Todd Van Poppel. He is 1-1 in 18.1 IP with a 2.95 ERA in his last 3 starts. His last start he went 6 1/3 shutout innings against the Phils.

Zambrano's going for the Cubs, and he got rocked last time out against the Pirates. But he's good, and I expect him be strong tonight. The only hope for the 'Stros is that Van Poppel out slings him, I don't see the Reds' scrubs scoring many runs.

Meaniwhile the 'Stros have to face a pretty tough lefty in Doug Davis. He's 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA in 7 starts. COuple this with the fact that Redding's on the hill (the astros never score when he pitches), and it could be a tough one tonight at Minute Maid.

Also Redding is winless in 4 starts against the Brew Crew this year.


I can sense the slightest human suffering.
Sensing anything now?

If only Miller was pitching @MIL.

The Brew Crew gives us fits, maybe its becuase early in the season we dont have the focus we need against teams like MIL, wishful thinking probably.

I think the law of averages should have Zambrano on pace for a shelling, hes been lights out since the break.

Heres to hoping for an Astros win and Cubs lose tonight.



[This message has been edited by SCAT BACK (edited 9/25/2003 2:52p).]

Plain and simple - the Stros have to sweep the Brew Crew to force a playoff. I don't see the Cubs splitting their last four games.

I doubt the Cubs lose at all, esp. at home.


I can sense the slightest human suffering.
Sensing anything now?

The Cubs will lose one, bet the farm.

The balls in our court. we HAVE to sweep.

If they end in a tie, don't the Cubs win the division due to head-to-head record ?

No, there would be a one game playoff.


If we both finished in a tie for the wild card and division, the Cubs would get the division and we would get the wild card.

If the stros and cubs tie there is a one game tie-breaker at Wrigley

Are you sure ? In 2001, the Astros and Cardinals ended with the same record. There wasn't a playoff - the Astros won the division and the Cards got the Wild Card because the Astros had the better head-to-head record.

Edit : Never mind - just confirmed the playoff game from the Chronicle. Just seems weird that they didn't have a one game playoff in 2001.

[This message has been edited by CoppellAg93 (edited 9/25/2003 3:49p).]

thats because the record we had were good enough to win the wild card, leaving the divison open, thus houston got the divison and the cards got the wild card.

this year the wild card wont come from the central, the marlins/phillies will take the wild card (east) leaving only one spot to come from the central.

so if we and the cubs finish with the same record there will be a one game playoff, as prviously stated, at wrigley.

Makes sense now. The winner of the head-to-head gets to have the one game playoff at home.

in the past the home team for the one game playoff has been pre-determined by a coin flip, not based upon the head to head record.

Coin flip agian this year.


I can sense the slightest human suffering.
Sensing anything now?

UT1999 is correct. The Stros lost the coin flip to both the Cubbies and the Cards.

"Forgive your enemies, but remember their names" - JFK

Cheering from the Crawford Boxes tonight! Go Stros! Go Reds!

Analytically, this thing looks like we're dead. I don't give up until it's technically over, and it ain't. If the worthless 'Stros can win all their games, we got a chance.

Uva Uvum Vivendo Varia Fit

What's sad is that Van Poppel and Davis were let go by the Rangers, and both are pitching very well now for their new clubs.

No, what's sad is that Jimy Williams is allowed to manage a major league team! Who wants to bet that Ensberg will be "resting" tonight after hitting two jacks last night? I'm sure Jimy will say something to the effect that Morgan must have been tired after jogging around all of the bases TWICE so I thought I'd give him the night off. Face it, the Cubbies are NL Central Champs this year and......

Jimy Williams Still Sucks!

The one thing that Jimmy Williams HAS done correctly is recognized that the bullpen was the strongest facet of our team...and has used it extensively. My only hope is that the big three won't get burned out.