Houston Astros Tickets Blog

Wandy Rodriguez was knocked out of the park by the Rockies on 6-4-9. The Rockies scored 4 home runs in 5 innings ending the Astros 4 win streak. This brings Wandy under the microscope as the team tries to figure out what’s happening to their “shining star”.  The last 3 outing for Wandy have been dismal for him with a 7.9 ERA and 0 wins.

The Astros are starting to look alive as they win against the Pirates on 4-15-9.  Hopefully this wick kick start the team into high gear and we will see more action like this.

Looks like the Astros will go with much the same unit as last year.  Aaron Boone signed a 1 year deatl for $750,000.  The Astros signed Clay Hensley to a Minor League and is invited to Spring Training. If he makes the team  he’ll get over half a million dollars.

The Astros continue to pour it on as they swept the Giants on 8-14. The Wild Card slot is starting to look more & more feasible. Everything seems to come together when the Astros are all but counted out. Hitting, pitching and defense is firing on all cylinders.  Berkman put on a good show as he provided the tiebreaker in the bottom of the 8th with a 2 run homer. Earlier in the game he provided a double to bring a run home in the 3rd inning.

The Astros gave up 7 runs on 6 hits in the 9th to seal their fate against the Pittsburgh Pirates last night.  Jose wasn’t doing well giving up 6 runs on 5 hits & 2 homers trying to close. Tim Byrdak did even worse giving up a 3 run homer.

That means the Astros really have to pour it on the rest of the season.

Lance Berkman went to bat left-handed after batting practice and it worked out well for him. After a slow start he knocked out 8 home runs to advance to round 2. He knocked out 6 home runs in the 2nd round but was eliminated by Twins‘ Justin Morneau who hit 9. It was a good performance by Berkman but not as good as his run in 2004 when he knocked out 21 home runs to claim the #2 spot behind Miguel Tejada.

You have to give the Astros credit for coming back and playing hard in overtime. In the end though they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The bats of Brad Ausmus, Geoff Blum and Michael Bourn were silent at the end of the 11th inning. There were a number of chances for the Astros to bring this one home but alas it was not to be.

Seems like Shawn Chacon has been demoted to the bullpen to allow Runelvys Hernandez a chance to show his stuff. His tantrum on the mound in Milwaukee did nothing to improve his situation that’s for sure. He was the logical choice at 0-3 in the last 4 starts and he has the most bullpen experience. It’s not like they would want to move Roy Oswalt, Brian Moehler, or Wandy Rodriguez to the bullpen. Brandon Backe just doesn’t have much relief experience and he did pull out a series on 6-22.

How often do you need a 3rd catcher? Not often but Wednesday was almost the exception. Brad Ausmus got ejected in the 7th inning and Humberto Quintero took a “nap” after getting beaned with a foul ball. Actually he appeared to be in pain so he was doubtful on catching the rest of the game. Had he not been a trooper and finished the game the likely candidates for a catcher would have had to step up. It would have been probably Geoff Blum and Ty Wigginton but neither have played catcher in the MLB. Geoff Blum was actually getting his gear ready when Quintero went down. Geoff briefly was the #2 catcher for the Padres.

Andy Pettitte comes back to Houston with the Yankees. Even though he won’t be pitching he will be on the bench. He has friends on the Astros teams so it will be a reunion. Lance Berkman is an old friend of his.

Pettitte is actually from the Houston area and he did pitch for the Astros for 3 seasons.

Cecil Cooper expects the Astros to be fired up playing the Yankees.