Astros

ourselves when we return...

...Yes, I'm very happy that Craig Biggio's jersey number 7 has joined Astros immortality with Jeff Bagwell and the other venerable Astros. Now, what's next for the Killer B's is the Hall of Fame. Honestly, if a light-hitting, somewhat overrated shortstop like Ozzie Smith gets in on the first ballot with more than 90 percent of the vote, why shouldn't Biggio and Bagwell get in on the first one as well?

Continue reading "Astros hanging above .500"

The Houston Astros won 5-4, perhaps Oswalt's only blight was a third-inning two-out grand slam by Adam Dunn (who got his 30th home run on the season). Astros third baseman Geoff Blum answered in the bottom of the third with a two-out home run of his own--this one a two-run shot that turned out to be the go-ahead runs for Houston.

Continue reading "Roy O reaches winning level in season ..."

Only the most optimistic (and perhaps high) Astros fans would really believe the team has a shot at the post season. Not with starting pitching that's getting torched, and not with Roy Oswalt's struggles. Not with Jose Valverde blowing saves. And not with the offense suffering its typical decades-long battle to get clutch hitting.

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The Houston Astros stink.

Hard to believe that this team, just three years ago, was in its first-ever World Series. More than 40 years of futility ended. But now, it looks like Houston is well on its way to the abysmal teams of the late eighties.

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s to begin with. Oh well, I digress...

...You know it's been a woeful season for the Houston Astros when, with Sunday's 3-2 win over the Rays (and taking the three-game series 2-1) Houston is now 35-41 on the season while the Rays dropped to 44-31. Imagine that. The Rays, a team in the past that has served as a glorified Triple-A minor league team, is now 13 games above .500.

Continue reading "Astros edge Rays 3-2 and win rubber game of series"

This averages out to a score of 7.6 to 1.6.

Right now, if you were to ask what ails the Astros, the simplest answer would be yes.

Pitching that, when it's on, it's on. And when it's off it's really, really off. Sometimes

Continue reading "Ugly weekend for the Astros"

Going into the Brewers series, the Astros had been 2-9 in their last 11 games. Not liking the roller coaster effect of losing a bunch of games, winning a bunch and losing a bunch again, Houston general manager Ed Wade decided to hold a team meeting.

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Rather, the old version of Astros ace Roy Oswalt. You know, the guy who could get guys out and make it look easy.

Against the Milwaukee Brewers, a team that can hit the ball, Oswalt was near flawless. In seven innings, he allowed five hits, one earned run and struck out 10 and yielded no walks. His sole run was a home run. Oswalt is now 5-6 on the season with an ERA of 5.06

Continue reading "Ol' Roy O shows up, Astros beat Brewers 6-1"

Mr. McLane:

Since, 2000, the Houston Astros have had the miserable distinction of having the ugliest uniforms in baseball. You decided to ditch the space-theme look and pattern a new logo and uniforms in a railroad theme (to reflect the old railroad site that Minute Maid Park is built on).

Continue reading "Drayton McLane, please, PLEASE change ..."

Astros lefthander Wandy Rodriguez' first start after coming off the disabled list with a groin injury showed definite rust as he gave up six hits, six runs (three unearned) and four walks in 4.2 innings as the Houston

Continue reading "Wandy Rodriguez' return to mound ..."

Well, things seemed to be going really great at first. Until the Astros bullpen came in to pitch batting practice.

During the middle of the game, no less.

Carlos Lee's first-inning three-run homerun went for nought as the Phillies scored a combined 11 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to win 15-6.

Continue reading "Astros brought down to earth by Phillies"

How I regret living in Michigan and not being able to attend the August 17 Houston Astros home game.

That afternoon, before their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 'Stros will retire the number of

Continue reading "Astros to retire Craig Biggio's number ..."

In one corner we have Brandon Backe, who pitched a gem of a game last night in the Astros' 4-3 win over the Phillies--giving up six hits and only one earned run in 7.1 innings pitched. He walked a hitter and struck out six.

Continue reading "Who's the man? Brandon Backe? Hunter ..."

The Philadelphia Phillies' 7-5 win Thursday night over the Houston Astros reminded me so much of Alanis Morrisette's song Ironic. You remember, don't you? Back in 2005, Brad Lidge steps to the mound to close out Game 5 of the NLCS and give Houston its first-ever visit to the World Series. Up steps Albert Pujols, who promptly launches Lidge's fastball somewhere near...well, its landing has never been officially confirmed. Lidge's "Lights Out" nickname promptly faded as he struggled. Houston felt a change in scenery was needed, so Lidge was sent off to the Phillies.

Continue reading "Former Astro gets his revenge"

I, for one, feel stupid, having written the Astros off after the first few games when they played so terribly that they wouldn't have even been able to get a hit off of Paris Hilton, had she chosen to take a break from posing for pictures to throw some pitches.

Continue reading "Astros take 2 of 3 from Cubs, win ..."

..Number Nine...Number Nine...

For some abstract reason, that infamous Beatles song reminds me of Astros outfielder Hunter Pence, who wears jersey number nine.

Pence used his second career grandslam--an opposite field line drive--to propel the

Continue reading "Astros get a slam from Hunter Pence"

etter, thanks, after dealing with a burst appendix.

Onto business:

...Yes, I'm glad the Houston Astros have been on a tear. Wow, they now have a winning record. I hope they can continue this. Now, all they need to do is get rid of those ugly uniforms and return to something more classy. At 22-18, the

Continue reading "Back after a hiatus"

ies, they have yet to show consistency against good pitchers and hitters like Albert Pujols*.

The Astros (12-14) managed only one run and four hits today as St. Louis used only two pitchers. Houston relied on four and is going to wear out its bullpen if it can't get more innings out of its starters. Brandon Backe, so good in recent starts, gave up five hits, four runs and five walks in five innings pitched today.

Continue reading "Back to work, Houston; Astros fall ..."

 

Astros starter Shawn Chacon, despite giving up six walks, pitched well enough to win as he scattered five hits over seven innings and gave up only one earned run. However, Houston’s bats couldn’t get anything going. Wesley Wright picked up the win in relief while Jose Valverde picked up the save. 

Continue reading "Back to work for the Houston Astros"

What’s more, Astros pitchers today didn’t walk a single batter. 

Lance Berkman provided early fireworks with a two-run, first-inning home run. Apparently Lance likes Great American Ballpark: his sixth home run on the season was also his 18th career round-tripper at GAB—the most of any active non-Reds players. 

Continue reading "Houston's only one win away from .500..."

 

Astros pitcher Chris Sampson notched his first win of the season, scattering eight hits over seven innings, allowing two runs, a walk and six strikeouts as the Houston Astros continued their red-hot ways Wednesday night, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 9-3. 

Continue reading "Houston continues winning ways Wednesday, ..."

s 10-3 win over the San Diego Padres was what I’d call the ideal type of game for the Houston Astros: if they can play like that more often, then they’ll start winning games. If they make a habit of playing like that, then they’ll have one of those newfangled ticker-tape parades in downtown Houston in November. 

Continue reading "Astros get good pitching and hitting, ..."

The Astros were able to salvage a win in their three-game series against the Colorado Rockies, winning 6-4—courtesy of a three-run eighth inning. The runs in that inning came off a single from Kaz Matsui and a double from Miguel Tejada. What’s more, Matsui and Tejada’s run-scoring hits came with two outs. Very nice to see Houston hitting in the clutch. 

Continue reading "Houston salvages a win against the Rockies, 6-4"

Whenever the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies get together for a game, it’s sure to be anything but boring. Both teams play in hitter-friendly parks: Colorado in Coors Canaveral and Houston in Homeron Field.  

Continue reading "Colorado feasts on Astros pitching; ..."

I have to go to bed early and get up early for work, but I find myself wondering how the Houston Astros will fare in their weekend series against the Colorado Rockies. 

To be honest, I’m a little nervous. Rockies first baseman Todd Helton always seems to have a great night at the plate whenever he faces

Continue reading "Astros versus Colorado Rockies tonight"

I knew the Astros were in trouble today when it was revealed that shortstop Miguel Tejada is two years older than previously thought. Makes me wonder if his parents got his birth certificate from the same office that issued Danny Almonte’s infamous birth certificate.  

Continue reading "Back to the drawing board for the ..."

Ahh, Roy Oswalt is back. 

Roy O, as Astros fans affectionately call him, notched his first win of the season. against the Philadelphia Phillies last night, Oswalt (1-3) threw seven innings and gave up five hits and only one earned run. He walked two and struck out three as the

Continue reading "How Roy Oswalt got his groove back"

Good news, Houston Astros fans. Last night, Shawn Chacon pitched a brilliant game, giving up no runs in eight innings.  

So, what’s the bad news? The bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Closer Jose Valverde gave up four runs in the ninth inning while getting only one out as the Phillies beat the

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The Astros take on the Philadelphia Phillies in a brief three-game road trip, followed by a brief homestand. Taking the mound tonight for Houston is righthander Shawn Chacon. Good news: Chacon is undefeated on the season with six strikeouts. Bad news: he is also winless and has walked eight batters. Can Chacon carry on the success shown so far by Brandon Backe and Wandy Rodriguez? We'll find out.

Continue reading "Houston Astros' road trip begins tonight"