The "we suck real bad & I'm sick of it" thread

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Ok, I'm really stinkin' effin' mad and disgusted with this team :angry: They completely and utterly suck, I'ev never seen such depth of sucking, from now on when someone under-achieves with a great amount of mediocrity, people will say, "Oh wow! They astro'd, too bad," that is how much we suck.

So I wanted to start a thread here for myself and anyone else who wanted to purge their discontentment ... Even if you don't like the Astros but your own team sucks and you're sick of it, this is your home, su casa, a haven and refuge for all disappointed fans out there.

Let's kick it off with this subtitle: Brad Ausmus, you are certainly one of the main reasons my Astros suck real bad right now! Pretty obvious from his quote below that he's all but given up, and that makes him a frickin' male organ with ears in my book, a quitter, and definitely one of the reasons we totally suck right now ... The real icing on the cake would be if you moved to East BF Egypt, Bradley, and took your effin' Dartmouth education and all your suckass friends with you, puh-lease!





Clemens tunes up for All-Star Game
Barry M Bloom / MLB.com (http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/hou/news/hou_news.jsp?ymd=20040706&content_id=790593&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp)

SAN DIEGO -- The farthest thing from his mind was starting the All-Star Game in Houston next Tuesday night, Roger Clemens said.

But the prospect hasn't escaped his Astros teammates, who are grasping for something positive as they go stumbling into the break, a season-high eight games behind St. Louis in the National League Central after Monday night's 2-1 loss to the Padres at PETCO Park.

"The real icing on the cake would be for us to turn the ship around and go to the postseason," :angry: said Astros catcher Brad Ausmus, who said he has gone to school this season catching the Hall of Fame-bound Clemens for the first time. "It would be a nice opportunity for him to start in Houston in front of his friends and family. He's certainly earned it."

"I think he ought to be the starter in Houston," said friend and fellow hurler Andy Pettitte. "It would be a nice little thing."

The season wasn't supposed to be this way for the Astros, who nabbed Pettitte away from the Yankees via free agency and then coaxed Clemens out of retirement. The two, pitching close to home, were supposed to bring their winning ways south from New York to the Astros, who've never been to the World Series in their 42-year history.

But it hasn't happened. The Yankees continue to win. They've been to the playoffs every year since 1995. Pettitte won the World Series four times there and went to the Fall Classic six times. Clemens won in 1999 and 2000 and lost in 2001 and 2003. In his previous 15 years as a non-Yankee, Clemens only went to the World Series once, losing with the Red Sox in 1986.

Clemens, who's 10-2 with a 2.54 earned run average, still pitches with the same grit and gusto.

"I get excited to see guys like that," said Padres first baseman Ryan Klesko, who singled home the winning run in the eighth inning against Dan Miceli after Clemens had left the game. " It challenges your level of play and this guy has been around for so long, he knows how to pitch. He paints the corners. He's a power pitcher who knows what he's doing and that makes it tough."

But the magic and mysticism obviously has remained in the Bronx. Asked if he was having any fun, Clemens didn't mince any words.

"Losing is no fun, brother," he said.

Pettitte had a pained look on his face. The left-hander has been hurt for most of the first half, limited to just nine starts.

"There's nothing good about that," he said. "I've been hurt the whole season. It's been a disappointing year so far. The circumstances could be a lot nicer, you know?"

After ripping off nine wins in his first nine decisions, Clemens became the rage pitching in the National League for the first time. But the good times ended on June 14 when the Cubs shelled him at Minute Maid Park. Inclusive of that game, Clemens is 1-2 with two consecutive no-decisions in his last five starts.

In his last two, he's allowed only two runs and eight hits, while walking nine and striking out 12, allowing only three hits in seven innings against the Padres. The low-scoring Astros lost by a single run in each. Thus, neither the team nor Clemens had anything to show for the effort.

"I've been through many years of this," said the 41-year-old Clemens, who has 320 career wins and is in his 21st season. "You go out there and try to do the job and give your guys a chance to win. It's disappointing still. You don't like it. Now I've got to get my body ready for the next time out."

Clemens "tweaked" his right knee early in Monday night's game pushing off the rubber. He said he had no choice except to "work through it" and added that he hoped the injury wouldn't hinder him from making his last start before the break -- Saturday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

"It was a little burning feeling," he said. "I think I did it one time before a few years back. I got some treatment, but it didn't go away. It's there. You just deal with it."

Then there's next Tuesday night.

"I don't want to comment on the All-Star Game right now," he said. "I don't think it's appropriate to comment on the All-Star Game when we've just lost this one."

Instead, he let his teammates do the talking.

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Got some more suckage for you, but then, you already knew that, right?! Brian McTaggart and the Houston Chronicle SUCK! McTaggart sucks because this is about as tired of a storyline as I can think of every season about this time. Not to mention he's still complaining about deserving players that were overlooked last friggin' year! :hmm: What a putz! He sucks so bad, he should change his name to Brian McSuckalot.

And the Houston Chronicle sucks just for having Mr. McSuckalot on their payroll, as well as countless zillions of prior offenses in my eye. They suck, and they belong in this thread since this is the Suck Bad Thread.






A FEW MORE GOOD MEN
Rule requiring each team to have All-Star means worthy players often miss out on spot

Brian McTaggart / Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/2664600)

HOUSTON, 06 JULY 04 --- Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez led the American League in ERA last season but didn't make the All-Star team. Neither did New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who had a 1.75 ERA with 16 saves at the break in 2003.

Instead, players like Tampa Bay closer Lance Carter — who? — and Pittsburgh closer Mike Williams, who had a 6.29 ERA and four blown saves, made the team.

Welcome to the flawed system of picking the All-Stars.

This year's selections weren't without head scratchers, either, but expect that trend to continue as long as there's a rule requiring one player from each team to make the All-Star Game.

"I don't know that I like that rule," said Astros outfielder Lance Berkman, who was selected as a reserve for next Tuesday's All-Star Game at Minute Maid Park. "I think sometimes the guys should make it that deserve to make it."

Even though the rosters were expanded to 32 in each league last year, the All-Star managers still find themselves having to make questionable choices.

Because at least one player from each team has to make the roster and because there are 12 spots reserved for pitchers, managers often are forced to pick an undeserving pitcher over a deserving position player.

The biggest example of that in this year's selections is Montreal Expos pitcher Livan Hernandez, who is 6-7 with a 3.23 ERA. Expos second baseman Jose Vidro (who hit .388 in June) would have been a better selection to fill the one-player-from-every-team requirement.

But since Padres second baseman Mark Loretta was chosen by the players, National League manager Jack McKeon didn't opt for having three second basemen on the team, meaning he had to select someone else from the team with the National League's worst record.

Milton among the snubbed
But it's not as if the presence of Hernandez or Vidro in Houston will drive up TV ratings in Montreal ... or Puerto Rico.

While Hernandez gets treated like an All-Star, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Eric Milton, who is tied for the major-league lead with 11 wins (nearly twice as many as Hernandez), will be left at home.

"I'll try not to think about it," Milton said. "I know a lot of other guys were left off."

When it came time for the Marlins' McKeon to make his selections, there were three teams (Expos, Rockies and Brewers) that were not represented from picks by the fans and players.

In addition to Hernandez, McKeon selected Rockies first baseman Todd Helton and Brewers pitchers Ben Sheets and Dan Kolb.

Meanwhile, snubbed players abound, such as Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre (.322, 21 homers, 55 RBIs), Brewers first baseman Lyle Overbay (.340, nine homers, 61 RBIs) and Phillies outfielder Bobby Abreu (.305, 17 homers, 57 RBIs), to name a few.

"They're some guys worthy of going to the All-Star Game who didn't make it," McKeon said. "Very tough choices, really."

Tie an unpopular result
Commissioner Bud Selig, who took heat two years ago when the All-Star Game finished in a 7-7 tie after the managers ran out of pitching, remains a believer in allowing one player from each team to make the All-Star Game.

"I generally think that's a good thing," Selig said. "I think it separates teams not to have a representative, and with the expanded rosters, I don't think it's a problem. However, with all the changes we've made, I think that one is worth looking at."

Expanding the rosters and giving players, managers and coaches a say in the selection process for the first time since 1969 weren't the most significant changes made to the All-Star Game last year.

Adding incentive
In the wake of the disaster of the 2002 tie in Milwaukee, Major League Baseball decided to place added importance on the game by awarding home-field advantage in the World Series to the league that wins that year's All-Star Game.

Selig said that decision wasn't in response to what happened in 2002 but to increase interest in the game. Some players said they noticed more intensity in last year's game, while others didn't.

The AL rallied from 6-3 down in the seventh to win the game 7-6, giving home-field advantage to the New York Yankees in the World Series. The Marlins beat the Yankees in six games, clinching the title at Yankee Stadium.

MLB will revisit the rule that awards the winner of the All-Star Game home-field advantage, but it should explore some other changes, such as using the designated hitter each season.

With so many great hitters on each team, pitchers shouldn't have to bat, as will be the case this year with the game in an NL stadium. Wouldn't we rather see Jim Thome hit in the NL lineup instead of Roger Clemens?

Baseball has the most popular All-Star game among the four major sports leagues, but that doesn't mean it couldn't stand improvements. Selecting the best players, no matter which team they play for, might be a good place to start.

"If someone came up with a good case for doing it some other way, I'd be open to listening," Selig said. "I'm not married to that tradition."

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http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/frick_bios/images/hamilton_milo.jpg
Milo Hamiton really sucks! It means a double-suck whammy when you listen to the team on the radio and they lose. One suck is for the team losing, and the double-suck whammy part is having to hear Milo's "call" of the game! A popular game for Astros fans who listen to Milo is "Guess what the score is?" They have to guess because Milo rarely gives out information like the score, the count, where the runners are, anything even remotely related to the game on the field, because he's too damn busy reading promos and worrying about the next time he gets to use his sickening "Holy Toledo!" utterance.

Milo sucks big ones, the Astros suck for having him on their payroll, and the Hall of Fame, where the photo of Milo taken about 50 years ago comes from, they suck as well for letting him into their supposed hallowed halls ... One more suck goes to Milo's plastic surgeon now that I think about it since Milo hasn't aged as much as he should've by now.

[rockin500]

:eek: ausmus should be drawn and quartered for that comment.

at least it looks like someone has their priorities straight (mr. roger)

[Astro Annie]

My way of dealing with things is to write songs about them.

Astros Keep Losing Games
(to the tune of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?")

Where has all the hitting gone?
For the Astros
Where has all the hitting gone?
Home and away
Where has all the hitting gone?
Making quick outs everyone
Astros keep losing games
Astros keep losing games

Where has all the pitching gone?
For the Astros
Where has all the pitching gone?
Home and away
Where has all the pitching gone?
Gave up longballs everyone
Astros keep losing games
Astros keep losing games

Where has all the defense gone?
For the Astros
Where has all the defense gone?
Home and away
Where has all the defense gone?
Making errors everyone
Astros keep losing games
Astros keep losing games

[Nanner]

The word "suck" ........it's sort of cleansing, isn't it. Sort of. I've been using it alot this season myself. :(

That Milo guy would drive me nuts.

Good song, Annie.

Just thought I'd come on here and commiserate, as long as you opened it up to "disappointed fans everywhere."

I feel your pain.

[Sandy]

Haven't the Astros long wanted to be as good as the Braves?

Well at 42-41 - they finally are!!! :)

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They have basically ruined my entire week, another fine example of how much they suck ... I made it until the 7th inning (about midnight) on Monday, and made it the whole game last night ... They've cost me a good five hours of sleep already, and still have five more losses, er, games to go on the west coast.

Please, Gerry, PLEASE! Dump Jimy NOW!

[PissedPrincess]

:bonehead :bonehead :bonehead

[barzilla]

There I was on vacation. I'm sitting at BOB and I see the Rangers putting up runs by the touchdown. I'm thinking to my self that Drayton better fire Jimy's sorry *** by the time I get back home. Instead I keep reading stories that just make me more irate and I can't vent with you guys while I'm on the trip.

1) Astros bring up Chris Burke only to play Jose Vizcaino in all but one of the games Burke has been up for. Jimy's comment: "I don't have any problem playing younger players." Really? You could have fooled me. Jimy as the friendly manager to young players is the biggest load of crap I have ever seen.

2) The Astros throw their support behind Jimy. Okay, I guess you have to do this and the fact that they are saying it proves you are thinking about it, but the entire city of Houston (outside of the Chronicle and the Astros organization) is begging for him to be fired. Give the people what they want. I don't know that the club wants to see the fans reaction when Jimy is announced at the all-star game.

[Astro Annie]

The reason the Astros are throwing their support behind Jimy is because his days are numbered but he's on the All Star squad, so they can't let him go until after the ASG without casting a shadow on the ASG and they are so not going to do that.

[PissedPrincess]

Wait.........Jimy is on the All-Star squad?

:laff:

What MORON asked him to be a coach?

[Astro Annie]

It's geographical nepotism. Because the game's in Houston. McKeon didn't pick him for his excellent skills or his charming personality. Why, he could be the worst in all of baseball and McKeon would've still picked him.

[Sandy]

Why, he could be the worst in all of baseball ...

I read that and thought - "No, this is Jimy we're talking about. The most he could ever do would be the SECOND worst. Finishing first - just not his style.

[barzilla]

Ouch, Sandy, very ouch. I love it though.

[metmagic]

:devillol willie you are too funny when you're mad

[barzilla]

Dab nab it! Dab nab it!

Let me ask a few boneheaded questions:

1. What in the hell is Brandon Duckworth still doing in our organization? Wouldn't his spot in AAA be better used on someone with actual talent?

2. Why was he called up?

3. Will we be subjected to "Duckworth gave us eleven key outs tonight." kind of talk from our beloved manager?

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See, this is what pisses me off. The Astros made this move yet neither the MLB nor ESPN sites list it. I'm assuming Burke was sent down to make room for Quackworth? :notme:


.

[Toy Cannon]

See, this is what pisses me off. The Astros made this move yet neither the MLB nor ESPN sites list it. I'm assuming Burke was sent down to make room for Quackworth? :notme:.

http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=2012182

San Diego-AP -- The Houston Astros recalled right-hander Brandon Duckworth from Triple-A New Orleans after last night's game against the San Diego Padres.

Duckworth is scheduled to start tonight at Los Angeles. He was one-and-one with a seven-point-56 earned-run average with the Astros this season before being optioned to New Orleans on June Tenth.

To make room for Duckworth, Houston optioned infielder Chris Burke to New Orleans.

[barzilla]

Yeah, that was a pretty fruitless move wasn't it?

[Astro Annie]

At least now Burke won't be rusting on the bench.

[barzilla]

Okay guys, it's time for a game we haven't played in awhile. I'm going to give you stats for three players and you're going to tell me which one you think was better and thus you would want to listen to as a hitter. Okay, here goes

. . . . . .PA. . . .BB. . . .SO. . . .OBP. . . .SLG
Player A . 9401. . . 805. . . 1069. . . .342. . . .436
Player B . 9817. . . 634. . . 1602. . . .308. . . .434
Player C . .906. . . .81. . . . 126. . . .306. . . .348

Before I go with my picks let me break this down using some key statistics affecting the Astros. If I look at the Astros lineup I can think of a few problems.

1. This team strikes out far too often in key situations and well......anytime.
2. When this team has struggled it tends to hit a lot of singles and little else.
3. OBP should always be a concern for this club and any club. We have several good OBP guys (Bagwell, Beltran, Berkman, and Ensberg to a lesser extent) but we also have some free swingers (Kent, Everett, Ausmus) that could benefit from a little coaching in that area.

. . . . . .BB per PA. . .SO per PA. . .EBH per PA. . .ISP
Player A . .8 per 100. . .11 per 100. . .8 per 100. . . .082
Player B . .6 per 100. . .16 per 100. . .9 per 100. . . .053
Player C . .9 per 100. . .14 per 100. . .6 per 100. . . .069

For those that are wondering, ISP stands for Isolated patience. I simply subtracted batting average from on base percentage to get the difference. I think these last few are more instructive than the first series. Obviously, Player A seems to be the better player nearly across the board. Yet, when we look at the BB per plate appearance we notice that Player C is actually superior. Yet, Player A is better than Player C in all of the other categories. Player B obviously has more experience and more pop in his bat than Player C so he would probably be preferrable.

Who would my pick be for hitting instructor? I would go with Player A because he was a better hitter and had a better approach to hitting than the other two. He walked more often and struck out fewer times than Player B. I would have a hard time listening to player C. He played less than two seasons worth of PA and was not good in that time. So, essentially it would go Player A, Player B, then Player C. If we could somehow get Player A in there we might see fewer Ks and more walks. Okay, now for the unmasking.

Player A= Don Baylor
Player B= Gary Gaetti
Player C= Harry Spilman

[rockin500]

i doubt you are getting baylor anytime soon. he seems to have gotten hidalgo back on track not to mention Matsui.

[barzilla]

Not as a hitting coach of course but as the manager. I'm not really sure what the rules are on coaches leaving for another during the season. I'm assuming they can't leave laterally but can they leave if they are getting a promotion from bench coach to manager?

[PopTop]

My guess is it's up to each individual contract and whether or not a team will allow another team to even speak to a coach about any interest. But I seriously doubt Baylor would be leaving the Mets unless it was a managerial job with a contract guaranteed through 2006 or so.

:bball:

[AveUguy]

There’s an old Chinese proverb that goes “The voyage of a thousand miles begins with just one step”.

I totally agree. Everywhere he’s been, it’s been a total disaster.

Fire Jimy Williams

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“The voyage of a thousand miles begins with just one step.”

Fire Jimy Williams

:thumbsup:

[barzilla]

Amen Ave, however I would be careful about long-term contracts with managers at this point. I made the same point in the Red Sox forum on Francona. Grady Little was so demonized that anyone looked good in comparison. Well now....... I think we need to keep that in mind with Jimy. Sources close to the team say he will be fired on Wednesday, but Baylor had mixed results in Chicago and Colorado. I think he would be better, but is he the best choice? Think of it like beer. Everyone knows that Old Milwaukee and Stros Light are bad beers. Replacing them with Bud Light or Miller Light may be an improvement but wouldn't you rather have Beck's or Guiness?

[Toy Cannon]

Stros Light
You talking about beer or Jimy?

[rockin500]

hey old milwaukee isnt thaaaaaaaat bad. lol ;)

baylor is a better hitting coach than a manager