Oh my God, did you all see the Clemes highlights? I think that man must have sold his soul to the devil. Who can still pitch at that age, after already retiring? That's sick. Watch out National League fans, you're in trouble with that club.

I watched a few innings of the game, and Clemens looked totally dominant. It's great to see the fans in Houston so supportive, too. Rocket's still the Man.....

After Monday and Tuesday's games, I began to worry the Astros curse would rub off on Clemens. It was good to see him back up his off-the-field leadership with an incredible performance on the field last night.

I agree his performance was great. I have both Clemens and Pettitte on my fantasy team. And with cutie catcher Brad Ausmus, I will definitely have to watch more Astros games this year.

ARRRGGGGHHH!! I had both of them on MY fantasy team last year, Stinger! You and I are going to have some issues..... :mad:

You're not kidding, stinger!....The interview with Ausmus after Clemens' impressive performance was reason enough to watch last night's game....there must be something in the water down there in Texas because two of the 'Stros "senior citizens", 38 yr old Craig Biggio (who still looks just as good as he did when he came up as a 22 yr old catcher in '88) and studly Brad Ausmus, who turns 35 next week (if he needs any help blowing out his b'day candles tell him to give me a call ) never seem to age.

[ April 08, 2004, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]

No real news -- just felt like bumping my guys to the top, in honor of their strong start to the season.

On a serious note, I hope Redding can get his act together. If not, a decision needs to be made soon.

Hmm, a Yankees-Astros WS would certainly be interesting, eh?

[ May 05, 2004, 02:29 PM: Message edited by: FeverDog ]

Where is that pre-season baseball predictions thread?? I picked the Yankees and Astros. I also picked the Astros in 7 games if I remember right...

What a huge series win for the Astros on the road this weekend. The Braves are certainly stumbling, but they always seem to have Houston's number. I was at Friday night's game and sweated out every inning.

Just as important as winning the weekend series against the Braves is the strength Andy Pettitte has shown. The Astros were able to win yesterday even without Bags and Biggio. Impressive.

~Adam

I think the play that saved that one for the 'Stros was the one Everett made in the bottom of the 8th. HUGE. Must have been nice for him to make that play in front of the locals.

Clemens gets No. 7

Berkman is on a roll right now. I'd love to get a sweep of the Marlins, especially after losing two of three in the last two series.

I just came back from the third Marlins - Astros game. It was too much Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. I went with a friend who is a big Astros fan, he kept telling me how Lowell has the Astros number...

Finally stopped the bleeding last night. We need to get Game Two vs. the Cubs and get at least two of three vs. the Cards before we head out on a long road trip.

This is probably a touchy subject, but what should be done with Bags?

Its a tough call all around. Bags has earned the right to be in the lineup but I think a break may do him good. The question is, will he accept a break or a move down the lineup?

Maybe it was just the pitching but his effort is embarrassing. I watched him in the dugout after he hit a knee striking out and I havent seen such a dejected look since, well, any Ausmus at bat. I think pitchers have just learned how to pitch to the "ole boy" now.

Some power hitters can hit any pitch out of the park anywhere on or off the plate. I think Jeff NOW has to pretty much have it in one spot to knock it out and the pitchers (barring a mistake) stay away from that spot.

.......still he is an ICON on this team so what do you do? Its up to him as it was to Mike Schmidt.

NJ

I have a few ideas about what should be done with him . . . and they are very touchy things indeed.

LOL....have you ever seen Bag's shirtless? The guy is HUGE, and I don't mean fat either! wink

NJ

NJ -- Pictures please!! You just can't throw that out there without the visual proof!

I'm hoping he can still get his act together this season. Maybe I'm fooling myself.

Until our bullpen starts performing, I'm not even sure it will matter.

Well, I think he has earned the right to try and turn it around. I would love to see him do it.

I quess my questions are. How long of a time do you give him to turn it around, and what do you do if he doesn't?

I think moving him down the lineup would be the right move.

Call me cynical, but to me money decides everything in sports. . Would we still have Biggio or Bagwell on this team if they didnt sell the tickets? I believe both were given huge contracts on the down side of their careers.

Biggio is the oldest outfielder (i think) in baseball. you have to start them no matter how they perform. they bring in the fans....and I suppose thats what its all about.

NJ

ummmm Woof!!!

I think that's part of it, as well as the fact that they bring significant leadership to the clubhouse. Their work ethic mirrors Clemens'. I remember an article in ESPN The Magazine a few years ago that centered on that aspect of their game.

Last night's ninth-inning loss to the Cubs is the Astros' 19th in the preceding 31 games. Houston is now in fifth place in the NL Central. The wheels are coming off.

Houston picks up Carlos Beltran ...

Move risky, but gamble worth taking

Beltran is represented by Scott Boras, so there's little doubt that he'll become a free agent after the season. If it gets Houston into the World Series it won't matter much, though. But who is the Astros' closer now?

The bullpen is really weak, Joe, but it's not like Dotel is a big loss. His performance this season (a very unpleasant surprise) has been on an increasingly downward spiral. Rumor has it that the front office isn't finished with the wheeling and dealing. It sounds as if we're surrendering the next few years to the Cards and the Cubs to see if we truly can get a shot this year at making — and winning in — the postseason.

Houston television station KRIV-TV is reporting that the Astros have fired manager Jimy Williams, hitting coach Harry Spilman and pitching coach Burt Hooton. Phil Garner is taking over on an interim basis.

When does the fire sale begin? And how many will the Yanks pick up before it's all said and done.

Indeed, Jimy Williams has been fired and replaced with Phil Garner.

It seemed like when he was announced during the All Star game, Jimy Williams was booed. The Astros have a solid, albeit aged, team. And it's clear that if they can't do it this year they're going to have to dismantle and rebuild. They're currently fifth in a six horse race for the NL central. That's just not good enough.

The Astros have been pretty lousy this year, but Jimy shouldn't shoulder all of the blame. He's made some bad decisions during games, but the players are the ones out there who have completely forgotten how to hit.

McLane and Hunsicker were the ones who decided to decimate the bullpen by getting rid of guys like Billy Wagner, Kurt Saarloos and Ron Villone.

NJ

My Brush With Greatness:

Almost lost my face to the home run Ben Grieve unceremoniously dumped into the Crawford Boxes last night. One of the friends i was with, who is considerably taller, took the blow for me, fortunately.

All i know is we were gabbering drunkenly, heard the crack of the bat, and i looked up to see the ball frozen in mid-air coming for me out of the lights like Gandalf over the horizon in Lord of the Rings. Note to self: bring glove next time.

More like your brush with a broken nose. wink What are the Crawford boxes?

The Crawford boxes are great seats overlooking left field. They get an inordinate amount of home runs in that area at Minute Maid Park. They're named after the owner of some Houston based restaurant chain who's a big Astros fan/contributor, I think. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

They are named after the street that runs behind them outside. The restaurant overlord you are thinking of owns the Landry's chain, and (i think) one of the restaurants in the park.

An Astros representative came up to see if my friend was okay. He just needed an ice pack for his arm. We spent the rest of the game shielding our heads with pizza boxes and empty chili bowls, which would never have worked, but seemed like a good idea at the time. Thanks a lot, Roger!!!

Craig Biggio, BTW, has quite the ass on him, indeed.

Craig Biggio is one of my all time fantasies. I lived in Houston when he first came onboard as a rookie with the Astros, god was he cute! Still quite an attractive man. He was a real rebel rouser back in those days though, always getting DUI's and having to apologize to the fans on camera. If I only could have caught him in one of those drunken states and had my way with him...

eek! Roger the Hot Head?

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/sports/080204_...ts_clemens.html

NJ

Well at least he didn't throw a bat at the umpire or nail him with a beanball. Roger has been many things in his career, but classy isn't one of them. With this kind of example-setting by Rocket, I bet the apple(s) won't fall far from the tree.

It's a shame that someone like him was given so much talent- same goes for Pedro. Both are immature head cases!

In case anyone is interested in getting another side to the story.

Even better news.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/sports/080504_...ts_apology.html

NJ