five homers in 15 at-bats. Dave Roberts (.667/.700/1.111 in 9 AB), Geoff Blum (.571/.571/.714 in 14 AB), and Brian Giles (.273/.370/.545 in 24 AB) also have enjoyed success against the finesse right-hander.

Big series at Busch begins tonight. Go Padres!

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221 Responses to “IGD: Padres @ Cardinals (25 Sep 06)”

  1. Geoff Young Says:

    As previously noted, Wells has been scratched in favor of rookie Mike Thompson. Wish I’d known that this morning when I was doing my research. ;-)

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  2. Nick G. Says:

    Wells has missed time with gout before. I think it was about 8 yrs ago, when he was with the Yanks.

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  3. Didi Says:

    Go Padres! Let’s go and beat those Cards.

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  4. Clayton Says:

    Giles, double play, surprising no one

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  5. Ben B. Says:

    The Cardinals announcers have done their homework: they mentioned the Padres have the best rotation in the NL and that their hitting is much better on the road than at home. And now they’re showing home/road splits for Giles. Good work so far.

    Not another grounder to the right side with a runner on. That is brutal. I think Giles needs to be leading off now, with the way Roberts has struggled and the way Giles is prone to hitting those routine grounders.

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  6. Mark Says:

    Yeah I don’t think there is any doubt that Giles has given them close to nothing for the past 10 days. It’s hard to continue to win games when your #1 and #2 hitters are lucky to get on base once per game between the two of them.

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  7. Ben B. Says:

    As of three pitches, Mike Thompson looks excellent.

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  8. Clayton Says:

    Super, off to a hot start tonight

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  9. Ben B. Says:

    Oops. That fourth pitch was not so hot.

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  10. Clayton Says:

    Ben B - talk about how good Suppan looks, please!

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  11. Ben B. Says:

    Yeah, Suppan is definitely dominating the Padres. They’ll be lucky to get any hits tonight. Actually, he did have a really good first inning with three easy ground balls, and getting ahead of every batter.

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  12. Ben B. Says:

    Another easy grounder. Ouch.

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  13. Ben B. Says:

    Lucky hit. We’re still doomed.

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  14. Sean Callahan Says:

    So Wells, in all likelihood, will have been worth zero wins this (regular) season. The Padres damn well better make the World Series after giving up Kottaras.

    Do you suppose that the reason the Dodgers and Diamondbacks have good farm systems is because they don’t trade their best prospects for 43-year old one month rentals?

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  15. Ben B. Says:

    Another lucky hit. Here comes the routine ground ball double play.

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  16. Clayton Says:

    Keep talking, Ben B…

    FYI, U2 and GreenDay absolutely ROCKING the superdome right now

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  17. Marsh Says:

    is anyone else convinced that we didn’t lose much when Kalil went down?

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  18. Ben B. Says:

    Ok, now ground ball on the first pitch to Barfield, because that’s what he does. Ok, I was late there, on the second or third pitch now.

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  19. Clayton Says:

    Sweet…let’s get into that nice, soft Cards bullpen…

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  20. Marsh Says:

    Clayton/Ben B — I know what you’re doing and I LOVE IT….

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  21. Clayton Says:

    re 17: we lost the Female 13-34 demographic

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  22. Ben B. Says:

    Wow, too slow on that one. And look what happened. Well, here’s the Doc to end the rally, since he has been slumping so badly recently.

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  23. Mark Says:

    um last I checked the Dodgers traded Guzman this past season for Julio Lugo who doesn’t even start on an everyday basis for them.

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  24. Marsh Says:

    re 21: you wouldn’t know enough about that demographic to know if it was ever even there…

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  25. Ben B. Says:

    Lucky break there. I’m calling it right now, with Giles up it will be like always: grounder to second.

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  26. Clayton Says:

    Atta boy BG!! make a liar out of me, I don’t care!

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  27. Bryan Says:

    REDBIRD SOUP FOR BRIAN GILES

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  28. Clayton Says:

    re 24

    You either, newly-30 boy!

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  29. Ben B. Says:

    It’s a good thing the Cardinals’ center fielder sucks, because that should have been out number 3. Suppan, despite the apparent results, it’s still dominating.

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  30. Marsh Says:

    wait - was that Giles? I was focusing on the 2nd baseman but I never saw the ball… did he do something other than ground out to 2nd??

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  31. Mark Says:

    Should have been caught, seriously? I thought that looked like a line drive off the wall

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  32. Marsh Says:

    re 29: LOL! (which isn’t good becuase I’m in the middle of “quiet hours” at my grad school library…

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  33. Clayton Says:

    I’m just estimating, but I think Suppan is on pitch #100 already

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  34. Ben B. Says:

    That one should have been a strikeout. The ump is just blind.

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  35. Marsh Says:

    is now to early to go to Cla Meredith? I’m thinking he could get through the next 5 innings in 45 pitches or less….

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  36. Ben B. Says:

    In every other part of my life, I am a sane, completely rational person. Yet once a rally like that starts, even though it clearly has absolutely nothing to do with what I’m writing here, I just have to keep going with the reverse jinxing.

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  37. Peter Friberg Says:

    Lovin’ it!!!

    http://padresrundown.blogspot......y-off.html

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  38. Peter Friberg Says:

    LOL @ 35

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  39. Clayton Says:

    Thompson trying to set a team record for GB to Short induced. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

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  40. Sean Callahan Says:

    re 23: The Dodgers got Lugo to fill in for Kent and Garciapra while they were on the DL. They’ll also get a draft pick if they lose Lugo to free agency.

    When Wells retires, what will we have to show for the trade?

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  41. Peter Friberg Says:

    re: 40 Kottaras doing well for the Red Sox

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  42. Peter Friberg Says:

    re. 40: hopefully this shiney gold trophy thing I saw some of the White Sox players holding….

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  43. Mark Says:

    Well if you are comparing Kotteras to Guzman I don’t think anyone values Kotteras more, Guzman has such a high upside.

    That draft pick is hardly a done deal considering how Lugo has played. A .541 OPS over 131 AB’s is not a good trade for the Dodgers, especially when they turned around and still brought in Betemit to play 3B.

    Lugo and Betemit were overkill for the Dodgers. Wells was a bad trade when it happened and it is a worse trade now that he is hurt.

    Mark

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  44. Kevin Says:

    re: 11

    Suppan is dominating. The Padres will be lucky to get anyting going tonight–just five runs on five hits through two innings.

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  45. Clayton Says:

    Saints block a punt on ATL’s first possession - TD, New Orleans. Couldn’t write a better script.

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  46. Bryan Says:

    OT: My friend was at the game on Friday night and he got me one of the player calendars that they gave out. It has next year’s schedule in it, and it looks like we don’t have a game on Opening Day. We don’t start till Tuesday, the 3rd, in San Francisco. I don’t know about anybody else, but Opening Day is BY FAR my favorite day of the year, bar none. And not having a game that day, home or away, kinda ruins it. :(

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  47. Marsh Says:

    re 43: yeah, after hoping to claim that Well’s stats would “tell the tale”, I am not left to believe that his acquisition was nothing more than an injection of life — a necessary injection — into the rest of the club. note the word “injection”, as I believe that Brian Giles only responds after a “cycle” of “injections”…..

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  48. Clayton Says:

    ok, could use a triple-play here

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  49. Clayton Says:

    DP works too, now make it pay off and get out of the inning w/ no more damage

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  50. Marsh Says:

    can we all make a pact here? Rudy Seanez should not be allowed anywhere near the field this evening…

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  51. Clayton Says:

    Sometimes these big early leads work against you…you stop focusing as much, meanwhile the other team just starts chipping away, gaining momentum. Need MT to keep inducing those nice ground balls…get a couple more innings and turn this thing over to the pen

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  52. Clayton Says:

    man on for Giles, but 2 outs…no DP chance here!

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  53. Clayton Says:

    Good baserunning by Doc there - ready to go as soon as that ball hopped away from the catcher

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  54. Peter Friberg Says:

    Just got off the phone w/ Padres’ minor league 3B David Freese - I’ll have his interview up probably within 24 hours…

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  55. Clayton Says:

    Wow….LaRussa going to the ‘pen early!

    Every time I see him go to the mound, I think:

    “Daniel LaRusso’s gonna fight? Daniel LaRusso’s gonna fight!”

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  56. Nick G. Says:

    I love Doc Roberts

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  57. Clayton Says:

    Me too. unfortunately Walker didn’t get the job done this time

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  58. Clayton Says:

    great, manny alexander, defensive specialist, with the E

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  59. Ben B. Says:

    The Cardinals’ announcers just criticized Todd Walker for making that poor third, launching into the speech about how he’s had difficulties making the transition to third base with the longer throw. One problem: that was Manny Alexander.

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  60. Clayton Says:

    Bochy needs to go to the ‘pen early. Is Chan Ho available?

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  61. Nick G. Says:

    Is walker hurt?

    Boch said CHP is not 100%, but availble for a couple of innings if needed.

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  62. Clayton Says:

    You have got to be kidding me

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  63. SD Padres Gal Says:

    I just come home to THIS!!!!

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  64. Clayton Says:

    So much for that lead

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  65. SD Padres Gal Says:

    I curse on Edmonds. His mother was a hamster and his father smelt of elderberries.

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  66. Nick G. Says:

    CRAP

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  67. Mark O Says:

    yikes..

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  68. Nick G. Says:

    Well, we all know the Cards can hit . . . and there’s exhibit A

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  69. Clayton Says:

    LaRussa looking like an effing genius tonight. Takes suppan out, reliever (didn’t catch name) K’s Walker to end threat. Pinch hits with Edmonds, 3 run jack to tie the game. No way Bochy should have left Thompson in to face him in that situation.

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  70. SD Padres Gal Says:

    Adkins in for Thompson…one batter too late

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  71. Nick G. Says:

    Who’s warming up? Anyone? I’m watching on GameDay

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  72. Mark Says:

    Someone should explain to Bochy that there is only 1 week left in the season and Thompson hadn’t pitched in 2 weeks….maybe he shouldn’t have been expecting 6 IP.

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  73. Nick G. Says:

    scratch #71. pretend like I never wrote that

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  74. Ben B. Says:

    On the bright side, Houston has tied up Philly 4-4 in the top of the 7th.

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  75. Clayton Says:

    There was a rumor, maybe it was Olney’s blog, that St Louis might not retain Edmonds next year. Wonder if he wants to come play RF in SD?

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  76. Nick G. Says:

    I can’t believe Wells has freakin’ gout.

    At least they only tied. Just like 0-0 . . . just like 0-0 . . . just like 0-0 (I’m going to keep saying that until I feel better)

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  77. Nick G. Says:

    Curious move putting Alexander in . .. I know Walker has had his problems, but . . .

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  78. Ben B. Says:

    Was Alexander put in just for defense, or is Walker hurt? If it’s just for defense - a defensive replacement in the fourth inning with your #6 pitcher starting?

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  79. Nick G. Says:

    Walker’s gotta be hurt . . .

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  80. BigKTfan Says:

    Stros take the lead, 5-4.

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  81. Clayton Says:

    what about branyan? any update?

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  82. Clayton Says:

    Nice play by Manny to rob pujols. Not that that makes up for the E last inning…

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  83. Clayton Says:

    Cassidy up in the pen, if we get to Adkins’ spot in the order with a man on, looks like Cassidy will pitch the 6th

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  84. Ben B. Says:

    Ouch, this is brutal. Isn’t the Cardinals’ pen their huge weakness?

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  85. Clayton Says:

    supposedly. can’t believe Bochy left Thompson in there to face Edmonds. No way that should have happened. How many ridiculous, one-in-a-million HRs are we going to face during this pennant chase?

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  86. Mark Says:

    Anybody know why Bochy hates Cassidy so much? I mean the guy has an ERA under 3 with decent peripherals.

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  87. LynchMob Says:

    OT … good to see Zach Greinke back in the bigs for KC … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260925109

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  88. Clayton Says:

    Cassidy worked into and out of a jam there…threw about 50 pitches

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  89. LynchMob Says:

    Wow, I just noticed that Preston Wilson is hitting leadoff for the Cards? That can’t be a good/right thing, can it? If Bochy did that, we’d be screaming bloody murder!

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  90. Kevin Says:

    Stark on Hoffman:

    http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....n#20060925

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  91. Ben B. Says:

    It seems like we’re getting jobbed on calls on the corner. Maybe two or three pitches on the black for us called balls and two or three called strikes for them. I guess when Cassidy is throwing balls by them in those locations it doesn’t become an issue.

    And, yeah, Preston Wilson leading off is a sign of the lack of depth in this Cardinal lineup. They have Pujols and Rolen, and Duncan has hit really well, but beyond that the lineup is pretty weak.

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  92. Ben B. Says:

    Maybe the team could get their second hit outside of that big second inning. Naaw, too much to ask.

    Oops, there it is. Even if it was really, really ugly.

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  93. Marsh Says:

    Eckstein hit a foul off his upper knee last night on a splitter from Clemens.. not sure if that is what has taken him out of the lineup or not, but happened to see it — it looked pretty f’n painful….

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  94. LynchMob Says:

    Giles enables Manny to have a “productive AB” … I s’pose …

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  95. Clayton Says:

    Big CHOPPAH by Piazza to take the lead!

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  96. Ben B. Says:

    Attaway Padres! Way to absolutely murder those hits. Wow.

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  97. Marsh Says:

    i swear, every time I jump on this site and start baggin’ on Giles, he starts producing…. whatever…

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  98. Clayton Says:

    Gonzalez pulls a Giles

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  99. LynchMob Says:

    Bing!

    - B. Giles ground rule double to left
    - M. Alexander sacrificed to catcher, B. Giles to third
    - M. Piazza singled to left, B. Giles scored

    More! More! More!

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  100. Clayton Says:

    We’re into the 7th with a lead…let’s see if Meredith/Linebrink/Hoffman can get ‘er done

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  101. Marsh Says:

    come on Astros… come on Astros….come on Astros….

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  102. LynchMob Says:

    One more inning for Cassidy? Or bring in Cla?

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  103. Marsh Says:

    Bring in Cla! Bring in Cla! Bring in Cla!

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  104. Clayton Says:

    FYI, Fantasy Football fans: Shaun Alexander out indefinitely with a broken foot. Madden cover jinx lives on…

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  105. LynchMob Says:

    It’s not obvious to me to root for the Astros … I’m interested to take my chances of knockin’ them Dogs outta the picture completly :-)

    OTOH … facing the Dogs in the playoffs would be fun … especially ’cause it’d mean the NL pennant is on the line!

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  106. Marsh Says:

    I’m not as fascinated with Embree as is Bochy, but if this clears Cla for the 8th, then it’s all good

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  107. LynchMob Says:

    Bochy chooses … (c) none of the above … hmmm …

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  108. Clayton Says:

    Nope, just saves Meredith for Poo-holes

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