Miguel Tejada's Noodle Arm Exacerbates Brian Moehler's Lousy Pitching

Moehler wasn't exactly sharp in the first, needing 6 pitches to K Stubbs, 6 pitches to get Janish to FO to Bourn, throwing 6 pitches to Votto before he golfed an inside sinker into the RF stands.

He was even less sharp in the second - struck out Bruce, then gave up consecutive singles before getting Hannigan to ground out. Then with men on second and third, he got 2 quick strikes on the pitcher, then just could NOT throw another strike, and walked him.

Then stuff happened. Stubbs grounded to short and Miggy Tejada, instead of throwing to second - and the slow pitcher running, made a weak throw to first and the very fast Stubbs beat the throw. THAT one was on Miggy - he SHOULD have gotten the out. Moehler gave up another RBI single to left to Janish, then Joey Votto hit a double to center. Miggy was the cutoff man, and his throw to home was simply terrible - hit the dirt way in front of Coste and skipped under him and Janish, who SHOULD have been a dead duck, scored. Actually, NONE of those runs would have scored had Miggy thrown to the right base with bases loaded.

You know, we are playing the 4th place team, nothing is on the line. We can't play the young guys WHY???

Kaz homers in the bottom of the inning, but the Astros are already losing 6-1 and really, the game is OVAH. We can't pull the Old Guys and put in the rookies, now, WHY???

In the top of the third, Jay Bruce hits a ball softly to shallow left - Clank ambles over to get it, but Bruce is barrelling into second and Clank's weakass throw is waaaay offline, as usual. Remember Biggio playing left? Yeah, I'm trying to forget it, too.

I don't know whether or not Dave Clark has any say over who plays, but unless he has been specifically instructed not to play Johnson, Manzella or Maysonet, his refusal to play them takes himself off my future Astros manager list.

I'm soooooo tired of this.

Wesley Wright came in to rescue Moehler in the top of the third with men on first and third, 1 out, and got a 5-4-3 GIDP. He pitched 2 more innings, giving up a solo homer and 2 singles, but no other runs. He's going to winter ball to see if he can stretch himself into starting. I guess he'd be the #5 guy, taking Moehler's place.

Speaking, by the way of starting, the Astros have shut down Bud Norris for the rest of the year, a sensible precaution, for once. And also, Moehler needs knee surgery - wonder if that why he had such a lousy night.

Wilton Lopez, who will apparently take Norris' next start, pitched the 6th and 7th. He's not very good. To be nice about it. He gave up 2 singles, then, with men on first and second, got a popup to short. Stubbs was caught off second, but Miggy made such a bad throw to Kaz from only 15' away that Stubbs was able to scramble back easily. Only getting one out instead of 2 made the difference in the inning and a 2 run single scored both runners after Lopez got the second out.

I keep hearing all these Astros fans wanting us to re-sign Miggy to play 3rd - I don't THINK so - he won't be able to throw almost anyone out.

Any good news?

Batting righty, Lance hit a homer over the tracks - the roof was open tonight.

Chad Paronto pitched his first scoreless 1,2,3 inning. Byrdak pitched a scoreless inning, and

Th-th-th-that's all folks.