BIG AL McMORDIE
NATIONAL LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK [ MLB ]
At 8:05pm our selection is on the Milwaukee Brewers over the Houston Astros. If there was an award for a player who is carrying his team on his back more than any other in baseball, that award would have to go to Houston's Lance Berkman. Berkman leads his team in every offensive category and is a serious threat for the National League Triple Crown (he'd be leading in all three Triple Crown categories were it not for the Braves' Chipper Jones batting well over .400 right now). Unfortunately, nobody is carrying Houston's pitching the way Berkman is carrying the offense. Normal ace Roy Oswalt is clearly struggling trying still to overcome his nagging injuries and the rest of the rotation is having their share of problems as well. Tonight's starter, righthander Brandon Backe, has decent numbers on the year, until you look at his home vs. away splits. At the normally hitter-friendly home park of Minute Maid, Backe is a very respectable 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA but away from home, he is a dreadful 1-4 with a 5.46 ERA. Milwaukee lefthander Manny Parra is just the opposite of Backe with a 1-2 record and 6.95 ERA on the road and 1-0 with 3.62 ERA at home. This obviously bodes well for Milwaukee and not so well for Houston tonight. Add to this the fact that Houston apparently doesn't like Milwaukee very much as it is 1-7 in its last eight meetings in this city. Take the Brewers.
NATIONAL LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK [ MLB ]
At 8:05pm our selection is on the Milwaukee Brewers over the Houston Astros. If there was an award for a player who is carrying his team on his back more than any other in baseball, that award would have to go to Houston's Lance Berkman. Berkman leads his team in every offensive category and is a serious threat for the National League Triple Crown (he'd be leading in all three Triple Crown categories were it not for the Braves' Chipper Jones batting well over .400 right now). Unfortunately, nobody is carrying Houston's pitching the way Berkman is carrying the offense. Normal ace Roy Oswalt is clearly struggling trying still to overcome his nagging injuries and the rest of the rotation is having their share of problems as well. Tonight's starter, righthander Brandon Backe, has decent numbers on the year, until you look at his home vs. away splits. At the normally hitter-friendly home park of Minute Maid, Backe is a very respectable 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA but away from home, he is a dreadful 1-4 with a 5.46 ERA. Milwaukee lefthander Manny Parra is just the opposite of Backe with a 1-2 record and 6.95 ERA on the road and 1-0 with 3.62 ERA at home. This obviously bodes well for Milwaukee and not so well for Houston tonight. Add to this the fact that Houston apparently doesn't like Milwaukee very much as it is 1-7 in its last eight meetings in this city. Take the Brewers.
