Houston Astros Tickets Blog

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.

I love summer baseball. Bringing the kids to the ballpark, eating super chili dogs with extra everything, not worrying about keeping them up too late. There is something about being in the crowd and cheering on your hometown team that is magical. It gives us all a sense of pride and mutual good-will that touches something deeply rooted in our American hearts. Take me out to the ball game…

Go Roy! good to see a solid game posted by the Wizard Tuesday night. here’s to many more.

Oswalt gave up only one run on a long ball by Ryan Braun in the third inning. In 99 pitches, he gave up just five hits while striking out a season-high 10 batters in seven strong innings.

Of course the 5 runs blasted in by Berkman didn’t hurt our odds of posting a win. I just don’t know how the Big Puma can even lift up his bat with just about THE WHOLE TEAM riding on it. It must weigh a TON. 

In the 7th inning of Sunday’s game on 6-8-8 the Astros had control. It would have been nice to grab a win from  the Cards.

Lance hit a 460 foot homer bringing in 3 runs and Wandy was in control. Errors killed them in the end with Ty Wigginton dropping the ball missing a double play. Cesar Izturis took a base  by getting hit and a wild pitch brought Glaus home. Ryan brought in a couple more runs with a single.  Bourn let a fly ball drop bringing Ryan in to home.

What was the deal with all the empty seats at Philly the past few nights?  It’s not like the hometown hockey team is playing for the Stanley Cup or anything. But seriously, the (announced) crowd count of 9300 was too generous by half. And that was after 2500 free tickets were offered to the Philly faithful. The previous night was just as bad. Then again, who wants to sit in the rain to watch your team get beat?

Watching those games made me proud to be an Astros fan. Seeing the crowd at Minute Maid game after game, packing the stands with 30,000 plus even for weekday games is a beautiful sight. It is officially Summer and the boys are on the field. Keep up the good work Astros fans, lets pack the house for the many home games in June.

What is up with the cold streak from the astros bats just as the temps are heating up here in H-town?

Miguel Tejada has five hits in 32 at-bats (.156) in the last 8 road games.

Carlos Lee has six hits in 31 at-bats (.194) on this road trip.

Berkman is still holding his own after his amazing burn through May… But where are the remaining players? Everyone else needs to take up the slack and give a little extra to get through the unseasonably cold days here in early June. At least till the big three’s bats heat up the summer again.

The Astros picked catcher Jason Castro from Stanford University in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

Castro is a team leader in ‘08 with a .372 average, 62 runs scored, 94 hits, 16 doubles, 3 triples, 11 home runs and 63 RBIs.

Lance Berkman has been named NL Player of the Month for May. How bout Big Puma blasting a .471 with 9 home runs, and 22 RBI?

My only question is will it be Tejada, Lee or some other aspiring Astro who gets the June NL Player of the Month. The clock is ticking gentlemen, who will step up and make it happen?