Series Preview: Houston Astros (33-65) at 2012 NL Central Champion Chicago Cubs (39-60)

In Series Previews by andcounting72 Comments

One of the chief objections to Interleague play, especially the notion of two 15-team leagues and a year-round interleague schedule, is the onset of less than compelling matchups. Who wants to see the Twins and Padres? Is a Red Sox vs. Reds series really enough of a novelty to warrant any extra attention from either fan base? Who in America really cares to see the Seattle Mariners leave Washington state and come anywhere near Washington D.C.? How many rhetorical questions must I ask before the dead horse suffers enough?

Well, this isn’t interleague. This is divisional play. Cubs and Astros. I can’t even bring myself to compare how bad they are with a full statistical breakdown. Because I’m lazy? Yes, but not just that. Let me spell it out this way:

The Cubs and Astros have a combined record of 72-125. When this series is through, assuming all three games get played without mother nature mercifully postponing the travesty it promises to be, they’ll have a combined record of 75-128. Simply by playing each other, these two teams will raise their collective win percentage by .004 points. The only way the Cubs and Astros can hope to amass three wins between them is to play each other. Otherwise, it’s just not happening.

With a series loss, the Cubs can inch closer to that vaunted #1 draft pick. With a series win, the Cubs will pass the .400 mark. It’s really a win-win. My only prediction: craptastic baseball. I defy Cassy and Winnie to set any other tone.


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  1. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Recalcitrant Blogger Nate]That has to be in New Orleans[/quote]
    Are turtles with human heads attached prevalent there?

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  2. mb21

    The only way the Cubs and Astros can hope to amass three wins between them is to play each other. Otherwise, it’s just not happening.

    Never thought about that series in that way. (dying laughing)

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  3. Rice Cube

    If the 15-team league thing happens, and the Astros go to the AL as rumored, then the Cubs-Astros series becomes another one of those less-than-compelling interleague matchups instead of just being a divisional battle royale between two legions of fail.

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  4. AndCounting

    [quote name=Rice Cube]If the 15-team league thing happens, and the Astros go to the AL as rumored, then the Cubs-Astros series becomes another one of those less-than-compelling interleague matchups instead of just being a divisional battle royale between two legions of fail.[/quote]I can’t wait for them to renew their rivalry. (dying laughing)

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  5. AndCounting

    Damn, I should have researched the earliest in the season that two 60-loss teams have played each other.

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  6. mb21

    [quote name=AndCounting]Damn, I should have researched the earliest in the season that two 60-loss teams have played each other.[/quote]I’m guessing the Cubs were a part of it.

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  7. JMan

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Astros midget just broke up Z’s no-no.[/quote]Z wasn’t mentally prepared to pitch to a midget.

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  8. Rice Cube

    Kosuke extends April for another hour or so.

    This is from Poz’s latest post…he might hate the IBB almost as much as MO hates bunts.

    Idea sparked by Brilliant Reader Rich …

    I’m always on the lookout for terrible intentional walks because I think ALL intentional walks are terrible. I would love to be the Carrie Nation of the intentional walk. In any case, Rich found a beauty …

    On Tuesday, the Rockies were playing the Braves and they were leading the game 7-2 when Ian Stewart came up with a man on third and two outs. I’m going to repeat the situation: Man on third base … two outs … Braves trailing by FIVE RUNS. If there was an intentional walk chart, then this situation would be on the there with the phrase: “You’re joking, right?”

    Here’s the wonderful kicker: Ian Stewart is hitting .143 this year.

    Yes, the Braves intentionally walked him.

    Legendary. Absolutely legendary. I’m proud and happy to say that this completely blew up on the Braves — a walk followed, then a three-run triple, then another walk, then a hit-by-pitch. But to me that’s not enough. I’m not saying that intentionally walking Ian Stewart in that situation — in ANY situation, but especially in that one — should lead to jail time. But at least community service.

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  9. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=JMan]I don’t disagree with the article but I think there are plenty of teams that want to look smart and take that risk of him improving in the DH spot. TEX and NYY seem like teams willing to take that risk.[/quote]
    I doubt TEX would be willing to give up more than a C prospect in exchange for Soriano and most of the money he’s owed.

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  10. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]I doubt TEX would be willing to give up more than a C prospect in exchange for Soriano and most of the money he’s owed.[/quote]
    That seems to be about as much as they can hope for with Soriano.

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  11. JMan

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]I doubt TEX would be willing to give up more than a C prospect in exchange for Soriano and most of the money he’s owed.[/quote]I think that would be a deal the Cubs accept.

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  12. GW

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]I doubt TEX would be willing to give up more than a C prospect in exchange for Soriano and most of the money he’s owed.[/quote]
    I would think they would prefer Chris Davis and keeping their C prospect.

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  13. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=GW]I would think they would prefer Chris Davis and keeping their C prospect.[/quote]
    I think they still hope they can get more out of Chris Davis than Soriano and cash.

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  14. Rice Cube

    How about another GIDP for old times’ sake, Astros?

    I forgot what the record was for a 9-inning game.

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  15. GW

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]I think they still hope they can get more out of Chris Davis than Soriano and cash.[/quote]
    Yeah, he could be involved in a trade. I meant that the Rangers have kicked around using him in left, and he is probably about the same hitter as Soriano at this point.

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  16. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=GW]Yeah, he could be involved in a trade. I meant that the Rangers have kicked around using him in left, and he is probably about the same hitter as Soriano at this point.[/quote]
    Yeah, but he’s approaching Latroy Hawkins territory around here. TEX fans would never boo a player like Hawkins was booed, but their performance is similar: Good production, but failure at the wrong time.

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  17. Mish

    KG

    Zeke DeVoss, 2B, Cubs (Short-season Boise): 2-for-4, 2B, SB, CS. Third round pick has reached base 10 times in four games and stolen seven bases.

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  18. mb21

    [quote name=Mish]KG

    Zeke DeVoss, 2B, Cubs (Short-season Boise): 2-for-4, 2B, SB, CS. Third round pick has reached base 10 times in four games and stolen seven bases., but lacks secondary skills.[/quote].

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  19. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Mish]KG

    Zeke DeVoss, 2B, Cubs (Short-season Boise): 2-for-4, 2B, SB, CS. faget lacks secondary skills.[/quote].

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  20. AndCounting

    [quote name=Rice Cube]If Soriano hadn’t TOOTBLANed in 1996 like he did here in 2011, this game might not be so damn ironic.[/quote].

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  21. Dr. Aneus Taint

    keithlawkeithlaw

    Yankees to provide hydration stations and sunblock for tmrw’s game. Unfortunately fans aren’t allowed to use them during “God Bless America”

    Is it like a hydration station that fans can’t use during patriotic songs?

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  22. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=dylanj]im hopeful that eliminating some of those first few games of the season will keep people fresher later in the year.[/quote].

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  23. Rice Cube

    I wonder if the Astros manager will take the Astros midget into his office and yell at him, then talk to the press afterwards about popups and proper defense.

    Tough play though, I guess.

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  24. Dr. Aneus Taint

    The NFLPA* will meet again Monday to discuss options. All those kids waiting for their UDFA contract can wait another week.

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  25. dylanj

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]The NFLPA* will meet again Monday to discuss options. All those kids waiting for their UDFA contract can wait another week.[/quote]
    but what about my fantasy draft!?!?!?

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  26. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]The NFLPA* will meet again Monday to discuss options. All those kids waiting for their UDFA contract can wait another week.[/quote]I really can’t believe the owners tried to sneak shit into the CBA.

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  27. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=dylanj]but what about my fantasy draft!?!?!?[/quote]
    You’re still going to have to do shit on Sundays.

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I really can’t believe the owners tried to sneak shit into the CBA.[/quote]
    They do what they do. It still cracks me up that ignorant fans can blame the players. It also cracks me up that sbnation called ignorant fans out on that.

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  28. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=dylanj]carrie muskat tweeted at me. i’m big time[/quote]
    I knew she had a dick.

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  29. Aisle424

    [quote name=dylanj]carrie muskat tweeted at me. i’m big time[/quote]
    Now you are big time. Check your follower list.

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  30. Rice Cube

    [quote name=ACT]What was with that Grabow sighting? He’s no ROOGY.[/quote]
    He was in to face Wallace but Houston pinch-hit with a righty. But if Grabow strikes you out, you should commit suicide right there on the field.

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  31. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Oooh, Marmol = set up man.[/quote]He’s auditing the seminar on playing better that Quade is conducting with Barney and Castro.

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  32. dylanj

    oh aisley, if you think your going to get any cool tweets from me you are going to be sad. im just going to use this to badger goldstein & law about prospects

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  33. Mish

    [quote name=dylanj]oh aisley, if you think your going to get any cool tweets from me you are going to be sad. im just going to use this to badger goldstein & law about prospects[/quote]
    Chris Archer RT’d me pre-season and then went on to lose his top prospect status. (dying laughing)

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  34. ACT

    [quote name=Rice Cube]He was in to face Wallace but Houston pinch-hit with a righty. But if Grabow strikes you out, you should commit suicide right there on the field.[/quote]On 3 pitches, no less.

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  35. Aisle424

    [quote name=dylanj]oh aisley, if you think your going to get any cool tweets from me you are going to be sad. im just going to use this to badger goldstein & law about prospects[/quote]
    Deejy, I don’t get cool tweets from a vast majority the people I follow.

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