Commissioner Hates Astros

Home games...Perhaps an overrated thing, but then again, maybe not. But maybe we got a definitive answer this week when the Astros had to go play at Wrigley North against the Cubbies. The Commish says there were no other options, but I beg to differ. There were lots of other options. And pulling these guys away from their families and loved ones hours after a devestating disaster...was NOT the answer.

The Commish says he had to do it. But Brad Ausmus, who lives in West U, had other things on his mind. He had a few of his teammates at his house when the storm rolled in. The water got so close to his front door, that he was afraid he was going to have to wake his sleeping friends to ask them to move all his furniture up to the second floor.

Lance Berkman luckily has a home near his home town of New Braunfels, in San Marcos. Or maybe that's not so lucky. Since he got a call at 4 a.m. to leave his family, and get back to Houston for a 10 a.m. flight to Milwaukee.

And all this while, what are the Cubbies doing? Just relaxing in their homes, and then getting on a bus a couple hours before BP and riding the 80 miles to Miller Park from Wrigley. Man, that sounds so fair.

It was an incredibly difficult situation for ALL involved. There is no doubt about that. Would I want to be in Selig's shoes to make that decision? No, not at all. Did he make the right decision? No, not at all. Baseball is a business, everyone gets that...But there are about what, 8 gajillion other business in the Houston area? And all of them understood the importance of family after this storm, all except Major League Baseball.

The games had to get played, and sooner, rather than later, no doubt about that one. And could MMP have hosted a game on Sunday? Yes, it could have. Should it have? No, probably not. But making the Houston Astros go to Milwaukee to play the Cubs? That is about like asking a team on the west coast to play a "home game" against the Yankees at Shea.

So why not put the onus on the Cubs to have crappy conditions? Maybe play the games in Round Rock? No, that wouldn't have drawn much, but hey, so what? At least it would have almost been like a home game for the Astros, at least more so than the Cubs right? And just play one there on Sunday, and then back at MMP on Monday, which would have been perfectly fine. This city was ready for a game on Monday. It would have been a really nice distraction. And then just play the last game, if needed, on the Monday after the season is finished.

But instead, the Commish thought it would be more fun to completely ruin the Astros emotional state. Is he the reason the Astros got 1 hit in 2 games? No, not exactly. They are professionals, and should have been ready to play mentally. But can we blame them for not being ready to play?

Chris Sampson said that he didn't even want to get on the plane because he hadn't heard from some of his friends and family yet. Is that not more important than a freaking baseball game? The way that tv runs the world is a great thing in some ways...but in others...it is just stupid. And this is one of those moments. Couldn't the playoff tv schedule have been slightly adjusted if needed? And hell, we don't even know if it would have needed to be. The Astros may have been no hit, and one hit no matter where they played. But that doesn't seem too likely does it? Given that they are the best team in baseball in the second half, it seems like had things gone a little closer to their way, it might have been a bit better for them.

But now it's finished. They have lost 3 straight, but luckily, the Brewers are just awful and have lost everything lately. So it is still up to the Astros to go out there and take it! They have only games left against crap teams, and have no one to blame anymore. Rally around your city and make us proud. But I will be honest. In this bloggers opinion, it doesn't matter how it turns out, they have done me very proud. They have continued to fight, and play hard, and that is all we can really ask for. But they are the best team of the 3 in the fight for the Wild Card, so hopefully they will go and take it!

Great fight here!

Another incredible video, this one involving a curious cat.

Greatest video every put on the internet

This fool deserves some sort of medal.

Could They?

Ok, this is getting a little interesting. With another strong performance from Randy Wolf, and a great night from the Puma, the Astros pulled themselves to within 4 games of the Wild Card lead. There are 17 games left to play, and if the Astros finish up 12-5, that gets them to 90 wins. Is that enough to get in?

I think that it could be. The Brewers are awful. The Phillies could fall, if it weren't for one Brad "Lights Out" Lidge. And the Astros are just better than the Cards. The only real problem here is that the Astros don't have any games left with any of those teams. But you know, 4 games is not that much, so let's at least wait and see. Got 5 left with the Pirates, so that should help...

And on that note. If the Astros somehow pull off this thing, and make the playoffs, how can anyone but Lance Berkman be the MVP? With no El Cachubby for a month, Roy struggling early, and Wandy going out recently, Lance has been the steady hand for this team. So if the Astros make it in, Lance has to be the MVP, and Coop may be Manager of the Year too...

A New York State of Mind

For all the doubting, for all the name calling, for everyone who said Roger was done and couldn't win anymore. For everyone who said that Rafa was the greatest thing ever...I believe it is time for an apology. Roger won his fifth straight US Open this week, and looked good doing it. So for everyone who wants to call this a down year for Roger, think about what you're saying. Yeah, it was a down year, but how would you like this for a down year? 1 major semis, 2 majors finals, playing in the greatest tennis match in the history of the world, 1 Olympic gold medal, 1 major championship...

Wow, he must really suck...

While I agree that it was a down year, just think about the standard that he set for himself. Roger is the greatest tennis player ever, and anyone who gets in front of a mike agrees with me. Be it Novak, Rafa, Andy Murray, or Johnny Mac. Everyone knows this guy is the greatest, and he has a long way to go before he is done.

Now, he probably has to make some changes if he wants to dominate again, and it is not all that likely that he will, given his age, and the ability of one Rafa Nadal. But if he takes care of himself, and continues to be able to get out on the court, he is not only going to pass Pete's record for majors, he is going to shatter it.

And I am going to make a really bold prediction right here, and right now. He will finally get Rafa at the French in 2009, and here's the big one...he WILL win the Grand Slam next year. He will have his training back to normal this year, after missing a good hunk of it last year with Mono, and he will dominate the Austrailian to get his fourth Austrailian, then shock Rafa at the French, and reclaim his dominance at Wimbeldon, and continue his dominance at the Open.

I say that, because frankly, there are 2 majors a year where you know that Rafa will not be a factor. For how special a player that Rafa is, his game on the hard courts is just not improving all that much. Lest we forget that Rafa also has all sorts of health issues as well. First of all, Uncle Tony makes him play way too much, and second, he plays on every surface as if it were clay. That absolutely distroys his knees!

2009 is the year that Roger solidifies his position as the greatest that ever was, and ever will be. He will train harder, play less, and be ready at each and every major, and will claim all 4. All he needed was a little confidence, and the gold medal, and the Open championship gave it back to him. I think we are about to see some 2006-07 Roger Federer again.

Bigger Bad Ass: Daniel Craig or Christian Bale?

This question is posed to the readership today for a simple reason. The new trailer for "Quantum of Solace" came out this week, and good night alive, it looks INREDIBLE.

I am not going to sit here and hate on Pierce Brosnan as Bond because I really enjoyed his first couple shots at it, but it did appear that he, and everyone else, gave up on the last couple. Daniel Craig really rejuvinated Bond in "Casino Royale," and it looks like he continues to do so in Solace.

The comparisons between Batman and Bond are actually pretty striking. Both had really kind of hit a dull note, and then added new leading men, and totally new crews, most importantly, directors and writers, and the results have been outstanding for both. "Batman Begins" was great, and TDK needs no comment. "Casino Royale" was a flash back to old school Bond, while adding a sort of realism that the Brosnan films sort of got away from. On the same note, Nolan wanted to do just that with his Gotham City. He moved it from some comicy place to downtown Chicago, got rid of outlandish villians, and made the franchise real.

These two are part of the films I have most looked forward to all year. TDK certainly did not disappoint, so now the onus is on Craig to deliver the way Bale did. And if the trailer is any hint, it certainly looks like they did.

Just like July 18th couldn't, November 14th can not get here fast enough!

2008 and Beyond

I saw something this morning that greatly disturbed me. I often sit in amazement at just how absolutely stupid some fans are. I was reading Chip Bailey's blog on chron.com and at the bottom, in the comments section, a fan commented how the Astros should trade Valverde, Oswalt, and Berkman before next season.

Really? Come on...how stupid can someone seriously be? Is this team, as assembled a World Series champ? No, not very likely to be. But it is a lot closer than it would be without those three guys. There are so many stupid things with that comment, I am honestly not even sure where to start.

First of all, this years team is really not all that bad! Those 3 have been incredibly effective for huge hunks of this season, and we have no reason to believe that next season, they won't be effective for huge hunks of the season. The last month, Roy has been by far the best pitcher in all the game, as he was from 2003-2005. Valverde has made good on his last 15 save opportunities, and Lance is hitting over .330.

So sure, they could probably get a crap ton on the trade market, but let's not forget, none of them want to go anywhere, and they shouldn't go anywhere either. Basically, the fan was saying that the "rebuilding process" should begin. Again, that is just showing his total ignorance for the game of baseball. A team that will finish the season about 15 games over .500 aren't exactly in a place where rebuilding is necessary. This is a team that is a catcher, and second starter away from being very, very good. So why would we blow it all up?

Good thing Uncle Drayton does not listen to idiot fans who post on chron.com.

Randy Wolf=Best GM Award for Ed Wade

Is this guy for real? Did he really just throw a complete game shut out against the Cubbies? That is pretty awesome! Many people were wondering exactly what Wade was doing when he made this trade, and while this team still is nowhere near the playoffs, I have to say, I dig it. What it shows is that he and Uncle Drayton will not give up on winning. And that is a good thing to show a team. It shows that sometimes, all a player needs to rejuvinate himself is a change of scenery, a la Lights Out Lidge.

Most important about all this though is that this team is showing perhaps there is something to look forward to in 2009! Roy looks like Roy again. Wandy really looks like a guy who could be a very solid third starter, Backe looks like he can be solid in the back of a rotation, Wolf looks like he still has a little left, and Brian Moehler looks incredible. The only thing really missing is a solid 2. If this team can go out and get one of those, very little is actually missing. There is enough offense to take care of that pitching staff with a solid 2 added. A catcher should be high on the list, and Darin Erstad just needs to get more playing time instead of searching for a centerfielder again this off season.

And oh yeah, the bully...it's pretty good too! Chris Sampson has really found his home. He is perfect as the long reliever. Wesley Wright is a great lefty in the pen, LaTroy Hawkins is just like Randy Wolf, and has found himself, and Valverde is a lot better than I thought!

I believe in this teams ability to compete in 2009! Much more on that much later though!

A "Riddler" not named Depp?

With all the rumors floating around about the next "Batman," film (all of which are incredibly premature until Nolan signs on), and who the villians will be, and who will play them, there are a couple of notes I think should be made.

One that can not be substantiated at all in any way, shape, or form. Nolan will NOT use Catwoman in his films. It is so un-Nolan like, it seems to me. Doesn't it to anyone else? While she is a realistic villian and would be played wonderfully by Angelina Jolie, I just don't see it happening. Although, I wouldn't be too terribly upset if I was wrong. But many fan boys are just throwing this out there because they think Nolan left them a hint in TDK. I don't think he did. I just think that was a little joke by Fox that happened to mention a cat, I don't think it was foreshadowing a future villian.

Another popular idea that has been thrown around is the introduction of "The Riddler." Again, a fairly realistic villian, which is key in the Nolan world of Gotham/Chicago. The original rumor was for Johnny Depp to take the part, which seems like a really good idea, and Depp has agreed that "it would be fun."

However, I came across something interesting this evening, and honestly, just thought it was brilliant. Staying with The Riddler, what about Guy Pearce as Edward Nygma? I find this to be a very interesting idea. While I have no doubt that Johnny Depp would be quite incredible, because he is a very good actor, I like what Pearce has to offer as well. And Nolan doesn't necessarily go after the biggest stars for his films, and Depp is pretty much as big as it gets (Obviously, I know Christian Bale is a huge star right now, but he wasn't when he first put on the Bat Suit, Nolan created his stardom). Nolan seems to take great, but not over exposed actors, like Bale, Ledger, Pearce in "Momento," and Eckhart, and put them in his movies. Then takes elder statesmen superstars, Caine and Freeman, and puts them in supporting roles (I also recognize this is not always true, as you don't get much bigger than Pacino, and that was the title role, but as a rule, I think my premise proves true).

And let's not forget Pearce's brilliance in "Momento." That was a very special movie, and it also really seems like Nolan likes working with people he is familiar with. If you take a look, the crews are very similar in all his movies. He and his brother write most of the scripts, stories are written by he and Emma Thomas, and Thomas is on the production team of every film too. My point being, I bet Nolan would love the idea of working with a guy like Pearce again. Really see what he can deliver as a villian in the next Batman film.

What does my loyal readership think of Pearce as a villian in the next film?

Then there are all sorts of other rumors floating around that are much less interesting. Megan Fox in a Batman film? No. Phillip Seymour Hoffman? Not as Penguin, but finding a spot for him would be cool.

No one will be able to top what Health Ledger put together in TDK, but I don't believe it will be necessary. Nolan will be able to create the greatest ending of a trilogy yet. Even better than "Major League 3: Back to the Minors." But it will not focus on a villian as TDK did. The last of the trilogy will focus on Batman and Bruce Wayne, and will only use the villians to add to the story line, much like in the first film.

While I like to hope Nolan will sign on soon and get us a new movie in 2010, it seems more likely it will be 2011. Which will WB prefer? They are only interested in money, and what gets them more money? Making us wait? Or feeding our frenzy? None-the-less, I am sure Nolan will take a break with a different film between Batmans, and I am sure that Christian Bale will be in it!