Old Timer

A Forgetable Memorial Day!

2010-05-31T18:01:00.000-07:00

I really don't like complainers, especially when it is me complaining. But there was lots to complain about or visit to Minute Maid Park this afternoon. First, the advertised holiday version of the Astros caps that were to be given away as promos were not provided. Not even the little American flags that we have received at games on Memorial Day were handed out this year. Can you say, "cost-cutting?"

Then when we got to the kids play area, that the Astros promote in an effort to attract families to the games, most of the activities were not open. We were told that they did not have enough staff to man all them. We had heard that the last three times we had taken to boys to a game, but those were on week nights/school nights. Today was a holiday and there should have been max staff on the job. More budget trimming?

Then the home plate umpire, Bill Hohn, decided he was the center of attention. He had, from our seats right behind the plate, squeezed the strike zone on Astros' pitcher Roy Oswalt. In the third inning Oswalt threw what both he and I thought was strike three to Adam Dunn. Hohn called it a ball, and on the next pitch, Dunn hit a bases loaded double, driving in three runs.

The next batter, Josh Willingham, had a 1-2 count. The next pitch was a fantastic pitch--I saw the replay when I got home and was right about my original opinion--but Hohn called it ball 2. Oswalt turned toward right field and raised his head and shouted. I don't know what word he said, but he was not shouting at the umpire, just expressing frustration.

But Hohn came out from behind the plate and walked toward the mound. He called Roy to attention, and Roy responded by pointing to the umpire. Hohn promptly ejected Oswalt. From there the pitching unraveled and the game got really ugly. The final score was 14-4. Most of the fans had left the building before the last out.

To add to the insanity, twice during the game, idiotic fans jumped the rails and ran across the diamond. Each time security captured the fan and led them away, one in hand cuffs. They will each pay a thousand dollar fine and spend the night in jail. Some fans find the trespassers amusing, but I am not one of those. I enjoy a baseball game, not jerks, whether they are behind the plate or trespassing on the field.

A thoroughly forgettable Memorial Day!

Trading Roy???

2010-05-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

Roy Oswalt has requested a trade. I hate the idea of him not being here. He is the best pitcher the Astros have developed in their history, with the possible exception of Larry Dierker. It has been a real joy to watch him perform.

But the Astros are at least a couple of seasons away from real contention for the playoffs, so perhaps trading Oswalt could expedite the return to respectability. That being true, I do not want to see Roy in another National League uniform. I do not want the 'Stros to have to face him on a regular basis.

So when I heard that Nolan Ryan had called to express interest to Drayton McLane about trading for Oswalt, I began to daydream about what Houston might get from the Rangers in the trade. How would it be if one of the components of the trade were Elvis Andrus or Nelson Cruz? I do not know if the Rangers would part with such players, but it would be the starting place of any conversation, if I were GM.

Seeing Ubaldo

2010-05-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

I got to watch Ubaldo Jimenez in person for the first time tonight. The Colorado Rockies' young pitching phenom is pretty special. He only allowed one hit in seven innings shut out innings, and hit 99 mph on the radar gun several times. And not only does he throw hard, he also has a nasty curve ball that he throws in the high 70's! His change up was clocked at 88 mph. The Astros had very few opportunities to score.

Again Roy Oswalt was the tough luck loser, giving up only 2 earned runs in 6 innings and giving up only three hits. But he was tagged for his sixth loss of the season.One wonders how many wins he would have if he had any run support at all.

Remembering Robin Roberts

2010-05-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

May 31 1957 was a magical night for a young baseball fan from South Texas. My family was visiting my mother's family in Bordentown, New Jersey for a couple of weeks. My dad and my uncle took me to Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia to see my first Major League game in person.

The Phillies' pitcher that night was the awesome right-hander Robin Roberts. He was in the midst of 6 consecutive seasons of 20 wins. And he was facing the Brooklyn Dodger with their awesome line-up, Gilliam, Cimoli, Snider, Furillo, Hodges, Campanella, Neal, Zimmer, and the Don Drysdale as the opposing pitcher.

The game lived up to my imagination. There was excellent pitching and defense. There was a majestic by the great Dodger catcher, Roy Campanella, off the top of the stadium. But Roberts only gave up three hits, pitched a complete game and got the win. For years after that magical night I would want to be a second baseman like Junior Gilliam. And, in my mind, I would pitch, copying Robin Roberts and throwing the perfect pitch in the pressure situation.

Robin Roberts passed away yesterday. But the memory of his mastery will live as long as I do!

Johnny Neun Quote!

2010-04-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

I just read a quote by a man who was in his late eighties and still swinging his fungo in spring training at the time. Johnny Neun had played in the 1920's for Ty Cobb and managed the Yankees and Reds. Young players today would do well to listen.

"It is important to remember how careful you have to be about the way you live your life. It's to your advantage not to do too many things off the field that interfere with your life on the field. You turn on the TV and you hear that some committee or other is investigating things out of someone's past and lives get ruined. When you play this game, you're in the public eye. I once heard a great poet say that if you're going to go public with your life, your life belongs to the public. Be careful with our life. In the long run the thing that's going to be the most precious to you, the thing you're going to treasure all your life, is your peace of mind."

Dig in and make sure you get the full benefit of your natural ability. Only a few of you are going to make the Big Club. But for the others, you ought to be able to leave saying. "I gave it my best." Don't worry about tomorrow. Don't worry about things you have no control over. Do it this way and someone may walk up to you and say, 'you're the one."

Perfect Night at Minute Maid

2010-04-21T11:15:00.001-07:00

Being at a ball game anytime is a great joy, but Tuesday night at Minute Maid was almost as perfect as one could ever expect. The April temperature was about 70 at game time, and not a cloud in the sky. The roof was open and the breeze was blowing gently.

To make things better, we saw the return of Lance Berkman to the line up for the first time, following his time on the disabled list. He was one for four with a double and two runs batted in, giving hope that the offense will be improving in the days ahead. Even Carlos Lee had a hit, also a double, sparking hope that his slump will end soon. J.R. Towles had a couple of hits! Things are looking better.

After giving up hits to the first four Florida hitters, Brett Myers pitched tough enough to keep the Astros in the game. Matt Lindstrom came in and closed out the come from behind win over the Marlins.

It would be hard to find a better day at the ballpark!

Opening Day At Minute Maid '10!!!

2010-04-05T20:33:00.001-07:00

Opening Day has been a huge part of life for my wife and I. We have celebrated 43 anniversaries, 42 of them at Opening Day for the Astros. The only time we missed was when we celebrated our 35th in New York City. We just returned from the 2010 edition.

Roy Oswalt started for the 'Stros against Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants, the reigning back to back Cy Young winner. Oswalt pitched creditably, but not well enough to avoid the loss. He gave up three runs in his six innings of work, while Lincecum did not allow a run in his seven innings of work.

Houston did not hit the ball hard very often tonight. Carlos Lee had a line drive off the wall in left, but the next well struck ball was in the 9th inning when J. R. Towles had a double to left center field to drive in the second run of the evening for Houston.

There were not too many bright spots for the over 43,000 in attendance. I wonder how many fans will be in the stands tomorrow.

Farewell, Mike Cuellar

2010-04-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

When I was reading the sports section of the paper this morning I was saddened to read of the passing of Mike Cuellar. He died of stomach cancer at the age of 72. Seeing his name again reminded me of what a great pitcher Cuellar was, and that he was part of the worst trade in the history of the Astros.

Cuellar came to the Astros in 1965, as the team was moving into the Astrodome and became know as the Astros, after their first three seasons as the Colt .45’s. Mike was a left handed pitcher with a truly wicked screwball. I loved to sit in the bleachers in center field next to the tunnel when he pitched, just to watch the ball dance! Cuellar was a 16 game winner for one of the most woeful teams in the league, in those days after the MLB expansion that brought them into the National League.

I the winter of 1968 the Astros traded Mike Cuellar to the Baltimore Orioles for a first baseman named Curt Blefry. I was outraged at the time. And time only confirmed that the trade was worse than any in team history, worse that Joe Morgan going to the Reds, worse than Kenny Lofton for Eddie Taubensee, the absolute worst! By 1970 Blefry proved to be so worthless that he was traded for a washed up Joe Pepitone!

Cuellar went on to help take the Orioles to three World Series appearances and to be a part of a staff that had four 20 game winners in one season. If Mike had been with the Orioles his whole career he would be in the Hall of Fame.

Farewell, Mike Cuellar.

Just One More Month

2010-01-16T06:26:00.000-08:00

It is getting closer to baseball season, I can feel it. Every day now there is some baseball related story in the newspaper. Two of the Astros arbitration eligible players signed contracts yesterday--Jeff Keppinger and Chris Sampson. In a month the players will be in training camp and we will see pictures on the evening news of the workouts and then Grapefruit League games. I know the football playoffs are going on right now, but for me that is just a diversion till baseball gets back underway!

Astros Add Myers!!!!!

2010-01-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

I was away from home and the media for the first week of the new year, so I was a bit late in hearing that the Houston Astros had made a deal with right handed pitcher Brett Myers. It was a surprised because I did not think the Astros would spend the money for a free agent.

I am pleased that the move was made because I think Myers has a chance to really improve the starting staff this year. And of course that makes there be a chance to have a better season. Myers will likely be the third pitcher in the rotation, behind Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez. That is a lot better than Mike Hampton or Russ Ortiz.

I am feeling a bit of optimism!

Bud Norris to The Bombers!

2009-08-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

I was just looking through the players available on the free agent list for our fantasy league and found that Bud Norris was there. I snapped him up for my pitching staff, hoping to rise from second place to the lead of the league on the strength of his arm!

I am going to watch him pitch tomorrow night at Minute Maid park! Go Bud!

No Swoon in June

2009-07-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

THe Houston Astros had their best month of the season so far in June, finishing with the fourth best record in MLB for the month. That allowed them to get back close to
.500 and within three games of the lead for the division. Their good starting pitching for the month was the biggest improvement. Now if the hitting would pick up a bit and the errors were cut down a bit, the rest of the season could be fun to watch!

Miggy on Fire!

2009-06-02T21:07:00.000-07:00

Miguel Tejada came into the game tonight with a .353 batting average, leading the National League in hitting. Then he was on 4 times tonight, including a game winning home run in the bottom of the eleventh inning. The Astros won the game 3-2 for a four game winning streak. That is a modest streak, but it is a step in the right direction.

Hard to Be Excited!

2009-05-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros are playing so poorly that it is hard to be excited about what the dog days of summer will bring for the team. Their history indicattes that they will not give up and just be washed away by the competition. But just a few days ago I was sitting in the stands watching a game that if they won would have put them only one game under .500 for the season. Roy O. was on the mound with a lead. Relievers could not hold down the Brewers and the offense could not score again, so the game was lost. Followed by a string of losses that has put the 'Stros in the cellar and not showing any signs of getting better. Yesterday they gave up eight unearned runs and lost 8-5 in Cincinnati on a day shen the team had 14 hits. Yuk!

I'd Have Left Him In!

2009-05-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

I went to watch the Astros and the Brewers last night. Roy Oswalt pitched into the seventh inning. He had a 3-1 lead, when he allowed two base-runners with only one out. Ryan Braun, the Brewer's young star, was coming up to bat. The acting manager, after Cecil Cooper had been ejected, decided to bring in Jeff Fulchino to pitch. When he did I told the guy with me that I would have left Oswalt to try to get out of the mess, because he is the best option. He had only thrown 104 pitches and was still throwing 95. When inning was over, the Brewers had scored three runs off three relievers and Oswalt had a no decision.

We will never know how it would have turned out, but I'd have left him in!

Did You See That?

2009-05-10T20:19:00.000-07:00

I watched the Houston Rockets' game against the Los Angeles Lakers this afternoon and I was really shocked, almost as much as the Lakers appeared to be! The Rockets had lost their best player, Yao Ming, to a leg injury. Most expected to see the Lakers dismantle the decimated Rockets, but the reverse was the reality. The Rockets played their hearts out and blasted the Lakers. The final score was only 99-87, but the Lakers never led in the game and trailed by as much as 29 at one time. It was very sweet if you are a Rockets' fan.

Finding the Positives

2009-04-24T08:30:00.001-07:00

The three game series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers finished with a bit of a bitter taste for the 'Stros, because Chad Billingsly pitched a shut out for LA. But the Astros won the series, 2 games to one, and broke the Dodgers' 8 game winning streak. All the starting pitchers pitched well enough, especially Wandy Rodriguez, who only gave up two runs in 7 innings.

Now the chore is to build on the positives when the Brewers arrive for the weekend!

Oh Brother, What a Game!

2009-04-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

My youngest brother, who lives now in Michigan, was in Houston on business yesterday and we were able to meet for the Astros game at Minute Maid Park against the Dodgers. It was about perfect for us.

My brother and I both have a passion for the game, so we appreciate the good players from every team, though we still pull for the Astros first and foremost. So last night we admired the talent of young left handed pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, of the Dodgers and the sweet swing of Manny Ramirez, who hit a mammoth home run.

But the Dodgers could not beeat the Astros this very pleasant night, and my brother and I got to enjoy a few hours together!

Bull Pen Woes

2009-04-21T06:24:00.000-07:00

The Bull Pen of the Houston Astros was supposed to be one of the team's strengths this year, and it may well be over the course of the year. But it was not over the course of the recent weekend.

The Astros played a four game set, in Minute Maid Park, against the Cincinnati Reds and lost three of the games. In all four of the games the starting pitcher lasted at least six innings and gave up three runs or less. But three times the Bull Pen surrendered the winning runs in the late innings.

Such a waste really hurts the chances at respectability! And that does not even mention the lack of clutch hitting that the team has shown thus far!

Two W's in a Row!

2009-04-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

The Astros have won two games in a row now, after having lost five straight. The wins were on the road, in Pittsburgh. Last night they jumped out to an early lead and won 4-1 on the strength of Mike Hampton's best start in years. Today they had to cme from behind 3-1 to post a 6-3 win. Chris Sampson got the victory in relief. The good news is that Michael Bourn continued to hit after having moved back to the lead off spot for the two games!

O's Woes!!!!

2009-04-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros have begun the 2009 season with a 1 win, seven loss record. That is their worst beginning in 25 years. Today they were shut out by Zack Duke of the Pittsburgh Pirates, after having been shut out yesterday by Kyle Lohse of the St. Louis Cardinals. Eighteen innings without a run, only a total of seven hits in those two games; unnacceptable!

Five Homers Is Not Enough!

2009-04-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

Brian Moehler had a good season for the Houston Astros last year. Brian Moehler may have a good season for the Houston Astros this season. But he did not have a good game last night!

When he was pulled in the second inning, the Chicago Cubs had scored 8 runs on their way to a an 11-6 win. The Astros made bid to get back into the game, hitting five home runs, but it was not enough.

Opening Night!

2009-04-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

Last night I got to attend the Opening Night game at Minute Maid Park between the Houston Astros and the Chicago Cubs. It was the 10th year anniversary of the opening of the stadium. I was in attendance at the game in 2000 when Octavio Dotel was the Astros' starter in the first regular season game ever there. It was a very special night.

But the crowd last night was even better, 43,287, which was the largest non-playoff game crowd in Minute Maid history. The game was good, with the starters being Roy Oswalt and Carlos Zambrano. Though the Cubs came away with a 4-2 win, it was good to be back at the "Old Ball Park!"

Novice Fantasy Player!

2009-04-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

I have never played any fantasy sports, mostly because there was a fee and an element of gambling, that I have made a personal decision to avoid in my life. But I recently saw that there was a free league that anyone could join at ESPN.com. I went to check it out and decided to get involved.

I chose a league that did an auto-draft rather than a live draft, where I had no experience. There are ten teams in the league. My roster looks pretty good to me, but I guess I will learn a lot in the next few weeks. The name of my team is Belarus Bombers.

Here is my roster:

Brian McCann, Atl C
Jimmy Rollins, Phi SS
Alexei Ramirez, CWS 2B
Jermaine Dye, CWS OF
Mark DeRosa, Cle 2B, 3B, OF
Brad Hawpe, Col OF DTD
Todd Helton, Col 1B
Chris Young, Ari OF
Chase Utley, Phi 2B
Alex Rios, Tor OF
Alex Gordon, KC 3B
Shane Victorino, Phi OF
Bobby Abreu, LAA OF
B.J. Upton, TB OF
Mike Napoli, LAA C
Shin-Soo Choo, Cle OF

Chris Volstad, Fla SP
Brandon Lyon, Det RP
Justin Verlander, Det SP
Brad Lidge, Phi RP
Erik Bedard, Sea SP
Jair Jurrjens, Atl SP
Carlos Zambrano, ChC SP
Ricky Nolasco, Fla SP
Roy Halladay, Tor SP

What do you think?

(first posted at qassia)

Ticket Draft

2009-03-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

I am one of a group of six that split a pair of season tickets for the Houston Astros baseball games at Minute Maid Park. Four of the guys take ten games each while two of us have twenty games each. Each season we have a draft to determine which games we will get.

We had our draft last night and I had the number one pick, so I will be at Opening Day against the Chicago Cubs next Monday. I expect to see Roy Oswalt as the starting pitcher for Houston and Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs. It will be a wonderful day as the new season opens with all the promise and the excitement!

Miggy Gets Probation!

2009-03-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

Miguel Tejada's immediate playing future was cleared up today when he received probation for having lied to Congress. He was liable for up to a year in jail and a $100,000 fine for his crime, but was given leniency because he plead guilty. He will also have to pay $5000 as his fine, but now he can get on with his preparations for the season without an ax hanging over his head. Let's hope that translates into a good season for him and the Astros!

25 & 7 in the First Round

2009-03-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know how things will turn out for the rest of the NCAA tournament, but my bracket for the first round still looks pretty good. I was correct on 25 of the 32 games, picking a few upsets along the way. The worst miss I made was in picking Butler over LSU, and I missed on Dayton over West Virginia.

But I got the Cleveland State upset over Wake Forest and the Arizona win over Utah. I have CSU beating 'Zona in the second round but losing to Louisville in the Sweet 16.

How's Your bracket looking?

I-Rod to Houston!

2009-03-16T21:14:00.000-07:00

I have watched the Houston Astros throughout their history. The one position for which they have never raised a star player is catcher (I know Biggio began as a catcher). The best catchers have been Brad Ausmus and Alan Ashby. Neither was much of an offensive threat. I am in hopes that the young man the ‘Stros drafted last year out of Stanford, Jason Castro, will be that star catcher we have been waiting for for all these years.
Today it was announced that the Astros have reached an agreement for a one-year contract with Ivan Rodriguez.

He is one of the top catchers of all time. And I believe he will add more offense to the lineup than the departed Ausmus, even though I-rod is well past his prime. Perhaps it was a marketing move based on the horrendous record of the team in Spring Training. I hope Ivan can stay healthy for the season and have a renaissance season that makes the move a remarkable one.

Competition in the Air

2009-03-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

Right now there is extreme competition going on in at least a couple of realms. One is the NCAA basketball world. March Madness is just beginning and will infect the country for the next three weeks. The jockeying for a place in the 65-team tournament field is important to the athletes and to the institutions for which they play. The players will gain fame, and in many cases, fortune based on their performance in the pressure games against the best talent. And, of course, the colleges and universities that play in the tournament get to share in the revenues generated by the spectacle. Talk about competition!

And in the spring training camps for the major league baseball teams there is a lot on the line for the young players and the marginal players trying to make a roster. The money for a major league player is substantial, but for a minor leaguer, it is much more difficult to make ends meet. And for the younger guys, there is the worry that their talents may not allow them to fulfill the dream they have had for as long as they can remember.

King James in Town

2009-02-26T20:41:00.000-08:00

My nephew called today and said he had been given tickets for the game between the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. I had not been to a Rockets' game in a long time and I thought it would be fun to see LeBron James. The seats were 17
row from the floor at mid-court. They cost $175 per seat, which gives you a chance to see why it has been so long since I have attended a game.

The Rockets won 93-74 and LeBron had one of his worst games as a professional. He scored 19, but shot only 33% and had no assists, for the first time in his career. It was a quality win for the Rockets, to say the least.

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Mike Hampton's Heart

2009-02-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

When Mike Hampton was a young pitcer with Houston Astros, the lefty was known for his heart, his determination and competitive spirit. He became a big winner, then accepted a big contract with the Colarado Rockies. In recent years he has suffered several injuries that have threatened his career. When he signed with the Astros over the winter, there was a hope that there was some more gas in his tank.

Last week his heart was discovered to have an irregular beat and he was sent for medical assessment. The good news is that the doctors believe it is a manageable condition and that he will be able to perform on the mound.

Now we will see if Hampton's heart is still his strongest asset!

Miggy In Court!

2009-02-11T08:29:00.001-08:00

Miguel Tejada is to appear before Congress today to plead guilty to the charge that he lied to them about some of his associates' steroid activity. He has apparently worked out a plea bargain that allows him to avoid prison time.

I wonder how he will be received by the fans in Houston in his first at bat in April!

Good Signs!

2009-02-05T19:53:00.000-08:00

As a baseball fan first and foremost, the winter is dismal as we wait for the opening of the spring training camps. Today was a positive sign, my USA Today Sports edition featured David Price on the front page. Price is the left handed pitching phenom of the Tampa Bay Rays. Surely this means it won't be long till we hear the crack of the bat from Florida and Arizona!

Manny, Manny?

2009-02-04T15:16:00.000-08:00

I find it very hard to believe that Manny Ramirez turned down an offer of $25 million to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ONE year! Surely his agent, Scott Boras has advised him that he can get more if he waits, but that seems like pie in the sky to me. He is great, but how many teams can afford that kind of payroll for the long haul?

2009 Astros

2009-02-03T19:05:00.000-08:00

Though the Houston Astros reached the playoffs six times in nine years, including the World Series in 2005, it has been three years since they made it to the post season.

The biggest lack on the team now is starting pitching. Roy Oswalt is a solid number one starter, and one of the most dependable pitchers in the big leagues. But behind him in the rotation this year will be Mike Hampton, coming off three injury plagued years, Wandy Rodriguez, Brian Moehler, and Brandon Backe.
The bullpen will be strong enough, with two serviceable lefties and proven set-up guys. The closer, Jose Valverde, has led the league in saves each of the past two seasons.

The offense will be okay, with Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence as the primary weapons. Shortstop Miguel Tejada needs to have a strong season for the Astros make the playoffs in 2009.

Beware of #5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-01-19T09:03:00.000-08:00

There probably will never be a movie about it, but it was the kind of game that a young man will reflect on for a lifetime. Last Friday I went to watch my 16-year-old grandson play in a sub varsity basketball game. His team plays very hard, but they have not won many games. The first half of the game was hard to get excited about, because our team couldn't seem to find the basket with a shot. At the intermission they were trailing 29 to 16.

But the second half is a completely different story. The boys came out with the same high intensity on defense, but now they began to make some shots. One of the boys on our team got hit with an elbow just above his left eye and it began to bleed. He had to come off and get some treatment. To keep the bandage in place, his head was wrapped in a medical tape that made it look like he was wearing a sweat band. But his wound didn't keep him out of the game or cause him to be bashful. He and my grandson are the primary ball handlers for the team, so it was important for him to be on the court. In the third quarter shots began to fall for everyone, including my grandson who hit three three-pointers in that frame. Our team held the visitors to only six points in the quarter, and the score at the end of three quarters was 35-34.

The game was intense in the fourth quarter, but our defense was up to the task again and only allowed nine points in the quarter. In the midst of the battle, I was thrilled, and afterwards found out my grandson had heard and was also thrilled, to hear the opposing coach shot several times in the frame, "Beware of number 5, beware of number 5!" He didn't want number 5 to get any good looks at the basket because he was really on fire. Number 5 ended up leading scorer in the game with 25 points and his team won 55-44. Of course you know who wore number 5 for our team, don't you?

So Long Smitty

2008-12-19T15:12:00.000-08:00

Dave Smith passed away this week of a heart attack, at just 53 years of age. He was the third of the pitchers of the Houston Astros from the 1980's to pass away in the recent past. The other two were Joe Niekro and Vern Ruhle. Smith was the closer on the Astros teams that made the playoffs in 1980 and in 1986. He was a very dependable reliever and a tough competitor, as well as a loved teammate by all accounts.

So long, Smitty!

Tech Over OU?

2008-11-19T19:18:00.000-08:00

This weekend pits the Red Raiders of Texas Tech against the Sooners of Oklahoma University in a key game to determine the Big 12 representative in the BCS Championship game. A win by Tech would assure them of a place in the Big 12 Championship game against Missouri. A loss will leave three teams with one loss and will put the computers in charge of choosing a representative!

Though I think it is a tall order, GO Tech!

Glad For Brad!!!!

2008-10-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

When Brad Lidge complete the save in game 5 of the World Series last night, I cold not help being very pleased for him. Three years ago I was sitting about ten feet from the confetti cannon that was going to be part of the celebration of the LCS victory over the Cardinals by the Houston Astros, that would put them, and me, into the World Series for the first time.

Brad Lidge was on the mound and he had been phenomenonal the whole season. There was unbelievable electricity in the air. Then Albert hit the majestic home run that sucked the air out of Minute Maid Park.

Lidge suffered through the '06 and '07 seasons with a lot of intense pressure on him by the Houston fans. He was traded in the off season last winter and did not had a blown save all season. And Wednesday night he exocised the demons of seasons past.

Way to go Brad.

Out of a Slumber!

2008-10-27T05:19:00.000-07:00

The Philadelphia Phillies were sleepwalking through the first three games of the World Series, at least offensively. They were stranding runners on the bases and allowing the Tampa Bay Rays to hang around. I thought the series could go either way. But the Phils awakened last night to win 10-2, and take a 3 games to one lead. With Cole Hammels on the mound tonight, the Rays are really up against it!

Network Nightmare?

2008-10-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

The executives at the networks are probably not very happy about the outcome of the American League Championship Series. No doubt they would rather have had the Red Sox in the World Series. But the previously lowly Tampa Bay Rays have upstaged the Sox and are going to play the Phillies. I am usually a National League fan, but this time around I want to see the youngsters in Tampa win the whole enchilada!

Television Schedules and the Playoffs

2008-10-15T13:41:00.001-07:00

Since 1998 I have hated the staggered playoff schedule that has, until this year been limited to the first round of the baseball playoffs. That year the Astros played the Padres in the first round and lost to Kevin Brown. Because of the extra day off that was inserted between game one and game 2, Brown was able to come back earlier than he would in the traditional format.

Now they bigwigs of baseball have bowed to the TV gods again and allowed a break in the LCS schedule that should not be there! Tampa Bay is on a roll and should not have to take a day off, allowing extra rest for the Sox' pitchers!

It is infuriating!

Charley O!

2008-10-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of Charles O. Finley? Unless you are an old baseball fan, probably you do not. He was the owner of the Kansas City A’s, which moved to Oakland, and he was quite a proponent of innovation and showmanship. I knew he was primarily responsible for the introduction of the designated hitter into the game, and for white shoes on the ball players of the 70’s. He instigated bright colors for his uniforms and came up with the idea of variations on the uniforms for day games, weekends, and holidays.

But in a book on baseball trivia that I recently received as a gift I found out a couple of things about Charley O. that made me say “Really, I never heard that before.” The first was that in home games at the A’s stadium, Finley hired a lady named Debbie Fields to present the umpires with her homemade cookies and a drink of water in the fifth inning. Debbie went on to establish her own success, with her Mrs. Fields’ line of baked goods!

The second was that in 1968, Finley had a batboy that had other talents. Stanley Burrell would entertain the players with his singing and dancing in the locker room before and after games. That talented young man is much better known today, as M.C. Hammer!

Bittersweet Day at the Ball Park!

2008-09-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

Every trip to the ball park makes the day a good one. A couple of weeks ago my family attended the Thursday night game at Minute Maid Park in Houston, despite the fact that Hurricane Ike would be slamming into our area.

Last night we went again to see the Astros, our first time since the storm. It was a fun game, with the Astros winning over the Atlanta Braves on a home run in the bottom of the ninth by Darin Erstad. I even caught a ball off the bat of Chipper Jones during batting practice.

But once every season there is a bittersweet day at the ball park. It is on the day that you know it will be next April before you will get to go to a ball game again. That was how it was last night. By the time I got to the car, the Brewers had finished their game with a win, thus eliminating Houston from the post season(I knew that the Cubs, who had already clinched the division title, would lose a game against since the loss would make it unnecessary to come to Houston on Monday for a make-up game).

I will watch the playoffs and the World Series, but I won't get to see a game in person again till spring! Heavy sigh!

How Far Can the Astros Climb?

2008-09-09T20:19:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros are really hot! Tonight they won for the 11th time in 12 games and continue to climb closer to the leaders in he wild card race tot he playoffs. Randy Wolf gave up two runs in the first to the Pirates, but Lance Berkman hit a 3 run homer in the bottom half and the Astros continued to add on through out the game. The final score was 9-3.

I Love a Pitchers' Duel

2008-09-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

I grew up in a time when baseball was dominated by pitching and defense. I still love to watch a 1-0, 2-1, or 3-2 game more than a 10-7 home run hitting contest. I got to see one last night at Minute Maid Park. Ian Snell of the Pirates and Alberto Arias were the starters. Snell had command of his slider and was throwing his fastball as high as 96 miles per hour. He really handcuffed the Astros for most of the night. Alberto Arias was making his first Major League appearance for Houston and was really hot for the first few innnings. He struck out five of the first six hitters and had another K in the third. He seemed be on the verge of running out of gas in the fifth, so he was pinch hit for by another September call-up from the the minor leagues. Mark Saccamanno was the pinch hitter, his first big league at bat, for Arias in the bottom of the fifth with one out. He drove the ball over the fence into the Astros bullpen in right center field. The 'Stros added two more runs in the inning and made them stand up for a 3-2 victory for Arias.

Arias and Saccamanno had memorable nights and I got to see a terrific pitchers' duel!

Roy O Throws a Gem!

2008-09-07T04:48:00.000-07:00

Last night Roy Oswalt took the pitchers mound with a small split in a nail on his pitching hand. Because of the problem, he threw mostly fastballs, but he located them oh so well. He only gave up one hit, a sixth inning single, while completing the game. The Astros won, 2-0, on the strength of a two run homer by Hunter Pence. It was the Astros' ninth win in ten games!

Ad Space Direct

2008-09-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

My daughter has put together a small consortium of blog sites that will allow advertisers to deal directly with the bloggers to place ads at reasonable prices and cut out the middle men expenses of dealing with a broker.

The blogs are carefully targeted and present the advertiser the opportunity to select the blog or blogs that match their advertising interests. Each of the blogs is maintained with a high level of writing and creative content.

Eight Must Be Enough!

2008-09-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

Last night the Houston Astros lost to the Colorado Rockies 5-3. The game was unusual in that it was relatively low scoring and took only two and a hlf hours, which is much less than most games in Denver. And it broke the Astros win streak at eight, so I guess eight will have to be enough. I just hope they do not now go on a protracted losing streak. Perhaps they will not, as Roy Oswalt is pitching tonight.

Eight In A Row Is Fun!

2008-09-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros just won their eighth game in a row, tonight was 4-0 over the Cubs. It is fun to watch them when they are hitting the ball. The streak includes sweeps of Central Division rivals St. Louis and Chicago. The 'Stros are only a game behind the Cardinals right now. Since I work with a Cardinal fan, it would be nice to finish ahead of them!

Roy or Zambrano?

2008-09-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

Back in March or April I entered into a friendly wager with my old friend MerryOne regarding who would win more games this season, Roy Oswalt for my beloved Astros or Carlos Zambrano of the loveable Cubs. Zambrano got off to a great start and Roy had a rough couple of months. Last night Oswalt got the win against the Cubs to get to his 13th win. Tonight Zambrano started for the Cubs, but he left the game in a tie so he will not get a win. I still have a chance to win our wager. If so, Merry will have to write an ode to the Astros. If not, I will have to do the odious thing for the Cubs.

Bad Fans!

2008-08-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

I was at Minute Maid Park last night for the Reds 2-1 defeat of the Astros. I love a low scoring game, so I enjoyed every pitch. I have been a fan of the Houston team since its inception and I can't quite get over how ignorant the fans in Houston can be at times. When Geoff Geary gave up a homer in the eighth inning last night, I was not pleased about it, but the fans booed the umpires, though the ball was clearly over the yellow line in left center and none of the Astros players were disputing the call.

While I am ranting about that nonsense, I get so irritated at the fans in Houston for doing the wave--so outdated, but to really demonstrate their ignorance of the game, they start the wave when the opponent is at bat! Makes me want to gag!

Heading Home From Shea!

2008-08-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

The Astros managed a split in the four game series at Shea Stadium in New York. Their last game at the soon to be demolished ball park did not go too well, for the 'Stros, they lost 9-1. But now they head home to take on the Reds, which should allow them to stay above .500 for the season.

Eight In A Row!

2008-08-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

My oldest nephew treated me to a game at Minute Maid Park today as a birthday present, I will be 60 on Monday! It was quite a game, the Astros came from behind to win over the San Francisco Giants, 7-3. Youngster David Newhan had two hits and made two great defensive plays. I was very ahppy for him.

Th win gave the Astros a four game sweep and extended their winning streak to eight games. A very pleasant way to spend an afternoon! Thanks, Jeff!

Strange Inning

2008-08-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

I am sorry I did not get to see the ball game tonight between the Houston Astros and the San Francisco Giants. There was apparently a very strange inning that gave the Astros their third victory over the Giants in this four game series that will end tomorrow afternoon.

The 'Stros got only two hits in the inning in which they scored six times. They had three walks, one intentional, two errors and THREE hit batsmen! It must have been like a kick in the gut for the struggling Giants and pitcher Barry Zito!

Left Field Replacements!

2008-08-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

My wife and I were at Minute Maid Park tonight for the game between the Astros and the San Francisco Giants. It was the first time that Ty Wigginton started in left field in place of the injured Carlos Lee. Ty had a bit of a bobble on a ball that was grounded into left between third and short. A run scored, and probably would have even if it had been fielded cleanly. And he did hit the cut off man and get an assist on a put out at second on the play!

More importantly, he drove in all three runs, including a homer, in the the 3-1 win for the Astros. Sounds a bit like Carlos Lee!

Costly Win

2008-08-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

Brian Moehler pitched well again tonight for the Houston Astros in their game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 'Stros got only three runs, but won 3-1, moving to within 2 games of .500 for the season. But the win was costly with Carlos Lee getting hit by a pitch and having his finger broken. He had been on base 12 of 14 trips to the plate in the series and has driven in over 100 runs for Houston. He will be hard to replace in the batting order, though the defense should improve.

Roy Oswalt Owns the Reds!

2008-08-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

Roy Oswalt owns the Cincinnati Reds. There can be no real explanation, but the fact that he has beaten the Reds 21 times and lost to the only once in his career leaves no doubt either! The Astros won the game last night, with Roy on the mound,7-4, though Oswalt only gave up one in his seven innings of work!

Brandon Is Stubborn

2008-08-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Brandon Backe is stubborn in his approach to hitters, especially to the dangerous hitters on the opposing teams. He does not wnat to throw them a fastball, so he nibbles with breaking pitches and offspeed pitches. Too often he walks them as he did yesterday in giving up EIGHT runs in one inning. If he does not walk them he builds up such a pitch count that he cannot stay in the game much past five innings. He needs to take a different approach and trust his stuff more than he apparently does!

Lightening in the Late Innings

2008-08-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

Monday night we in the Houston/Galveston area were preparing for the arrival of Tropical Storm Edouard. At the same time the Astros and Cubs were playing a game in much worse weather than we saw when the tropical storm arrived! There was a 2 and a half hour rain delay that came in the sixth inning. Then in the eighth, there was a fierce lightening storm that caused the game to be stopped. The Astros won, 2-0.

Yesterday, after trailing 6-0, the Astros took a 7-6 lead on a homer by Carlos Lee, in the seventh inning. But in the bottom of the inning there was more fierce lightening, a three run homer from Alfonso Soriano, leading to a Cubs victory, 11-7!

The Right End of the Broom

2008-08-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros completed a sweep of the New York Mets yesterday, winning 4-0. Randy Wolf, the new Astros' starter went five scoreless innings. The bullpen finished the game with four strong innings. Chris Sampson has suddenly become an integral part of the pen, really shutting down the opposition in the middle innings!

Two In a Row

2008-08-03T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros have won their last two games, both against the New York Mets, in dramatic fashion. Last night Mark Loretta hit a grand slam to break a tie and propel the Astros to the win. Tonight, Geoff Blum got a hit with the bases loaded in the ninth, scoring the two tying runs. Then in the tenth, Darin Erstad got a sacrifice fly to drive in the winning run. Nice weekend so far!

Moving Miggy

2008-08-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

There was apparently a lot of trade talk before the deadline about the Miguel Tejada, the shortstop for the Houston Astros. I have mixed feelings about the possibility. First, I like what Miggy adds to the team, especially the intangibles. If the team were mine, I would ask him to play third, because I believe his defense is slipping at short and he would improve the defense at third.

On the on the other hand, the team is not going to win with the current pitching staff, so if I could get some significant young arms for Tejada I believe I would have made the move.

Who Wins in The Manny Trade?

2008-07-31T20:52:00.000-07:00

Manny Ramirez got his wish and was traded from the Boston Red Sox today before the trading deadline. I was a bit surprised, because his antics in Boston are not that new, but this time he really got on the nerves of the front office and they made a big deal today. In the three team deal, Los Angeles, the Dodgers, received Manny. In return they sent two prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who also received two prime prospects from the Red Sox. The Pirates sent their best player, Jason Bay, to the Red Sox.

The Dodgers will get a lot of offense from Manny and will probably be in the playoffs. The Pirates got four players for one, two of whom are very highly regarded! The Red Sox got rid of a problem child--who can really hit. But they may not reach the playoffs. The big winner in the deal seems to me to be the Tampa Bay Rays, who should pull away from Boston in the AL East race!

Wandy is Dunn In!

2008-07-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros most reliable pitcher of the years has, arguably, been left hander Wandy Rodriguez. But last night he gave up seven runs, including three homers to lefthanded hitters from the Reds, Adam Dunn hit two and Ken Griffey Jr. hit one that accounted for three of the runs for Cincinnati! The Astros made it a game late, but were too far behind and fell 9-5!

Moelher Pitches Well!

2008-07-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

Brian Moehler pitched 8 and two thirds innings last night for the Houston Astros. I was really hoping he could finish it off, and in truth I think he could have. But in the ninth he gave up one run and had the tying run on deck so Cecil Cooper brought in young Wesley Wright to get the final out. It was a good win and a solid performance by Moehler. He is now 6-4 on the season.

Roy Is Back & So Am I!

2008-07-29T05:58:00.001-07:00

My summer travels are over so I am back to pull for the Astros with my full attention. And that coincides with the return of Roy Oswalt from the disabled list. That should make my job much more palatable. Roy pitched five innings last night and was able to get the win over the Reds. That makes him 20 and 1 in his career against Cincinnati!

Wouldn't You Know It?

2008-07-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Just as the Astros begin to make a turn around from the dismal month long stretch by winning 3 in a row and seven of ten, Roy Oswalt goes down with a hip injury. They do not know yet how long the injury will affect him, so maybe this is just a blip, but the team can hardly swim without him healthy!

Back to the Ball Park!

2008-06-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

It has been more than three weeks since I posted anything here about the Astros.I was gone for a week, then when I got home the team was in such a funk that it was hard to find anything to post. They lost 20 0f 24 games during the stretch.

I had not been to a game at Minute Maid in six weeks, until Saturday night. And what a game to return to active fandom. The game against the Red Sox ended up with an 11-10 victory for Houston. The stadium was full and the intensity was really high. I believe part of the reason for the energy was the number of Sox fans in attendance.

I was very proud of the 'Stros for not giving up when they went down by two runs late in the game. And I am glad the Houston fans did not leave then, but stayed around to witness the outstanding finish!

Welcome Home!

2008-06-06T21:52:00.001-07:00

Getting back home feels fine, even if you don't get in till three in the morning. The Astros had a terrible road trip, winning only two wins in nine tries. They hardly hit the ball at all. But tonight they had eleven hits, 8 from bench players getting spot starts. They beat the Cardinals 6-1. Starting Brian Moehler did a really good job, even Astros killer Albert Pujols went hitless!

Four Runs In Four Days

2008-06-02T05:03:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros have only scored four runs in four days. That will not cut it, would not cut it even if the pitching staff was terrific. And the pitching staff is not terrific! The road trip that started out with a win at St. Louis has turned dismal. The 'Stros had climbed to within a game of the Cubs, but now find themselves six and a half back.

The club moves on to Pittsburgh after the sweep in Milwaukee. Doing some good work there is pretty important if the Astros are to contend throughout the summer.

On The Road Again

2008-05-28T04:35:00.000-07:00

Starting another road trip with a nice win is a good way to keep the pressure on the Cubs, who are leading the Central Division. Of course, beating the Cardinals is always good, whenever it comes. The 'Stros got four runs in the first inning and breezed to an 8-2 victory. Tejada had a two run homer, Pence went five for five, lifitng his batting average to .311. Shawn Chacon had an effective game on the mound. All around, it was a good game for Houston.

Successful Road Trip!

2008-05-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros just returned home from a 10 game road trip was very successful. The won 7 of the 10 games while they were away, several of them in very exciting fashion. They come home to face the Chicago Cubs, who are leading the National League Central Division.

It should been interesting three game series, with two very hot teams. Lance Berkman this fitting .399, and is on an incredible streak. But Alfonso Soriano of the Cubs is at least as hot as he is, so it should a be an interesting matchup. Fortunately I will be able to be there for two of the three games.

Go Astros!

Fifth in a Row

2008-05-08T05:29:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros have won five games in a row, a season high. They are now two games over five hundred in the win/loss column. The game last night was won on a single in the ninth inning, meaning a win in their last at bat for the third time in a row.

Carlos Lee had the single to drive in the winning run. Lance Berkman continued his hot streak, going 2 for 3 with a homer and two walks. His batting average for the season has reached .361.

Berkman Ablaze!

2008-05-07T05:46:00.000-07:00

Lance Berkman has always been a good hitter, but the past few days have been incredible. He had two games in which he had four hits, which is a pretty unusual feat in itself. He was eight for ten in those games. But last night he topped those games by going five for five, with four RBI and two stolen bases! He is, of course, a big reason why the Astros have won four in a row!

The Puma Pounces!

2008-05-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

The Big Puma, aka Lance Berkman, of the Houston Astros had a marvelous day at the plate in the game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday. And that came on a day when the Brewers pitcher was their ace, Ben Sheets. Sheets has a 4 & 0 record and his era is under 2.00. But Berkman went 4 for 5 with a homer, two doubles, an infield single and a walk. The Astros battled from behind to win in twelve innings, on a walk off home run by Hunter Pence. Of course, Berkman was on base at the time!

TURN AROUND

2008-05-02T21:18:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros began their homestand tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers as if they were sleep walking. The first batter hit a routine ground ball to second that was misplayed for an error. Two batters later there was a two run homer. The Astros did not have a base runner. The Brewers added two more in the fourth on some more poor defensive plays. Then Hunter Pence hit a two run homer to cut the lead in half. In the sixth Matsui got an infield single, followed by home runs by Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee. Pence added another homer in the bottom of the eighth and the Astros walked away with a win!

Viva Valverde

2008-04-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

I was afraid that the emotions of being back in Arizona and facing his old team mates might make trouble for Jose Valverde, and for his new team, the Houston Astros. But last night put those concerns to rest. Valverde came in in the ninth with a 6-4 lead. He struck out the side, including Ed Byrnes to finish the game. It was an impressive performance, and it ended a three game skid for the "Stros." That means they will do no worse than split the games on the road trip!

Lost Weekend

2008-04-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

The weekend was not kind to the Houston Astros. They lost two of three in St. Louis. They did not hit much and spent two days being angry at the Cardinals for a pitch thrown behind Brad Ausmus. It was not a good series.

Bats Alive!

2008-04-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

The Astros have won the past five games in a row, and the biggest reason is that the bats have come to life. The thought going into the season was that the new line up was potent enough to make Houston competitive every game. The first two weeks of the season, there was little to cheer about offensively. Now the hitters are all contributing and the 'Stros are in the win column much more frequently. I hope it is not sporadic, but I have my fears, as there are so many young players in the mix!

First Win!

2008-04-23T13:28:00.001-07:00

I went to see the Astros again last night. It was my fifth visit this season, if you include an exhibition against the Tigers prior to the regular season beginning. It was the fourth of five games in which one of the teams scored at least ten runs. And it was the first I had seen the Astros win. The final was 11-7, despite having blown a 4 run lead in the eighth inning. For the second night in a row Miguel Tejada had four hits and for the second time in three games, Kaz Matsui drove in the go ahead runs in the bottom of the eighth!

Kaz Makes Himself A New Home!

2008-04-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

Kaz Matsui missed the first couple of weeks with his new team, the Houston Astros, because of some medical problems. He returned on Friday night, but did not really make himself a new home until Sunday afternoon. That is when he got a two out, two run single that produced a Houston win over the Colorado Rockies.

Welcome to Houston, Kaz!

Bad Games and a Bad Call

2008-04-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

I went to the game at Minute Maid on Friday night, taking my oldest grandson. It was a nice night with him, but the game was a real stinker. The Rockies got six runs off starter Chris Sampson, who left the game in the first inning. The 'Stros put up four runs in the bottom of the frame, but the Astros' bull pen could not contain the Rockies. The final score was 11-5. That means in consectutive Friday games, I have witnessed the Astros lose twice by a combined 21-9!

Then last night I went to see the second game of the Rockies' series in Houston. It was a better contest, the Astros eventually lost 3-2. But we saw one of the worst calls by an umpire at a critical moment that we have seen in a while.

Geoff Blum was leading off the bottom of the seventh inning. He hit a line drive into deep right center. Ryan Spilborghs of Colorado made a valiant effort, and when he landed on the ground and rolled over, he held the ball aloft as though he caught it. The umpire ruled it a catch, though the ball had ricocheted off his glove and under his body where he gathered it in his grasp. Blum was standing on second, but was ordered off the field by the umpire. So was manager Cecil Cooper, after a lengthy and animated argument that did nothing to change the ruling. It may not have cost the Astros the victory, but it surely contributed.

Chacon Shines--Valverde Stinks!

2008-04-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

This year's acquisitions by the Houston Astros were supposed to solidify the closer and improve the offense. Tonight indicates that at least the first of those did not work. Shawn Chacon pitched eight innings of shutout ball for the 'Stros. The Phillies had no extra base hits. In the ninth, Jose Valverde came in to close the game. He gave up a lead off homer, hit a batter and gave up a two run homer, tying things up. Brad Ausmus missed a pitch on a strike out, allowing the batter to reach first. The next batter doubled down the third base line. As has been his habit for as long as I have been watching, Ausmus did not block the plate and his swipe tag allowed the runner to score the game winner.

All those Brad Lidge haters may be wishing we could trade Valverde for him soon!

Rockets in Utah

2008-04-15T05:20:00.001-07:00

The Houston Rockets lost to the Utah Jazz, quite badly, last night. That probably means a return trip to Utah to open the playoffs this weekend. That probably means another brief stay in the playoffs, especially since starting point guard Rafer Alston is out with an injury. Sigh!

Backe To Back Wins!

2008-04-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

Brandon Backe was the winning pitcher for the Houston Astros yesterday. Today the 'Stros won their second game in a row for the first time this season. Wandy Rodriguez was got the win, with a save for Jose Valverde. J. R. Towles hit a two run homer and Michael Bourn hit a solo homer. Both are Houston area boys so we had two Houston connnections today! The record now stands at 5 and 8, with a trip to Philadelphia next on the schedule!

Backe Wins!!

2008-04-12T19:34:00.000-07:00

Brandon Backe became the first Astros starting pitcher to record a win this season. The other three wins had all belonged to relievers. Tonight Backe pitched a tough five innings, leaving the game with a five to nothing lead. The bull pen came through with four scorless innings to maintain the shutout of the Marlins.

Lance Berkman hit another homer tonight. A much better start for the 08 season than last night.

Oswalt Struggling

2008-04-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

I went to see my first regular season game of 2008 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The Astros have gotten off to a troubling start and tonight was indicative of the kind of games they have been playing. Roy Oswalt, the best pitcher on the staff is now 0-3. In the third inning, leading 3-0, Handley Ramirez hit a ground ball to second baseman Mark Loretta. It should have been a double play to end the inning. Instead Loretta bobbled the ball and only got one. Then the Marlins erupted for 5 runs. They got three more in the 4th, knocking out Oswalt. He gave up four home runs in those two innings. The season is beginning to feel like the 2000 season.

3-6

2008-04-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

The slow start to the season for the Houston Astros is a bit worrisome to those of us who are more than casual fans. The changes made to the team over the off season were supposed to have made a significant difference to the offense. But the team, at least early in the season, is looking a lot like last year. It has explosions, but then goes quiet for long stretches. Last night they scored three in the third to take th lead, but then only had 2 more hits the rest of the game!

FlashBack to Twenty Five Years Ago

2008-04-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

I was sitting with a group so guys, including a former coach from the University of Houston, watching the Cougars basketball game in the finals of the NCAA tournament. The team known as Phi Slamma Jamma was the superior team on the floor, and they had a nice lead on North Carolina State. But they could not hit free throws down the stretch in that game and a freak shot cost them the game and the humiliation of having lost in such a monumental way.

That is what I thought of as I watched the championship game last night, seeing the Memphis Tigers play the role of the Cougars and Kansas in the place of NC State!

Home Opener!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-07T22:45:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros finally got to play a game at home tonight, after opening the season on the road for the first week. The opponent was the Central Division rival St. Louis Cardinals. The game was scoreless going into the bottom of the seventh inning, with both pitchers giving up only two hits on the evening.

But in the home half of the inning, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee hit back to back homers. In the bottom of the eighth, J. R. Towles added a home run, making the score 3-0. The Astros' closer, Jose Valverde, came in to save the game, but gave up three runs. So when Miguel Tejada hit a two run homer, Valverde got the win instead of the save. Wandy Rodriquez deserved the win, but did not get it!

Redeeming My Bracket!

2008-04-06T04:57:00.000-07:00

When the brackets came out for the March Madness NCAA basketball tournament, I filled one out for fun. I did not get through unscathed, but my Final Four had three of the teams that actually made it to San Antonio. I picked Memphis to win in the semi-final against UCLA. And I picked North Carolina to be defeated in the semis, only I had projected Vanderbilt to be the team Memphis would beat for the Championship. Memphis can redeem my mistake on Monday by beating Kansas. Of course, Kansas can ruin it all by being the only team I did not pick to win its regional coming through with a win over the Tigers!

Lee In Left!

2008-04-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

I did not get to see the Houston Astros' game this afternoon against the Chicago Cubs. But I heard a bit of commentary on the radio and it sounds like Carlos Lee gave up as many runs on defense as he produced on offense. No one can fault El Caballo for his production with the bat. But he is a FAR cry from a decent outfielder!

In The Central Division

2008-04-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros had a rough season last year when playing Central Division opponents. Today they played their first game against a division foe when they met the Cubs in Chicago. Chris Sampson pitched well, into the seventh inning allowing only six hits and two runs. The Astros won the game by a 4-3 score. J.R. Towles, the rookie catcher who grew up in the Houston area, hit his first home run and Michael Bourn made his thrid great defensive play in the four games he has played this season.

Encouraging!

One & Three!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros started the new baseball season in San Diego with four games against the Padres. The bats were silent in the first two games, but broke out in the ninth inning of game three. They scored four in the ninth inning and won 9-6. But then this afternoon they dropped another game to the Padres, 5-4. The season has gotten off to a 1-3 start, with three games in Chicago against the Cubs over the weekend!

Anemic Bats

2008-04-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

Game 2 of the new baseball season was not much different from the first for the Houston Astros. Brandon Backe pitched well enough to win if they had scored a few runs, but the two run homer by Scott Hairston off Backe was enough for the Padres to win. The Astros did not score until the sixth inning and then it was on a bases loaded walk. Through two games, no one has driven in a run by hitting the ball!

Stumbling Out of the Gate!!!!!!

2008-03-31T22:02:00.000-07:00

The off season moves made by the Houston Astros were intended to bolster the offense. The additions of Michael Bourn, Kaz Matsui, and Miguel Tejada should bode well for scoring some runs. But that was not in evidence on Opening Night in San Diego against the Padres and their ace, Jake Peavy. The 'Stros only had four hits, two by Tejada, and never advanced a base runner to third. The final score was 4-0.

Opening Day 2008

2008-03-31T09:11:00.000-07:00

Today is my forty first wedding anniversary. It is also Opening Day for the Houston Astros, my long time favorite baseball team. On our first anniversary, my wife and I went to see the first game of the 1968 season in the Astrodome. The Dome was still the place to be in Houston in those days, and it was an inexpensive way to spend an evening.

That night began a tradition for us. We have seen the first game of the season as a celebration of our union in all but two of those years, missing only on the 25th and 35th anniversaries. We took long trips those years. We went to the game last Friday night, the first appearance of the 08.

Tonight, since the Astros are in San Diego, we will go out to a quiet meal and then come home for a late night in front of our television, watching Roy Oswalt and Jake Peavy!