Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
October 19, 2004
Welcome Aboard!

It seems a lot of fair weather fans are jumping on the Houston bandwagon. They're more than welcome there.

From declines in workplace productivity on game days, to specials at Church's Chicken, Astros mania has ensnared the masses.

"It's so amazing — I'm the biggest Astros fan in the world," said JoAnna Garcia, 20, of Baytown, after Houston's 3-0 win over St. Louis Monday night. "We're going all the way. We believe. We're so proud. We're going to the World Series."

Unlike their counterparts in some cities, longtime fans aren't complaining about the "Johnny-and Jilly-come-latelies." In fact, they're doing the opposite.

"I'm OK with that," said Rob Turlak, 48. "You are going to have them in any sport. The more the merrier."

I love the decline in workplace productivity line. That harkens back to the old days when the World Series was played in day light and people at work and in school gathered around the radio to listen to the game.

I'm still waiting for Lisa Gray to report on the game. (Update: Here it is).

Meanwhile, Cardinals fans are in pain. Brian has criticism for La Russa as well:

As for Tony La Russa, like yesterday I admired two of his moves and disagreed strongly with a third. The good moves were (1) pinch-hitting John Mabry in the 8th (it took Woody out of the game, but you need to score runs before you can even think about winning), and (2) bringing in Izzy in a tie game in the 8th (finally, I thought, La Russa is learning exactly how to run his bullpen).

But the move that cost him -- and cost him dearly -- was walking Berkman intentionally to bring up Kent. I don't say this in hindsight either. I thought it was a bad move at the time; I think it's a bad move now. Consider: after Beltran stole a base and moved into scoring position (big surprise, huh?), the Cards faced one out, runner on second, and -- this is key -- two strikes on Lance Berkman. It was a 2-2 count and yet La Russa walked him anyway.

Check out the stats he uses to back this up at his site.

Finally, a look at the best vs. depth issue:

Batting AverageCardinalsAstros
Big 4 (2-5 hitters).347.333
Others.126.185

Beltran, Bagwell, Berkman and Kent have been able to keep up with Walker, Pujols, Rolen and Edmonds. The Astros have gotten relatively better production from the rest of their lineup.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:32 AM | League Championship Series | TrackBack (0)
Comments

blog entry up. finally. (click on url)

that was the nerve-wrackinest, nail-bitinest game i EVER been to in my LIFE. 2 hours and 33 minutes of gut -twistin, heart-pounding, non-stop thrill of incredible pitching from our hometown boys (both starters) throwin 8 innings of 1 hit ball. And Jeff Kent finally out Barrying Barry. It took over an HOUR to get thru the crowds of screaming, elated people and the snarl of honking cars of celebrating happy stro fans. So by the time i got home, we wuz TARD and so hyped up it wuz hard to fall asleep and thank goodness it's an off day cuz i need it.

oh, and for those of yall that wanna hop on our bandwagon, welcome aboard!!!

GO STROS!!!!!!

Posted by: lisa gray at October 19, 2004 11:02 AM

blog entry up. finally. (click on url)

that was the nerve-wrackinest, nail-bitinest game i EVER been to in my LIFE. 2 hours and 33 minutes of gut -twistin, heart-pounding, non-stop thrill of incredible pitching from our hometown boys (both starters) throwin 8 innings of 1 hit ball. And Jeff Kent finally out Barrying Barry. It took over an HOUR to get thru the crowds of screaming, elated people and the snarl of honking cars of celebrating happy stro fans. So by the time i got home, we wuz TARD and so hyped up it wuz hard to fall asleep and thank goodness it's an off day cuz i need it.

oh, and for those of yall that wanna hop on our bandwagon, welcome aboard!!!

GO STROS!!!!!!

Posted by: lisa gray at October 19, 2004 11:03 AM

The Astros bandwagon reminds me of the Angels bandwagon in 2002. That's a good thing; Angels attendance figures are way up over the past 3 years. One championship run can turn a whole city full of kids into lifelong fans.

People talk about bandwagons as if they're bad things, but how many old-time Yankee fans, say, became fans because of the great Yankee teams of the 50s or the early 60s? Everybody was a bandwagon jumper at some point. I know I first became a Dodger fan in 1981, the Fernandomania year.

Posted by: Adam Villani at October 19, 2004 11:30 AM

the more fans on the bandwagon, the more season tickets and merchandise. the more tickets and stuff, the more dough to sign carlos!!!

and i tell you that astros fever is REAL - i mean, i see more stros stuff and we're the lead in story on tv, BEFORE effing football. REALLY. so, ALL ABOARD!!

GO STROS!!!

Posted by: lisa gray at October 19, 2004 11:46 AM

The bandwagon is fun for the first year. After that, it becomes annoying, because we all get painted as bandwagon fans.

Posted by: Larry Mahnken at October 19, 2004 11:49 AM

I started on the Yankees' bandwagon in 1969. Of course I didn't know much, being 4 at the time, I just liked the cool logo.

It'd be nice to have Beltran in pinstripes, but I could live with him staying in Houston. We're going to need another frontline starter first. (not Pedro)

Posted by: Robert at October 19, 2004 12:41 PM

well, larry,

i think there are a LOT of people who don't notice a team until they get press for winning, or get a star (like roger clemens this year)

BUT, having said that, unless your parents are fans and you are sorta a fan from birth, a person's gota sign on sometime. and it's not that baseball isn't popular around here - we have a lot of good HS players, rice, u of h. it's that we don't get much press because we're not on the east coast.

if someone's from ny like you, i figger you are probably a real fan, not the bandwagon.

and there are a lot of people who like to see playoff games. one of the guys sitting next to us sun hardly knew ANY baseball at all, he just wanted to see a "playoff game." for goodness sake, i had to explain why you use a double switch!!! and why the pitcher sac bunts!!!! i know there are men who don't like sports (my daddy for one) but i think it's weird to go to a playoff game of a sport you don't even follow....

Posted by: lisa gray at October 19, 2004 01:22 PM

While the euphoria of a dramatic Houston victory seems to have completely blinded every easily influenced baseball reject from sea to shining sea, these lemmings for the box office have completely ignored the fact that they must first go through St. Louis, in St. Louis (you're the wild card, remember?). These fans are betting on continued token resistence from the battle-tested, high-octane Cardinals' lineup. Oh by the way, Astros bullpen, ahh, not so much. On top of this daunting task, there's something else called the American League. Yeah, that's right, there are two, superb baseball clubs that are vying for the same oppertunity as the upstart Astros. Whoever comes out of the AL (Yanks, or so says this man) is going to be so enflamed and ready to play that I don't see how anything short of four pitching gems is going to stop their absolutely explosive lineups. This isn't even factoring in the mediocre bullpen maintained by the Lone Star boys. With some rest, the counterpart bullpens (especially the Bronx Bombers) will be ready for any amount of Astros slugging. I just can't see any feasible scneario where Houston would come out on top. Hell! They haven't won a single playoff series till now!

So enjoy the orgy of Astros popularity now, swine. But beware the wrath of the explosive American League representative.

Posted by: Outside Observer at October 19, 2004 04:57 PM