Houston Nine

WORST . . . TRADE . . . EVER

2007-12-14T00:49:00.000-06:00

On Wednesday, the Astros traded OF Luke Scott, 3B Michael Costanzo, LHP Troy Patton, RHP Matt Albers, and RHP Dennis Sarfate to the Baltimore Orioles for SS Miguel Tejada. Yes, that’s right. We traded away five players, including three pitchers, to get one guy.

Already, this looks like the worst trade since last year’s trade for Jason Jennings. But it gets worse. Much worse.

First of all, at least the Jennings trade, bad as it was, was intended to address a specific need: starting pitching. This trade seems to have been done for the sole purpose of making a blockbuster trade and making it look like the Astros are being aggressive in trying to put a winning team on the field. There was no need for a new shortstop, the Astros already had the best defensive shortstop in Baseball in Adam Everett. The Astros explain, however, that what is lost defensively with this trade is more than made up for by Tejada’s offense, though with the recent moves the Astros had made, I wasn’t convinced that offense was the biggest problem. If anything, it was our greatest strength.

But anyway, Tejada is the Astros’ new shortstop. Adam Everett was not offered a new contract and he became a free agent, promptly signing with the Minnesota Twins (I’m glad someone out there recognizes a good player when they see one).

The Astros have now given up six players to get one.

I said to myself when I heard about this trade that it might be a good idea for the Astros to wait for the Mitchell Report to come out before they make a big trade. Sure enough, on the very next day after the trade, the Mitchell Report is released and Miguel Tejada’s name is in it. Alyson Footer reports,

The Mitchell Report claims that Tejada, while with the Oakland Athletics in 2003, asked teammate Adam Piatt if he had any steroids. "Piatt believed that Tejada asked him because Piatt was in good shape and generally friendly with him," the report states. "Piatt had several conversations with Tejada before a transaction occurred. Piatt admitted he had access to steroids and human growth hormone and agreed to obtain them for Tejada."
Piatt, according to the report, said he provided Tejada with "testosterone or Deca-Durabolin, as well as human growth hormone." Piatt also said he did not know if Tejada actually used the substances.
"Piatt's bank provided two checks deposited into Piatt's account that had been written to him from Miguel Tejada," the report states. "The checks are dated March 21, 2003 and are in the amounts of $3,100 and $3,200 respectively."

Not sure if Tejada actually used the substances? I’m guessing if he paid $6,300 for them, it’s safe to say he used them.

So, let me get this straight. The Astros gave up six players to get one guy whose only upside is his offense, and it turns out he’s been using steroids?

I’ve never gotten mad at the Astros before. They are a classy organization that knows how to build a championship team. But with this trade, I just have to say:

WHAT THE F*** IS GOING ON HERE?!

Up until now, I was quite pleased with the Astros’ new general manager, Ed Wade. I thought he has made some smart trades and gotten some key signings. I was really looking forward to 2008, the first year without my personal hero, Craig Biggio. I thought we had a solid lineup, and if things worked out, a decent bullpen and starting rotation. But this stupid, stupid trade just blew the whole thing up. And why? So you can rent a doper for two years?

A statement released by Drayton McLane today gives us no information about what the Astros are going to do from here. It could have been written two months ago, for crying out loud.

Maybe there will be more information from the Astros tomorrow. Though I doubt it. That Tejada’s name is in the Mitchell Report could not have come as a shock to the Astros. Surely, they knew what they were getting with this guy, which raises questions about the kind of culture the organization is trying to develop now that the two greats, Bagwell and Biggio, are gone. And if the Astros did not know about the baggage that comes along with Tejada, then that raises doubts about the competence of the Astros front office. Ignorance in this case is not bliss, and it is certainly no excuse.

My only hope now is that the Astros release Tejada and make Loretta our starting shortstop.

The other big names in the report were Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. Pettitte was a surprise, but Clemens was not. We have all heard about the side-effects of steroids: acne, uncontrollable rage, depression. I wonder if doctors will add the inability to decide whether or not you want to play Baseball again next year to that list.

Clemens complained that his name was mentioned in the report and that, as his lawyer put it,

He is left with no meaningful way to combat what he strongly contends are totally false allegations.

Actually, I thought I heard Senator Mitchell say that every current player whose name came up in his investigation was invited to speak to Sen. Mitchell and offer his side of the story to be included in the report. That would have been one “meaningful way” for Clemens “to combat what he strongly contends are totally false allegations.” But, no player, including Clemens, took Mitchell up on his offer. Sorry, Rocket. The whining just won’t get you very far here.

As for Pettitte, according to the report, he said he only used steroids to heal from an injury more quickly. Of course, he should have worked with his team (the Yankees at that time) and his doctor on this issue rather than obtain the steroids on his own.

All in all, I’m glad the report came out. The Mitchell Report is Baseball’s first step out of its worst crisis since the Black Sox Scandal. It is important for the fans that they know which players were juiced and which were not. It’s also important for the Hall of Fame voters to know this. However, I do not think any punishment should come from this report. The evidence mentioned in the report does not carry the same weight as a positive test and most of the offenses occurred several years ago. Except in the most extreme cases, punishments resulting from this report would not help Baseball.

–J.E. Heath

3,000 hits, and counting

2007-06-30T01:49:00.000-05:00

Thursday night, Craig Biggio earned his 3,000th career hit–a game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning. Much has been said about it on the Astros website and elsewhere in the sports world.

Now that I’ve had some time to reflect, I wanted to say a few things about it, as well.

I guess I’m just not a good enough writer to explain what I and all Astros fans felt last night. Of course, no one celebrates this much for one hit. It was an entire career that I cheered for while listening to Milo Hamilton make the call in my car.

One of the reasons Baseball is such a beautiful game is that it works so well on the radio. Our generation doesn’t understand the magic of radio. It’s theater of the mind. A talented announcer can describe the scene in such a way that you believe you are actually there to see it happen in person. When Milo called out, “There it is!” I could see Biggio racing down the line to first base. Milo yells, “Bidge wants to make it a double!” and I start yelling, “Go! Go!” pumping my fist to encourage Bidge on. What an incredibly emotional moment, one I will not soon forget. I might have been driving down a rural highway past a small town airport, but I was there–in the stands, on the field, yelling, clapping, cheering as joyful tears welled up in my eyes.

Was Biggio being greedy when he tried to stretch that single into a double? No. He was playing the game like he always does, giving 100% to the game and to his team. Biggio’s effort paid off later in the game. The lead went back and forth through the whole game. Biggio’s hit tied the game at 1 run each. In the top of the eighth, Colorado scored three runs to take the lead. The Astros answered with three more runs in the bottom of the inning. The score would remain 4-4 until the eleventh when Colorado took a one run lead off a home run by Troy Tulowitzki (who?).

The Astros have been behind in extra innings before this season, and it usually doesn’t end well. Such was the case just the day before, when the Astros lost to Milwaukee in eleven innings. But this night was different. To a man, the Astros decided they were not going to let Biggio’s big night be tarnished with a loss. Biggio, of course, was out in front. With two strikes against him, two outs in the inning, and our boys down by one run, Biggio legs out an infield hit–his fifth hit of the game. His hustle kept the inning alive. If he had not been running hard down the line, he would have been out and the Astros would have lost. But if Biggio hadn’t been running hard, he wouldn’t have been Biggio, and this night would not have been so special.

Next Hunter Pence, the rookie who has simply been phenomenal since being called up just a few months ago, hits a seeing-eye single up the middle. Two on, two outs, and the big bats are coming up. Berkman is denied a chance for heroics when he gets hit by the pitch. Now the bases are loaded with two outs, and the excitement starts to build.

This game was a must win, not just because it was Craig Biggio night in Houston, but because this team needed an exciting, come-from-behind win, if for no other reason than to simply prove to themselves that they can do it.

With the bases loaded, and the game on the line, Carlos Lee steps to the plate. If there hadn’t been video tape to prove it, you’d probably think I’m just making this up. Lee takes the first pitch he sees and sends it flying just fair of the left field foul pole for a game ending grand slam.

Like I said, if they hadn’t caught it on video tape, you wouldn’t believe me.

Lee’s grand slam capped off an amazing and historic night. And it was made possible by Biggio’s refusal to give in or give up. Biggio’s work ethic has been well chronicled throughout his career. He personifies what Houston Astros Baseball is all about.

Hard work, and also humility. After Biggio hit number 3,000, and everyone in the stadium was cheering for him, Biggio made a point to bring his long time friend and teammate Jeff Bagwell out of the dugout and onto the field. Why? Alyson Footer quotes Biggio:

"I wanted him on the field, between the lines, one more time with me, to really let the fans say goodbye, say hello, say thank you for so many things," Biggio said. "To me, that was what it was all about. He deserved it. I guess I deserved it in a way. I really just wanted him to be out there one more time with me."

For Biggio, this night was not simply about him. He understands he never would have achieved this without the support of the Astros organization, the Astros fans, and of course, Jeff Bagwell.

Hard work and humility. That’s something you don’t see much at all these days. Not just in sports, but everywhere in our culture. In a country where people are made famous simply for being stupid, or bad, or for doing nothing at all, where politicians vie for the spotlight by trying to see who can talk about himself the loudest for the longest, where movie stars think that a blockbuster hit means everyone in the world cares about their personal opinions, and where the average person flies down the freeway in 7,000 pounds of personal space (a.k.a. an SUV) with no regard for his fellow commuters, it’s refreshing to see someone who actually puts his friends and family before himself even when he is at the pinnacle of his profession. That is Craig Biggio.

Take a look at these other quotes to get an idea of just what a stand-up guy Biggio is.

"I'm very grateful, really thankful, for a lot of things. A lot of things have happened here over the course of my 20-year career, but tonight I think was the best. I'm just glad we finally got it done."

Did you catch that? “We finally got it done.” Not I got it done, but we.

"We've had some good weeks and some bad weeks but to finally get there, get over the hump and get somebody from this organization finally on that list. ... This is a proud day for the Astros."

Again, we finally got there, we finally got someone on that list. “This is a proud day for the Astros.”

Biggio will be the first to tell you this is not about him alone. It’s about his friends, his family, the Astros, the fans, and the city of Houston.

Biggio has given so much to this community, not only on the field with a pennant and now our first legitimate Hall of Famer, but also off the field with his work in the community, especially his favorite charity, The Sunshine Kids. He deserves the applause, the cheers, and the honor. But he would never tell you that. That is why he is one of my heros.

–J.E. Heath

Craig Biggio is NOT overpaid

2007-06-02T11:59:00.001-05:00

I just can't keep silent when I see something like this. Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports has written an article in which he lists the most overpaid players in Major League Baseball by position.

At second base is Craig Biggio. Biggio is one of my heros, so obviously I disagree with Passan's assessment. Allow me to put this in perspective. Biggio is the lowest paid position player on Passan's list by $3.1 million. That alone suggests he doesn't belong on this list. Further, Passan himself says, "Biggio was a great player. Biggio will be a Hall of Famer."

Admittedly, Biggio has been struggling this year. This year is also the last year of his career, so big numbers really shouldn't be expected from him. He signed a one year contract with the Astros during the offseason so that he could get his 3,000th hit. That may seem selfish on his part -- forcing the Astros to keep a low performing veteran at second base when there is a promising young second baseman (Chris Burke) who is waiting for a chance to play everyday. But, Biggio says he is doing this for the fans; because the Houston fans deserve to see one of their guys reach this milestone. Considering the fact that Biggio could be playing somewhere else for much more money, I believe him when he says that.

And that brings up another reason why it is unfair to say that Biggio is overpaid. A man with his credentials could be making more than twice as much somewhere else. But Biggio is committed to the Astros and Houston fans. If he were getting paid as much as he could be paid, then maybe you could argue that he isn't worth it. But, I consider $5.15 million a relative bargain to watch Houston's first true Hall of Famer cap a great career and take a final bow.

–J.E. Heath

Thank you, Jeff Bagwell

2006-12-16T11:19:00.000-06:00

Jeff Bagwell, the greatest hitter in Houston Astros history, announced his retirement in a news conference yesterday. Bagwell is the Astros’ all time leader in home runs, RBIs, and walks. He was voted NL Rookie of the Year in 1991, unanimously voted the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1994, and was an All Star in 1994, 1996, 1997, and 1999. I’ll let Jim Molony explain in detail why Jeff Bagwell is headed for the Hall of Fame.

But, aside from his numbers, what made Jeff Bagwell such a great player and a Houston icon was his intangibles. Astros owner Drayton McLane and General Manager Tim Purpura touched on this during yesterday’s news conference. Alyson Footer quotes:

“I want to personally thank you for what you have meant to this franchise, as a great player, a leader and a great human being,” McLane said. “We are certainly indebted to you and certainly look forward to your continued involvement.”
Added Purpura: “You and Craig [Biggio] have set the tone for what we do in the organization, how we play our game, what we teach our young players.”

Bagwell and Biggio epitomize what has come to be known as “the Astros way.” What exactly is it? It’s more than just great players. It’s great people. Jeff Bagwell’s leadership and work ethic have helped to carry this franchise through the ups and downs of 15 years of baseball. Bagwell and Biggio have made this club what it is today: one of the premier teams in the Major Leagues. Where would the Astros be if it weren’t for these two? Not in Houston, and not perennial championship contenders. Astros fans will continue to see the results of Bagwell’s hard work long after his number 5 has been placed alongside other Astro greats like Ryan, Scott, and Dierker.

–J.E. Heath

World Series

2006-10-27T22:38:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals. They have won the 2006 World Series 4 games to 1 after defeating the Detroit Tigers 4 to 2.

The Tigers committed 8 errors over the course of this 5 game series. So, if you're looking for a reason for the Tigers' failure, there it is. The better team won this World Championship.

-J.E. Heath

World Series Game 3

2006-10-24T21:50:00.000-05:00

As I write this, the St. Louis Cardinals are leading the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 2-0. It’s still a close game, but I can say already that the Cardinals are doing better than I thought they would. But, they have surprised me through the entire postseason. At first, I didn’t think they would even make it to the postseason. I believed that my beloved Astros would make yet another amazing run at the playoffs. But, alas, the once and future National League champions fell just short. Then, I didn’t think the Cards would make it past the first round, but they did. I thought they would never beat the Mets, but they did. Now, I don’t think that they’ll win the Series, and they’re on their way to taking the lead. So, that just shows what I know.

I guess I’ll just sit back and enjoy the series. It’s bittersweet. The World Series is the best part of the season, but it also means that the long, cold and lonely winter is just around the corner. I already can’t wait for April.

–J.E. Heath

Tigers beat Yankees

2006-10-08T10:49:00.000-05:00

It’s the morning after the Tigers’ stunning victory over the Yankees, and already there’s talk that Joe Torre might be out as the Yankees’ manager. The man who has led the Yankees to four World Series Championships since 1996 is being blamed for their collapse.

As if the Tigers did nothing but sit around and watch the Yankees implode. The Tigers were simply the better team. They only had two more losses this season than the Yankees, and that’s probably only because they had the Twins (who were another very good team) in their division. The Yankees did not have such strong competition in their division. So, let’s remember that there was another, a better, team on the field.

But, according to Yankees’ owner George Steinbrenner, there is no reason for the Yankees to lose. They have, by far, the largest payroll in Baseball. They have a roster filled with all-stars and future Hall of Famers. Jason Giambi, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mike Mussina, Randy Johnson, Johnny Damon, Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui, Bobby Abreu. Any of these players would be a franchise player on any other team. Some were franchise players for other teams before they were lured away by a huge Yankee contract.

But the lesson to be learned here is that you cannot buy a championship. It is not Joe Torre’s fault that a $198 million team couldn’t beat a team that was $116 million dollars cheaper. Apparently, $198 million can only buy you one playoff win. Blame it on inflation. Or just blame it on poor personnel decisions.

If Steinbrenner wants to win championships again, he should return to the formula that has worked for the Yankees and nearly every other successful team in Baseball: homegrown players and good pitching. To win a championship, you must have a team, not a collection of big contracts. That is where the Yankees failed and the Tigers succeeded.

I’m making it official now that I’m getting on the Tigers’ bandwagon. They are a good team and I hope they win it all.

Playoff Predictions Dead Wrong

Looks like my playoff predictions were way off. All the teams I picked to win have lost, or are losing. The Twins, Yankees, and Dodgers have all been eliminated. Only the Padres remain, but they are facing elimination, too. The only thing I got right was the number of games it would take to win the Yankees-Tigers series: four. But, that’s why Baseball games are played on the field instead of on paper.

–J.E. Heath

Season’s End

2006-10-03T01:40:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me how my weekend was. I told him it was OK, except that all my teams lost. He replied, “See, that’s why I don’t get involved in sports. When your team loses it’s so depressing.”

I said, “Yeah, but when they win the feeling is indescribable.”

In an attempt to explain to women why men get so caught up in sports, Rush Limbaugh said that sports is the only thing in life where a man can give his total devotion and not be worried about rejection. Even if they leave town, your favorite team will never tell you that they don’t want you as a fan anymore. Women on the other hand . . .

When your team wins, you’re on top of the world. When they lose, it’s sad, but you can quickly get over it. There are so many other things in the world to get upset over. In this broken world we become accustomed to disappointment.

So, the Astros lost to the Braves yesterday, and that loss ended the Astros’ season. The season should have been over a week earlier, but the Astros swept the Cardinals in a four game series and stayed alive until the last game of the season. It was a great run, and it left Astros fans eagerly anticipating what next year may bring.

Cardinal fans in St. Louis greeted news of the Astros’ demise with the Tomahawk Chop. I think it’s fitting that Cardinal fans would be cheering on the Braves. After all, the Braves were able to do what the Cardinals failed to do: beat the Astros.

The Tomahawk Chop, by the way, is the most annoying fight chant in sports. Only a redneck with an IQ lower than a hammer would think it’s cool.

Playoffs

Tomorrow the playoffs will begin. Here are the matchups:

In the American League, The New York Yankees will host the Detroit Tigers, and the Minnesota Twins will host the Oakland Athletics. In the National League, the New York Mets will host the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres will host the St. Louis Cardinals.

My predictions:

For the best of 5 Divisional Series: the Yankees will beat the Tigers in 4 games, Twins over the A’s in 5, Dodgers over the Mets in 5, and Padres over the Cards in 4. (Note to New York fans: just because the Mets and the Yankees are in the playoffs in the same year doesn’t mean there will be another Subway Series.)

For the best of 7 League Championship Series: Yankees over the Twins in 5, and Dodgers over the Padres in 7.

World Series: Yankees over Dodgers in 5.

Ok, so I might be wrong on the number of games it will take to decide the winner in these series, but I’m pretty sure about who the winners will be.

We’ll see how accurate I am. This is the first time I have ever tried to make these kinds of predictions. It’s easier to do when your team isn’t in the playoffs. You can be more objective in your picks.

Offseason

Soon, we’ll begin talking about offseason transactions. The Astros need another power bat, and they appear to be interested in Carlos Lee of the Rangers. Lee hit 37 homeruns this season, and batted in 116. He would be a good complement to Berkman. Some other interesting players on the market: Alfonso Soriano of the Nationals and Luis Gonzales of the Diamondbacks. Gonzales used to play for the Astros until moving to Arizona. He’s quite a bit older now, and that’s not really the direction the Astros want to go. Soriano hit 46 homers this season in the massive RFK Stadium. He would be a good addition, but he might be too expensive. It isn’t very clear yet if the Nationals would like to hold on to him and make him a franchise player.

I also expect to see the Astros attempt to sign Aubrey Huff. His stats this year weren’t quite what the Astros wanted, but if he can get settled in with a contract and a team he should do much better.

With Backe out for the season, it is imperative that the Astros convince Pettitte to re-sign. The rest of the rotation will be filled out with younger pitchers like Sampson and Albers.

This season has taught the Astros organization that this team can carry the third largest payroll in Baseball. Since the season ended on a disappointing note, it’s safe to assume that the Astros will be very active participants in the free agent market.

Meanwhile, I’ll be looking forward to Spring.

Go Astros!

–J.E. Heath

It ain’t over till it’s over

2006-09-30T00:33:00.000-05:00

So, y’all are probably wondering where I’ve been this past week. I’ve been dying to post something about this comeback the Astros are making, but I’ve been afraid to post during the winning streak. Now that it’s over, I feel safer.

As we learned from the previous two years and now this year, the Astros play their best baseball when their backs are against the wall. And that sort of explains why the Astros have waited until now to get hot. For most of the season, they were . . . we’ll say mediocre. Everyone kept wondering if and when they would get hot and make a run for the postseason like they had the previous two years. I guess the reason they didn't turn things around back in August is because there was no sense of urgency. They didn’t need to get hot. All the other teams were wallowing around the .500 mark, too. But, when we came into the last week of the season, suddenly the games become extremely important, and the ‘Stros make a run of 9 straight wins (including a 4 game sweep of the hated Cardinals) and erase an 8 ½ game deficit.

So now the question is, can they complete this miracle? Last year, they came back from 15 games under .500 to win the pennant. They were only the second team in Major League history to do that. I guess second just isn’t good enough for my beloved Astros. Now they’re trying to come back from an 8 ½ game deficit to win the division, and they’ve only given themselves about a week and a half to do it. As far as I know, no team has ever come back from such a large deficit so late in the season. But, the Astros never do anything the easy way.

If they can’t pull it off, it would be a tragedy to Major League Baseball. What a great underdog story it would be. Besides that, the Astros are definitely a better representative for the National League Central. The Cardinals have lost 8 of their last 10 games. While the Astros have been staying around .500 most of the season, the Cardinals have suffered at least three losing streaks of seven games or more. Everything points to the Cardinals getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The Astros on the other hand are hot right now, and despite tonight’s hiccup, they definitely have momentum on their side. Only the Astros can throw Oswalt, Pettitte, and Clemens. Not to mention Lance Berkman who’s having an MVP year, and Willy Taveras whose ability to beat out a slow grounder earned him a 30 game hitting streak earlier this year. Then there’s Luke Scott. Ever since he was brought up from AAA Round Rock in July the only thing he’s done is hit for a .345 average with 10 homers (including a game winner vs the Cards) and a slugging percentage of .641. If the Astros can make it into the playoffs, I think they’ll tear it up.

So here are the facts of the situation. The Astros are now 1 ½ games out of first place. The Cardinals’ magic number is 2. Every time the Cards win, their magic number drops by one. Every time the Astros lose, the Cards’ magic number drops by one. When the number reaches zero, the Cardinals have clinched the division. The Astros must win the last two games of the season. If they do, and Cardinals lose the next two, the Astros will end with a ½ game lead. This would force the Cardinals to make up a rained out game with the Giants on Monday. If the Cardinals win that, then they would have to play the Astros in a one game playoff for the division title on Tuesday.

It’s a tough road. “Is there enough magic out there in the moonlight to make this dream come true?”

–J.E. Heath

Back again

2006-09-09T19:31:00.000-05:00

A friend asks me, “So, are you going to start posting again since it’s obvious you weren’t the one jinxing the Astros?”

Of course, the problem is that the Astros haven’t really done better, or worse, since my last post. So, I don’t know if I’m jinxing them or not. In any other year I would have settled with the fact that the Astros won’t be in the playoffs this year. I would start making my postseason picks and preparing for next year. But this year is different. The Astros haven’t done as well as I was hoping in the second half, but neither has the rest of the league. Currently, the Astros are 69-71. They are 6 games out of the Central Division and 3.5 out of the Wild Card lead. A playoff spot is well within their reach, but they just haven’t made a move for it. They’ll get very close to taking the lead, and then falter and fall back down. Then they get hot and move up again, only to fall back down again. This frustrating cycle only prolongs the pain of Astros fans.

And now the Astros are making yet another move up. Hopefully, they can keep the wins coming, and since no one else is making a move the Astros just might be able to clinch the lead. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Hopefully, I’m not going to jinx them.

There is something very interesting going on in Baseball this season. Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies hit two homeruns last night, bringing his total for the season to 56. With a few more weeks to go in the season, he’s bound to hit the magical number of 60. That would make him only the sixth player in Major League history to hit so many homeruns in one season. Of course, three of those players (Bonds, McGuire, and Sosa) are tainted by suspicions of cheating. And thanks to their actions, anytime a player gets up into this rarefied air, there is the immediate suspicion that he might be cheating as well.

I’m not saying Howard is cheating, there’s no reason to believe he is. I hope he isn’t. What I am trying to point out is the depth of damage suffered by the game due to the disrespectful actions of a few so-called superstars. Howard, I believe, is not getting the attention and respect he deserves because the American public has become jaded about Baseball records. Overpaid, overhyped, juiced up superstars are breaking timeless records at such a frequency that no one really cares anymore. The sad result is that honest athletes who perform amazing feats are ignored. All thanks to the contributions of Barry Bonds and the like.

–J.E. Heath

Signing off . . . for now at least

2006-07-26T20:35:00.000-05:00

It has become too depressing to continue to report on the decline of the Astros' season. It's like watching a car wreck. Besides that, as I noted in a post at the beginning of the season, I fear that this blog might actually be jinxing the 'Stros. So, I have decided to discontinue posting until the Astros can figure out a way to turn their season around.

I will say one last thing. Considering the current line up just isn't working, and considering that Bagwell is gone for good, this really will be Clemens' last year, Biggio will be leaving soon, and even Pettite is hinting at retiring, it might be a good idea for the Astros to trade for prospects rather than someone who can help them this year.

It's ridiculous that the Astros have the third highest payroll in Baseball. The Astros aren't going to win until they are the Astros, not merely Yankee wannabes. This means developing players from your farm system, not buying up high-priced free agents.

I'm not going to say who the Astros should trade, if anyone. It might be best just to keep the team you have now, see if you can still win, and start rebuilding in the off season.

--J.E. Heath

The Astros and I are not on speaking terms

2006-07-20T23:14:00.000-05:00

I’m just fed up. The Astros’ season thus far is a disappointment as big as their payroll (which, by the way, is third highest in Baseball).

Good teams find a way to win. If pitching lets you down, your offense picks you up. But so far the Astros have always been able to find a way to lose. Either a big lead is blown by the bullpen, or good pitching is wasted due to lack of run support.

It is frustrating. After giving up a three run homer to Phil Nevin of the Cubs that erased a 1 to nothing lead on Tuesday, Roy Oswalt said,

I think as soon as he hit the home run, I felt the game was over . . . [At] 3-1, we'd usually have a tough time getting back into the game. It was a pretty good blow when he hit the home run.

That homer came in the fourth inning. A two run deficit with five more innings to play shouldn’t be a “pretty good blow” to your team. A pitcher should have confidence that his team can come back and even the score. But Oswalt, who is now on a seven game winless streak thanks to poor run support and bullpen problems, knows that the Astros just can’t keep up. It’s frustrating and embarrassing.

Oswalt and Lance Berkman are the only guys on the team who are pulling their weight. Berkman leads the league in RBI. That’s quite a feat when you consider the Astros rank last in batting average. It’s hard to bat in a run when you come to the plate with the bases empty.

The Astros are now tied for third place in the division, 8 games out of first place. The only reason they aren’t farther behind is that the Cardinals have been struggling, too. Standings-wise, they are in a better position than they were at this same time last year. But that’s not because they’re better than they were last year, but because the rest of the division is worse.

I’m not prepared to declare the Astros’ season dead, at least not yet. But something has to change, and fast. Tomorrow, the Astros play the New York Mets, who have the best record in the National League. If the Astros can hold their own in this series, I’d say they have a chance to win the Wild Card for the third year in a row. But, considering their sorry performance this week against the Cubs (who have one of the worst records in the league) I’m not very optimistic.

–J.E. Heath

McLane speaks about Ken Lay

2006-07-09T00:25:00.000-05:00

Alyson Footer reports that Astros owner Drayton McLane had some kind words to say about deceased Enron founder Ken Lay. As you might remember, the Astros’ home ballpark was originally named Enron Field before the energy company collapsed. It has since been renamed Minute Maid Park. McLane recalls that Lay was instrumental in building a coalition of business and community leaders in Houston to help build the Astros’ new ballpark, and he was always the first to pledge support for any kind of charity event in the Houston area. McLane said of Lay,

I have worked in 20 or 30 fundraisers for charities in Houston and I learned early that when you called on the major businesses and individuals in town, the first question everyone's going to ask you is, 'What's Enron going to give and what's Ken Lay going to give?' I learned quickly to go see Ken Lay first, and as you worked to raise money for these good causes, he raised the level of philanthropy. I think that's the lasting legacy. Houston's a better city because of Ken Lay. I'm speaking of him as a leader and as a human being.

Some may be disturbed that McLane would speak of Lay with such kind words. After all, he’s a man who swindled thousands of Enron employees and investors out of millions of dollars and in the process became the poster boy for the corrupt corporate world. That is his legacy. But to be fair, he should also be remembered for the good things he has done for Houston. Always wanting to take the high road, this is what McLane chose to emphasize.

Allow me to wax a little philosophical. We can all find numerous reasons to condemn anyone. Nobody’s perfect, of course. Ken Lay did some very bad things, and I’m not here to defend his acts. But we should all remember that we have all done some bad things, and in the eyes of God what good deeds we have done do not outweigh the bad. Ken Lay was corrupt. But we all are. So, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

–J.E. Heath

All Star Selections

2006-07-04T00:10:00.000-05:00

The All Star rosters were announced on Sunday. If you haven’t already heard who’s playing, you can see the rosters here.

As usual, there is controversy over the selections. One of the controversies is over the Astros’ representation. Even though Astros manager Phil Garner will be managing the National League All Stars this year, there will be only one Astro playing in the game: Lance Berkman. Certainly Berkman, who is among the National League leaders in RBIs, deserves to go, but many have asked if there aren’t other deserving Astros, like Roy Oswalt and Craig Biggio, who were left out.

Why have they been left off the roster? Well, there are quite a few guys who deserve to go. Garner could have loaded the roster with his own guys (Ozzie Guillen, the manager of the American League All Stars, is taking six of his White Sox, but only two players from his division rivals the Detroit Tigers), but he wanted to make sure he was fair to all the other teams. There’s always a few guys that get snubbed.

Lance Berkman has not decided yet if he will participate in this year’s Home Run Derby. He fears that participating in the Derby will mess up his swing, which is what happened to him in 2002. This is why the All Star Game should not determine home field advantage in the World Series. The players aren’t going to play hard because they have real games to prepare for. The game isn’t supposed to count for anything. The All Star Game is supposed to be fun, that’s all.

Another thing about the All Star selections. Carlos Beltran has been elected to start for the National League. Since Garner is the manager of the NL team, some commentators may try to point out that Beltran is a former Astro. This is not true. Beltran is not a former Astro. He was never an Astro. Carlos Beltran is no more an Astro than Benedict Arnold is an American.

–J.E. Heath

Guillen Still Doesn’t Get It

2006-06-25T00:58:00.000-05:00

ESPN reports that White Sox General Manager Ken Williams fears that he may have no other choice but to fire Ozzie Guillen.

I say fire him. What took you so long in the first place?

Guillen was fined and ordered to take sensitivity classes by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig after Guillen used the word “fag” (along with some other choice words) in reference to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti. But, in an interview with ESPNdeportes.com (conducted in Spanish) Guillen said,

I think the commissioner ordered [the sensitivity classes] in order to calm things down, but, obviously, to attend one of those, I'll have to take English lessons first . . . I'll do what I have to do, at least when I have time, but I don't think I'll take those sensitivity lessons.

English lessons? Sounds to me like Guillen already has a strong English vocabulary. That’s what got him in trouble in the first place.

ESPN reports that Guillen later said through a White Sox spokesman that he would attend the training.

ESPN quotes Ken Williams in reaction to Guillen’s latest comments,

"We are trying to get him to understand that if he puts himself in that position it will be to me one of the most unfortunate sports happenings in a long time," Williams said. "We need people like Ozzie Guillen out there to kind of give a little bit of color and a little bit of flavor to the game."

No, we don’t need people like Ozzie Guillen to give “a little bit of flavor to the game.” We need people like Ozzie Guillen to shut up for once and not put themselves above the game. Guillen is “one of the most unfortunate sports happenings in a long time.”

–J.E. Heath

Be Aggressive

2006-06-24T10:35:00.000-05:00

I’m not trying to second guess Phil Garner here. He knows much more about Baseball than I do, and since he took my beloved Astros to the World Series last year, I consider him a genius.

But the Astros offense has been struggling lately, and that has become the chief reason we’ve been losing. It is true that there are some guys in the lineup that we depend on that aren’t producing. But, the glaring difference between this year and last is baserunning. The Astros just haven’t been aggressive on the basepaths.

Last season, Willy Taveras, the fastest guy on the team, was sixth in the NL with 34 stolen bases. Adam Everett was 13th with his 21 stolen bases. This year, Taveras has only 9 steals, good only for 17th place (tied with 2 other players). He’s the only Astro in the top 20. The league leader is Jose Reyes of the Mets with 32 steals. Clearly, the Astros are lagging behind in this department.

I fear that Garner is falling into the same strategy that doomed Jimy Williams. He’s sitting around waiting for that 3 run homer that never comes. When Garner came to the Astros in 2004, he was able to ignite the offense with stolen bases, hit and run plays, and squeeze bunts. But he seems to have abandoned that strategy.

Let’s be more aggressive. Stealing bases can spark a sluggish offense. By stealing second, you remove the chance of a double play. Hit and run plays move the fielders out of position and thereby improve the batter’s chances of getting a hit. Unlike Hockey and Football where you can physically force a defender out of position so that you can make a play, in Baseball you have to trick him to move. That’s what aggressive baserunning does. You create a situation where the defense is always nervous, scared that the runner is going to try to steal a base.

During Thursday’s game, the Astros had only two baserunners in the first 5 innings. Preston Wilson drew a walk in the bottom of the second, and he singled in the bottom of the fifth. Both times he was erased in a double play. By the sixth inning, Clemens was out of the game and Twins pitcher Liriano hadn’t even broken a sweat. A couple of stolen bases would have prevented that outcome by extending the inning. Without the benefit of a double play, Liriano would have to throw more pitches to get out of the inning (causing him to tire more quickly) and the Astros might have been able to score more often.

Phil Garner got his nickname “Scrap Iron” because of the gritty way he plays. We need to see more of that. With the Astros back down to .500 and facing three tough road series in a row, something needs to be done to get this offense going again. Great teams find a way to win.

–J.E. Heath

Guillen fined . . . that’s all

2006-06-24T01:01:00.000-05:00

Major League Baseball has handed down its punishment for White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Guillen was fined an undisclosed amount and ordered to take sensitivity classes.

Not enough. Not nearly enough. Bud Selig screws up once again.

Guillen should not be punished only for his “fag” comment. He should be punished for ordering a pitcher to throw at a batter, and then yelling at the pitcher in the dugout (to the point that the pitcher was brought to tears) when he failed to do so. He should be punished for the numerous comments he has made, from equating homosexuals to child molesters to suggesting that Jason Grimsley, the Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher under investigation by the federal government for using human growth hormone, should be shot for revealing the names of other MLB players who are using HGH.

He should be taught that his words have consequences. He should be taught that real men take responsibility for their actions and their words. They do not hide behind excuses such as “that’s not what I really meant.” He should be made to understand that his comments reflect poorly not only on him, but on his team and on Baseball.

When Braves pitcher John Rocker made similar comments a few years ago, he was suspended for 14 games. When Marge Schott, a former owner of the Cincinnati Reds, used racial slurs she was forced out of Baseball. By comparison, Guillen's punishment appears to be an insincere token designed to allow MLB to duck out of the issue without actually confronting it.

What if Guillen used a racial slur instead of “fag?” What if he called Mariotti a “[expletive] cracker.” What if he had used the N-word? Would his punishment be more severe? Certainly. So, is there a double standard here? Yes.

If a message isn’t sent now, the problem is only going to get worse.

With the scandals that MLB is facing now, the last thing it needs is some loud mouth renegade manager finding new ways to offend entire groups of fans. We don't need a manager running his clubhouse like he’s Tony Soprano. Major League Baseball should demand more class of its players, coaches, managers, and executives. Guillen’s comments would not be tolerated in the corporate world, or any other part of American society for that matter. Considering how reliant Major League Baseball is on corporate sponsorship, it should not tolerate Guillen’s comments, either.

In his response to Guillen’s comments, Jay Mariotti says Guillen should be suspended for at least two weeks. I agree. If Ozzie Guillen were any kind of a man, he would agree.

But Guillen is a coward. He complains that Mariotti won’t confront him, but then he hides behind his native culture when he gets himself in trouble (by the way, Mariotti says he won’t go to the White Sox clubhouse because he has been threatened there before and White Sox management never did anything about it). He says if someone has a problem with him that person should speak to him face to face, but he went straight to the media to complain that Phil Garner refused to shake his hand during the World Series, never bothering to call Garner to clear up the issue. And when Garner called him, Guillen claimed he was misquoted, once again hiding behind his excuses.

–J.E. Heath

What an embarrassment

2006-06-22T22:41:00.000-05:00

So, I watched the World Cup game between the U.S.A. and Ghana this morning, mainly because I had nothing better to do. I have come to realize why the rest of the world loves Soccer. It’s the only thing America sucks at. I mean, really. We lost to Ghana. They don’t even have indoor plumbing! We’ve got smart bombs, cell phones, a space program, this internet thing, and they still have to dig a hole to take a crap! And we lost to them!

–J-Dawg

More on Guillen

2006-06-22T17:56:00.000-05:00

I wanted to bring up another thing about Guillen that I forgot to mention in my previous rant. According to the ESPN article about Guillen's apology, Guillen said he has no problem with homosexuals. To prove his point, Guillen said he attends WNBA games and Madonna concerts. He just doesn't get it.

Second, mlb.com's Kevin Yanik reports that Astros manager Phil Garner was surprised to hear Guillen complain that Garner refused to shake his hand during the World Series last year. Guillen was quoted in a story by Chicago Sun-Times writer Joe Cowley as saying,

He wouldn't shake my hand when we gave the lineups [in the World Series]. I would put my hand out there, but maybe he had a lot of distractions, I don't know.

Guillen said he believed it had something to do with MLB forcing the Astros to open the roof of Minute Maid Park during the World Series.

Garner said during a press conference that he had indeed shaken Guillen's hand and produced photos as proof. Garner called Guillen to clear up the issue. Garner said Guillen was, "surprised by that . . . He said he didn't say it, so clearly there's an issue between him and Joe Cowley because he said he didn't say it."

Yeah, sure Guillen never said it. Cowley just made it up. Once again, Guillen's loud mouth gets him in trouble and rather than take responsibility for it like a man, he pushes the blame on someone else.

-J.E. Heath

How do you say “loud-mouth jerk” in Spanish?

2006-06-22T00:47:00.000-05:00

Ozzie Guillen is an @$$hole, and the media is ripping him a new one. And for good reason

During the White Sox’ game with the Rangers last Wednesday, manager Ozzie Guillen asked rookie reliever Sean Tracey to throw at Rangers slugger Hank Blalock in retaliation after Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla hit White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Pierzynski says there was no reason for Padilla to throw at him. That prompted Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Greg Couch to say,

I would say there was no reason for it, but everyone keeps doing things to Pierzynski and then he claims there was no reason.
Face it, there's a reason.

Exactly. There’s got to be a reason nearly everyone in the league hates Pierzynski, and I’m sure it isn’t because he’s such a nice guy.

But moving on with the story. Tracey threw two inside pitches to Blalock, missing on both. He finally recorded the out but then Guillen pulled Tracey out of the game yelled at him (in the dug out and in view of the TV cameras) to the point that Tracey was brought to tears. The next day, Tracey was sent to the minors (the White Sox claim this was because they had just made a trade for another pitcher). What did Tracey do to deserve such a dressing-down? After all, he got the out. ESPN details the incident:

After getting the out, Tracey was removed from the game. Guillen slammed a water bottle to the ground when Blalock grounded out and the manager then brought Agustin Montero in to pitch. Guillen was then seen in the dugout barking at Tracey, who pulled the collar of his jersey over his head.

In his defense, Guillen explains that the reason he yelled at Tracey is because he wanted to bring in another pitcher. ESPN quotes Guillen,

"I tried to get Montero ready [to face Blalock] and wasn't able to. It was a little late," Guillen explained. "It was my mistake. I didn't get him up quick enough. I didn't want Tracey in that situation."

But, Montero wasn’t ready to pitch when Blalock came up to bat, so Guillen had Tracey pitch to Blalock. Tracey got the out, which is what he’s supposed to do, right? Why yell at him? What is this “situation” that Guillen didn’t want Tracey to pitch in?

The AP reported that Guillen says that, “the next time one of his players is hit intentionally by an opposing pitcher, he wants his pitchers to retaliate.”

So, Tracey was removed from the game because he didn’t hit Blalock.

Intentionally throwing at batters is a part of Baseball. It’s similar to Hockey. Every Hockey team has a guy who is considered “the enforcer.” He’s easy to spot, he usually leads the team in penalty minutes. His job is to start fights with the other team. He’s used to prevent the other team from taking cheap shots at one of your star players (something that is easy to do in a sport as fast and physical as hockey). It’s understood. If you try to take out one of our guys, we’re going to take you out. It’s mutual assured destruction. Baseball has a similar unwritten rule. If a pitcher throws at a batter, then his team can expect one of their best hitters to be thrown at, too. The problem is, a 95 mile an hour fastball can do much more damage than a fist. So, this only happens in extreme cases. Except for Guillen, who apparently wants this to happen often.

It has its place. But it gets out of hand in the American League (the league in which the White Sox play), where pitchers don’t have to bat and face retaliation for their actions. Suddenly, the designated hitter becomes the designated target, and the concept of mutual assured destruction is no longer able to confine this dangerous game. Yet another reason the DH is a bad rule.

Oh, if only the story could end there.

But it doesn’t. Is this beginning to sound like a soap opera to you? After Guillen’s tirade during that game, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti (who is no friend of Guillen or the White Sox) asked if Guillen had lost his mind. Mariotti writes,

No man who is thinking straight would pull the megalomaniacal b.s. that Guillen did Wednesday night in Texas.

Mariotti claimed that Guillen asked Tracey to be “a goon-on-demand.”

As expected, that column didn’t sit well with Guillen. ESPN reports,

Angry with a recent column by Mariotti critical of Guillen's handling of recently demoted relief pitcher Sean Tracey and upset with Mariotti over past columns, Guillen said to reporters when referring to Mariotti before Tuesday's game, "What a piece of [expletive] he is, [expletive] fag.

I guess no one else likes Mariotti, either because no one got upset over Guillen calling him a “piece of [expletive],” but only for calling him a “fag” and offending the homosexual community. Guillen apologized for using the word and claims that he didn’t mean it that way. Guillen said,

I don't have anything against those people. In my country, you call someone something like that and it is not the same as it is in this country.

By the way, Guillen, a native of Venezuela, received his American citizenship last winter. So when he says, “my country,” he should be referring to America. But he still means Venezuela. According to Guillen, when you call someone a “fag” in Venezuela, you’re not commenting on that person’s sexuality, but on his courage. But I have to ask, do they really say “fag” in Venezuela? After all, it’s a Spanish-speaking country. Anyway, Guillen says he was trying to say that Mariotti didn’t have enough courage to meet him face to face.

Does Guillen think he’s in the WWF? Is he trying to call out Mariotti? Considering Guillen’s penchant for telling his pitchers to throw at guys he doesn’t like, I don’t blame Mariotti for not showing up.

Guillen has lived in this country for over 20 years. I’m sure that at some point he figured out what “fag” means here. So, his explanation is idiotic to say the least. Writing another column for the Sun-Times, Greg Couch says,

This isn't about Guillen's language or his culture. He has lived in this culture long enough to know. It's Guillen.
And it's finally hitting him in the face.

Couch quotes Ron Cook, a writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who said Guillen, “has become the biggest creep in baseball -- at least on the days Barry Bonds takes off.”

Couch said the comment was especially bad because the White Sox have,

fought for decades to erase a lower-class label, starting with Disco Demolition Night, and carrying all through the incidents of fans attacking people on the field. As champs, they can erase all of that.

No. Ozzie Guillen is not lower-class. He has no class. And yes, White Sox fans have attacked people on the field.

The White Sox may be the defending World Series Champions, but they certainly don’t play like it. I have never seen a team in any sport that plays so dirty. And when they’re caught, they try to put the blame on someone else. They don’t even have the courage to take the blame. It’s always someone else’s fault.

Remember I mentioned that Sean Tracey was sent back down to the minors after the White Sox made a trade for another pitcher? The other Pitcher was David Riske. Riske got a chance to pitch for his new team on Tuesday when the White Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 20 to 6. But Riske was ejected from the game in the seventh inning. Why? Because he hit a batter. This came after Cardinals pitcher Sidney Ponson hit two White Sox batters with the bases loaded. Obviously, Ponson didn’t hit the batters on purpose. Guillen says his guy (or should we say goon?) didn’t hit the batter on purpose, either. But considering Guillen’s recent history, that’s hard to believe. Guillen was also ejected.

Needless to say, all this stuff that’s going on with Guillen and the White Sox would never be tolerated in the Astros organization. If Guillen were managing the ‘Stros, Drayton McLane would have fired him long ago. The Astros are a championship team because McLane has fostered a culture of honor and sportsmanship in the clubhouse. That’s how the Astros were able to come back and win the NL pennant last year without falling apart. This team believes in itself and never gives up. They play to win, but they don’t play dirty. The Astros might have lost the World Series last year, but they certainly play like champions.

Oh, and by the way. The mob that is the Chicago White Sox will be facing my beloved Astros this weekend in a three game series in Chicago.

ROOT FOR THE GOOD GUYS!

–J.E. Heath

Hall of Fame Credentials

2006-06-20T23:14:00.000-05:00

Ok, so we all know Craig Biggio is a good player. But, just how good is he? Let’s take a look at a few of his stats. These numbers are current as of June 19, 2006.

–Biggio has scored 1,735 runs. He ranks 21st all time, 1 run behind Honus Wagner. He’s second among active players (375 behind Barry Bonds who is sixth all time, and as we all know, he’s had some . . . how should I put it? . . . Some help in achieving those numbers).

–Biggio has 2,865 hits to put him 39th all time, 8 hits behind Babe Ruth (who is 37th). Biggio leads all active players in this category by 86 hits.

–He’s in ninth place all time in doubles with 628. He’s 12 doubles behind Honus Wagner, and he leads all active players by 57

–946 extra base hits are good for 38th all time. Biggio is only 6 away from Mickey Mantle who is 39th all time. He’s fourth among active players (third if you don’t count Jeff Bagwell, who’s likely to retire after spending this year on the DL).

All in all, Biggio ranks in the top 50 all time in games, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, total bases, and extra base hits.

And speaking of Bagwell, he’s in the top 50 all time in home runs, runs batted in, walks, on base percentage, slugging, intentional walks, and extra base hits. By the way, I heard once that Bagwell has batted Biggio home more times than any other pair in history. They have also turned more double plays than any other pair. But, I don’t have the stats to verify that.

As the season progresses, Biggio will be passing hallowed names like Ruth, Mantle and Wagner in one category or the other pretty much every week. Truly, he is one of the best players of all time. And he’s a Houston Astro.

–J.E. Heath

End Interleague Play

2006-06-20T01:32:00.000-05:00

Ok, let’s face it. The only good thing about Interleague play is that it might bring about an end to the Designated Hitter rule. At least, that was the hope when it first started. Ten years later, and the DH is still going strong. The Player’s Union doesn’t want it to end because it affords aging superstars an opportunity to extend their careers. The fact that this is the primary benefit of the DH should be proof enough that it’s a bad idea. But, that’s for another rant.

The subject here is Interleague play.

Those who are in favor of Interleague play point to the exciting rivalries that it brings. Yeah. Exciting. Like the Marlins vs. the Devil Rays. Sure, it works in New York and Chicago. But the people in those cities are so rude they can be talked into hating Gandhi. But even still, the rivalries are manufactured. I might poke fun at the Dallas Rangers every once in a while, but I don’t hate them (though I find it hard to vote for them on the All Star ballot). I don’t hate them like I hate the Cardinals or the Braves (it’s a respectful hate, of course). I tried to get into it, but I just couldn’t. There’s no history there. There are no hard-fought games. There’s no championship on the line. This is how good rivalries such as the Yankees and the Red Sox get started. It’s hard to get excited for a series that was concocted merely to generate ticket sales. And what do you do for teams that don’t have geographic rivals, such as the Braves, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Padres, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Tigers, Twins, and Mariners? That’s a third of the Major League teams that are left out of the so-called rivalries.

Allow me to give you a quick history lesson to help explain another problem with Interleague play. Interleague play has ruined the schedule. When Interleague play started, the schedule was arranged so that teams within the same division played the same teams for the same number of games both home and away. This is called a balanced schedule. Teams in the NL East played teams in the AL East, NL Central vs. AL Central, and so on. Soon however, MLB began to believe that fans were becoming bored with the scheduling. So, MLB changed the schedule so that teams would play their geographic rivals and rotate through the rest of the divisions. For example, the Astros would play the Rangers and the Cubs would play the White Sox every year, but the rest of the Interleague games for NL Central teams would be against the AL East one year and the AL West the next. So, the schedule is no longer balanced and every year one team ends up with an advantage that the other teams in the division don’t enjoy (such as playing a strong opponent at home while other teams in the division must play that team on the road).

Further, Intraleague games against teams in different divisions have been limited to two series a year in order to accommodate the Interleague match-ups. So, the “rivalry” between the Astros and the Rangers is hyped at the expense of a real, exciting rivalry between the Astros and Braves. The season series between the Astros and most of the NL West teams were over this year by the end of May. The fairness of the schedule has been sacrificed in favor of these made-up rivalries.

The only fun thing about Interleague play was watching the AL pitchers try to hit. But then Randy Johnson, who had the most awkward swing known to man, signed with the Diamondbacks, and was forced to become a better hitter. Since then, his at bats were no longer as fun, and neither was Interleague play.

And of course, there’s the purist argument that says the leagues should be kept separate. That’s how God made them, and that’s how they should be.

So, there you have it. Interleague sacrifices a fair schedule for the sake of geographic rivalries that really aren’t that fun anyway because good rivalries aren’t manufactured.

–J.E. Heath

Chris “4 for 4” Burke

2006-06-13T23:06:00.000-05:00

Wow! If Chris Burke performs like this every time I mention him in a post, I’ll dedicate the whole weblog to him. Burke went 4 for 4 with a walk and scored 5 runs, including a homer, in tonight’s 9-2 win versus the Cubs. He wasn’t the only one with the offense. Preston Wilson and Lance Berkman each had 3 RBI.

And the pitching was good, too. Andy Pettitte went 7 innings, allowed one run and struck out 5. It’s nice to see guys like Pettitte and Wilson, who were struggling last month, to have a good game. It’s starting to look like things are turning around. The Astros are above .500 for the first time in two weeks. Let’s keep it up!

–Heathster

Smart Astros

2006-06-12T23:54:00.000-05:00

Sports Illustrated has a brief article about three Astros players who aren’t your ordinary ballplayers when it comes to brains. They are: utilityman Eric Bruntlett, who is currently reading Elegant Universe by physicist Brian Greene; closer Brad Lidge, an ancient history buff; and catcher Brad Ausmus who is a Graduate of Dartmouth and whose father wrote A Schopenhauerian Critique of Nietzsche's Thought. Ausmus says that’s his favorite book. Gee, my favorite book is Garfield Loses His Feet.

All kidding aside, that physics book sounds pretty interesting. But the book on Nietzsche might be a little too nerdly for me. It’s interesting that SI brings this up. Ausmus has long been known as one of the smartest guys on the club. Sunday was the third anniversary of the Astros’ combined no-hitter against the Yankees. Six Astro pitchers (Roy Oswalt, Kirk Saarloos, Pete Munro, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel, and Billy Wagner) combined to pitch a no hitter against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Guess who caught that game. Brad Ausmus.

–J-Dawg

Chris “Day to Day” Burke

2006-06-11T16:44:00.000-05:00

Astros utility man Chris Burke was hit by a pitch on his left elbow during today’s game with the Braves. He played for a few more innings (even making a tremendous catch in deep center field) before leaving the game. This comes after Burke dislocated his left shoulder last week. Burke was listed day to day after that injury, and is listed day to day after this injury. Astros announcer Jim Deshaies joked that “Day to Day” will be Burke’s new nickname. Burke is a tough player. He spent some time on the DL earlier this season for an injury to the same shoulder after crashing into the outfield wall at full speed in Colorado while chasing down a fly ball. He held onto the ball for the out.

Braves starting pitcher, Horacio Ramirez was also forced to leave the game in the second inning after taking a line drive to the face. He was able to walk off the field under his own strength. He is also listed day to day. Another tough player.

After nearly getting no-hit on Monday, the Astros offense has come alive. They scored 14 runs today including 3 homers, and have scored an average of 5.83 runs over the last 6 games. The Astros have won the last two series and are back to a .500 record.

Roger Clemens pitches tonight for the AA Corpus Christi Hooks in his second minor league start. His start for Lexington was very promising. Tonight’s game will be broadcast in it’s entirety by FOX Sports Southwest.

Looking ahead, the Astros still have their work cut out for them. After a series with the Cubs, interleague play starts again. The next couple of weeks feature a three game set with the very hot Detroit Tigers and a rematch with the World Series champion White Sox.

–J.E. Heath

Rock Bottom . . . Hopefully

2006-06-05T23:23:00.000-05:00

The Astros have hit rock bottom, I hope. Tonight my beloved Astros were shutout by the Cubs, who (by the way) are 23-33. “Shutout” is being optimistic. That’s looking at the glass as half-full. The pessimistic way (and probably the more realistic way) of seeing this is that the Astros were nearly no-hit. It wasn’t until the eighth inning that the ‘Stros finally got their first and only hit. And that hit came from Preston Wilson, who is on pace to have 186 strikeouts this season. The all-time record is 191, set by Adam Dunn in 2004 (hat tip Alyson Footer).

I heard Milo Hamilton say during tonight’s broadcast that things can only go up from here. Well, actually they can go down. After all, the Astros did have one hit, at least. They could actually have a no-hitter thrown against them. Tomorrow, they face Kerry Wood. Wood hasn’t been his usual this year because of injury, but he does share the record for most strikeouts in one game. That came on May 6, 1998 when he threw 20 strikeouts against, guess who, the Astros.

So, hopefully Milo was right: you can only go up from here. But, it is still possible to go down. One thing’s for sure: something has to give. This is embarrassing. I could elaborate on how embarrassing it is, but not without cursing. So, I’ll stop now.

-J.E. Heath

Hank Aaron - 755; Barry Bonds - 715 F*#!

2006-06-01T18:41:00.000-05:00

A friend told me about this article from The Onion, a news parody similar to, but funnier than, The Daily Show. The article says that Bud Selig has decided to add not just an asterisk next to Bond's name in the record books, but also "a pound sign and exclamation point, all preceded by the letter 'F' -- a string of characters that, according to Selig, "will always be associated with Barry Bonds." Selig says that this will be done to show that Bonds hit his homeruns under "some pretty g**d**** special circumstances."

Oh, if only it were true!

Well, the news came out yesterday that Roger Clemens has decided to pitch again for the Astros. Of course, for regular readers of Houston Nine, that is not news. It is very good to hear, though. This means that everything is on track for the repair of the Houston starting rotation. One more season from Clemens is all we need. Next year, guys like Buchholz and Rodriguez will be ready to pick up the slack.

In Previous posts, I have said that the Reds will no longer be as good as they were early this season now that Ken Griffey, Jr. is back. To prove that, we will periodically review the Reds' record since Griffey's return. Let me make it clear that we are not doing this to beat up on Griffey or the Reds. We merely want to see if the hypothesis is correct. If Griffey's return has a negative impact on the Reds, that would be evidence that you cannot build a team around one player (which is what Dallas did with Alex Rodriguez and the Reds are trying to do with Griffey).

After Griffey's first game back, the Reds had 23 wins and 12 losses. They were in first place in the division by one game. Since that game, the Reds have gone 6-12 and they are 5 games out of first place. Of course, my beloved Astros haven't been much better. They are now 7.5 games out of first. Hopefully the Red's decline will continue. The Astros play them this weekend in Houston. Another pattern I've noticed this season is that whenever the Astros play a bad team that they should beat, that team suddenly becomes good. We'll see.

–J.E. Heath

It’s Appropriate

2006-05-28T01:54:00.000-05:00

I’m watching a documentary on Fox Sports Southwest called “How to Overcome Adversity.” You might know it better as “2005: The Championship Season.” It’s appropriate that this is showing at this moment since the Astros seem to be digging themselves another hole to overcome this season.

As I am writing this, the Houston nine are 25-25. They are in fourth place in the division, 7.5 games out of first place. They are 3 and 7 over their last ten games, and have lost five straight games. Heck, even Milwaukee is doing better. To make the long story short, things are looking bleak.

Are they dead? Does this mean the Stros won’t be there in October to defend their championship?

Here’s what’s wrong. Coming into this season, we knew we wouldn’t have Clemens. So, 1/3 of last year’s Big Three is already missing. Not to worry, right? We still have Oswalt, Pettitte, and Backe. But Pettitte hasn’t been his usual this year. His career ERA is 3.85. This year it’s 5.76. Backe is out with a bad elbow. So, that leaves Oswalt, a struggling Pettitte, and three rookies in the rotation.

Now, don’t get me wrong. These are good rookies with tremendous talent. Buchholz can be dominating. But, these guys aren’t consistent. They’re going to have setbacks. And you can’t get to the playoffs with this kind of rotation. That is unless something happens.

Don’t start printing those tombstones just yet, Chronicle.

Here’s what’s going to happen. It’s looking more and more likely that Clemens will be coming back for one more season. He says he will have a decision by June 15. So, he should be ready to go by July. Alyson Footer reported a few weeks ago that Backe might be ready to go in late June, or early July. Backe is the key. Not only is he a good pitcher, but he’s also the cheerleader of the club. He brings spirit to the clubhouse.

But, July is still a long way off, and it doesn’t give the Astros much time to make up a deficit. Pettitte won’t be this bad forever. Soon, and I expect very soon, he will return to his old form. And hopefully, with some support from the veterans on the staff, these talented rookies will settle in.

Things are grim right now, but never give up on this team. The Astros never do anything the easy way. They’re a resilient team. They are the defending National League Champions, and they won’t let a bad few weeks get in their way.

In the meantime, I’ll be praying for Backe’s elbow.

–J.E. Heath

Name Dropping

2006-05-23T01:14:00.000-05:00

Alyson Footer reports that Boston pitcher David Wells mentioned Craig Biggio while answering a question about who he suspects might be using steroids. Footer reports:

The question posed to Wells, according to the Boston Globe: "Are there guys, power guys, who you say there's no way they're juicing, or is everybody under suspicion?"
Wells: "Now everybody is, I would think. You see a little itty bitty guy hitting 30 home runs, like (David) Dellucci, I guess. How many home runs did he hit last year? Twenty-nine? Has he ever done that in his career? The numbers have gone down tremendously since all this has come up. You know, I know Dave. I've never suspected him of doing 'em, so, you know, it's something that, who else, who else could be? [Craig] Biggio, he can hit the ball, he can make good contact. I guess if you've been around the game enough and know the strike zone. It's like Wade Boggs, he never hit home runs, but he could if he wanted to. He could see the ball well and he could put the bat on the ball well. BP, he was unbelievable. He could go deep at will.
"But to me ... suspicion is on everybody. There are a lot of guys who aren't doing 'em, there are a lot of guys who did do 'em who aren't doing 'em now, and you've got human growth hormone, too, so, and that's undetected. So I'm not sure everybody's on that."

When Biggio was asked to respond to Wells’ comment, he said,

"There's nothing to comment on. I'm not going to get into a shouting match back and forth with somebody that wants to throw your name out for something.
"It makes you a little angry, if someone wants to throw your name under the bus like that. You work hard your whole career and somebody splats something like that out there ... I can splat out a lot of things if I want to. I'll take the high road and move on."

Well said.

It is absolutely ridiculous to suggest that Craig Biggio is using steroids. For one thing, he isn’t even a power hitter. He certainly isn’t as bulky as Bonds. He’s just a good hitter. Bonds was also a good hitter once. Then he suddenly became a power hitter. Take a look at his stats. For the first 14 years of his career, he hit more than 45 homeruns in a season only once, in 1993. He hit 40 or more homers only three times (1993, 1996, 1997). In 1998, the year that Mark McGuire hit 70 homeruns, Bonds hit 37. The next year he hit 34. After 1999, Bonds averaged 31.78 homeruns per season. Then in 2000 he hit 49 homers. In 2001 he hit 73. Since 1999, Bonds has averaged 51.6 homeruns per season (excluding 2005, Bonds was injured most of the year and only hit 5 homeruns). It’s such a big jump (from 34 homers to 73) in such a short time (2 years) that it almost seems . . . unnatural. I’m sure its only because he’s been eating his Wheaties.

By contrast, over Craig Biggio’s 19 years in the Majors, he has averaged 13.89 homers per season. His career high is 26 (2005). If Biggio has been using steroids in order to produce those numbers, maybe he should consider getting his money back.

It is completely dishonorable and irresponsible for Wells to suggest that Biggio has been using steroids. Garner put it best:

"Guys can't stand not being on the front page. Their lives are so uninteresting, a lot of times they've got to tell stories on somebody else."

–J.E. Heath

The Art of the Inside Pitch

2006-05-21T21:03:00.000-05:00

Yesterday in Oakland, Barry Bonds hit his 714th career homerun and he is now tied for second place on the all-time list with Babe Ruth. We’ve already talked about this numerous times on Houston Nine. Even Paul Lytle from our sister site, Texian Weblog, has commented on this. Our readers are very familiar with our stance, so we won’t repeat ourselves.

However, this does give us an opportunity to comment on something that was accidently left out of our previous posts. During the Astros forgettable series with the Giants last week, Astros pitcher Russ Springer hit Bonds with a pitch. For those who missed it, Springer threw his first pitch behind Bonds, forcing the slugger to duck out of the batter’s box. The home plate umpire gave Springer a warning. The next three pitches were all inside and Springer finally hit Bonds with the fifth pitch. Springer and Houston manager Phil Garner were both ejected from the game. Springer walked off the field to a standing ovation.

Later last week, Springer received a four game suspension and a fine from Major League Baseball. Garner was also fined and received a one game suspension. Springer, who insists he wasn’t trying to hit Bonds, began serving the suspension immediately.

There are, as usual, two ways to look at this. First, you could say that this insistence of Springer’s that he didn’t throw at Bonds is just ridiculous. Of course he was throwing at him. It was obvious. It’s even more obvious when you look at the history. The first time Springer faced Bonds, Bonds hit a homer. Every other face off since then has ended with Bonds getting hit by a pitch.

The other way to look at this is to say that Springer wasn’t trying to hit Bonds, he was just trying to throw an inside pitch. Bonds has yet to hit a homer off an inside pitch. That area of the plate seems to be safe for pitchers facing Bonds. Astros TV announcer and former pitcher Jim Deshaies said during today’s game that this attempt to say there is some kind of history between the two players is nonsense. He notes that one of the match ups between the two ended with Bonds getting hit in the foot. If you’re going to hit someone, you wouldn’t hit him in the foot. It is possible that Springer really was just trying to throw inside, but not to hit the batter. So, Springer should be applauded for refusing to give in to Bonds even after he received a warning.

It’s hard to tell which theory is correct. ESPN seems to like the theory that Springer was trying to hit Bonds. But if ESPN likes it, then I have some suspicions about it. Springer, Deshaies, and most of the Astros say that Springer wasn’t trying to him him. Personally, I think that once you throw behind a guy and force him to duck to the ground you have made your point. I don’t see the point in trying four more times to hit him. Further, I don’t see why it should take five pitches to hit a guy. Bonds is a big man, how can you miss him? If you want to hit him, just hit him. So, either Springer was really determined but with really bad aim, or he wasn’t trying to hit him and it was simply an accident. I tend to lean toward accident.

–J.E. Heath

Finally, a Win!

2006-05-20T01:40:00.000-05:00

For the first time in nearly a week, the Astros held a lead in a ballgame. After getting trounced in a miserable series versus San Francisco, the Houston Nine were able to pull out a win. The score went back and forth for most of the game until in the bottom of the eighth with two outs, Adam Everett hit a double that scored three runs and gave Houston the lead.

Unfortunately, starting pitcher Roy Oswalt was not able to get the win. He was pulled in the seventh after allowing Dallas to regain the lead and then loading the bases with one out. Chad Qualls relieved Oswalt and delivered a brilliant performance to end the inning without allowing another run.

Brad Lidge was back in the closer role tonight. He allowed one hit and struck out two on his way to his twelfth save of the season. Things are beginning to look up for him, and that’s very good news for the Astros.

–J.E. Heath

Three Words: Rookie Starting Pitchers

2006-05-17T22:43:00.000-05:00

Last week, it was Oswalt and Pettite who couldn’t get the job done against San Francisco and LA. This week it's the three rookies in the rotation that are struggling. Buckholz, who had been excellent earlier, gave up 8 runs in the first three innings. Hernandez was even worse on Tuesday, and Nieve wasn’t any better tonight. But, the pitchers weren’t the only problem. As a team, the Astros have committed 5 errors over this three game series with San Francisco, and have only scored five runs. I won’t say how many runs the Giants scored. It hurts too much.

There was some good news from Monday's game. The Houston bullpen pitched six innings and gave up two runs. But, all that was wasted the next day when the tired bullpen had to bail out starter Rodriguez and pitch six more innings, this time giving up 3 runs including a homer.

Lidge, who had been removed from the closer role to try to work out his problems, pitched a perfect inning on Tuesday. He pitched another perfect inning tonight, making three in a row. According to the Astros radio announcers, Lidge had been informed by new arrival Joe McEwing that he has been tipping his pitches. This confirms my suspicion that since Lidge’s rise to prominence as one of the premier closers in the league last year, hitters have identified his weaknesses and have begun to exploit them. This started, of course, with the NLCS last year. Looking at those games one by one, you can see the Cardinals steadily get better and better against Lidge until finally in the ninth inning of Game 5... I won’t mention it. It still hurts too much.

Fortunately, these losses haven’t hurt the Astros too much in the standings. They are 3.5 games out of first. The Astros missed a few excellent opportunities to jump ahead of the Reds and into second place. When last we spoke the Reds were 23-12 and one game ahead in first place. Today they are 23-17, two games out of first. They have lost five straight games since Ken Griffey, Jr. hit that walk-off homer. Could this mean that the Curse of Griffey has returned? We’ll wait and see.

–J.E. Heath

Griffey, Jr. Returns

2006-05-11T22:51:00.000-05:00

Ken Griffey, Jr. was in the lineup for the Reds tonight for the first time since April 12. The Reds have been hot in his absence, but as I have said before, the Reds begin to struggle once Griffey, Jr. comes off the disabled list. Griffey himself never struggles when he’s healthy, but the rest of the team always seems to. As evidence of that, we have tonight’s game. The score was 1 to 1 after the first 10 innings. Then the Reds let the game get away when the Nationals were able to score 3 runs in the top of the 11th. It looked like the Reds were going to lose the game and the series. But, they were able to score one run in the bottom of the inning and then put runners on first and second for Griffey, Jr. Junior promptly hits a three-run shot to win the game.

So, maybe the pattern I have noticed over the years won’t reappear this year. But I’m not so sure. The Reds left 12 runners on base in an 11inning game. They nearly let the game get away in extra innings. Had they been playing against a better team, they would not have won. Even Griffey only had one hit before his walk-off homer. All in all, it was a bad game for the Reds and they’re lucky they won it.

Now that Junior is back, we’ll keep track of Cincinnati’s record and see what they are able to do. Right now, including tonight’s win, they are 23-12 with a one game lead for first place. We’ll come back periodically to see how they are doing and if this hypothesis is correct.

I want to make it clear that I have nothing against Griffey. He’s a good ballplayer. Of course, I wouldn’t want him on my team; he gets injured too often. Also, I have heard rumors that his presence in the Reds clubhouse has split the team into those who are “friends of Griffey,” and those who aren’t. But, that’s just a rumor and shouldn’t be given much credibility. But then again, no one spreads such rumors about Craig Biggio.

–J.E. Heath

I want to cheer for Bonds

2006-05-10T23:45:00.000-05:00

I want to cheer for Bonds. I really do. I want to feel that feeling of watching history being made. I want to share that feeling with my friends, and other fans. I want to stand up and clap. I want to be able to tell my children and my grandchildren, “I remember that. I saw it happen. Let me tell you the story...”

I love Baseball. I love the suspense in every pitch. I love the power in every swing. I love to see the concentration in the eyes of a fielder as he chases down a fly. I love the smells of the ballpark, the sights, the sounds. I love everything about it.

I remember the excitement I felt as a child when my family and I would emerge from the cavernous concourse of the Astrodome and the grandeur of the stadium would overwhelm me. By that time, the Dome was over 20 years old but it was an amazing sight. It still is. I would miss the action of the first few innings because I was simply in awe of the enormous stadium. These were the days I first fell in love with the Astros. Still today, the names of Astro players from that time take me back to my childhood. Names like Cruz, Davis, and Ashby.

The thrill of Baseball did not go away after I grew up. My fondest memory of the Astrodome came when I was an adult. I remember high-fiving everyone around me, even people I didn’t know, when Carl Everett hit a grand slam. It was the first time I witnessed a grand slam in person. I still have the ticket stub from that game.

That was the first major league grand slam I saw. I had seen several when my friends and I played ball in a neighbor’s yard. But, I was never a very good ballplayer, which is why my fondest memories are as a spectator. That only makes me appreciate the game even more.

For all of these reasons, I cannot, no matter how much I would like to, cheer for Barry Bonds. Baseball is the one constant in my life, in all our lives. Baseball is a beautiful game, and the Major Leagues are the finest examples of this beautiful game. I cannot cheer as this game I love is desecrated. Yes, we have no proof that Barry Bonds used steroids. How Bonds changed from a good hitter to a power hitter in such a short span of time is a secret that has been well kept thanks to the protection provided by the Players’ Union.

In a few days, Barry Bonds will likely pass Babe Ruth with 715 career home runs. This stat is among the most celebrated records in sports. This should be a time of great excitement. But it will be darkened by the controversy of steroids. Bonds’ march to Baseball history has now put every other record in question. I hear people say, “Sure Bonds uses steroids, but Ruth played in a segregated era. We should put an asterisk on his career numbers, too.” Bonds’ cheating has not only left a mark on this modern era, but on the history of the game as well. As we attempt to excuse Bonds’ behavior, we have to sully the reputations of the great players of the past. Of course, segregation was not Ruth’s fault, and while past players may have taken advantage of circumstances in their favor, few went as far as to manufacture advantages for themselves. That is the difference.

But the controversy affects the future as well as the past and present. Are Major League Baseball’s attempts to resolve this issue only delaying the inevitable? With the advent of genetic engineering, cloning, and whatever other unnatural monstrosities medical science has up its sleeves, are we on the verge of a new era? Will my children and my children’s children one day laugh at our petty concerns over the relatively ancient technology of steroids? Is this a sign of things to come?

Perhaps I will have a story to tell my children, albeit a troubling one.

–J.E. Heath

Ups and Downs

2006-05-10T23:27:00.000-05:00

I’m watching the Astros get shellacked by the Dodgers right now. It’s really hard to watch, which is why I’m writing this now to distract myself. Watching the Astros lose is like watching a loved one in a car wreck.

The Houston Nine have a 5 game losing streak, and they look like they’re going to add to that tonight. But, I’m looking forward to better times. After this series with LA, the Astros come back home for 12 games versus Colorado, San Francisco, and Texas . . . oops, I mean Dallas. Of course, Houston didn’t fair very well against Colorado and the Giants this week, but they do have one of the best records at home in the Majors. None of these series will be easy, but the Astros have a good shot. After that they go on the road for a four game series against Washington, then three games with Pittsburgh, and then St. Louis. Hopefully, the Astros can shake this slump and make some headway over the next few weeks.

One interesting thing about this slump: Preston Wilson, who was struggling at the plate while the Astros were kicking ass, has really improved. Not including tonight’s game, Wilson has had 2 hits in each of the last 4 games. Unfortunately, the Astros lost those games. Funny. When he struggles, the Astros win. And when he excels, the Astros lose. I hope he starts striking out again.

Despite the slump, the Astros are only 2.5 games out right now, pending the outcome of tonight’s game. Mixed in with this slump was a two game sweep of St. Louis. So, there's hope.

The latest report on Clemens is that his sons want him to come back and play. The rumor is that the Astros have offered a very generous contract to Clemens. I’ll say the chances of Clemens coming back are about 55% to 60%. If he does come back, he will play for Houston.

–J.E. Heath

Welcome to Philly

2006-05-06T10:41:00.000-05:00

Check out this photo of Philadelphia fans’ greeting to Barry Bonds.

–Heathster

Tough Week

2006-05-02T23:30:00.000-05:00

Well, it’s been a tough week for the Astros. After dropping 2 out of 3 to Cincinnati, the Astros fell to third place. With tonight’s win, they are in second place, 1.5 games behind the Reds, and a half game in front of the Cardinals. The Reds currently have the best record in Baseball, an honor held by the ‘Stros until this weekend’s series in Cincinnati.

Now, I’m not trying to hate on the Reds here, but raise your hand if you actually think the Reds will still be in first place come September. Yeah, didn’t think so. Since the founding of the NL Central Division, only two teams have consistently been at the top: the Astros and the Cardinals. I really doubt that trend will end this year just because the Reds were able to win two games against Houston and two against St. Louis. The Astros have had a good month, too. But as I keep saying, it’s a long season.

Another trend the Reds have going against them is Ken Griffey, Jr. Since he has signed with the Reds, I have noticed a pattern. The Reds do pretty well when Griffey, Jr. is on the DL, especially early in the season. But for some reason, when Griffey, Jr. is playing, the Reds aren’t that good. We’ll see if that trend continues. Who knows? Perhaps the Reds will stay in it all season. But I still think either the Astros or the Cardinals will win the division.

Up Ahead

Looking forward, the Astros have a very important two game series starting Wednesday against St. Louis. We have Oswalt and Pettitte scheduled to pitch. I still think there’s something wrong with Pettitte, he had a horrible outing against the Reds (allowed 6 runs over 5 innings). Hopefully it’ll all be straightened out by Thursday.

And speaking of getting things straightened out, Preston Wilson had two hits and scored two runs tonight, with no strike outs. He batted lower in the lineup than in previous games. Nothing spectacular, but an improvement. Brad Lidge, who has also had a tough time lately, struck out two to earn his ninth save of the year. If he has had confidence issues since last year’s playoffs, this outing should help.

The Astros are in the middle of a 20 game stretch without a day off. Only eight of those games will be at home. During this stretch, the Astros will be facing St. Louis, LA, and San Francisco (a make up game next Monday in San Francisco, and a three game series in Houston). This is going to be tough.

Around the League

One thing that bothers me, the official attendance for tonight’s game in Milwaukee was 12,664. Last night’s attendance was 12,258. Pathetic. I know it’s been hard to be a Brewers fan lately, but come on. Your team isn’t going to win if you don’t go to the game.

The Detroit Tigers won again today. They have one of the best records in Baseball, even better than the Astros. I hope they can keep it up. Well, except that part about being better than the Astros.

Last thing. By the time I write my next post, Barry Bonds will at least be close to passing Babe Ruth, if he hasn’t passed him already. If you’re a regular reader, you would know that this is not something we will be celebrating here. We don’t like cheaters.

–Heathster

Rodriguez is 3-0

2006-04-22T12:33:00.000-05:00

Who’s missing Clemens? Ok, we all are. But there is good news. Wandy Rodriguez picked up his third win of the season last night. He’s tied with Oswalt for the best record on the club, 3-0. He is also a close second behind Backe in ERA (2.52 to Backe’s 2.25). Remember the Big Three from last year’s team: Clemens, Oswalt and Pettitte? Well, meet this year’s Big Three: Backe, Rodriguez and Oswalt. Of course, it’s still early, but this year looks very promising.

Pettitte has had a tough start (1-3, 5.25 ERA), but he’ll come around soon enough. Though, I wonder if there isn’t an injury that he’s trying to hide.

Alyson Footer reported on Thursday that Bagwell is considering another surgery to repair his shoulder. The surgery is very risky, and he will base his decision on the surgery’s benefit to his everyday, non-Baseball life. While we all miss Bagwell in an Astros uniform, let’s remember that his injury has a greater, and harsher, affect on his personal life. Bagwell says it hurts just to pick up his children. Baseball is not that important. Bagwell’s focus is on his personal life and family, and that’s exactly where it should be.

The defending National League Champs are still in first place (.5 game ahead of the Reds) in the very competitive NL Central with a record of 11-5. They have not lost a series yet this year.

Go ‘Stros!

–Heathster

I Need a Mojo Filter

2006-04-17T23:53:00.000-05:00

I’m beginning to realize that perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea to start an Astros blog. I’ve been wanting to put up a post for over a week now, but I’ve been scared to say anything about how good the Astros’ season has been so far because I might jinx them. Yes, I am that superstitious. When it comes to Baseball, anyway. I guess I’ll have to come up with some kind of ritual that will exempt Houston Nine from the karmic forces.

So, what have we discovered in the first two weeks of the season? Well, Barry Bonds is still waiting for his first homer. Albert Pujols can’t do anything but hit homers. Ken Griffey, Jr. is injured, again. And my beloved Astros are 9 - 4! Who’d of thought this would happen? All we heard about during the offseason and Spring Training was how the Astros will have trouble scoring runs. So far they have outscored their opponents 73 to 58, averaging 5.6 runs per game. No problem there. Couple that with a 3.80 team ERA, and you’ve got a very good start to the season.

The Detroit Tigers had a good run for a little while, but that’s quickly disappearing as the Tigers return to their annual slump. And speaking of slumping, how ‘bout them Rangers? I’m thinking about starting a petition to force the Rangers to stop calling themselves the Texas Rangers. They suck too much to be associated with Texas. “Dallas Rangers” would be just fine.

Finally, The Cubs are in second place in the NL Central, .5 game behind the Astros. Don’t get too excited, Cub fans. This happens every year. The Cubs start off good, then lose steam in the second half of the season. I heard a theory once on why this happens. I don’t remember who came up with this, but it seems to make sense to me. The Cubs are known for being the only team in the Majors to still play most of their home games during the day. All the other clubs play most of their games at night. As Summer comes and the temperatures begin to rise, all those day games start taking a toll on the players. About three quarters through the season they are simply worn out and so the team slumps. If they make some trades later in the season and bring in some fresh players (like they did in 2003) then they might be able to keep it up. Otherwise, they’ll end this season like they end all the others.

–Jason

Opening Day 2006

2006-04-03T16:24:00.000-05:00

April is such a wonderful time of year. The weather is nice, the wild flowers in Texas are blooming, and Baseball is back.

Right now I’m watching Washington vs. New York. I’m cheering for the Nats, but they’re losing. Still, it was fun to watch Carlos Beltran make a couple of bad throws from the outfield. Not that I’m cheering against the Mets, but do remember that Beltran had a chance to play in the World Series with the Astros and gave it up for money. Maybe that’s a good thing. After all, the only stat he led the Mets in last season was salary.

Of course, later tonight comes the ‘Stros first game versus the Marlins. We’ll have Oswalt going up against Willis. Should be a good game, Willis is always fun to watch.

Another thing to watch for in this game: officials from the City of San Antonio, who will be at the game in their latest attempt to woo the Marlins from Florida. They failed to win over the Saints, so now they’re going after the Marlins. I think this is a bad move, not just because I’m concerned that a MLB team in San Antonio would steal market share away from the Astros (more on that later), but because I don’t think San Antonio could support a MLB team. To make a MLB team work, you have to sell at least 30,000 tickets for 81 games a season, and sell out those luxury boxes. San Antonio is not a large, affluent city like Houston or LA, so selling those tickets year after year will be tough.

Also, it is important to note that San Antonio is the only major city in the U.S. without a surface water supply. Water is a big issue down here. I don’t think it is a very good idea to spend millions of dollars on a new stadium (especially considering San Antonio’s poor decisions concerning stadiums, more on that later) when you have to ration water every summer. Perhaps that money could be better spent elsewhere.

Of course, if the Marlins move to San Antonio, that would steal some market share from the Astros, and it might become very difficult to find the Astros on TV in this area. It was impossible to watch the Texans on San Antonio TV while the Saints were down here. There is also the concern about realignment. The Marlins (or whatever they are called when the come here) won’t be able to keep playing in the NL East division. It may be necessary to move the Astros or Cincinnati into the NL East and the Marlins into the NL Central or AL West. Of course, moving any team into the AL would mean that each league has 15 teams, which in turn means that Interleague play is here to stay since there will always be an odd team.

Now, as for San Antonio’s bad experiences with other publically financed stadiums. Before the City of San Antonio built the AT&T Center, (formerly the SBC Center) they built the Alamodome to lure a NFL team to San Antonio. However, unlike other cities that do not begin spending money on a new stadium until after they are guaranteed a team, San Antonio went ahead and built the Alamodome without that guarantee. The Alamodome turned out to be too small to host a NFL team, and too big for the Spurs. Now it sits unused, though San Antonio is still paying off the debt. It’s controversial to spend public dollars to fund a private stadium, but it is just plain stupid to spend public dollars to build a useless stadium.

–J.E. Heath

The Bonds in all of us

2006-03-09T23:09:00.000-06:00

Christianity Today writer, Mark Galli, makes some good points in a recent article about Barry Bonds’ use of steroids:

But I hope I have the honesty to not cast the first stone. Because I am the fan who relished watching McGwire chase Roger Maris's record in 1998, and marveled at Bonds when he demolished that record just a few years later (and didn't stop to think how this massive power suddenly became possible). I'm the white guy who occasionally wonders if an African-American or Hispanic got the job merely because of his race. I'm the father/ husband/friend who has lost his temper and said intemperate things. I'm the taxpayer who wonders about claiming that cash honorarium as income. I'm the journalist who is tempted to cut corners or sacrifice my family on the altar of getting one more thing published so my star might rise a tad higher than the fellow next to me.
I hate what I see in Barry Bonds, but I hate it all the more because I see it in myself: "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, decept, and malice" (Rom. 1:29).

–J.E. Heath

ESPN Misery

2006-01-12T00:38:00.000-06:00

Jim Caple of espn.com announces ESPN’s new MLB Misery Index. In his article, Caple explains that there are two types of misery. He says,

Which type of misery is worse for fans, to root for teams that lose painfully in the end or teams that lose at the beginning, the middle and the end? Look at it this way. Would you want to be rejected so often that a member of the opposite sex hasn't appeared with you in public for 15 years without a restraining order? Or would you rather have a long relationship with a supermodel who lets you get as far as third base, then suddenly leaves you at the altar while she runs off with your worst enemy, leaving you feeling rotten and on the hook for the priest, the band, the florist, the caterer and the final 20 payments left on the engagement ring?

Really, I’d rather that you just shut up. My misery index is going up just reading this crap.

Coming in at number 7 on ESPN’s list with a misery index of 37 (out of 60, the Cubs at the #1 spot have an index of 43.5) are the Houston Astros. Surely, the Astros have had some heart-breaking seasons, but are Astros fans really miserable? I doubt it, considering Alyson Footer has recently published a retrospective book on the Astros’ last two seasons called Inside the Magical Seasons . Doesn’t sound to me like Astros fans are miserable. No one wrote a retrospective after the 2000 season. Astros fans are extremely proud of their team's recent successes, and are filled with hope for the upcoming season.

Of course, you can’t believe everything you read on espn.com. ESPN reported on Wednesday that the Astros have asked Jeff Bagwell to retire so that they can file an insurance claim to recover most of the $17 million they owe Bagwell for the 2006 season. Bagwell is trying to rehab an injured shoulder that kept him sidelined for most of the 2005 season.

But, according to Alyson Footer, Astros GM Tim Purpura denies asking Bagwell to retire , and Bagwell’s agent, Barry Axelrod denies the report as well. The Astros have made it clear to Bagwell and his agent that they are pessimistic about his ability to play next year, and that they would like a decision from Bagwell soon because the deadline for filing the insurance claim is January 31st. However, they are not pushing Bagwell to retire. Everyone, including GM Tim Purpura, wants to see Bagwell playing next year. But, as Footer says, “a $17 million price tag . . . is a tough pill to swallow.”

–J.E. Heath

Astros Sign Preston Wilson

2006-01-05T00:48:00.000-06:00

Not much to say about this that Alyson Footer hasn’t already said . We at Houston Nine would be completely lost without her.

Certainly, having too many guys that can hit is a good problem to have, and the addition of Wilson should help the Astros to become a well-rounded champion. If Clemens signs again next year, the Astros will be a team no one wants to play against.

And according to the newest Astro, Houston is already the team everyone wants to play for. He says,

The way guys talk to each other throughout the league, you come to Houston, and all they would talk about is the way the organization treats them . . . . Any player who plays in this game wants to be with a team that treats them well. On top of being committed to winning, there is no better combination.

A champion with class. No one can say enough about how the Astros refused to give up last season. They could have easily rolled over and waited for next year. But the Astros are a team that takes a punch and gets right back up. There’s more to building a championship team than big salaries. You must build a team from the inside. Start with your core (Biggio and Bagwell), and add players who exhibit the same kind of spirit: never say die, put the team first. That’s what champions do. Drayton McLane and the Astros’ management have done a great job building a fine team. Another quote from Preston Wilson on the subject:

“Part of it is the way the players interact with each other,” said Wilson. “You've got a lot of guys here that are committed to winning every day. There's not a whole lot of extra things that are going on that are going to distract the club from winning. When everybody in the locker room puts the team first, then it's definitely a productive atmosphere.”

–J.E. Heath

I guess Mack Brown really is that good . . .

2006-01-05T00:44:00.000-06:00

And USC is nowhere near as good as ESPN’s hype. One of the greatest College Football teams of all time? They’re good, just not that good.

Congratulations to the University of Texas Longhorns!

–J-Dawg

Interesting Sunday

2005-12-19T01:28:00.000-06:00

Not sure what was going on here, but this was a strange Sunday.

First, the Houston Texans actually won a game. I'm very happy about that, even though it hurts Houston's chances of getting first pick in the NFL draft. But winning is always better than a draft pick.

Second, the Indianapolis Colts actually lost a game. Even though I'm not a big fan of theirs, I was hoping they would go undefeated simply because I don't like how the old Dolphins team toasts every time the last undefeated team of the season loses its first game. The tradition is rather chickensh-t if you ask me. When you go undefeated for an entire season, no one can beat that record. By definition, the best anyone can do is match it. So I don't see the point of celebrating the fact that the record stays intact for another year.

This Sunday also gave me a chance to explain why I don't root for the Dallas Cowboys, even though I'm from Texas. First, there has always been a rivalry between Houston and Dallas, and Houston fans would have to be in a tough spot to root for a team from Dallas. Which brings me to my second point. I did actually cheer for the Cowboys during those dark years when Houston didn't have an NFL team. At that time the Cowboys were not playing for Dallas, but for the whole state of Texas. But they were a consistent embarrassment.

And that brings us to Sunday's game. The Cowboys were once again an embarrassment, at least this time they didn’t' embarrass the whole state. But here's one thing I don't understand. Late in the game, Dallas' punter screwed up and punted the ball a mere 15 yards. Though he tried to stay away from Cowboys Head Coach Bill Parcells as he walked back to the bench, Parcells found him anyway and gave him an earful. Now, by this point in the game, Dallas was already losing by more than 30 points. Drew Bledsoe, their quarterback had already been sacked several times. And the poor protection on the scrimmage line is one of the reasons the punter had a meager punt. The whole team sucked on Sunday, but somehow, according to Parcells, it was all the punter's fault. I don't get it. But I guess when you refuse to blame yourself, you have to blame someone.

–Heathmeister

Bobcats fall, Astros moving forward

2005-12-10T03:28:00.000-06:00

It was a great run, but the Texas State Bobcats lost Friday night to the University of Northern Iowa. Texas State Head Coach, David Bailiff, will be criticized for his decision to play for overtime even though the Bobcats had possession, and all three of their timeouts, with over a minute left to play in the fourth quarter. That decision was balanced on the razor edge dividing genius and idiocy.

Unfortunately for Bobcat fans, the balance was tipped in UNI’s favor. But that’s not new for UNI. All of their wins this postseason have come by way of a late field goal. They defeated Eastern Washington with a field goal with 51 seconds left in the game. They defeated top-ranked New Hampshire with another fourth quarter field goal. And Friday night they defeated Texas State with a field goal in overtime. In other words, the Bobcats were simply beaten by a team that’s really good at scoring cheap field goals.

I hate field goals. This is why Baseball is better than Football. Baseball teams are not awarded half a run just because they have a runner at third with two outs. You actually have to make it home if you want to put points on the board. The same is true for Hockey, and even Basketball (though Basketball is full of cheap scores).

Despite criticisms of Coach Bailiff, he has still done an amazing job for Texas State University. Not long ago, Texas State football was nothing. I won’t say it sucked, because it wasn’t even that good. But in just two years, Bailiff turned this team into a National Championship contender. Perhaps he is a genius. After all, he led Texas State to a conference Championship in his second year as head coach, something that took UT’s lauded Mack Brown eight years to accomplish. Texas State’s recent success on the field should bring more attention to a university that is often overlooked. National exposure during the Div. I - AA playoffs certainly helps, and Bailiff certainly deserves much credit for that.

As for me, since the Houston Texans suck this year, this blog will be devoted mostly to the Roger Clemens Saga, until Spring Training starts. Will he play? If he does, on what team? Does it even matter? As most of you have heard, the Astros denied arbitration to Clemens and Jose Vizcaino, which means the Astros cannot make a deal with either player until May. Most people expect Clemens to either retire or return to the team in May. There’s also a possibility that he’ll decide to sign with another team, though by the time he makes up his mind in February, most teams’ payrolls will be locked up.

Vizcaino will sign with another team. To be honest, I’m more upset over losing him than Clemens, but in today’s Baseball it’s extremely difficult to keep a team intact from year to year.

One last thing about the Texas State game. When the game was over, and the Bobcat’s dream season ended, over ESPN2's announcers you could hear a chant coming from the students: “Texas State! Texas State!”

–J.E. Heath

Bobcats on TV

2005-12-07T23:50:00.000-06:00

The Texas State game for Friday night against Northern Iowa is now sold out, and ESPN2 will once again broadcast live. Go Bobcats!

–J-Dawg

Bobcats Roll, Astros Wait

2005-12-05T23:27:00.000-06:00

Congratulations once again to the Texas State Bobcats! They defeated Cal Poly 14-7 to advance to the NCAA Division I - AA Semifinals.

Texas State will host Northern Iowa, who upset New Hampshire on Saturday, at 7:00pm Friday. No word yet about whether the game will be televised, but Bobcat Stadium is already nearly sold out.

In Baseball news, Roger Clemens has informed the Astros that he will not make up his mind on whether he will return next season until January or February. In other words, the Astros have to wait until next season to see if Clemens wants to play next season. My advice to the Astros is to forget about Clemens. Start preparing for next year as if he’s not playing. If he decides to play, great. If not, you’re prepared. Maybe it’s just me, but Clemens’ indecisiveness is becoming tiresome. No, I’m sure it isn’t just me.

Moving on, I see no reason for the Astros to try to make a trade to bolster their offense. Have faith in the farm system that produced Oswalt, Lidge, Ensberg, and Berkman. Many other teams would kill to have those names on their rosters, but the Astros didn’t have to sign away huge chunks of their payroll, or make blockbuster trades to get them. Maybe it’s just the optimistic Stros fan in me, but I think Houston will be just fine next year, with or without Clemens, and with or without a big trade.

–Heathster

Go Cats Go!

2005-12-01T00:03:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to the Texas State Bobcats who overcame a late 19 point deficit to defeat Georgia Southern in the first round of the NCAA Division I - AA playoffs on Saturday. In what should go down in history as the greatest quarter ever played in college Football, Texas State scored 34 unanswered points, beating GA Southern 50-35. Texas State will now host Cal Poly on Saturday in San Marcos.

This is the first time Texas State has reached the playoffs since the school began playing in Division I - AA. The school had won two national championships in Division II Football. The game will be televised on ESPN2. Kickoff is at 3pm Central Time.

You can get ready for the game here. Go ahead, click on the link. It’s fun!

–Heathmeister

MLB Steroids Deal

2005-11-17T00:38:00.000-06:00

Great news coming out of Washington today. Major League Baseball and the Players Union have agreed to a new steroid policy. The policy will now include punishments of 50 games for the first offense, 100 for a second, and a lifetime ban for a third. Previous positive tests will not count.

This is a good start, though I would like to see a one year suspension for the first offense and a lifetime ban for the second. It angers me that the Major Leagues, which should be the supreme examples of this fine game, have become perverted by drugs and cheaters. I have very little tolerance for this.

–J.E. Heath

Trading Beltran?

2005-11-15T00:26:00.000-06:00

Alyson Footer, Astros beat writer for mlb.com, says she has heard that the Mets are looking to trade Carlos Beltran. I could have told you Beltran wasn’t worth $11.5 million/year. Take a look at espn.com’s Mets page (despite my hatred of Sportscenter, espn.com usually has pretty good articles; love Jayson Stark). The only category Beltran leads his team in is salary.

Thank God the Astros weren’t suckered into giving Beltran a huge contract. I was asked many times in the last offseason if the Astros will suffer without Beltran. I said no, this just means the Astros won’t have another A-Rod or Ken Griffey, Jr. Looks like I was right. Too bad I wasn’t blogging at the time to prove it. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

But, if the Mets are trying to trade Beltran, who will take him? Who’s going to pick up a player whose biggest stat is his contract? Only one team has shown a willingness to do that: the Yankees. They seem to love buying overpaid, underperforming players. Perhaps that’s why they dropped out in the first round this season. Yes, I know, A-Rod just won the AL MVP award. But ask yourself, is that worth $25 million a year? Is that really a value? The White Sox won the World Series with a payroll a third the size of the Yankee’s. That’s value. It’s about building a winner, not buying a winner.

In related news...

Alyson Footer is HOT ! (Sorry, couldn’t find a good picture without a dude in it.)

–J-Dawg

A New Era, Perhaps

2005-11-14T00:50:00.000-06:00

If you haven’t already noticed yet, some strange things have been happening in the Baseball world. It started in 2001 when the Yankees actually lost the World Series, even though they were the sentimental favorites. We are now moving into the 2006 season, and they still haven’t won the Series. Most teams wouldn’t be too worried about that. After all, you can’t win them all. But in Yankeeland, you’re supposed to win them all. So this is a major drought for them.

Now, look at the teams who have won since 2001. In 2002 the Angels won in their first Series appearance (and if they can ever figure out what city they represent, they might win again). In 2003, the Florida Marlins continued their winning ways. They are the only Major League team to have never lost a playoff series. Talk about all or nothing. Seems like the Marlins either have a horrible year, or they win it all. Nothing in between. In 2004 the Red Sox win for the first time since 1918. I only know that they hadn’t won since 1918 because Boston fans wouldn’t shut up about it. Of course, neither would Yankees fans. Which makes them equally annoying in my book. And finally in 2005, the World Series featured the White Sox and my beloved Astros. The White Sox had not won since 1917 and hadn’t appeared since the ‘50s. This was the Astros’ first appearance. The White Sox won, ending a drought that was longer than Boston’s.

It seems almost as if the Baseball gods are trying to make things right. The Yankees won 26 World Championships in the 20th Century (yes, 2000 is still in the 20th Century). But in this new century, they have yet to win one, even though they’ve had two tries at it. In the meantime, teams who had virtually no success in the previous century have seen their fortunes reversed in this century.

I’m not going to say these are curses being reversed. All of the curse talk I heard coming from Red Sox and Cubs fans annoyed me. There are plenty of teams who haven’t won the Series in a very long time, or never at all, and they don’t complain about curses. Take, for example, the White Sox. I never heard anything about a curse on them, even though they of all teams deserved one. And then there are the Astros. No curse there, either. And did they deserve one? I don’t think so, though some purists might disagree with me. Look, if you think the Astrodome was bad for Baseball, you obviously haven’t spent a great deal of time in Houston in the Summer. So, there are no curses. Just bad teams.

But now, perhaps, we are moving into a new era. Maybe we’ll see the Cubs win next year. Or maybe this whole thing is just a fluke and the Yankees will win the next five Series in a row.

In related news...

A Chicago Cub fan was arrested late Saturday night for trespassing. The fan snuck into Wrigley Field with a goat around 10:20pm.

The fan said his intention was to end the Cubs’ curse by walking his goat around the bases. “I would’ve made it, too,” said the fan. “Except the stupid goat took a dump as we were rounding third.”

A police investigation confirmed that the goat had indeed defecated on the third base bag. The team plans to buy a new bag and sell the ruined one to the owner of a nearby bar.

The goat has been put up for adoption by the Chicago area SPCA.

-J.E. Heath

How to get on ESPN

2005-11-12T04:03:00.000-06:00

A coworker of mine recently won tickets to a Spurs game. She wanted to create a sign that would be clever enough to get on TV. So, we went to the Spurs website to find out what network would be broadcasting that game, and found that it was ESPN. Immediately, she began racking her brain to try to figure out how to incorporate “ESPN” into her sign. I told her there was no need to think so hard about it. Simply make a sign that says, “Sportscenter after the game” and maybe include something like “Go Spurs Go!” and she’ll certainly end up on the business end of ESPN’s cameras.

Why? Because ESPN loves itself.

The only thing in sports more annoying than a Cub fan’s complaints about the Curse of the Billy Goat is ESPN’s incessant reminder that Sportscenter will air after the game. It’s as if the game itself is only important because it leads into Sportscenter. And, of course, when we are finally able to watch this marvel of basic cable called Sportscenter, what do we get? We get 3 hour games full of talent and strategy reduced to a mere highlight reel. Or, as Phil Mushnick says,

Well, not really highlights. Most of what's shown in these packages is players in all manner of immodest demonstrations and/or being blasted, mostly in the head.

True, and if your team didn’t win the game, don’t count on being on Sportscenter, no matter how many awesome plays you made. And if you’re the Astros or any Baseball team not from New York, Boston, or Chicago for that matter, just forget ESPN even exists.

I remember hearing that Bud Selig once threatened to take away ESPN’s MLB broadcast rights because the network moved a post-season Baseball game to ESPN2 in favor of an NFL game. But, I heard that on ESPN, so I don’t know exactly how accurate it is. But, if it’s true, count Selig’s failure to make good on his threat as just another of his screw-ups. Right up there with interleague play and giving World Series homefield advantage to the league that wins the All-Star Game. Hey, I’ve got an idea! Why don’t we give it to the team with the best record? Why else do we play 162 games?

In related news...

The NFL announced Friday that it will cancel the Super Bowl. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue says the league will broadcast 5 hours of commercials instead.

“It was an easy decision,” said Tagliabue, “No one cares to watch over-paid ex-cons play football. That’s boring. Our fans prefer to watch the commercials, and that’s just what we’re going to give them.”

When asked what his favorite Super Bowl commercial was, Tagliabue said, “No question. The one with Michael Jordan and Larry Bird playing HORSE. Nothing but net! Ha! That’s SO funny!”

–Heathmeister

What to do about the Astros’ rotation

2005-11-10T02:18:00.000-06:00

We’re going to assume for the moment that Roger Clemens won’t be coming back next year. I hope he doesn’t. As much as I would like to see him pitch one more year, and perhaps one more World Series, I just don’t think his body can take another season. He barely made it through this season. Clemens is a fierce competitor and a talented athlete, but that cannot stop the aging process. It is time for him to retire.

That being said, the next question is, “what will the Astros do to fill the void left by Clemens?” This year’s free agent market is very sparse, especially when it comes to pitchers. Fortunately, I don’t believe the Astros have to hunt for another pitcher for the third spot in the rotation. They already have him: Brandon Backe. Backe’s performance in Game 4 of the World Series (7 K’s and no runs allowed) proves he is just as good as Clemens, even Oswalt. That is, when he’s on his game. His only problem seems to be consistency, but that will solve itself with experience and he’s already got a great deal of experience. He may run into a few problems every now and then (he scared me when he allowed that grand slam vs. the Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS, though he did have the magic touch with Ausmus’ bat), but he’ll be able to fit into that third spot very easily.

So, the question becomes, “who will fill Backe’s #4 spot?” You would like to have a solid starter there. Fireworks aren’t necessary, so long as he can keep you in the game. Wandy Rodriguez should do well at that spot.

And what about the fifth spot? Well, you have Astacio...um...or maybe the ‘Stros should just change to a 4-man rotation.

–Heathster

Opening Day

2005-11-10T02:16:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Houston Nine. On this weblog, you will find news and commentary on the Houston Astros. As a lifelong Astros fan, I’m extremely happy to share my thoughts with you, and I would love to hear your thoughts as well.

Preceding this post, you’ll find posts on Baseball that were originally written for my other blog, Texian Weblog.

–J.E. Heath

Quite Hilarious

2005-10-27T23:42:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

Well, the Astros lost, but they couldn’t have lost it to a funnier guy. Check out these pictures of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen:

Here he is calling for his closer. Gimmie the wide, tall guy.

Here he is talking to the media before Game 4. Is he trying to do an impersonation of De Niro?

Finally, here he is celebrating the White Sox’ win. Um, yeah.

–J.E. Heath

Is there enough magic out there?

2005-10-24T22:26:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

What an amazing year the Houston Astros have had. By May, they were 15 games under .500. They were counted out as dead. Ryne Sandberg wrote an article saying it was time for the Astros to start trading off some of their big names and begin the rebuilding process. Even the Houston Chronicle had announced the Astros’ playoff hopes dead (big surprise the Chronicle got it wrong).

But then they came back, slowly at first, then like a strong Gulf wind. They clinch the NL Wild Card spot on the last day of the season. Then they finish off the Braves in an 18 inning classic. Then comes Albert Pujols’ 3 run homer in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the NLCS, sucking the air out of Minute Maid Park. But the Astros came back, beating the Cardinals in St. Louis with a lead that a three run homer couldn’t touch.

And now my beloved Astros are, for the first time, in the World Series. Was it magic? Was it a miracle? Was it predestination? Certainly, a stunning season like this might cause one to become a Calvinist. What other cause could there be but divine providence?

Now, we dream of a world championship, “and is there enough magic out there in the moonlight to make this dream come true?” Can the ‘Stros overcome the late October Scheißwetter of Chicago, which was in full force Sunday, and win the Series?

Most sportswriters don’t think so. But they never saw the magic to begin with. The Astros shouldn’t even be here, according to them. “Great pitching staff, sure,” they say, “but where’s the hitting?” But if there is one thing the Astros can do well, it is proving experts wrong. The Astros’ chief advantage in this series is that they aren’t even supposed to be here.

Is there enough magic out there to make this dream come true? Yes, I believe there is. And the team believes this, too. And that may make all the difference.

–J.E. Heath

Black Rose

2005-10-22T17:38:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

Let me tell you a story. Those who are familiar with this issue know what story I’m about to tell. In 1919, the Chicago White Sox were the best team in Baseball. But they went to the World Series and lost. Not only did they lose, it looked as if they were trying to lose. After the Series was over, an investigation found that eight White Sox players were paid off by gamblers to lose the World Series. The revelation nearly destroyed Baseball. The integrity of the Game was threatened. Fans began to question whether Baseball was fixed. To combat this threat, the commissioner of Baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis ruled that any player caught gambling on Baseball would be suspended from the game for life. Baseball still has that rule today. It is posted in every Major League clubhouse.

About 15 years ago, another investigation found that Pete Rose, the all-time Major League hit leader, had gambled on Baseball while managing the Cincinnati Reds. He has also admitted to betting on Baseball while he was a player. Rose agreed to being suspended with the understanding that Major League Baseball would cease investigating his gambling and his suspension might be lifted after a year. It was never lifted, and he is still banned from Baseball. He is also banned from the Hall of Fame, just like Shoeless Joe Jackson of the 1919 “Black” Sox.

Many people in Baseball say that Rose’s gambling and suspension should not take away from his accomplishments on the field, and so he should be allowed into the Hall.

Here’s my argument. Pete Rose’s entire career should be taken into account when deciding if he should be in the Hall. His gambling is part of his career since he did it while still playing the game. Since gambling is illegal, and precedence shows it is an offense worthy of lifelong suspension, then for that reason, regardless of his other accomplishments, he should not be in be hall.

Of course, a player’s character should also be taken into account when deciding if he should be enshrined. Pete Rose, like the “Black” Sox that came before him, threatened the integrity of the Game. If Baseball had not taken a no tolerance stand against gambling and players’ associations with gamblers, then there very well may not even be Baseball, at least not as it is now. It would be nothing more than professional wrestling. And if there were no Baseball, there would be no Pete Rose.

The only reason Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame is Pete Rose. If he would simply put Baseball ahead of himself (he still hocks his signature outside the Hall on Hall of Fame weekend, thumbing his nose at that shrine), he could be reinstated.

–J.E. Heath

44 Years, Six Jerseys, Three Stadiums, and Two Names Later, Astros Win the Pennant

2005-10-20T03:27:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

Let me tell you just how important this victory is. Major League Baseball has been played in Houston since 1962, and the Astros have never, until now, played in the World Series. Craig Biggio, who personifies the franchise, holds the record for most post-season games played without playing in the World Series. The Astros are only the second team in MLB history to play in the World Series after being 15 games under .500. But, this pennant is bigger than mere trivia.

This win is for Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, and all the current Astros players and coaches. It’s for Houston and Texas. It’s for every kid who grew up rooting for the Astros. It’s for Jim Umbricht, Don Wilson, Jose Cruz, Mike Scott, Nolan Ryan, Larry Dierker, and Jimmy Wynn. It’s for Ken Caminiti, Shane Reynolds, Tim Bogar, Darryl Kile, Jim Deshaies, Alan Ashby, Glenn Davis, and J.R. Richard. It’s for Milo Hamilton. It’s for every fan who yelled Cruuuuuuuz! It’s for 43 years worth of players and fans. It’s for my Great-Grandmother, who loved her Astros and passed that love on to me. It’s for every fan whose heart has been broken more times than he’d like to say, but still came back to cheer on his team the next season. And yes, it’s even for those rainbow jerseys.

The easiest thing in the world is to be a Yankees fan, but to love your team, win or lose, to live and die on every pitch, that is what Baseball is about. That is how you learn to be a man.

I love this team. I always have, and God help me, I always will.

Now, if you think this post was emotional, imagine what it will be like if the ‘Stros actually win the Series.

–J.E. Heath

All I have to say is...

2005-10-19T22:33:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

The Astros are going to the World Series!!!!

–J.E. Heath
per-fidem.org

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An Apology

2005-10-14T00:32:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

I suppose I should apologize to our readers for not having done any posts since last week. There are three reasons. One, it’s been a slow news week anyway. There’s nothing big going on except the Harriet Miers nomination, and we’ve already said all we need to say on that. Two, I’ve been a little sick. As Mr. Lytle would say, I gots the SARS. But third, and most important, the Astros are in the National League Championship Series, fighting for a spot in the World Series.

I’m still recovering from Game 4 of the NL Division Series on Sunday (I’m no longer allowed to watch Baseball when my girlfriend is around because I get too loud). In case you missed it, it was a classic. At 6 hours and 18 innings, Game 4 was the longest post-season game in MLB history. It was the first post-season game in which both teams hit grand slams. But the main thing I want to point out, no matter what ESPN says, Houston is a Baseball town, and Game 4 of the 2005 NLDS proves it. The stands stayed full through all 18 innings, even though they ran out of beer in the stadium. Do you think Cub fans would stick around after the beer is gone? Besides that, nearly any Houston sports fan would tell you the Astros are his first love. I personally would give up both Rockets’ championships and trade off the Texans for one World Series championship.

Now the Astros are fighting the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. As I write this, Roy Oswalt has just lead the Astros to a 4-1 win in Game 2, tying the series at a game each. This is huge. Last year’s NLCS between the Astros and Cardinals went all seven games, with the Cards finally winning. In that Series, the home team won every game. That trend continued in Game 1 this year with St. Louis beating Houston 3-5. But that’s where it stopped. Finally, the road team won a game, and it could make all the difference. Tonight’s win was the first step to the Astros’ first World Series berth. As the underdogs, the Astros must win at least one game at St. Louis to win the series. That hurdle is now behind them.

Now we look forward to three great games in Houston on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. So, I don’t think there will be too many more posts coming from me for at least the next few days. And if the ‘Stros actually make it to the Series, I just might have to quit my job. Heck, I might even cash in my 401k for tickets.

Go Astros!

–J.E. Heath
per-fidem.org

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For the Love of the Game

2005-07-01T01:25:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

Major League Baseball will soon decide what punishment to give Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers. This comes one day after Rogers “shoved two cameramen . . . in a tirade that included throwing a camera to the ground, kicking it and threatening to break more.” Why did he do this? He was “upset of the perception that he missed his start Tuesday night for some reason other than the broken pinkie in his non-throwing hand, sustained in an angry outburst after a game two weeks ago.” No one else was hurt in that tantrum two weeks ago, though a cameraman was sent to the hospital after this most recent outburst.

Another of the gentleman players from the Dallas (oops, I mean Texas) Rangers is Frank Francisco, who was sentenced to 500 hours community service today after a ballpark incident last September in which he threw a chair into the stands and broke a fan’s nose. Why did he do this? “Francisco threw the chair in the stands during a loss to the A's at Oakland after a group of fans seated near the bullpen began heckling players.”

Similar acts can be found throughout the Major Leagues, and other professional sports leagues. For you and me, living our normal work-a-day lives, this seems completely unreasonable. Frank Francisco makes $321,500 a year. Kenny Rogers makes $3,338,758 a year (source: ESPN). Surely, for that kind of money, they can learn to put up with a few questions from the media and a little heckling from fans. I know I could. I put up with much more for much less.

But that’s the problem. This is how you and I look at it. Kenny Rogers looks at it from another direction. He thinks, “I’m making $3 million a year. I should be making more (he was in contract negotiations until this incident). I don’t have to put with this crap.” These obscene salaries often only encourage players’ egos.

Now, most baseball players are good people who are ever thankful for the opportunity to get paid for playing the game they love. My favorite player, Craig Biggio, is paid $3 million a year playing for my hometown Houston Astros, though a future hall of famer like him could make more somewhere else. Many teams have tried to lure Biggio away from the Astros, but he stays because he loves the city and he believes in the team. Unlike the mercenaries that go wherever the money is, Biggio has remained with the Astros throughout his Major League career. This is unheard of in modern sports. He should be in the Hall of Fame for that stat alone.

But, a growing number of players are only concerned about the money. Major League Baseball should be the finest example of this noble game. Instead, it has become perverted. Ballplayers don’t need their own entrance music. They don’t need $25 million a year. It shouldn’t cost $200 for a family of four to go to a ballgame (tickets, parking, concessions).

Look, I’m not asking for much. I just want baseball, without overpaid, egomaniacal players, high ticket prices, or designated hitters.

–J.E. Heath

On the Beauty of Baseball

2005-06-15T02:59:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

While watching Game 3 of the NBA finals last night, I was reminded of something a friend of mine told me. She said Baseball was better then Basketball because there are no rebounds in Baseball.

Every play counts in Baseball. If you bounce into a double play, you don’t get a chance to take the ball back and try again. There are no rebounds. There are no second downs (and certainly no third or fourth downs).

There are also no turnovers or interceptions. If you want to get back on offense in Baseball, you have to stop the other team. You can’t just steal the ball. Stealing the ball wouldn’t do you any good anyway since in Baseball the defense is in possession of the ball.

One point I always bring up in defense of Baseball is that it is the only major sport in America in which play does not stop just because one team scores. Score a touchdown, and play stops. Score a goal, and play stops. Score a run, and play does not stop. Play continues until either all the runners are home or none can advance safely.

Scoring plays are also more significant in Baseball than they are in Basketball. For example, one Basketball game may see 200 points scored between the two teams. This means that every two-point scoring play in the game only accounts for 1% of the total scoring. Granted, a 200 point game is a high-scoring affair. But let’s look at a 10 run Baseball game, also a high-scoring affair. In that game, each run scored accounts for 10% of the total scoring. And, of course, one play could result in more than one run. If a grand slam is hit in this game, those 4 runs would account for 40% of the total scoring. So 40% of all the runs scored in the game were scored on one play. That cannot happen in Basketball, Hockey, or Soccer.

Despite the perverse form it has taken on in the Major Leagues, Baseball is still a beautiful game.

–J.E. Heath

The Master Speaks - Baseball

2005-04-16T02:00:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

The Master has a very good article about loving your favorite team and not knowing why. Being a fan is another one of those irrational things that’s just a part of human nature. Go ‘Stros!

-J.E. Heath

So, You Take Steroids Because You’re Black? II

2005-02-23T23:38:00.000-06:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

You may have noticed that I wrote the previous post very late at night. Since I have woken up, I’ve decided there are two more things I want to comment on.

First, it seems that Barry Bonds is very upset with certain members of the media who have been critical of his alleged steroid use. Who are these people? I’d like to know who’s been critical. The big problem I have with the national sports media is that there isn’t enough criticism of his cheating. I wish there was more criticism. His actions cannot be tolerated.

Second, this quote: “‘Because Babe Ruth is one of the greatest baseball players ever, and Babe Ruth ain't black, either,’ he said. ‘I'm black. Blacks, we go through a little more. ... I'm not a racist though, but I live in the real world.’” I’m really tired of people using their race as an excuse for the crimes they commit. I’m especially pissed off because as a white man, I have been made to feel guilty all my life because my ancestors owned slaves and were ignorant enough to believe that blacks are inferior to whites and that slavery is a good thing because blacks can’t be trusted to live their own lives, they need guidance from white people. Then comes somebody like Barry Bonds who says something stupid like that quote above and confirms everything my racist, ignorant ancestors believed. Barry! You’re proving the racists right! Do you realize what your doing? Don’t use “black” as an excuse. Take responsibility for your actions.

–J.E. Heath

So, You Take Steroids Because You’re Black?

2005-02-23T03:29:00.000-06:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

Here’s a good article about Barry Bonds and his steroid use. The best quote is this: “‘Because Babe Ruth is one of the greatest baseball players ever, and Babe Ruth ain't black, either,’ he said. ‘I'm black. Blacks, we go through a little more. ... I'm not a racist though, but I live in the real world.’” So, let me get this straight. Barry Bonds uses steroids because...he’s black? I don’t get it. I guess I’m too white. Or maybe I’m just too honest to understand his logic.

Here’s another good quote from Bonds: “`I don't know what cheating is.’” Ok, Barry, let me tell you what cheating is. Cheating is using an illegal and dangerous drug to improve your ability to hit homeruns. That is something Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams (do I have to go on?) never did. You will never rise to the hallowed level of these great players.

And another: “`I don't believe steroids can help your eye-hand coordination, technically hit a baseball. I just don't believe it. That's my opinion.’” Granted, Bonds has talent. He’s always been a good hitter. He just hasn’t always been a good homerun hitter. That’s the difference, and that’s what steroids fixed for him. Strength was the only thing he was missing.

This article is loaded with good quotes: “Bonds said the key to his continued success and strength, even in the later years of his career, has been `hard work, that's about it.’” Uh, Barry, aren’t we forgetting one tiny, little thing: “According to the [San Francisco] Chronicle, Bonds testified to the grand jury in December 2003 that he used a clear substance and a cream given to him by a trainer who was indicted in a steroid-distribution ring. . .”

And finally: “`I'm an adult and I take responsibility for what I do. . .’” Well, why don’t you just go ahead and admit that you were using steroids the year you hit 73 homeruns. Everyone knows you were, we’re just waiting to hear it from you. Once you admit it, we can delete your name from the record books, refuse you entry into the Hall of Fame, and everyone can get back to their lives. The integrity of Baseball will be preserved.

I can’t wait to see Roger Clemens make Bonds look like a fool again. And Clemens will do it without the help of steroids. He really does work hard to stay as good as he is.

–J.E. Heath

Selig Finally Did Something Right, Almost

2005-01-15T01:26:00.000-06:00

Originally posted on Texian Weblog.

As some of you may know, Major League Baseball will begin randomly testing players for steroid use. Well, its about time. The integrity of the game has been suffering far too long. Here’s an example: Who owns the single-season homerun record? Barry Bonds? No, he uses steroids. Mark McGuire? No, he used a supplement that was banned by every other professional sport league other than Baseball, and even Baseball has since banned it. Sammy Sosa? No, he corks his bat. Roger Maris? Yes*. Now, the single-season homerun record is considered the most celebrated record in all North American professional sports. But the last three players to attempt to claim a piece of it were all later found out to be cheaters.

Yes, Baseball never really banned steroids like all the other sports leagues have, so technically Bonds and McGuire weren’t really cheating. But we argue that even if it was “legal,” it’s still cheating. For example, prostitution is legal in Nevada. But if a married man hires a prostitute in Nevada, would his wife still consider that cheating? Oh, yeah. Big time. Likewise, even though Baseball never really banned steroids until recently, Bonds was still cheating when he used them. He was destroying the integrity of the game, just like the cheating husband was destroying the integrity of his marriage. Why do we say his actions threatened the integrity of the game? Because he became the best ballplayer of his generation not by talent, skill, and practice, but by artificially enhancing his natural abilities.

Let’s look at it from another perspective, the perspective of the rookie making his first tour in the Majors. He has achieved what every American boy dreams about, playing in a big league park. Certainly he doesn’t want to lose this dream. So he starts to figure out how to stay there. He looks around and he sees Barry Bonds hitting 73 homeruns. So, he says to himself, “I have to hit a lot of homeruns if I want to stay here.” So he starts training and practicing, but he can’t seem to get the ball out of the park. Then someone comes by and mentions that Bonds is using steroids, and it’s OK because Baseball won’t test you for it. Now this young player has a decision to make. He can keep practicing and he might be able to stay in the Majors, or he can take the easy way like Bonds and definitely stay. And here’s the problem. The young rookie on his way up feels pressured to start taking steroids. If he doesn’t, he’ll be muscled out by the guys who do. THEY will get the big contracts. THEY will get the SportsCenter highlights. THEY will get all the fans. Meanwhile, he’ll probably end up back in the minors because he refused to cheat on his love. That’s the tragedy that threatens the heart and soul of Baseball. That is why kids today have fewer and fewer role models in Baseball.

Now Baseball is finally doing something about it. From now on there will be random testing for steroids. Players who are found using steroids will get a 10 day suspension. We at the Texian Party don’t think this is going far enough. We believe that any player who threatens the integrity of the game by cheating should be suspended for one full year. That means if you’re caught using steroids, or a corked bat (listening Sammy?), or a spit-ball, or anything, you will not play another game for one full year. Let’s see Bonds try to break Hank Aaron’s record if he has to sit out for a year. If you’re caught cheating a second time, then you’re banned for life. Baseball banned Pete Rose (and rightly so) for gambling because his actions threatened the integrity of the game. Bonds, Sosa, and all the other cheating players are doing the same damage to the game, so their punishment should be the same.

Baseball is the greatest game ever devised by man. I doubt even the angels could improve it. It teaches dedication, endurance, humility, and teamwork. Every human virtue is praised in Baseball. Therefore, every human vice should be condemned in Baseball.

–J.E. Heath