Running Baseball VII (or second half I, if you like)

Astros outscore Padres 11-6 in the last seven innings -- and lose 18-11.

 

Incredible, no big boppers in the lineup but they have been having these big offensive games. Seven regulars batting at least .279, and then there's 16 HRs from Uncle Buck, and finally, Mr. Garbage Time.

Meche and Bannister have been solid, and Perez and De La Rosa drive you nuts but are capable. Solid pen, decent closer. The core of this team must be kept, including DeJesus, Teahen, Gordon, BillyButt, Pena, Meche, Bannister, Gobble, Greinke, etc. They need another starter and need to figure out what to do with Greinke. And they need a big bopper to help along BillyButt and Mr. Garbage Time. And I'd love to keep Grudzielanek for a few more years. Guy is rock solid.

 

Grienke should be starting or closing, nothing in between. I'd like to see an infusion of power, too. Hate to see Grudzielanek go, but I've got to think he's a hell of a trading chip right now. Who wouldn't want a guy hitting .300 and playing gold glove defense for the stretch run?

I'm still anxiously awaiting to see what Moore does here. Sanders, Grudzielanek and Dotel all have moderate to good trade value.

 

Funny story: I was just looking up the boxscore from Aaron's 715th homer game when Dusty Baker started talking about hitting behind Aaron that night.

He said that he doubled right after Aaron's homer, but he's wrong. He walked. He doubled earlier in the game.

 

I see that as an honest mistake, unlike Joe Morgan's apocryphal anecdote from earlier this month.

 

[blue]What? A Sunday Night Baseball analyst getting a fact wrong about his own career? That never would happen!

 

Where the hell did all the double-digit run totals come from today?

 

No doubt a product of the excellent pitching depth in the big leagues.

 

How do you figure Sanders has any value left at all?

 

I totally agree. FWIW, I also looked up Hershiser's story on facing Gary Carter in his big-league debut. That was correct.

 

He is batting over .300. He had a decent year last year. His injury stopped what was a hot start. Solid veteran. I'm not saying he's hot bait, but he has some value, probably in some package deal.

 

If the Phillies can take 5 of 7 on the upcoming midwest road trip, they should be tied or in the lead of the wild card.