Yardbarker: Brian Moehler

Mets Rumors and Speculation : The Off-season has begun!

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:35:34 -0500

MLB Trade Rumors has offered some interested tidbits to what the NY Media has been talking about since the secondary collapse:

Ken Davidoff suggests the Mets patch up their bullpen with Francisco Rodriguez. It'd be an obvious overreaction, and would ignore past history of big money tossed at relievers. The Mets had a firsthand look with their own Billy Wagner signing. $43MM for 193.3 innings - was it worth it?

David Lennon believes Luis Castillo is as good as gone, though I'd be surprised if eating half of his contract is enough. Would Castillo get a three-year, $9MM deal on the open market right now given numerous palatable one-year options?

Adam Rubin sees the Mets trading Castillo, Aaron Heilman, and Scott Schoeneweis (he suggests eating 90% of Castillo's contract).

As for the rotation, Lennon doesn't see the Mets involved on C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets, A.J. Burnett, Oliver Perez, or Pedro Martinez. I imagine the Mets will add one starter to follow Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, and John Maine though. Freddy Garcia could make sense. Rubin says Derek Lowe and Brian Moehler are rumored possibilities, though Moehler already re-signed with Houston for '09.

Bob Klapisch wonders if the Mets should consider trading Jose Reyes, David Wright, or Carlos Beltran to shake up the team.

Bucs Win!

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:56:10 -0500

To be honest, I didn't pay much attention to this one. The game wasn't on TV so I just checked in on the internet every once in a while.

Barthmaier didn't pitch badly but only lasted 3 innings (2 runs). His pitch count was running a bit high and he hasn't pitched in awhile, so I guess that makes sense.

The offense put together lots of hits off Brian Moehler, who lasted a grand total of 1 inning (5 runs). The bullpen held together enough, and it was raised for the 2nd-to-last home game of the year.

(for some reason this shows up real big when I use another computer)

GameDay #155 vs. Astros

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:11:14 -0500

Astros (81-72) at Pirates (64-90)

7:05--PNC Park, Pittsburgh

Brian Moehler (11-7, 4.33) vs. Jimmy Barthmaier (0-1, 27.00)

[Preview]

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Once again, the Pirates are playing second fiddle to college football (even though they're bringing in Lynyrd Skynyrd to sell tickets). Pitt beat Iowa today at Heinz Field, 21-20.

Don't panic at Jimmy B's ERA. He started one game and was knocked around by the Rays, Barthmaier has actually been pretty good in the minor leagues, so it's nice we get a look at him here. He's a former product of Houston's system, so that'd be cool if he silences their playoff hopes.

Game 148 Thread / Cubs @ Astros (kinda) 2 of 2

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:29:14 -0500

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	*Ted Lilly	SP	Brian Moehler
	14-9, 4.29, 166 K, 60 BB, 184.2 IP		11-6, 4.16, 76 K, 33 BB, 138.1 IP

LF	Alfonso Soriano	CF	Reggie Abercrombie
2B	*Mike Fontenot	2B	Mark Loretta
1B	Derrek Lee	SS	Miguel Tejada
3B	Aramis Ramirez	1B	#Lance Berkman
RF	*Micah Hoffpauir	RF	Hunter Pence
C	Geovany Soto	3B	Jose Castillo
CF	*Jim Edmonds	LF	*Darin Erstad
SS	Ronny Cedeno	C	Humberto Quintero
P	*Ted Lilly	P	Brian Moehler

This sure is a tough turn-around. It's like partying all night, hooking up with a few perfect 10 models and then having to drag your ass back to your job the next morning. Only your job is located in a city that smells either like fermenting yeast or a tannery depending on which way the wind blows (true story, that is how Milwaukee smells).

Cubs go for the sweep (I guess) with Ted "Knockout" Lilly on the mound. The only way to top last night's game is either a perfect game or a four homer game by one of our hitters. I expect nothing less.

Cubs at Astros in Milwaukee open game thread

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:37:36 -0500

B-REF PREVIEW | GAMEDAY | WEATHER | ACB CHAT ROOM Brian Moehler vs. Cubs hitters: .303/.346/.559 in 152 at-bats Ted Lilly vs. Astros hitters: .177/.241/.291 in 175 at-bats When and Where: 1:05, CSN Well, there's a pretty good chance today's game won't be as exciting as last night's game. Brian Moehler has started 3 games against the Cubs this season and has thrown 17 innings and allowed only 4 earned runs. Jim Edmonds has 6 home runs against Moehler. Lilly has faced the Astros twice in 2008 and has thrown 12.1 innings and has allowed 10 hits and 3 earned runs. Lilly has pretty much dominated every Astros hitter.

Cubs at Astros in Milwaukee open game thread

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:37:36 -0500

Bargain Hunting: Mark Hendrickson

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:18:52 -0500

Marlins Opening Day starter Mark Hendrickson has made for a great long reliever in the bullpen and will likely find a good role with a new team in 2009. While he is 7-8 with a 5.50 ERA, he has a 2.28 ERA coming out of the bullpen and said he figured out what was wrong and it has made all the difference: ''I'll keep that between me and myself,'' he said when asked about the adjustment. ``I hit a stretch [as a starter] in the middle of the year, and I know exactly where it came from.''

As for a team that could benefit from his services, the Astros make a lot of sense. Astros GM Ed Wade signed Brian Moehler, who is a spot starter, and he has greatly helped the Astros. Bringing in Hendrickson in a similar role could really help the pitching starved Astros. Another team that would benefit from Hendrickson is the Cardinals, who may lose two pitchers to the bullpen (Wainwright and Carpenter) and two pitchers to free agency (Lohse and Looper). Hendrickson could come in at a low price and serve as a spot starter, who is very familiar with the NL Central.

Astros Extend Erstad, Moehler

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:39:41 -0500

According to MLB.com's Karen Oliphant, the Astros have extended both Darin Ertad and Brian Moehler through 2009. Erstad, who is hitting .292 with 3 HR in 119 games, will receive 1.75 million dollars plus incentives while Moehler, who is 9-5 with a 3.99 ERA, will make 2.3 million dollars with an option for 2010. "We just thought that if we had a chance to move it forward we'd take advantage of it," said general manager Ed Wade. "They both epitomize the professionalism that we pride ourselves on and also are very talented guys. Their presence on the club speaks for itself."

GM Ed Wade was smart to get these two contracts out of the way, mostly because it will allow him to focus on bigger, more pressing issues in the off season.

Mets Pitching Matchups vs Astros (8/22-8/25)

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:20:03 -0500

Friday, August 22

Shea Stadium | 7:10 PM ET

Roy Oswalt, RHP (11-8, 4.28)
Astros (64-63)

Johan Santana, LHP (11-7, 2.75)
Mets (71-57)

Scouting Report:

Astros: Astros manager Cecil Cooper called Oswalt's last start the second-best outing he has seen from the ace. In the start, Oswalt one-hit the Diamondbacks over eight innings. The right-hander struck out 10, tying his season high, and walked two. He gave up four runs on six hits in his previous start against New York, taking a no-decision over six innings.

Mets: The overstated, unrealistic expectations the public developed when the Mets acquired Santana were met on Sunday, when the left-hander shut out the Pirates on three hits and no walks. Santana managed that partially because the young Pirates hitters weren't particularly selective about Santana's pitches and because plate umpire Ed Hickox had a strike zone that would have been the envy of Tom Glavine and other strike-zone stretchers. Santana threw 113 pitches, few of them stressful, in pitching his fifth big league shutout. Next, he faces the team he opposed on Aug. 2. That start produced a no-decision in a 10-inning Mets loss. Santana allowed one run on three hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings in the outing.

Saturday, August 23

Shea Stadium | 7:10 PM ET

Brandon Backe, RHP (7-12, 5.62)
Astros (64-63)

John Maine, RHP (10-7, 3.82)
Mets (71-57)

Scouting Report:

Astros: Backe's rollercoaster season took another nose dive in his last start, when he gave up 11 runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Diamondbacks. Backe has shown control at times and lacked command at others, so the Astros aren't quite sure what they will get from start to start. He got a no-decision in his last start against the Mets this season, giving up three runs on 10 hits in six innings, and he is 1-2 all time against the Mets.

Mets: Maine's sore shoulder is likely to limit him to about 100 pitches per start. And pitching coach Dan Warthen says Maine's fastball likely will be compromised for the rest of the season. Maine has pitched five innings in each of his last two starts and has exceeded five once in six starts. He hasn't faced the Astros this season.

Sunday, August 24

Shea Stadium | 1:10 PM ET

Randy Wolf, LHP (8-11, 4.81)
Astros (64-63)

Oliver Perez, LHP (9-7, 3.93)
Mets (71-57)

Scouting Report:

Astros: Wolf was ineffective in his last outing, allowing six earned runs over four innings in a loss to the Brewers. He yielded five runs in the fourth inning, including a two-run single to pitcher CC Sabathia. Wolf, a former Phillie, has extensive experience against the Mets. This year, he's 2-0 against them with a 0.75 ERA, having yielded one run over 13 innings. Lifetime versus the Mets, he's 11-5 with a 3.25 ERA over 27 games, all starts.

Mets: Perez pitched through control problems on Tuesday but managed to hold the Mets within range, allowing three runs to the Braves in 6 1/3 innings. Five walks proved his lack of command in the no-decision, but manager Jerry Manuel could still say after the game that Perez is one of his most consistent starters. All of the damage came in the third inning after Perez loaded the bases with no outs. But he'd survive, handing off to Mexican countryman Luis Ayala in the seventh inning with two on. He'll next face the Astros, against whom he holds a 2-2 record with a 3.31 ERA in 35 1/3 innings.

Monday, August 25

Shea Stadium | 7:10 PM ET

Brian Moehler, RHP (9-4, 3.87)
Astros (64-63)

Mike Pelfrey, RHP (12-8, 3.86)
Mets (71-57)

Scouting Report:

Astros: Despite feeling off mechanically, Moehler earned his ninth win of the season in his last start, holding the Brewers to two runs (one earned) over 5 1/3 innings to extend his winning streak to five. The right-hander hasn't lost since July 4 and since then has logged five wins and three no-decisions. Moehler last faced the Reds in Cincinnati on Aug. 9, when he allowed one run over seven innings in a winning effort.

Mets: Pelfrey put aside manager Jerry Manuel's concerns that the 24-year-old would tire late in the season, surviving all nine innings Wednesday and holding the Braves to three runs on three hits. After loading the bases in the sixth, Pelfrey maturely utilized the hard sink on his pitches to induce a key double play ball, limiting the inning's run total to two. Pelfrey said after the game that he was more efficient because he was marking the catcher's glove at precise locations rather than firing it in toward the plate, throwing 62 of his 108 pitches for strikes Wednesday. While he didn't face the Astros during the two teams' last encounter, he has struggled against them with a 6.32 ERA in 15 2/3 career innings.

Inside The Box August 20th Edition

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:53:38 -0500

Today's look shows a guy pitching his way out of a guaranteed $24 million, a hitter chasing 40-40, BABIP explaining hot reliever and a cold starter, a reminder to not chase saves on draft day and lots more.

Tighten Up

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:51:32 -0500

Thank you, Archie Bell and the Drells, for inspiring your fellow Houstonians to "tighten up" tonight. Brian Moehler didn't fall prey to the same stupid mistakes as did Randy Wolf in the fourth inning of Monday night's game, and CC Sabathia wasn't pitching for the other team, so everything worked out nicely. Moehler was hardly [...]

MLB Weekly Sleepers - Week 20

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:51:17 -0500

Screaming Sports' Tommy D breaks out another edition of MLB Sleepers and runs down a quick list of potential needles (in a haystack - get it?) for the upcoming week. So, who could surprise some unsuspecting opponents this week? Only one way to find out ... click it.

No-Hit Bids Spoiled

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:30:48 -0500

Amidst all the trade deadline madness, pitchers around the majors had some terrific performances. John Lackey took a no-hit bid into the 9th while Doug Davis had a perfect game spoiled in the seventh. They weren't the only ones to have pitched well either as teams continue to look for deals to help themselves in the race down the stretch.

Cubs lose in 9th

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:21:24 -0500

Just a couple of things. Lilly pitched a very good game. Fukudome needs to be moved down to the 8th spot in the order. He is not good at baseball. Zambrano's offensive VORP is almost equal to Fukudome's in 330 fewer plate appearances. Brian Moehler pitched around Ryan fucking Theriot with a runner on 2nd to face Fukudome. Very good defender, but sucks ass at the plate.

Cubs at Astros open game thread

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:30:10 -0500

B-REF PREVIEW | GAMEDAY | WEATHER | ACB CHAT ROOM Brian Moehler vs. Cubs hitters: .343/.393/.648 in 108 at-bats Ted Lilly vs. Astros hitters: .171/.240/.379 in 140 at-bats When and Where: 7:05 pm, WGN The Cubs begin the "2nd half" with a 4-game lead tonight. They've hit Moehler really well. Edmonds has hit 5 home runs against him. Mark Loretta has a couple home runs against Lilly and is about the only Astros hitter to have any success against him.