9/19/2007 Milwaukee (Bush) at Houston (Gutirrez) 7:05 CDT

[thablingster]

I'm calling us having some guys on base then having Tony Gwynn Jr. ground out weakly to end the game, batting where Braun should have been.

[The Ignitor]

I'm checking myself into a mental institution if they lose this game. They must will themselves to a victory somehow. Please Ned, use your dang bench next time you need a big hit, because neither Gross nor Estrada is the guy I want swinging away right there.

Um, Gross has been very good since coming back up from the minors.

And frankly, as much as I'm not an Estrada fan, he's a fairly solid contact hitter - I don't see much in the way of better options on the bench.

 

Gross has been cold this series. Estrada came through last night (lighting usually does not strike in the same place twice). And if by Estrada as a contact hitter with runners in scoring position, you mean inning ending double plays and pop-ups, I agree with you. Otherwise, the clear feel of the game right there was to give someone else a chance.

 

[Glennron]

Why is Councell in.

[TerraceReserved]

I don't see why everyone is saying Turnbow was terrible. He wasn't. He gave up a ground ball single, 15 feet to the right and thats a double play, a fly ball out, and another out. None of those runs were his fault.

[biedergb]

Well at least our a couple of our hottest hitters in Dillon and Braun will be up. What? They've been replaced for defensive reasons? By Hardy and Jenkins? Great

 

(edited: forgot Counsell started, and Hardy was the defensive sub, woops, call me Ned Yost)

[sheetswannabe]

Counsell should have just taken that inside pitch for the team.

[Menotti80]

if we lose this game and lose tomorrow night, the season is done.

 

and craig just looked at 3 straight strikes... goodnight all

[trwi7]

Way to swing the bat Counsell!

[EdgarDiazRocks]

swinging the bat is overrated . . .

[endaround]

Turnbow didn't pitch that poorly, he is just terrible holding runners on base. He either should have started the inning or Yost should have used Cordero. But given Yost's purposeless defensive machinations Counsell has to be one of your last three hitters.

[sheetswannabe]

This ones not over folks!!!!

[And That]

I'm starting to make an inventory of things I could try to throw through a wall without really missing the thing.

[Katuluu]

I think I'd rather see everyone keep their bat on their shoulder's the entire inning then give Yost another shot at managing us to a loss.

[GenoSeligPrieb]

The reason we very well may lose tonight came down to Ned being Ned again, and that's why he really has to go.

 

If we finish in 2nd place, I fear that too many Yost supporters (a few of whom work in our front office, unfortunately) will see that our record improved, that we may very well finish with our first winning season in 15 years, and a possible attendance record after a rare playoff run, and say, "Well, Ned got us there! Give that man an extension!"

 

But we can't.

 

Because when the chips are down, and Ned needs to manage outside the box, and go against the Ned Playbook, he just can't seem to do it.

 

This is not a knee-jerk reaction. I made up my mind after that game against the Cubs, when he left Mench in there to end the game, because That's How Ned Does Things. Tonight, he brings in Turnbow, even though the higher-leverage situation screamed for CoCoCo. NOT because we were on the road, and therefore we had to use Derrick, and then Coco....blahblahblah.

 

Ned doesn't have the creativity, the willingness to react to changing new situations. And it's costing us a few key games. That, of course, and the 2 2nd-half collapses...

[adamb100]

YOSTED!

[And That]

Wait! We have JJ Hardy?????

 

Hey, I just found this paving stone...

[PeaveyFury]

I think blingster might be right.... 2 on for someone hitting where Braun should be to end the game.

[sheetswannabe]

Where is Matt Wise lately? Has he pitched lately?

[billyhallfan]

None of those runs were his fault.

 

no, you are right, they were yost's. i didn't see anyone blame turnbow.

[The Ignitor]

The truth of the matter is we should have scored at least two more runs in this game already. We had our chances. This one really, really hurts. All that momentum slipping away. Come on boys, you can still steal victory from the jaws of defeat!

[Oldcity]

Good thing Braun is out of the game.

[Trowekamp]

I have tempted to post a couple of times and stopped and erased it because I am so frustrated that it doesn't really matter what I think...I feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.. only if the plot was T-bow repeatedly kicking me in the groin while Linebrink laughs on.

[EdgarDiazRocks]

Geno with a new avatar frightens me.

[Oldcity]

Someone should tell this ump that a ball at the shins is not a strike.

 

Quick, before this game ends.

[Mike Felder]

RICKIE!!!!!!!!!