Flashback to 1965
Here is a picture of some of the players that were present for the opening of the Astrodome in 1965. The Toy Cannon and Larry Dierker to name a few.
Next on the menu is a picture from the pregame festivities which included Alyson and the Spacettes. Be sure and keep your eyes open for their next album expected in October.
Next up is former President Bush (the good one) rushing to put on his retro jersey. I was liking this picture until I looked down to see he put his jacket on over it. This is something we can all look forward to…. growing older and getting colder.
I’m refusing to write about the actual games until this team puts up it’s first W. It’s been tough, but the odds are in our favor to win one and very soon. If you want to talk about a monkey on it’s back this team has one. I’m ready to put some stock in some rally monkeys, they are in high demand lately.
The ACTUAL Opening Day…
…is today for most baseball fans. I really don’t like how the league splits it up, but that’s just me. It reminds me of how the Dallas Cowboys always get to play on Thanksgiving, some people don’t approve, but that is different. 
We have a macho pitching matchup and in retrospect, I’m thankful it wasn’t Wandy who was named the opening day starter. Tim Lincecum/Wandy Rodriguez doesn’t have anywhere near the appeal that Lincecum/Oswalt has. Oswalt should be ready now that he’s been poked and prodded, but how long that will last is the question laying heavily on my mind.
Berkman is now debating if he will be available for April 10th when he is eligible to come off the disabled list. This happens to be the game that I will be attending, so I was hoping his *** would be playing. April 10th is what they are calling retro night or “Turn back the clock.” Basically, they are turning back the clock 45 years to 1965 (which is when the Astrodome opened.) They will be selling $1 hot dogs (someone wrote $1 steamin’ weenies but I’m not gonna) and the first 10,000 fans will be handed this retro jersey:
(Photo ripped off from Alyson’s Footnotes)
This is what I’m in it for. Unfortunately, I’ll have to stand in line a couple of hours before and that is never fun. We are staying at the Inn at the Ballpark which is directly across from MMP, so for convienence sake this hotel is ideal. I did want to answer this question “Where were you in 1965?” I can safely say that I wasn’t born and we’ll leave it at that.
If the stars don’t fall out of the sky, and the planets line up a certain way I see this team finishing in the middle of a very weak NL central division. Any major hiccups along the way with injuries, etc. and I’m forecasting impending doom.
Bottom line…let’s get this party started.
Q&A Part Deux
This is for you Susan…
8. “Can Wandy beat his personal-best 2009 season?”
I don’t think so. I certainly hope he can regroup and start the regular season off right. I normally refrain from being alarmed by Spring Training stats but I’m taking exception here. First of all, he has had some issues with the 1st inning. Then today, he was hammered in the 3rd. Sure…his wife is being induced tomorrow, so he’s distracted. That doesn’t excuse him for the other outings where he has struggled.
9. “When is Norris going to be a star?”
He has the “stuff” to be a difference maker. Arnsberg said he is one of those pitchers that he can have his back turned, and still know it’s him pitching. That’s impressive.
10. “Will Berkman get a new contract?”
Extremely doubtful. He’s in the twilight of his career, and I feel indifferent about it. I really like the guy as a person, etc., but this is a business and there are many question marks surrounding the health of Lance Berkman.
11. “Will the improved infield defense turn into wins?”
It could equate to more wins if the defense makes up for the offensive numbers that were lost. Feliz is an upgrade defensively, and so is Manzella. I do know that I’m looking forward to watching them flash the leather. Sloppy defense really turns me off as a fan.
12. “Will Wright be called up later in the season – as a starter?”
I don’t think so. If anything Moehler will get the call as a starter before Wright does. I have never seen Wright show that he can be a SP.
13. “And how about “Will RoundRock15 ever reappear?”
I don’t think so. The statute of limitations has passed.
Carry on…
Roy “oh my aching back” Oswalt
”Do I look taller when I do this?”
I wish it helped. I love the way some athletes are listed at a certain height and there is no way they’re that tall.
I recently read the news from Brian McTaggart that Oswalt received an injection in his lower back. Originally, it was written that he had a hamstring strain and would be examined by Dr. Lintner in Houston. Then it morphed into back specialist Dr. McCann and an injection in his back. Roy recently told the media not to worry, he is fine. I’m not buying it. This back problem seems serious and isn’t going away. He’s dealing with a bulging disc, and the disc is pushing against a nerve that descends down his leg. How can anyone feel comfortable with this?
Then there is Berkman battling the leg issues. Everything has to be perfect for this team to succeed, and the injury woes continue to surface. This isn’t a great way to start the season is all I’m saying.
Oswalt is the lone Astro I drafted in the MLBlogger Fantasy League and that may come back to bite me. I knew he was high risk/high reward and he fell far enough that I felt comfortable snatching him up. I’m an Astros fan FIRST, and as an Astros fan, I really need him to be healthy.
Let’s play 20 Questions
Maybe not 20 questions because I’m not that inquisitive. There are some burning questions that I have to ask and I will do this every year. Then, I’ll look back at the end of the season and answer them. For now, let’s speculate:
1. Who will start the year at catcher and will he keep the job?
Castro has everything you would ever want in a catcher, but it’s way too easy of a decision to send him to Round Rock for extra seasoning since he hasn’t paid his dues in AAA. Or maybe that is an easy cop out for this front office. I saw Castro last year in Midland, and knew he was something special. Towles, on the other hand, has yet to show he has what it takes to make it in the big leagues. I also believe he deserves one more chance (and I mean one more.) I see it playing out this way; Towles is the opening day catcher, shows up with his normal shaky confidence while continuallly looking over his shoulder then…BOOM Castro takes over.
2. Will Brett Myers pitch like he did in 2005-2006 or will it be more like 2008?
It could be like 2009 which was basically a washout rehabbing from a hip injury. But please…let’s not forget the stink surrounding the black eye last year. I love this story. First, he tells the Phillies that he injured the eye playing catch with his son. Do what? His son throws a frozen rope at his face and he forgets to put up his glove? I guess not because the story changed to this “he slipped getting out of his truck, hit his face and suffered significant swelling around his eye.” Has he been taking lessons from Jeff Kent? This is what I hope happened…his wife went to the Elin Woods School of Defense and teed off on his face. One can only hope.
3. Will Hunter Pence finally reach the 30 HR plateau?
I’m going with a yes here. I think it’s time. The guy works out like an animal and doesn’t have a clue on how to let up. It’s all or nothing with this kid and everybody knows it. I totally dig his work ethic. He is becoming the new face of the Houston Astros.
4. Will Brad Mills make a difference?
Yes, yes and yes. He already has if you ask me. The players respond and respect the guy from what I’m reading and seeing. How refreshing is that? Very…after the train wreck last season. That was hard to watch.
5. Will Roy Oswalt stay healthy?
This is an important key to having a productive year. How will his small stature body hold up this year? I’m always worried about Oswalt. If he stays healthy (and Berkman) I believe this team could finish 2nd or 3rd in the division…without them this team will be swimming with the fishes.
6. How many times will Carlos Slacker get thrown out at second base?
Pass.
7. Will Lyon and Lindstrom bring home the bacon?
The Lyon situation is bothersome. It would have been nice to know about the cyst beforehand, but to steal a line from the Rolling Stones “you don’t always get what you want.” Lindstrom is an intriguing story…he comes with a cheaper contract (1 yr/1.625 million) but is showing bigger promise. There is the possibility of Lindstrom closing and Lyon being the setup guy. This would be a strange scenario considering Lyon was signed for 3 yrs/15 million. I guess whatever works.
Bottom line…Q&A session is over. Thanks for playing.
It is ON
First of all I would like to thank Alyson Footer the Senior Director of Social Media for the Houston Astros (former MLB beat writer.) I asked for her help in getting a jersey autographed by Hunter Pence. Obviously I wouldn’t ask for her assistance under normal circumstances, but this was for my sister-in-law who is still recovering from a brain injury and I didn’t want to go back home without it. She did not hesitate on helping me get it done. I’ve thanked her many times already, so what’s one more?
I recently returned from Spring Training in Kissimmee on Tuesday. We caught the Yankees game first. I don’t want to generalize here, but there are some very obnoxious Yankees fans. I am not talking about Jane over at Confessions of a She Fan either. I was walking around with a beer and I had more than one Yankees fan ask if I worked there. I guess if you have the audacity to wear any thing other than Yankees apparel you must be an employee. Grrrr….;)
I sorted through about 500 pictures that were mainly taken by my wife. I wasn’t surprised when I came across about 100 pics of birds and ducks. That’s my wife. B-) I could upload some pics of the game, but I don’t want to. I do have one picture I worked on last night that I would like to share:
Yes, Carlos Slacker is my new whipping boy this year. I can’t believe Susan over at AstrosFanInExile knew I photo shopped this. I will admit that my wife helped me, but I definitely had some fun doing it. It’s perfect. We all know it’s the norm for him to get thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double…don’t even get me started on his sluggish runs to 1st base (it really must be a chore.) He was even heckled by Astros fans at the Cardinals game because he couldn’t quite make it to the dugout so he plopped his butt down with the pitchers in the bull pen. That’s Carlos Slacker.
Not only did I get to meet Alyson, but I met Susan for the first time as well. We have been emailing, tweeting, etc. for over a year now. I also met Susan’s sister Elizabeth. They prepared dinner for us on Friday night, and I must say thanks to both of them. It was very good. We even stayed up past my bedtime. Here’s a picture of Susan (left) and Alyson at the game Monday.
On Monday after the Cards game, we went to Universal Studios City Walk. I really dig this place. Pat O’Briens, Margaritaville, and the Hard Rock Cafe (the largest in the world.) I drank a couple of hurricanes at Pat’s and took the last one to go. Now you’re talking my language…drinks TO GO. It doesn’t get any better than that. It actually made the trips inside the shops more tolerable. The City Walk will be a priority from here on out. Speaking of priorities, so will be staying along Interstate 4. Highway 192 is a pain in the ***…not only do you have umpteen million traffic lights, but if you get caught on the red side of one be prepared to wait a long time.
Bottom line…and this is important, I hate the Orlando Airport. The stress level is off the charts.
Coming back
January 28th. The Astros caravan is pulling into Victoria, TX. They will be stoping at Academy which is a couple of blocks from where my sister-in-law lives. I’m thinking I’ll text her about the caravan’s stop, so I do. I did call them “lucky Victorians” and she was joking around about Pence giving her a tour of the bus.
The next morning we get a phone call. We were told she had collapsed and stopped breathing. They did revive her, but she is on a ventilator. Our world was turned upside down. She is my sister-in-law, but her and her husband are very good friends. We have seen many Astros games together; we’ve had several trips to the beach, Las Vegas and Louisiana.
We flew to Victoria that day to see her, and when I left a couple of days later the outlook was grim. Everyone was down after the doctors said she wasn’t progressing like they had hoped. WELL…she has made significant strides since then so I’m very thankful. When oxygen is cut off from your brain, no one knows how much damage was done, so it becomes a heart wrenching experience for all family and friends. I also gained sympathy for my own family who had to go through this when, as a kid, I was knocked unconscious for several days after being struck by a car.
Bottom Line…Keep on fighting Liz!
Max Bet: Brett Myers
Normally, I would not combine Las Vegas with my Astros blog but I couldn’t resist…especially after spinning the $1 wheel of fortune at the Mirage and landing on $1000. VERY NICE. I don’t know how the Myers signing will play out, but I’m hoping for a huge payback for a small investment. $5 million sounds affordable, especially since that is what Matsui is racking in this year. The future is looking bright with the Astros resisting the long term contracts. Myers contract is for $5 million in 2010 with an option for 2011…not too shabby.
With a glance at Myers stats it’s a tale of two different players. In 05-06 he was money. In 07 he joined the closing ranks, and in 08-09 he ran into control problems with an injury bringing up the rear. Which Brett Myers will show up and pitch for the Astros in 2010? He’s been promised a spot in the rotation, so I’m curious to find out.
Bottom line…Myers is coming back from a hip injury in 2009. Yes, it is another pitcher coming back from an injury…the difference is this pitcher is 29.
Winter meetings “Bah, Humbug”
After the signings of the winter meetings, we actually lost some ground. I don’t like how the front office cries broke when it comes to signing a starting pitcher, but then throws so much money at Brandon Lyon he would be a fool not to take it. I never wear rose colored glasses so I don’t see any improvements made to this team. Let’s take a look:
Feliz, who is basically a replacement for Tejada, has an average that hovers around .260. His power numbers have slid right along with Tejada’s the past two years. His defense is above average, so that gives him a slight edge and a special place in Alyson Footer’s heart. As far as back end relievers, you lose Valverde/Hawkins and replace them with Lyon/Lindstrom. I could never choose Lyon over Valverde…mainly because Valverde is a proven closer, and although he gives you the occasional cardiac arrest, he normally comes through in the end. Hawkins numbers were far superior to Lindstrom’s. Lindstrom missed 6 weeks due to elbow inflammation, but came back for Aug.-Sept. where he didn’t exactly overpower anyone. There you go…Matt Lindstrom is the risky pitcher this organization rolled the dice on. They really can’t help themselves, the temptation is too great for Wade the ego maniac. He’s already reading the headlines, “Ed Wade: Catching lightning in a bottle.” I say Wade needs to prepare himself for a disappointing season. First of all, Oswalt is certain to miss some time with his back or some other ailment. Secondly, Bud Norris is still learning the ropes and of course there is Moehler…who will continue to be Moehler with his +5 ERA and his anything but spectacular stuff. Last but not least, you have the #5 pitcher who if I were guessing would be Paulino or possibly Wright at this point. Wandy is the only one I feel fairly confident in right now.
With the addition of Feliz at 3rd base, I guess this makes Blum your 1.5 million dollar bench player. I like Mr. Clutch coming up to bat in the bottom of the ninth to win it, and I can’t think of anyone else I would want in that position.
Bottom line…this team is refusing to lock into any long term contracts, and that’s a good sign for the future. Not next year, but soon.
Winter is coming and it’s *sizzling*
I hope everyone had a great TG and stuffed yourselves like you were the Thanksgiving turkey. I had an interesting Thanksgiving. I won’t mention any names, but we spent several hours of our TG evening on the side of a highway in Baytown, TX (with my Romo jersey on) assisting some relatives who were involved in an automobile accident. No one was badly hurt so that is something to be thankful for.
The winter meetings are about to kick off and there are some interesting names flying around that the Astros might be able to afford, but who knows with this crew. Let’s take a look at some options:
Roy Halladay
I wish!
Randy Wolf
Wade expressed interest, but basically came right out and told the media his contract demands were out of reach for the Astros. This is disheartening. I guess I have to stop crying wolf.
Ben Sheets
He will be one year removed from flexor tendon surgery in February. If this team insists on only looking at free agent pitchers coming back from injuries, we definitely need to throw in the Sheets. He is high risk, but you could strike gold with this guy if his arm holds up. I don’t know if he’s affordable, but he’s worth a looksy. I’m reading that he will be signing with a team at a later date. That way teams can take a close look at the injury-riddled Olympic star and get definite answers to the questions surrounding his health. I think he would be a good fit in Houston. One note about this flexor tendon surgery: Pettitte had a successful comeback from it, and Jason Jennings (two bad words for Astros fans) did not.
Justin Duchscherer
I hate to play favorites but he is my favorite, and I’m not playing. He has excellent career stats and although he is coming off an injury from March 2009, it was only arthroscopic elbow surgery. He was expected to miss about 6 weeks. Unfortunately, while recovering from the elbow injury he experienced a bout with depression during his rehab in July and shut it down for the rest of 2009. At this time, he feels ready to get back on the mound physically and mentally. On Thanksgiving, he was at his mother’s home in Lubbock, TX with his son. This gives me some hope…but his ex-wife (and son) lives in NJ. That’s a problem. Another problem is that Oakland offered him arbitration, but we’ll see if he accepts. I wish him luck no matter where he pitches.
Brett Myers
The buzz is that the Astros are interested in him. I know he has had some success in the past, but I don’t trust him. It’s probably because he stunk so bad in ’09. I trust Sheets more than this guy…how crazy is that? I can’t explain it.
J.J. Putz
He was a successful closer with Seattle at one time, but I wouldn’t want to spend a lot of money on him. I don’t know if I want a guy named Putz on my team, would you? Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s not how you pronounce it…but that is how you spell it.
Myers, Putz are o.k. if the price is right. Bottom line…I strongly suggest this team acquires a starting pitcher this off season. Roy “oh my aching back” Oswalt is a question mark, so you better have a backup plan or this team could be switching places with Pittsburgh.
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