Swept, Silver Boot Series, Injuries, and Derek Holland

Well the Comericurse will have to stay alive til next year. We've been swept at Detroit for the second time this year. We struck out 28 times in the series, that's over 1 in 3 times. We were 3-for-17 (.176) with runners in scoring position, and left 19 on base (9 on Thursday). First game was Brandon McCarthy vs. Dontrelle Willis. I know McCarthy is our weak link, but Dontrelle Willis is as dicey as they come. He along with 4 relievers shut us out. McCarthy pitched a decent game, nearly a quality start, but he got no run support. I don't subscribe to the theory that we only hit well at home, but it's definitely a big help. Our pitching seems to be the same anywhere, so why isn't our hitting? Matt Harrison and Kevin Millwood suffered the same fate, however they were both left in the game just a little too long, giving up the descisive runs late. The offensive support has still been disappointing. Wednesday we left 7 on base, all in scoring position. And then today Michael Young choked twice, in clutch situations, popping out to end the fifth with 2 in scoring position, and grounding into a double play with a runner on 3rd base, to end the game. Cashing in either of those times, could've made it a tie, or given us the lead after 9 innings.

The Lone Star Series battle for the Silver Boot is back! We are going to Houston for a 3 game series Friday, this extra motivation could be just what we need to keep from crashing at this point. Right now after the series in Detroit we are still in first but things aren't looking up more on that later. We won't be facing Houston's ace (and my fantasy pitcher), Wandy Rodriguez. I've avoided picking players for series' up to this point, but watch Elvis he's gonna be a factor, I'm expecting lots of extra base hits from him with the unique centerfield hill, 435 feet from home plate, and unconventional shapes and corners of Minute Maid Park.

Well injury update time I said things weren't looking up. While you might have a chance to see San Frankie, and Josh Hamilton in the series at Houston, Vicente Padilla is now on the DL. I don't want Luis Mendoza back up in the Majors. He is an average pitcher at best and average isn't good enough in Rangers Ballpark. We need strikeout pitchers, and that is the last thing that Mendoza brings to the table. In our ballpark pitching to contact implies ERA inflation. I'd much rather see Tommy Hunter, or even John Bannister, or Omar Poveda. I'd like to get a first impression of them, and see how well they can keep the ball away from the barrel. And if Hunter has improved enough I know he can strike out more than 1 strikeout per inning. Let's see how it goes.

And the man replacing Padilla on the mound is rookie hurler Derek Holland. If Holland trusts his pitches he will be fine, but I'm afraid he will rely on the fastball mainly to throw strikes. If that's the case then the Astros, especially El Cabayo, Berkman, and Pudge will be sitting on and hitting them all night long. He needs to be confident in the changeup and get them out in front. I don't expect many breaking balls from him but who knows maybe we haven't seen everything he's got yet.