...Not too bad a way to start the second half by taking 2 of 3 from the Chicago Cubs. Too bad the loss was a 9-0 shutout...
...The Astros and Pirates seem to be playing hot potato with last place. Last night, Houston blew a 9th inning 3-2 lead when Jose Valverde went out and threw batting practice when he was supposed to be saving the game. Valverde's line on the game: a third of an inning pitched, five hits, six earled runs, one walk, no strikeouts and two home runs. He's now 4-3 with a 4.86 ERA. Both teams left a combined 25 runners on base.
...Wandy Rodriguez now longer feels lonely, now that the Houston Astros have added another lefthander to the starting rotation. They've acquired lefty starter Randy Wolf today from the San Diego Padres. Wolf, 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts this season, was acquired for minor league righty Chad Reineke.
Astros GM Ed "Wood" Wade likes this guy, which worries me. Didn't Wade also like what he saw in Shawn Chacon and Jason Jennings?
They say that Wolf recently bought a Los Angeles-area home once owned by former Guns-N-Roses lead guitarist Slash. Does this mean that Wolf will make his appearances wearing long black curly locks and a top hat? Perhaps the smoke from his cigarette will seek to confuse the hitters. Or mabe when he enters a game they'll play the opening guitar riff from "Sweet Child O' Mine".
CINCINNATI -- The Padres found a willing trade partner for left-handed pitcher Randy Wolf on Tuesday, sending the veteran to the Astros for Minor League right-handed pitcher Chad Reineke.
Wolf was 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season.
