Powered by black market antibiotics to cure whatever version of the plague Mrs. MM passed on to me, away we go:

3 UP:
1. American League - 52-31 last week. I cannot even begin to tell you how much this pains me. And before you argue the payroll disparities, please note that the Twins owned the best interleague record at 14-4, with the Royals (really? the freakin’ Royals??) next at 13-5.
Speaking of which…
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Greeneville went 1-2 on the weekend. They are playing pretty decent ball for 8 innings of each game but they have one implosion inning and that does it. Case in point, Arcenio Leon’s lines from the weekend. Friday night, in the win over Danville, Leon pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief. He allowed 2 hits and 3 unearned runs. On Sunday, he came in and in the first inning of a 3 inning relief stint, he allowed 3 more unearned runs. Leon has allowed 10 runs on the year, only 1 has been earned. Greeneville has lost 9 of the first 13 games but 6 of those losses have been by two runs or less. (more…)

The Astros won the last three interleague series, each by a two-games-to-one margin. They’re slowly creeping back up toward the .500 mark, but are still double-digits behind the delusional Cubs. They also decided to run Elvys out there, and they’ve shown Chacon the door, because he’s such a pain in the fucking neck. Turns out he really didn’t care for Ed Wade’s new cafeteria plan.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers just lost two of three to the Los Angeles of Anaheim Angels in the Outfield. They’ve really dropped off since Rafael Furcal hurt his back, and they’re also without Nomah and AndrUw. Chad Billingsley is leading the Dojers in wins, though his record is only 7-7. The NL West is sucking balls this year with the Snakes leading the division with a 41-41 record. If the Astros were in the West, they’d be two games out of first place right now. And if Pam Gardner had balls she’d be Andyzipp’s uncle. He’d have to take a new photo and everything.

By the way, enjoy the last four games of this homestand because the Astros won’t be home again until July 18.

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Commenting on ex-Red Sox Mark Loretta’s 3 run homer on Saturday, manager Terry Francona admitted “I always hated him.” Loretta, the accidental Astro, increased the enmity Sunday with a game winning single in the 8th to beat the World Series incumbents 3-2.

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“Jonathan Papelbon  was sick, so we were going to stay away from him,” manager Terry Francona said. “We tried to make some things reach but it didn’t end up reaching.”

Jon Lester… suffered a bruised left ankle that undoubtedly hampered his effectiveness.

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The Astros are interested in free-agent right-hander Freddy Garcia.

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Red Sox 6, Astros 1

W: Daisuke Matsuzaka, L: Runelvys Hernandez, S: Jonathan Papelbon

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Box Score

I thought I was at Fenway all over again when I arrived at Minute Maid Park tonight (well, the BUS first, but anyway) with all the Red Sox fans wandering around. I am really surprised there are that many people from the Northeast living in and around the Houston area. Surely they did not travel to Houston just for the weekend to see a baseball game. Would they? Either way 42,000+ purchased tickets for the game at an increased price makes Drayon McLane a happy man. (more…)

Minute Maid Pahk

The Good Guys have begun the process of not sucking horribly after a month of absolutely horrible baseball. Series wins against two slow pitch teams, the Rays and Rangers, have the ship pointed slightly away from Suckport now, and more toward Mediocrity Cove. Now the next step to respectability comes cruising in to town in stocking clad feet. They’re the only ones not making noise though, as another East Coast Bandwagon full of asshole New Englanders come cruising in to Minute Maid to cheer for their FAHKIN SAWKS! YEAH!

Friday June 27, 7:05 (FSN - HD)

Saturday June 28, 6:05 (FSN - HD)

Sunday June 29, 1:05 (my lil POS - HD)

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Round Rock got 2 runs of rehabbing Eric Gagne but it wasn’t enough as Nashville beat Round Rock 8-5. Gagne’s rehab stint lasted only 2/3 of an inning where he threw 27 pitches. He threw a wild pitch and hit a batter.

“After having three surgeries in a year and a half, it’s more important just to be healthy right now,” the 240-pound right-hander said.

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“I think (the Chronicle’s story) got it correct,” said Loretta

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

Rangers 2
Astros 7

W: Wandy | L: Millwood

Oliphant
AP via Yahoo
GZ

Uniform Player Contract Paragraph (3) states: Fail, refuse, or neglect to render his services hereunder or in any other matter materially breach his contract.” …

Link

It is time to start checking on the numbers down on the farm. The DSL Astros play in a 37 team league. To make it to the top 10, you must really distinguish yourself. Right now, the DLS Astros aren’t very distinguished. But atleast they are not hanging around the bottom 10 either. They currently sport a 8-14 record and are tied for last place in the DSL San Pedro division. All stats as of 6/25/08
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I promise that no GM’s were harmed in the making of this Farm Update. The PCL & Carolina Leagues had the night off. The Texas League had their all star game last night. Corpus Christi players represented fairly well in the South’s 10th inning win.

Johnson was 2 for 3 with a single and double, and Manzella and Paz were each 1 for 2. Blazek pitched a scoreless fifth inning, and was relieved by McKeller, who pitched a 1-2-3 sixth.

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“You heard anything?”

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After spending a few days in a world with no internet access, I am back to catch us up on that progress or lack there of down on the farm.

Round Rock

The Express went 1-4 over the weekend and the first part of this week. Call ups were in the news as Dave Clark will fill in in Houston for the injured Ed Romero as a 3rd base coach. David Newhan was called up to take Kaz Matsui’s place on the roster after Kaz was placed on the DL. The final call up is one we have been asking for in the Talk Zone, Runelvys Hernandez is being called up and will start for the Astros on Friday. (more…)

Astros 4, Rangers 3

W: Moehler (4-3) | L: Hurley (0-1) | S: Valverde (19)

HR’s: Berkman (21), Vazquez (5)

Yahoo! AP recap/boxscore/PBP

Astros.com wrap from Molony

The Good Guys returned to home cooking in a victorious way, defeating the Rangers 4-3 behind a strong pitching performance from veteran Brian Moehler, and despite the presence of Astros legend Nolan Ryan in enemy garb. Notice all the adoring fans around him disguised as empty seats. (more…)

2-4 on the week may not be much, but it’s a step in the right direction. I’m not here to say that anyone actually did sacrifice a Lackey Rag writer, but at least things are starting to trend positive…

3 UP:

1. Brewers – don’t look now, but they’re 5-1 over the last week, and 14-6 in June. They’ve climbed within 6.5 games of the baby bears, and are only 2 games behind the Redbirds for the WC. (more…)

“We didn’t say long term, short term,” Cooper said. “He’s in the ‘pen. I would think probably as a late guy, seventh inning on. That’s what we talked about. That’s what he did last year, primarily. He was pretty doggone good at it.” Link

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Now that the Rays have exorcised the demons from their name, suddenly they are the envy of every team and the model for a successful franchise. Only took them 10 years of losing baseball and they still have an abbreviation for a fatal disease as the emblem on their cap.

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