here's to being optimistic...

Astros lost.. not only lost their opening day game, they lost to the PIRATES. This is the team that in the same homestand both Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt scored a home run. The same team that in one night at least half the lineup had gotten at least 1 RBI (runner batted in... in other terms, a point). The team that finished next to last in the NL Central. I have a name for my problem and it's Brad Lidge, he gave up a home run that ended the little lead that the offense could get. The minute I start to think 'wow he's actually doing good' he gives up the home run in the 9th inning. It went into 10 innings and Chad Qualls gave up a 2 run home run to Jason Bay. It wouldn't be as bad as a loss if Brad Lidge wasn't the one to screw it up. I believe they said his ERA (Earned Run Average) went up from 2005 from 2.5 to 5.0 or somewhere around there. A designated Closer shouldn't have a high ERA, they come into the game for the final innings to throw a few pitches to keep the lead, something he used to be able to do.

Look how his average innings pitched (IP) was in the 90s in 2004 and he only gave up 57 hits, but in the next 2 years his innings decrease and the number of hits and runs (R) increase, and look at the increase for runs in 2006. His strike out count decreased (SO), and last year he gave up way too many walks (BB) and just look at that ERA.

Year	Team	W	L	ERA	G	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
2004	HOU	6	5	1.90	80	94.2	57	21	20	8	30	157
2005	HOU	4	4	2.29	70	70.2	58	21	18	5	23	103
2006	HOU	1	5	5.28	78	75.0	69	47	44	10	36	104

But in good news Biggio got a hit, so now he's at 2,931 career hits. Pretty good for a guy who's on his 20th season in baseball. Now they have a counter at Minute Maid Park to track his hits, I guess my homemade one from last season wasn't good enough.. haha..