Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Intentionally Walking Davis to Get to Bass

Years and years ago the Astros had a power hitter, Glenn Davis . During the course of one particular game, I couldn’t tell you which game now, the opposing team had a meeting on the mound and came to the decision to intentionally walk Davis and take their chances with the next batter, Kevin Bass .

The way I remember it, the next pitch left the yard scoring who ever was on at the time they walked Davis, along with Davis and Bass. From that day on there’s always that glimmer of a smile anytime an opposing team walks an Astro’s power hitter in favor of the next batter. Regardless of their names; it will always be, “they walked Davis to get to Bass” if the next batter knocks one over the fence.

Tonight was such a night. The Astros had a slight lead against the first place St. Louis Cardinals. We had runners on 2nd and third with Tejada, a hot bat, coming to the plate. They signaled the intentional pass and I called out to Lucy, in the other room working on the computer, “They’re walking Davis to get to Bass”.

A short porch Grand Slam into the Crawford Boxes, maybe the second row, was very rewarding as the Astros padded their lead. Blum followed on the very next pitch with a solo shot over the right field wall. The Astros needed all those runs as they brought in a Triple A batting practice pitcher to relieve Wandy Rodriguez, giving up four quick runs before being yanked.

Tomorrow the Astros go for a sweep, Oswalt against Carpenter making the National League Central look like Wal-Marts parking lot on the 4th of July; should be a lot of fun.

No comments: