A baseball career: My journal

[antidan444]

May 5, 2014 -- Astros (17-8) at Red Sox (16-10)

This was the opener of a three-game series between two division leaders with the two best records in the AL, and for early May, there's a lot of press here.We're being considered the upstart underdogs, and that has all of us a little fired up. We're pitching and playing defense as well as anybody in baseball.

This was mostly a game of missed opportunities, as we stranded 12 runners and they stranded 10. It went into extra innings tied at 2, but Marwin Gonzalez (3-for-4) doubled in the winning run in the 10th and we won the opener.

I warmed up in the sixth and thought I might get in when Bud Norris struggled in the seventh (3 walks), but he got out of the jam and I have to wait for another day.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Villar, Altuve 2-4, BB each
Miley 6 1/3 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 4 Ks
Parra (W, 4-1) 2 innings, 0 hits/runs/walks, 1 K
* Our closer has a 2.14 ERA despite blowing a couple games early this season.

[antidan444]

May 6, 2014 -- Astros (18-8) at Red Sox (16-11)

Boston had 16 hits. We had four. That about sums today up.

The Red Sox lit up Jeff Karstens for six runs in 1 2/3 innings and won 7-1, snapping our five-game winning streak. It could have been much worse. I was a little disappointed I didn't get multiple innings, but geez, that's being whiny. I got to pitch the eighth ...

EIGHTH INNING

Dustin Pedroia -- A first-pitch groundout to third.
Will Middlebrooks -- He lined out to center on a low 1-0 sinker. I made a good pitch, but still got a little lucky.
Mike Carp -- I got luckier here, as I threw a fat one and he lined out to second for a 1-2-3 inning.

RED SOX HIGHLIGHTS
Jackie Bradley Jr., Pedroia, Shane Victorino 3 hits each

DAN'S GAME STATS: 1 inning, 0 hits/runs/walks/Ks
DAN'S SEASON STATS: 9 2/3 innings, 9 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 5 Ks, 1.86 ERA

[antidan444]

May 7, 2014 -- Astros (18-9) at Red Sox (17-11)

We led 3-1 in the eighth, with Chris Capuano rolling along, until Shane Victorino mashed a massive game-tying two-run shot. Shane Victorino, who knew?!? They estimated it at 445 feet. Edward Mujica got the call in the ninth and promptly gave up two singles. An intentional walk loaded the bases and David Ortiz hit a sac fly to deep center as we took the 4-3 loss and dropped 2 of 3 in the series.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Dominguez 2-3, 2 RBIs
Springer 2-4, RBI
Capuano 8 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 2 Ks

[antidan444]

May 8, 2014 -- Indians (10-17) at Astros (18-10)

For seven innings, Ian Kennedy and Justin Masterson went toe-to-toe in a scoreless pitchers' duel. In the eighth, Edward Mujica relieved Kennedy, and two errors (one his own on a bad throw following a sac bunt) got him in hot water. He almost got out of it, but with two outs and the sacks packed, Nick Swisher drilled a three-run double to the left corner for a 3-0 Indians lead.

Dead and buried, right? Heck no! We finally got to Masterson in the bottom of the eighth. Justin Maxwell doubled and scored on an outfield error. Jonathan Villar's single helped set up Jose Altuve's sac fly to cut the lead to 3-2, and Jason Castro tied it with an RBI single.

Bud Norris pitched well in relief for us, and we won it in the 10th after George Springer led off with a double. An intentional walk and an unintentional walk loaded the bases and Matt Dominguez hit a sac fly to end things.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Kennedy 7 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 10 Ks (1.79 ERA, a Cy Young candidate early)
Castro 3-4
Norris (W, 1-0) 2 1/3 innings, 0 hits/runs/walks, 4 Ks

INDIANS HIGHLIGHT
Masterson 8 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 0 walks, 7 Ks

[antidan444]

May 9, 2014 -- Indians (10-18) at Astros (19-10)

Nick Swisher's three-run HR in the fourth put us in a 3-0 hole, but we rallied back behind solo homers by Jason Castro and Chris Carter to tie the game at 3. In the eighth, Castro hit his second homer of the game to give us a 4-3 lead.

Manny Parra came on in the ninth, but after a four-pitch walk, he motioned to the dugout and was taken out. His diagnosis is pending, and if he's out for any real length of time it could shake the whole bullpen up ... which could be good for me, personally. But Parra was 4-1 with six saves and a 2.14 ERA, so it is a bad loss for the team.

Bud Norris got the save opportunity and, after booting a comebacker to put two runners on with no outs, he retired the next three to finish our victory.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS (other than Castro and Carter)
Francis (W, 4-1) 8 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 4 Ks (2.59 ERA)

[Tyler87898]

Just started reading it today. Really like it so far and it reminds me of the old "Inside the Park Baseball" game (wish there was a new one).

[antidan444]

May 10, 2014 -- Indians (10-19) at Astros (20-10)

The Indians' starting lineup included five players hitting below .200. It showed as we won 4-1, but I didn't get the chance to pad my stats.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Villar, Altuve 2-4, RBI each
Parmelee 2B, 2 RBIs
Miley (W, 2-3) 8 innings, 6 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 3 Ks
Edward Mujica got the save in the ninth. No word yet on Parra's injury.

[antidan444]

May 11, 2014 -- Indians (10-20) at Astros (21-10)

Jeff Karstens gave up four runs in the first inning -- including back-to-back homers to Hunter Pence and Nick Swisher -- and we never recovered in an 8-2 loss. Karstens was gone after 3 1/3 innings, having given up 6 runs on 10 hits.

You't think after four straight days without pitching, and this one being a blowout early, that I'd get some time. But once again, I sat as three other guys trotted out there. I lost my cool. I asked to see manager Bo Porter and GM Jeff Luhnow in the office, and I flat out asked them, "If I'm not going to get into close games, and I'm also not going to get into blowouts, what the hell am I doing here?!? I'm going to pitch all of 40 innings at this rate and waste a season when I should be starting somewhere else and getting my innings in. This is total crap." I basically got a lot of "I understand" but not a lot of answers. Whatever.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Castro 2-4, HR (he might be the AL MVP right now, more on that soon)
Villar, Dominguez 2-4 each

BULLPEN UPDATES
Manny Parra was placed on the 60-day DL with shoulder inflammation that is expected to keep him out 4 months. My role apparently will not change. Bud Norris will step into the closer role, and Wil Ledezma was signed to fill the bullpen opening.

[antidan444]

May 13, 2014 -- Mariners (17-15) at Astros (21-11)

Ian Kennedy gave up an uncharacteristic (for this season, anyway) 2-run homer to Mike Zunino in the first inning, then returned to his bizarro 2014 Cy Young self. George Springer tied the game in the fifth with a two-run single, and it stayed that way to the 10th.

Marwin Gonzalez, getting a rare game at short, booted a two-out grounder and it led to Zunino's go-ahead RBI double to the left corner, followed by Nick Franklin's RBI single, as we lost 4-2. Bud Norris, the new closer (who entered in the ninth), took the loss but should have been out of the 10th.

What, you thought I might pitch? LOL, dude ... El ... oh ... el.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Castro 3-5
Kennedy 7 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 8 Ks

[antidan444]

May 14, 2014 -- Mariners (18-15) at Astros (21-12)

Chris Capuano got through the first inning, then left the game and will likely miss a few weeks with an apparent oblique strain. I hate to admit it, but I was already fuming at the thought that they might not let me pitch again. Those fears were unfounded.

Mike Morse hit a three-run homer off Jarred Cosart in the sixth to give the M's a 4-1 lead, and that's when I was called in. There were no outs yet.

SIXTH INNING

Kyle Seager -- He hit the highest bouncer off the plate I have ever seen, and I had to wait for an eternity for it to come down to me. I hurried the throw to first and got him by a split-second. I'm pretty fortunate I didn't throw it away, as I didn't even have time to set my feet.
Justin Smoak -- He lined a 1-0 sinker to right for a single.
Nick Franklin -- He swung through two straight sinkers and took a seat.
Michael Saunders -- He popped the first pitch up to short.

Chris Parmelee jacked a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to pull us into a 4-4 tie. Sweet!

SEVENTH INNING

Stefen Romero -- He grounded a good 1-2 sinker to second.
Leon Landry -- I hung a 2-2 curve and he smoked it to center, but right at Maxwell. Got away with that one.
Dustin Ackley -- He grounded a 1-1 sinker to short.

Jonathan Villar hit an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-4 lead, and Edward Mujica and Bud Norris pitched a hitless eighth and ninth as I got my first MLB victory!

DAN'S GAME STATS: 2 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs/walks, 1 K, win (1-0)
DAN'S SEASON STATS: 11 2/3 innings, 10 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 6 Ks, 1.54 ERA

After the game I was informed that I should get more opportunities with Bud Norris sliding back into the rotation and Mujica taking over the closer's role.

[sportsfan80]

Hi,

Good read btw ... maybe this is the time where you spice things up like while being summoned in the 7th, there was this beautiful girl in the stand that caught your eyes and then one thing lead to another.

[antidan444]

I came darn close to writing something along those lines about four games ago.

[antidan444]

May 15 2014 -- Mariners (18-16) at Astros (22-12)

Wade Miley gave up two-run homers to Mike Morse in the first and Justin Smoak in the seventh, while Dillon Gee took a two-hit shutout into the eighth for the M's. We knocked Gee out with two singles to start the eighth but only scored one run in the frame. Seth Smith's RBI double in the ninth gave Seattle a 5-1 lead.

We made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth, with Justin Maxwell's two-run homer and doubles by Jason Castro and Matt Dominguez cutting the lead to 5-4 and getting the crowd into it. But a strikeout sent the fans home disappointed, and we lost 2 of 3 in the series.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Martinez 2-3
Castro, Singleton 2-4 each

MARINERS HIGHLIGHTS
Gee (W, 3-2) 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, 7 Ks

[antidan444]

May 16, 2014 -- Athletics (20-14) at Astros (22-13)

The AL West has turned into a real dogfight with us, the A's and the M's all playing well. It's way too early to really sweat pennant races but it's nice to be competitive.

We won 6-5 in the 11th on three walks and an error. Nice to be handed a win. I didn't get in.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Altuve 3-4
Castro 2-4, 4 RBIs

-----

EDITOR'S NOTE: I accidentally simmed this game instead of playing it out, which is why there aren't more details.



Here's the mid-May glance at the Astros some MLB stats. Note the early-season MVP and Cy Young cases being made by Jason Castro and Ian Kennedy.

[antidan444]

May 17, 2014 -- Athletics (20-15) at Astros (23-13)

This was a good old-fashioned butt-kicking and we were on the wrong side of it ... and I didn't escape unharmed. The As put a 16-5 shellacking on us with 20 hits. Jeff Karstens gave up a three-run homer to Daric Barton in the second, and he was gone after 2 2/3 innings (six runs on nine hits), his second straight horrendous outing (12 runs over last 6 innings).

It was 12-5 in the ninth, with no outs and a runner on first, when I got the call.

NINTH INNING

Daric Barton -- He grounded a perfect double-play ball to Jonathan Villar at short, but he threw it over the second baseman's head. That's the kind of day it was.
Derek Norris -- I threw a really good 1-1 changeup and he was out in front and flew out to left.
Josh Reddick -- I threw a pretty poor sinker that he blooped to left for an RBI single.
Yoenis Cespedes -- I fell behind 2-0 and threw a pretty good sinker, but at 2-0 he knew it was coming and drilled it to the gap in right for an RBI double.
Michael Choice -- Struck him out on a 1-2 sinker.
Eric Sogard -- I threw a poor 2-2 sinker that he lined to the left corner for a two-run double.
Shane Peterson -- He flew out to left on the first pitch to end a bad outing by me.

Even though I didn't get charged with any earned runs, I know I didn't do well.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Castro 3-4
Altuve 3-5
Villar 2-5, HR, 2 RBIs

ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHT
Shane Peterson 4-5, 2 doubles, 7 RBIs

DAN'S GAME STATS: 1 inning, 3 hits, 3 runs (zero earned), 0 walks, 1 K
DAN'S SEASON STATS: 12 2/3 innings, 13 hits, 5 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, 7 Ks, 1.42 ERA

[antidan444]

May 18, 2014 -- Athletics (21-15) at Astros (23-14)

Bud Norris was solid through five innings for us, but he began to tire and gave up two homers in the sixth and one in the seventh as we fell behind 5-0. I got the call in the seventh with two outs and runners on first and third ...

SEVENTH INNING

Michael Choice -- I threw a good 0-1 slider and he grounded out to third to end the inning.

EIGHTH INNING

Zach Lutz -- I got ahead 0-2, he battled back to 2-2 and wasn't fooled by my changeup, launching it for a leadoff homer and a 6-0 lead. I didn't think it was THAT bad a pitch ... did I tip it?
Scott Sizemore -- He helped me out by swinging at a 3-2 sinker that may have been a ball up and in, grounding out to third.
Jed Lowrie -- I left a first-pitch changeup right over the heart and he crushed it for a double to the left corner. This was a poor pitch, but still, they're not being deceived by the speed difference at all, and I suspect they might have a scouting report on something I'm doing to tip the pitch. Ugh.
Jemele Weeks -- I got behind 2-0 and 3-1, and he hit an RBI single for a 7-0 lead.
Derek Norris -- I fell behind 2-0 again, and he lined out to second, with Altuve making a leaping catch.
Josh Reddick -- I threw a pretty good 1-1 backdoor slider ... and he crushed it the other way (to left) for a two-run homer. That was a ridiculous piece of hitting.

They hit a couple good pitches hard, but mostly I was crap and the four earned runs allowed today sort of makes things even for not getting charged with any yesterday (when I was almost equally crappy).

The whole team has been crap the last two games, as we lost 12-1 today to follow yesterday's butt-kicking. We couldn't solve Dan Straily today (CG, 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 9 Ks, win, 5-1).

The AL West standings have tightened up. We still lead by a half-game over the A's, with the M's two games back and the Rangers 2 1/2 back.

DAN'S GAME STATS: 1 inning, 4 hits, 4 runs, 0 walks/Ks
DAN'S SEASON STATS: 13 2/3 innings, 17 hits, 9 runs (6 earned), 2 walks, 7 Ks, 3.95 ERA

[antidan444]

May 19, 2014 -- Astros (23-15) at Indians (12-24)

Ina Kennedy continued his amazing season through seven shutout innings tonight. He was at 104 pitches when Porter left him in for the eighth. Kennedy has regularly pitched into the high-110s this season, but it caught up to him today, as Carlos Santana's RBI single was followed by Yan Gomez's two-run homer, and a 4-0 lead became 4-3 quickly.

Edward Mujica came on in the ninth and couldn't hold the lead, as Stephen Drew led off with a double to the gap in left, went to third on a sac bunt and scored on a deep sac fly to force extra innings.

In the 10th, Jason Castro tripled to the left gap and Chris Parmelee hit a two-out, two-run homer -- his second of the game -- to give us a 6-4 lead.

Given a second chance to nail it down, Mujica blew it again, with help from an error at short by Jonathan Villar. After a walk, Nick Swisher hit an RBI double to the left corner, and Drew followed with a walk-off two-run double to the right corner as we lost our third straight and fell out of first place in the AL West, trailing Oakland by a half-game.

Let's face it: Our pitching has been poor (more the bullpen than Kennedy today), and our fielding hasn't been all that great in the last week. Castro continues to hit the heck out of the ball, but we're not playing very well at all overall.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Parmelee 3-4, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs
Castro 2-4
Kennedy 7 1/3 innings, 10 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 9 Ks

[antidan444]

May 20, 2014 -- Astros (23-16) at Indians (13-24)

The first inning was a disaster. We lost LF J.D. Martinez (a very good fielder) to an injury, and Wade Miley got torched for five runs.

We fought back with a run here and a run there, and suddenly it was tied at 5 when we scored two in the top of the sixth. Miley did well to keep them to five runs while we fought back, but then he gave up Hunter Pence's solo homer to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and Wil Ledezma gave up two more runs in the inning (one was on an error by Jonathan Villar at short). That was enough to doom us to an 8-6 loss, our fourth straight (2-7 over last nine), as we fell 1 1/2 games behind the A's.

ASTROS HIGHLIGHTS
Castro 2-4
Villar, Altuve 2-5 each

[antidan444]

UPDATE

While the forums were down, I got impatient and simmed through a significant chunk of the season. The Astros as a whole have struggled, and Kauffman wasn't immune to it, blowing a pair of games on three-run homers. (He hasnt been as bad as Edward Mujica, though! Mujica has blown seven saves, including a couple in dramatic, hilarious fashion).

Here's a few screenshots with all the pertinent info, to be followed with a surprise that will work as the re-launching point for Kauffman's story ...

[antidan444]

July 1, 2014

With the struggles by starting pitcher Bud Norris, GM Jeff Luhnow and manager Bo Porter called me into the office today and told me that I was being moved into the starting rotation! I will be making my first major league start tomorrow at home against the Chicago Cubs (interestingly enough, my dad's favorite team. He's going to be conflicted!) There's no guarantees how long I'll remain in the rotation, and it's almost certainly going to be performance based.

As always, I have some goals I want to achieve:

1. Limit the walks. I can control my control.

2. Try to cut down on the number of gopherballs. I've given up far too many home runs in relief. The primary cure for this is to get ahead in counts, so I intend to be very aggressive in the zone early in at-bats.

3. Get through six. Our bullpen has issues (as I'm well aware), so I want to get deep into games and take some pressure off those guys.

Any start of 6+ innings, surrendering four or fewer runs, is good enough for me. I don't need to be spectacular, just consistently solid.

I haven't been this excited in a long time! I don't want to go back in the pen anytime soon.

SIDE NOTE: I just realized Chris Capuano comes off the DL the day after Kauffman's start, so this probably won't last long. Phooey. However, Capuano is "wrecked" so who knows how long he'll last.