Astros Livin' On The Lidge
DOWN 0-2, HOUSTON LOOKS GOOD FOR GAME 3
Despite the Astros attempt to deflect criticism that their closer's spirit wasn't broken after Game 5 of the NLCS by publicizing an airborne prank, the mental health of Houston's Brad Lidge now is in serious doubt.
The tale of an Astros player grabbing the public address system aboard their chartered plane ride back to St. Louis and joking that Albert Pujols' walk-off homer in Game 5 was still soaring through the sky was suppose to give the public the notion that the Astros were loose and their stopper had regained his steely demeanor.
The Astros surprised many by quickly bouncing back in Game 6 behind NLCS MVP Roy Oswalt, but did it without Lidge being vindicated. Were the seeds of doubt already in Houston manager, Phil Garner's, mind?
In hindsight, wouldn't it had been wise for Garner to summon Lidge to pitch in the ninth of Game 6 with the Astros leading 5-1? It wouldn't have been a save situation, but would have calmed Lidge's nerve and strengthened his confidence in the World Series, with a relatively easy assignment. Instead, Garner called on Dan Wheeler for the clincher.
When Lidge was finally called on to hold a crucial situation, his reputation sunk from being victimized by a future Hall Of Famer to surrendering a walk-off homerun in the World Series to a guy who produced a goose egg in the homer column in the regular season.
HOUSTON PLAYING TIGHT
Many were seduced by the party line that the Astros were a bunch of loosy-goosy gamers, but through two games in the World Series, they've looked tighter than leftover Texas barbeque. Lidge is a basket case. Clemens is a quitter and Biggio took 18 years to make the World Series so he could choke at the plate and the field.
Luckily, for Houston, the their home park will be raucous and the white-hot Roy Oswalt will be on the mound. It couldn't be a better situation for a team in Houston's predicament; being down 2-0.
PODSEDNIK HAS FINALLY ARRIVED
Chicago's Game 2 hero, Scott Podsodnik, had one of the most sincere and earliest reactions for someone who just hit the homer of his life.
Podsednik's look of disbelief as he rounded third was classic. Usually the ramifications of such a play rarely hit someone until after the moment passes. Instead, Podsednik's eyes were open wide and he seemed to be sighing relief even before stepping on thridbase.
It's was befitting for the scrappy basestealer who spent nine years toiling in the minors before starring for the Milwaukee Brewers and making the All-Star team this year by way of the fan's voting. Every career minor leaguer will find hope in the story of this tenacious athlete and his crowning glory tonight.
ODD AND ENDS
Lou Rawls's rendition of the National Anthem was so tortured even my cat winced before burying his head under the couch....Houston's Andy Pettitte was one guy who wasn't bothered by the limelight. His defensive performance in the sixth inning should have been a precursor to the Astros evening up the series....Baseball is right to be upset with the latest Got Milk! commercials that spoof the game's steroid problem. They hit way too close to home and the satirical nature of the spots miss their target. Athletes may cheat with these drugs, but they also die from them.
Despite the Astros attempt to deflect criticism that their closer's spirit wasn't broken after Game 5 of the NLCS by publicizing an airborne prank, the mental health of Houston's Brad Lidge now is in serious doubt.
The tale of an Astros player grabbing the public address system aboard their chartered plane ride back to St. Louis and joking that Albert Pujols' walk-off homer in Game 5 was still soaring through the sky was suppose to give the public the notion that the Astros were loose and their stopper had regained his steely demeanor.
The Astros surprised many by quickly bouncing back in Game 6 behind NLCS MVP Roy Oswalt, but did it without Lidge being vindicated. Were the seeds of doubt already in Houston manager, Phil Garner's, mind?
In hindsight, wouldn't it had been wise for Garner to summon Lidge to pitch in the ninth of Game 6 with the Astros leading 5-1? It wouldn't have been a save situation, but would have calmed Lidge's nerve and strengthened his confidence in the World Series, with a relatively easy assignment. Instead, Garner called on Dan Wheeler for the clincher.
When Lidge was finally called on to hold a crucial situation, his reputation sunk from being victimized by a future Hall Of Famer to surrendering a walk-off homerun in the World Series to a guy who produced a goose egg in the homer column in the regular season.
HOUSTON PLAYING TIGHT
Many were seduced by the party line that the Astros were a bunch of loosy-goosy gamers, but through two games in the World Series, they've looked tighter than leftover Texas barbeque. Lidge is a basket case. Clemens is a quitter and Biggio took 18 years to make the World Series so he could choke at the plate and the field.
Luckily, for Houston, the their home park will be raucous and the white-hot Roy Oswalt will be on the mound. It couldn't be a better situation for a team in Houston's predicament; being down 2-0.
PODSEDNIK HAS FINALLY ARRIVED
Chicago's Game 2 hero, Scott Podsodnik, had one of the most sincere and earliest reactions for someone who just hit the homer of his life.
Podsednik's look of disbelief as he rounded third was classic. Usually the ramifications of such a play rarely hit someone until after the moment passes. Instead, Podsednik's eyes were open wide and he seemed to be sighing relief even before stepping on thridbase.
It's was befitting for the scrappy basestealer who spent nine years toiling in the minors before starring for the Milwaukee Brewers and making the All-Star team this year by way of the fan's voting. Every career minor leaguer will find hope in the story of this tenacious athlete and his crowning glory tonight.
ODD AND ENDS
Lou Rawls's rendition of the National Anthem was so tortured even my cat winced before burying his head under the couch....Houston's Andy Pettitte was one guy who wasn't bothered by the limelight. His defensive performance in the sixth inning should have been a precursor to the Astros evening up the series....Baseball is right to be upset with the latest Got Milk! commercials that spoof the game's steroid problem. They hit way too close to home and the satirical nature of the spots miss their target. Athletes may cheat with these drugs, but they also die from them.
