Astros give it away, Please say no to Ponson

Sure the Astros should have won their game Sunday and thus their series against the Cardinals, but they couldn't make the simple plays. The box score will show a couple of errors and will show 5 unearned runs, but it's really more than that.
Wandy Rodriguez was just cruising through the lineup, he hits a Ryan Ludwick, then induces the easiest double play ball possible to his stone-handed third baseman. Ty Wigginton got no outs, when he should have had two. Rodriguez might have even completed the game had this play not been butchered, and had Bourn and Pence not fouled up a pop up later in the inning - at least the damage would have been held to 4 runs. There were two plays that gave the Cardinals an extra 3 outs in one inning that's the killer.
The offense was marginally better over the weekend, but not nearly enough to compensate their no better than average pitching and defense.
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J.R. Towles played Saturday and Sunday for the Round Rock Express in Memphis. He went 0-3 Saturday with a walk and 2 Ks. But followed that up Sunday just a triple shy of the cycle. That was his first career HR at AAA, he now has 50 career ABs at RR, with a batting average of .300. He'll be back soon. No later than the all-star break, but likely sooner.
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For those who think signing Sidney Ponson is a good idea, I'll respectfully disagree. First off, the Rangers have the worst ERA in the majors, and they still let him loose. He had a decent season thus far, but his low-ish ERA (3.88) was aided by 12 unearned runs that have been scored against him. He had more terrible games than good ones - and that includes a complete game! He's allowed 4 runs or more in 6 of his 9 starts. His 3.88 ERA has him 61st in the majors, however his .307 batting average against has him 137th. Behind every single one of the Astros current starters, even Chris Sampson. Here are his ERA's in his last 4 stops prior to this year.

6.22 (2005-Balt)
10.47 (2006-NYY)
5.24 (2006-Stl)
6.93 (2007-Min)

Rangers manger Ron Washington had this to say...

"We'll survive," Washington said. "Did (Ponson's release) set the Minnesota Twins back? Did it set the Yankees back? He was pitching well ... but I don't miss him."

Ponson's next team will be his 7th since 2003. I don't really care if there are players in the Astros clubhouse who think he could help them, that's why they are players and not GMs. Ponson just simply isn't that good.

I didn't even need to get into that the guy is a bigger disaster when he's not on the mound.

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