Eric Girard

Lifelong live-and-die Houston Astros fan, reporter, editor. Never miss a game. There since Bobby Shantz beat Cubs on Day 1.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@MicrophoneMilo Agree. Joe is all about "tomorrow" rather than winning today. Save the bullpen...push starters when its pretty clear his starter is spent.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@AstrosShoulda Need a RH'd bat off bench. I'd sign McCutchen for that tho I would've grabbed Grichick when he was avail. I want vets on bench. Time to give up on these wannabes like Dez & so many others. Hope Salazar chooses FA. But he prob won't & will clear waivers & return to Sugar Land.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@Eman5695 An old-time change purse for mostly men.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@SportsMT He actually looked decent tonite other than the BB. A check-swing oppo single rolled thru the SS hole w Pena playing the middle, & a nice slider that got hit off the foul pole for a 3-run HR. Results weren't good but his stuff was pretty good. OK, rip me now for that observation.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@MicrophoneMilo I don't get it either. Why not Alimber?

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

Great job by Imai! I just hope him throwing 110 pitches doesn't lead to shoulder strain, arm fatique or some other injury. If he bounces back, #Astros my have something!

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

Today's predictable #Astros non-hitting vs. Brewers fireballer Misiorowski is why Friday's ugly loss hurts so bad. Sac fly, slow roller, passed ball, hit, HBP, WP-anything- would've been a 5-4 walkoff win. Or by not being nice guys/idiots for bringing in Abreu leading 4-3 late!

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@VinnysCorner1 Sonny Jackson, Bob Lillis.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

I figured Isaac Paredes would hit well against this Brewers' fireball since he's almost always early on most ordinary fastballs and breaking pitches. Sure enough, he's ripped the ball 3x with only 1 hit. 2 other balls he's hit to LC and to the track in left could've been doubles.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@michaelschwab13 You mean SHOULD HAVE!

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@DDelgattoNFL They'll IL Shewmake for starters i'd imagine. Dez likely goes. Me? I'd like a veteran right-handed OFer for the bench rather than Lopey right away. Let Loperfido & Trammell alternate, whoever's hottest. Can anyone say Andrew McCutchen, Canha, Grichick? Ok, everyone, rip me...lol.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@hayton_loyd He's a FA after 2026 & in desperate need to reclaim his dominance as a lights-out setup guy likely to be viewed as a closer ($18-$20M) as a FA. So yes, he should consider (maybe WELCOME was too strong) going to AAA to fix whatever's wrong. And there's DEFINITELY something wrong!

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

Unless I'm wrong, the #Astros could send BAbreu to AAA w his approval since he's been in the bigs 5 years. With the Stros AAA team only 15 miles away I'd think he'd welcome a demotion to work on issues (velo, control) that are hurting him in his walk year & killing the team.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@AngelMoscoso22 Yeah, i'm the ONLY #Astros fan who thought a Giolito signing was a decent idea at the time. Stros pitching was atrocious! Imai sucked, Teng was a RP, Arrighetti was in AAA & Lambert hadn't established himself. So I suggest signing a guy w a track record! What an idiot i was! Lol.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@JeremyBranham It saved $8M. Important at the time. That + moving Dubon put Stros in position to do something at the deadline. Who knew it probably isn't going to be needed now? Still think Astros will be light sellers. Not Yordan tho. Mariners will run off w the division. No WC from AL West!

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@iceboxinsiders You must have. BRICE was put in for defense the half inning before. I feel Joe's big mistake was "hitting" Vasquez for Salazar. Sally almost always makes contact. 3 Ks in 22 PA. Brewers were NEVER going to pitch to Vasquez. He's been good w RISP. That's managing 101. ANTICIPATE!

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

@TopherT613 Don't need a hit. Need what Sally does--medium flyball or hard grounder to right side. With infield in that might get it done if slightly pulled. Vasquez was a sure IBB and "Mr. Strikeout" Brice Matthews up next. Let Salazar take a shot at it. I like it better than Vasquez there.

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

Espada decides to manage & blows the game! Why not King to start the 8th up 4-3? Or Blubaugh! Not Abreu in a 1-run game late! And why not let Salazar face Uribe? Lefty who most often makes contact. Pena on 3B. Medium fly wins it! #Astros should of won, instead hand Brewers a win!

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

Salazar's K'd only 3x in 22 PAs. He doesn't hit for avg, but hits medium-to-deep flyballs or rolls over. With infield in, a hard grounder to the right side could win it! NO WAY they pitch to PH Vasquez who's been good w RISP! K-machine Matthews up next? Geez, that's MANAGING 101!

[Eric Girard @ericpgirard]

Should've let Salazar hit w runners on 2d and 3d, 1 out! Lefty who almost ALWAYS makes contact, often mid-OF flyballs. Poor managing! You knew they'd walk Vasquez! And you knew Brice would K. Ugh!