A Q&A for Chipalatta readers

In order to keep the conversation going – here is a Q&A where you, our loyal readers, get to tell us a bit about yourself and your baseball beliefs…..you can answer them all or pick the ones you find most interesting…

  1. At what age did you become a baseball fan? What team did you cheer for?
  2. Are you an Astros fan? If so, how long have you been one? If not, who do you cheer for now?
  3. Who is your favorite ballplayer of all time? Favorite Astro? Why?
  4. Who is the greatest baseball player you’ve seen in person? Greatest Astro?
  5. Do you have any stories of meeting a ballplayer Astro or not?
  6. Have you changed as a fan over the years? How have you changed and why have you changed?
  7. If you are an Astro fan, did the Championship change you as a fan? How did it change you?
  8. What is your favorite baseball stadium ever for viewing a game in person? Why?
  9. Do you have a least favorite stadium?
  10. Are there any Astros on the present team that are the best at their position all time for the franchise?
  11. Can baseball survive in the future – can it pick up fans from generations that have nano-second attention spans?
  12. If I were commissioner for a day, I would make the following change(s)…..
  13. The D’Backs stadium was opened in 1998 and they have just been given permission to look at a new location for a stadium no sooner than 2022. What if the Astros wanted a new stadium (Minute Maid is just 2 years younger than Chase Field) – would you support it?
  14. What has the commissioner’s office stuck their nose in that you would rather they would not?
  15. Do you listen to the Astro games on radio? Watch on TV? Both? Neither? How are the announcers?
  16. Are there teams that you despise? Which one or ones and why?
  17. Cleveland Indian pitcher Trevor Bauer has been very vocal about how he has been chasing the Holy Grail of increased spin rate (which is tied to more ball movement) for five years. His contention is that the only way to get more spin rate is to use something sticky on your fingers (illegal) or increase your velocity, though he says with as hard as he has worked at it he could only increase his velocity 0.2 mph per season. This implies that folks seeing sudden changes are cheating, though he claims he is not naming any team (Astros) or pitchers (Morton, Cole, name one). What do you think about this?
  18. Are you used to the extreme defensive shifts that the teams use? Do you like it or not?
  19. You have the most critical game of the season – who do you hope starts that game for the Astros?
  20. What would make you happier – having a $20,000 windfall or another Astro Championship?

OK, have fun with this and don’t diss each other too much…..

←
→

179 responses to “A Q&A for Chipalatta readers”

Newer Comments »

  2. My Favorite team when I was a kid was the Dodgers because my dad liked the Braves.
    I became an Astros fan in ’62 when I attended the second game ever in Colt Stadium. It was the worst place I could ever imagine watching a game live.
    The second worst place would be the original stadium in Arlington, which was the only other major league park I have ever been to, outside of Houston. I have never been to a minor league baseball game other than when I saw the Astros play in 2013 in Houston against the Rays. That was truly a minor league team. I have never stood on a major league field in my life.
    My favorite player when I was a boy was Duke Snider.
    My favorite Astro was Bob Aspromonte, who I later got to meet in his business.
    My favorite baseball player ever was Mantle.
    My favorite Astros Player was Bagwell for a long time, but he has been replaced by Altuve, who I adore and who drives me crazy with his impatience at the plate.
    The best player I ever saw play in person was Hank Aaron.
    I don’t know why the Astros would want a new stadium. The one they have now is fabulous, except when they open the roof. They can’t fill the one they have now, so it wouldn’t be for more seats. If they want a new stadium I think the team should pay for it.
    I think baseball can survive as long as there is the Red Sox and Yankees. I think baseball can survive in Houston as long as there is booze and phones.
    If I were commissioner for a day I would shorten the season, to account for cold weather, cut down on travel and jet lag and out of time zone games by realigning and make teams up north put retractable roofs on their stadiums when they build new ones. I would make teams pay minor league players a better salary.
    I would rather have $20,000, because I wouldn’t have to worry about my electric bill and my Direct TV bill. Apparently, I am just as happy with one championship as a lot of Astros players are.
    I despise the Rangers because they are dookie in every way imaginable. Today I also despise the Astros for the way they lay down for the Rangers, especially in front of fans who are paying premium prices this weekend to go see their team lay down like a dog against a team with nothing.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  3. Prior to 1962 I was a Yankees fan. I remember I had baseball cards of all the starters for the team and then some (wish I had them now). Didn’t get to attend an Astro game until the mid seventies and again in the mid 80’s. Mantle was my favorite player too. Had many favorite Astros. Once ran into a couple at an airport and we started talking about Houston and the Astros. Turned out it was Mike Scott’s parents. Also ran into Randy Johnson at a ski resort. You should see how tall he looks in ski boots. I personally don’t like the shifts but if it works then why not. And I’ll take door #2, the $20K.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  4. 1. Junior high. I played on the team and cheered for them but wasn’t much good. Every time I saw that ball coming toward my head I was scared and we didn’t have helmets then.
    2. Colt 45s. My dad was from Weimar and baseball was all they had. He took me out to Colt Stadium to visit the mosquitoes regularly.
    3. Fave Astro of all time? Adam Everett? Nolan Ryan? Fave all-time have to get back to you.
    4. Saw Mickey Mantle in person. Best ever in person? Nolan Ryan. (almost typed rayon)
    5. Met Nolan Ryan in person getting him to sign “Throwing Heat.”
    6. I have changed as a human being. Humans don’t stay human stayings.
    7. As I have stated, I can’t accept they are world champs. I am still a loser.
    8. Buff Stadium because I can hardly remember it.
    9.
    10. Carlos and Jose, yet to be proved, but likely. Possibly McCann.
    11. Baseball may survive, if only because the faster we go, the slower may appeal.
    12. Ain’t no commissioner and can’t pretend to be.
    13. Please don’t talk about new stadiums when we can’t even survive Harvey.
    14.
    15. I listened to …. on the radio in the old days, but these days, nobody.
    16. Don’t despise teams or nobody. Don’t have the energy or the desire.
    17. Hey, never explain, never complain.
    18.
    19. Everybody in every position that can do better than they’re doing now.
    20. Another WS champ. $20,000 runs out before you know it, and the banks are highly in question anyway.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  5. 1. 30. The Astros
    2. Yes. Since 1997
    3. Lance Berkman. Lance Berkman.
    4. Jeff Bagwell. Jeff Bagwell.
    5. No
    6. No
    7. No
    8. The Astrodome. First ever game.
    9. No
    10. Correa. Maybe McCann. George Springer will be the greatest CF.
    11. Yes
    12. Pass
    13. No
    14. Anything that Selig did. Especially the roof.
    15. MLBtv only. They’re good.
    16. The Yankees. Because.
    17. He’s a tosser
    18. Yes. They’re ok.
    19. Roger Clemens. Then not now. Obviously.
    20. Another championship. 20K won’t change my life.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  6. Dan: Wow what a great post. Might keep me occupied the rest of the afternoon!
    I grew up in southern Indiana and began listening to the radio when I was eight or nine. We got the Reds and the White Sox games but I quickly gravitated to the Reds. Waite Hoyt and Joe Nuxhall were masters at describing the games and the first time I walked into Crosley Field with my dad I already knew what it looked like without ever seeing it on TV or a photo. I loved that small park. The outfield did not have a warning track but rather a hill like Tal’s Hill from foul line to foul line. What made it even more challenging and unique was that the slope was not consistent. It was long and shallow in left and short and steep in right. Right field was especially tricky for visitors and I saw luminaries like Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron look pretty bad out there. I was a die hard Reds fan and cemented my hate for the Yankees when they hammered the Reds in the 1961 world series. When the 1976 Big Red Machine swept the Yankees in the series I was in Korea watching the games in the wee hours of the morning surrounded by Yankees fans and loving ever minute of it. I left the Air Force in 1984 and came to Houston in 1985. My best thought of the Astros was that I was so happy they wanted to part ways with Joe Morgan. I gradually started to like the Astros but about the only time I would go to a game was when the Reds were in town. I did get into the 1986 team and was seriously bummed when they lost to the Mets. I loved Crosley Field, thought Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati was a concrete armpit and the Dome not much better. I really like Minute Maid and was probably one of the few who lamented the razing of Tal’s Hill. Coors Field from the first base stands is amazing with the mountains in the background as the sun sets.

    My favorite player of all time is Pete Rose. When I was little I had a Roy McMillan glove so he was my favorite and I was seriously hacked off when Pete took his position. But the first game I saw Pete play he turned a routine ten hopper up the middle into a hustle double with a head first slide and I was hooked. I wore #14 whenever I could get it no matter what sport I played. My favorite Astro is Jeff Bagwell because he always played hard and smart. I liked Lance Berkman a lot and was so glad he won a World Series with the Cardinals.

    I think its pretty clear that Carlos Correa is the best shortstop the club has ever had. Altuve probably edges out Biggio at second base although Biggio’s longevity and HOF status make him hard to beat. Springer has a chance to be the best center fielder if we can hold onto him for his career.

    If I was commissioner for a day I would re-align the leagues to make travel easier, make the DH universal, and institute an electronic strike zone. The vagaries of the strike zone and the incompetence of some umpires would probably make that my first priority. We have the technology, why not use it?

    I watch the games now but didn’t have cable in the house until last year. I have always liked to listen to games on the radio. Our TV guys are pretty good, Robert Ford is really good on the radio and Steve Sparks is horrible. Perhaps one of the worst radio announcers was Milo Hamilton who apparently though you could see the action on the radio and called games accordingly and was clearly a legend in his own mind. The radio crew of Brett Dolan and Dave Raymond was actually pretty good and I lamented their firing but I was probably only one of a handful of fans listening to those woeful end of the McClain era teams.

    A pox on Trevor Bauer and I’m OK with shifts. I have to go with Verlander in a critical game but I want Cole in relief. I do not want to give the ball to Keuchel or McCullers. Over to the rest of y’all.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • You were lucky to miss the year or two we had Bob Prince on the radio. As Leonard Pinth-Carnell would say ‘POSITIVELY PUTRID!” The guy was legendary in Pittsburgh, or so I heard. One time on the radio I’m listening and hear crack of bat and roar of crowd…and Bob Prince saying “well look at that! Would look at that?” Nothing like a good workout from screaming at the radio…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. Fandom. I liked baseball [playing]more than any other sport from the first time my dad pitched me a ball to see if I could catch it. I became a baseball “fan”, though, until age 7, when my dad came home and told me excitedly that our hometown of Houston was going to get its own major league baseball team the next year, in 1962. That even made me start liking and wanting to go see the Buffs! And I started following the daily reports of the quest of both Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle to beat Babe Ruth’s record on home runs in a single year. Maris did [61]; Mantle got to 54 before an abscessed hip forced him off the field. That was excitement!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  8. Astros fandom. You asked: “Are you an Astros fan?” Seriously? That’s a question?

    Well . . . . YEAH! But seriously, age 7 is the time. I was learning to read at the time, and I couldn’t wait to get to the newspaper to find out about the guys that RE [Bob] Smith and Judge Roy Hoffheinz – through transitional GM Gabe Paul – had picked out of the expansion draft. Roman Mejias! Norm Larker! Bob Aspromonte! Bob Lillis! Bob Bruce! Bobby Shantz! Turk Farrell! Ken Johnson! Dick Drott! Hal Woodeschick! Ken Spangler! Joey Amalfitano! I read everything I could find anywhere about each draftee. Then we started spring training, 1962, in the Arizona Cactus league – and our little band of misfitsactually wound up with the best record in the Cactus League that year. By the end of ST, if I hadn’t been before, I was definitely ‘all in’. Never looked back.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  9. Favorite baseball player of all time? I have to name ONE? Okay – Pete Rose – a/k/a Charlie Hustle. So he was a wee bit flawed. Aren’t we all?

    Favorite Astro? Bob Aspromonte. Why? Something about the way he talk to me, joked with me, and tossled my hair during the course of giving me an autograph. Big impression on a wide-eyed 7-8 year old kid. And heck, the man’s nick-name was Aspro the Astro!

    Like

    Reply

  10. Greatest Baseball Player seen in person? A lot of greats – but the most dominant in every appearance had to be Sandy Koufax. WOW!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  11. Greatest Astro seen in person? TOUGH! And I feel dirty just considering choosing only one. But if I must get dirty, I’ll go with the dirtiest helmet the major leagues have ever known. He’s one of only two Astros in the HOF. Well, unless you count Nolan Ryan, who, unfortunately went in wearing a cap that to me represents the ultimate in baseball profanity.

    Like

    Reply

  12. 1 and 2. Age 6 – went to a few Buffs games, but it really kicked in when I was 1. and 2. 6 – went to a few Buffs games but it really kicked in at 8 when the Colt 45s came to be. This also corresponded to when I first played Little League. Been an Astros fan ever since, and nothing but.
    3. Don’t think I’ve ever had an all time fave. Fortunately, that was not determined by the players whose baseball cards I had the most of: that would have meant Al Luplow or Bob Cerv or something equally ridiculous. Several Fave Astros. Early on it was Aspro. Saw him hit a grand slam in the Dome once. The outfield was playing way in. He crushed it into the left field seats. The left fielder never even looked up at the ball, started walking off the field before it landed. Also saw Aspro hit one of his HRs for the sick kid in the hospital. But later on other faves emerged: Billy Wagner, Billy Spiers. Guess I just like clutch guys.
    4. Best I ever saw: Sandy Koufax. Greatest Astro I’m inclined to say Bagwell, but Larry Dierker deserves consideration for being an Astros lifer. I saw him make his ML debut on his 18th birthday in Colts Stadium. For an all-too-brief period, JR Richard was the most dominating righty I’ve ever seen.
    5. I’ve met several over the years, but no stories of interest. Although I have a distinct memory of meeting Bob Smith and Roy Hofheinz one Saturday morning when I was 9 or 10. My dad was involved in the Astrodome construction and he let me tag along on a meeting he had with them.
    6. Sure, change happens. And as my mom use to say “I cain’t hep it.” The game itself has changed, the way we analyze it. The innocence of youth gives way to the reality of life.
    7. I don’t think the championship changed me but it gave me a proud achievement I doubted would ever come my way. A couple of months ago I went to a Dodgers spring training game, wearing my Astros WS champs t-shirt. As I was leaving this rather menacing looking guy wearing Dodgers gear glared at me and said “you’re wearing the wrong t-shirt around here.” I smiled at him and said “Look, I’ve been waiting 56 years for this sumbitch and I’m wearing it!” Priceless.
    8. I loved the Astrodome and didn’t think we needed a new one. But as soon as I stepped into (now) Minute Maid, I realized I was wrong. All of the modern parks are good. The Giants place is really nice. And I was surprised how much I enjoyed the Phillies stadium.
    9. Colt Stadium has to be up there. I haven’t been there for a baseball game, but the Tampa stadium gives me the willies just looking at it.
    10. Altuve. Correa has possibilities. We’ve never had a truly great catcher. I’d love to see that.
    11. Frankly, I’m surprised baseball has maintained its popularity. So at this point I won’t bet against it.
    12. Pace of play is my pet peeve, so I’d work on that. More than nibbling around the edges.
    13. Heck no.
    14. Baseball commissioners generally stay in the background, but Bud Selig’s nose would have been better off anywhere else.
    15. Mostly listen on radio nowadays. Full circle to my youth when I listened to Gene Elston and Loel Passe on a transistor radio under my pillow. It took about a year to get on the train with Robert Ford and Sparks. I thought they were horrible at first but now I think they do a very good job. The TV guys are fine…and who doesn’t love Julia! Still bummed that Deshaies left, though.
    16. Not a hater
    17. Anyone that wants to document their deficiencies, have at it!
    18. Can’t say I’m used to seeing the shifts, but got no problem with it.
    19. Current: gotta be Verlander
    20. $20k. Guess that makes me a settler…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  13. Stories about meeting an Astro? I was an ‘Astro buddy’, so I met and talked to a lot of the players. Great memories. Talk about star-struck! But my favorite meeting actually didn’t directly involve me at all. It was my youngest son’s encounter with an Astro. It was at the 2005 Astros’ fanfest. Yes – 2005, meaning we had guys like Clemens. Oswalt. Petitte. Biggio. Bagwell [or what was left of him]. Berkman. Ensberg. Everett. Mike Lamb. Lidge. Burke. Palmerio. Vizcaino – and so forth.
    We went to Fanfest so my son, then 11, could get those guys’ autographs. And he got a lot of them – all on the same baseball. As we were approaching the last autograph opportunity, in a line, everyone was told to put down on the table, in order, whatever they wanted the last group of players to sign. There were several balls. Somehow or other, the guy in front of my son switched his baseball – which was a cheap imitation ball with no autographs on it – for my son’s ball, which was an official MLB ball with about 20 Astros signatures on it. When the last Astro to sign that day – Brandon Backe – handed the ball to my son with just two fresh signatures [Eric Bruntlett’s and Backe’s], my son took one look at the ball he was handed, realized his ball , with all his favorite players’ signatures on it, and began to cry. He asked everyone in the line ahead of him to check their baseballs, to see if they had gotten his by mistake – but nobody owned up to it. So there he was. No chance to replace the autographs [of the eventually NL Champion team, no less] because all the other players had left. Brandon Backe heard the commotion, got up from his chair, came over and knelt on one knee in front of my distraught 11 year old. He asked him his name and told him how sorry he was about what happened. He gave him a stack of signed cards he had gotten from the PR people – including some Astro plyers’ Rookie Cards. Then he asked my son for his address. And said ‘Be watching your mailbox, John!’

    About a week later, we received a package in the mail. It had in it an official major league baseball – bearing the fresh autograph of every player on the team. Yes, the 2005 world series team. Roger Clemens. Roy Oswald. Andy Petitte. Craig Biggio. Jeff Bagwell. Lance Berkman. Morgan Ensberg – all of them.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  14. Have I changed as a fan? Well, since I started this journey at age 7, the answer is yes. Most importantly, I have learned that baseball is not the only important thing – or anywhere close to the most important thing – in the world. It is a
    pleasant diversion. It is something to enjoy when its enjoyable, and commiserate with friends over when it is less than optimal. I’ve learned to think a lot more like my dad – who loved it when the Colts/Astros won and shook his head and talked about what had gone wrong when the Colts/Astros lost-but never let it get under his skin. His favorite thing to do was heckle the umpires – and no matter who was managing the club at the time, if the Astros’ manager charged out of the dugout and gave the umpire what for, He would stand up and shout, at the top of his lungs, as had since the first game we ever watched together in 1962, when Harry Craft was the manager: “Give ’em HELL, Harry!” Then he would sit down, play-punch me on the shoulder, take a bite of his hot dog, and watch the rest of the game like nothing ever happened. It’s all in fun. If it ceases to be fun, go watch a stupid game show.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      • Two or three times a week, after my little league practice or game, I would catch the bus to the ballpark. You could do that by yourself- and feel safe – back then. As an Astro buddy, I think it only cost a dollar or so to get in to the game. Then after the game I would ride the bus back to the mall nearest our house, and walk home.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Did the Championship change you as a fan? No. At my core, I am still 7. That means:

    – Harry Craft is still manager in my heart.

    – The Dodgers, Braves and Cardinals are still, and will remain forever, far more evil than Darth Vader.

    – I still feel the urge to rub all exposed skin down thoroughly with Six-Twelve mosquito repellent [remember that scent?] before and during every game.

    – Roman Mejias is still my favorite Cuban – well, except maybe for Ricky Ricardo.

    – Baseball, when it cannot be watched in person, is still most enjoyably consumed via a transistor radio tuned to an am station that fades in and out.

    – The only legitimate music for the 7th inning stretch is ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’.

    – Any rebroadcast, retransmission, or account of this game, or the pictures, descriptions, and accounts of this game, without the express written consent of Major League Baseball, is still prohibited.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • And – PS – for adults attending baseball games, the most important decision to be made at the game is still choosing between the vendor that yells ‘Getchah ice cold PUUURL beer, here!’ and the one that yells ‘I got the state beer of TEXAS – ice cold LONE STAR BEER, here! It’s colder than your mother-in-law’s heart!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  16. Favorite baseball stadium? MMP – no contest [Except when we don’t hit there!]
    Worst baseball stadium? Fenway. What a dull, drab, ugly place. Followed closely by the horrible ball parks in Oakland and Kansas City.

    Like

    Reply

  17. 1)Went to my first game in 1986 ; Astros of course,
    2) officially became a diehard in 1991.
    3)Favorite Astro? Luis Gonzalez for a reason I’ll go into later but he’s a heck of a nice guy. Favorite player in general? Hard to pick just one. Greg Maddux is up there though.
    4) Greg Maddux and Pedro Martinez. Greatest Astro would be Craig Biggio…haven’t been to a game since 97
    5) Everyone I’m ever met with the Astros have been nice, except Mike Simms and especially Pete Harnisch. I’ve told this story several times. Short of it was, he just had pitched a one hitter. After the game, we saw him as he was leaving (most of the team stayed to give autographs). Dad congratulated him on a great game but he blew him off. A kid asked for his autograph. Harnisch threw a baseball at him and told him to f*** off. So any, Luis comes over, apologises to him and his family, and stays behind to sign autographs for each and every person there. My dad asked him what was up with Harnisch. He just shrugged and kind of changed the subject. But he struck up a conversation with Dad, and from then on after the games if he saw us he’d always make a point to come over and talk to us. Somewhere in a box of photos I have a picture of him, myself, and my father, taken by Darryl Kile (another really nice guy as well)

    I’ll finish the rest of these later

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Coincidently, I also met Luis Gonzalez at a Houston Cougar basketball game. I was introduced to him and his wife by a friend. The other Astros that I met through my business were Alan Ashby and James Mouton. They were all extremely friendly guys.

      Like

      Reply

      • Gonzo was very quiet and humble. If I recall correctly Roberto Clemente was his favorite ball player coming up. The last baseball memory my dad and I have together was watching game 7 of the World Series together over the phone, and that was a good moment seeing Gonzo hit the Series winning hit was a nice treat

        Like

  18. Current Astros who are the best ever at their positions?

    I’ll go with Altuve and Correa.

    Altuve beats Biggio for a couple of reasons – 1st of all, Biggio was really a catcher who transitioned for the sake of knees. 2ndly, Altuve came to earth on a spaceship from Krypton, and is of the family of El, while Biggio was took the 6:26 from Long Island, NY, and hails from the family of a guy named ‘Gordon’.

    Correa beats Reynolds because – well, did you ever watch Craig Reynolds throw? Correa beats Adam Everett because – well, did you ever watch Adam Everett hit?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. Can ML Baseball Survive?

    It has definitely transferred to my sons and daughters. Beyond that, we’ll see.

    What helps? The continued popularity of little league baseball. A love of playing the game helps build a love of attending and/or watching the game. And it helps kids identify as being part of a ‘baseball family’.

    My suggestions:
    1. Reduce ticket prices in general, especially in the ‘cheap seats’.
    2. Promote really affordable ‘family packages’, for fathers/mother’s with at least one child. Get the kids to love going to games from the earliest ages.
    3. Re-design and implement a modern equivalent to the old ‘Astro Buddy’ program. Promote it through the Little League programs in the area. Let the kids meet and get to know – and get autographs virtually at will from – the players [in shifts]. Offer, as part of the program, [1] one free game ticket package a year for the entire family, and a discount package on good seats for at least five non-premium opponent home games during the season; [2] a weekly 3 to 5 minute special interview, with tips on the game, with a player or coach, which the kids can tune into after school via skype, or which the parents can download to and keep for later viewing on a smart phone app or on a computer; and [3] a set of all the Astros’ baseball cards for the year; [4] offer an app that updates the app possessor of the score every time a run comes across, and notifies of the Runs, Hits, Errors at the end of every half-inning; dad’s and mom’s can pass the info on to younger children as they receive it; older kids will have their own smart phone;
    4. Quit messing with the ‘pace of the game’ – it is what it is. And changing the rules just interferes with the ‘muscle memory’ we are trying to develop;
    5. Make the rules the same for both leagues. I prefer the DH, but whatever the rule is, it needs to be universal.
    6. Except for the playoffs, eliminate games between teams more than one time zone apart. This keeps away games from starting too late for kids to follow.

    Like

    Reply

  20. 1. 7. Dodgers
    2. Yes. 1972-46 years
    3. Nolan Ryan
    4. Doug Rader, JR Richard, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Brad Ausmus. The only ones I’ve seen in person.
    5. Got autographs from Rader and Richard in the Astrodome parking lot after a game. Rader had a couple of Lone Star beers in each pocket.
    6. As an Astros fan, in the beginning I believed every year was the one we would see a World Series. By last year I had really given up. I still remember watching the other teams celebrate winning in 80, 86, 97, 98,
    99, 2001, 2005. Last year when WE were celebrating I couldn’t stop crying.
    7. I sill want to win but I’m more relaxed now. No other championship will be as exciting.
    8. Astrodome.
    9. Colt Stadium. Ugh.
    10. Probably not.
    11. I certainly hope so. It would be a shame to lose a tradition like baseball.
    12. Either add the DH to the NL or do away with it completely.
    13. Yes, if the owner threatened to move the team to another city the was Drayton did.
    14. Forcing the Astros to switch leagues. I like the AL now but They should not have been forced to move. Then there was the roof thing back in 05
    15. Both. They do OK. Heard better but also heard a lot worse.
    16. The Rangers. Just because. – The Breweres because of Selig.
    17. I think he’s full of dokie.
    18. I’m not that fond of the over shift.
    19. Verlander
    20. Another championship.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  21. If I were commissioner for ‘a day’ . . .

    – I would redefine the term ‘a day’, to mean ‘for as long as I *#@$ well want to be commissioner’. Then:

    – I would fine headhunters like Cole Hamels, who throw at opponents heads, $100,000 a pop for every opposing batter they hit after the fifth HBP on the year. And after that fifth HBP, I would award also the opposing team 2 runs for every batter the headhunter pitcher [HHP] hits above the knees. I would make this rule retroactive to the beginning of the 2018 season [we therefore won by a score of 4 to 1 last night, thank you very much!]
    – I would give NL teams the option, every game, of letting pitchers hit or using a DH in the pitcher’s slot. if you are going to use a DH, you just have to announce your choice to do so a minimum of four hours before the game – purists or not, I bet I know what choice they every one of those teams would make!
    – Everyday besides the 4th of July I would stop playing the national anthem and have everybody stand and sing and act out the Hokey Pokey song; and use the kiss cam to put their pictures on the screen; [Hold those stones, folks! I’m as patriotic, and love the flag and the Star Spangled Banner as much as the next guy – but .. . uh . . . what exactly does the national anthem, and the stupid political controversy over it, have to do with a ballgame?]
    – I would let any team with a retractable make its own choice, for whatever reason it wants, as to whether to leave the roof open or close it;
    – I would publicly repent to the world, on behalf of the MLB, for foisting despots like Bud Selig or Rob Manfred on the game;
    – I would let Pete Rose throw out the first pitch at every All-Star game – well as long as he agreed not to bet on whether it would or would not be a strike.
    – I would eliminate the All-Star Game – or at least the Home Run Derby. Or at least the ceremonial first pitch. Sorry, Pete!
    – I would appoint 1OP as my successor commissioner, and Daveb as my personal bartender.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  25. Pete Rose’s friend Giovanni just phoned in from Vegas. He is giving odds on which Astro the Rangers decide needs to be hit next.
    McCann, who hit the home run, is 8-5.
    Correa, again – just because they got by with it once with no retaliation – is 2-1.
    Gattis, who drove in the Astros’ first run, is 3-1.
    Reddick, who dared to double off Fist-pump and score the Astros 1st run this series, is 4-1
    Altuve, because he is just better than their guys, is even steven.

    Like

    Reply

    • Hey daveb – having trouble posting?
      Maybe Gattis is going on one of his tears from out of the blue.
      Our starters are killing it – wish a couple of these runs would have scored last night for JV.

      Like

      Reply

  33. Man, I had half my homework done when my third world internet service swept in and swallowed up my effort! I even had a little scoop on my night at the bar with Mickey Mantle and Larry Hagman at the Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, so many moons ago. That was a ridiculous bout of foolishness by all participants. Good win for the zombies tonight! Chief zombie Gattis is beginning to frighten children and bad pitchers again! Watch out third basemen.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  34. Tony Kemp has 5 triples on the year. He’s now hitting .347 with an OBP of .422. He’s also 13 of 14 in stolen bases.

    Uh . . . tell me again why Derek Fisher is our left-handed hitting reserve outfielder?

    Like

    Reply

    • Tony, with his lefty bat, will probably get his chance soon. I just hope he’s moved beyond the .593 lifetime ML OPS in his limited time here.

      Jake becomes the undisputed leader of the zombies now that Evan seems to have had a transfusion. As long as he can play defense while being of the walking dead, I fear he’ll have a job.

      Life, even dead life, is so unfair.

      Happy Mother’s Day moms!

      Like

      Reply

  36. 1. Preschool fan because of my grandfather and father.
    2. Yes/ Since 1962 except for a few years on a sabbatical in Arlington.
    3. Altuve because of his size and grit.
    4. Hank Aaron in the twilight of his career playing with the Brewers. Around 1975 he hit a home run in Arlington that Roy Howell started to jump up and catch. And it hit 6 rows up in the left field bleachers. Everyone sitting on the 3rd base side did a collective “wow.” Also Sandy Koufax in Houston was a treat. Only the Flea with his barrel bat could get a hit regularly off him it seemed.
    5. In Arlington at the bar of a local restaurant. My friend and I were at a table and Sparky Anderson came in and sat at the next table. When the ladies came back from the powder room, we announced in a soft tone, “Sparky Anderson is sitting behind you.” His wife turned around and 3 feet away in a loud voice said, “Who is Sparky Anderson?”
    6. I have become a fan of the game. I have no patience with “primadonna” players. I can enjoy a well played game, pitch, at bat, double play, etc by the other team. It is such a great game.
    7. The championship was the culmination of the struggle. I did not miss hardly any games on TV because I wanted to see they guys come up and HOPED for a WS championship. I can miss a game or two now and it really doesn’t bother me.
    8. Old Turnpike Stadium in Arlington. If you sat in Section 309 or 310, you would always have a chance at a foul ball. Caught three. But the main reason, I was in my younger days. As soon as the ball was thrown to first for the 3rd out, I hit the aisle. At the top of the stairs to the right was the restroom. To the left was the beer stand. Never missed a pitch. Just alternated innings.
    9. Oakland, if I ever went.
    10. Altuve, see above. Probably Correa.
    11. It is so interesting that the sport of the century (NFL) is losing interest. So YES, it can.
    12. I’ll come back to that.
    13. There is no need for a new stadium. Where is the one that was to be built in Conroe???
    14. My advice to the commish it, “Don’t just do something, sit there.”
    15. DirecTV, and the announcers are great.
    16. I get upset with the bean ball pitchers or the cheap shots on slides at 2nd, but I don’t hate any team.
    17. I posted on here the link to an article about Bauer. Not sure what he was saying. However, the resin bag has been around for decades. Only Gaylord Perry, to my knowledge, used it so much that he threw a “Puff Ball” that came out of a cloud of white smoke. And that was legal.
    18. Still believe it hurts when a game is on the line. Reddick missed a lazy pop fly earlier in the week having to run from centerfield. Then it gave the A’s the winning runner on base in the 9th with Bregman playing in short left and had no chance on a bunt.
    19. JV has earned that right.
    20. The $20 K. I would pay on my debts, as far as it would go.

    Like

    Reply

    • 45, re: #8

      We had our regular beer lady at the dome, along the concourse. Theresa was her name. What a gem. Once we saw a fly ball was going to be caught for the third out or a double play started to finish an inning, we were out of our seats and heading up the steps. We’d go flying past Theresa with our fingers up for how many Budweiser’s were needed that round as we made our way to the facilities, always beating the crowd. On the way back, she’d have our frosties waiting at the edge of the counter, even if she had a long line in front of her. Boy we got some rotten looks, but we were regulars and always took care of our favorite lady. And we never missed a pitch.

      Like

      Reply

      • When I think about the 70s and 80s, I would be in prison for what me and others did. It was so bad one game, I had my 10 year old son drive us home. Still can’t believe that marriage ended.

        Like

  37. You know there has been much made of the players having a World Series hangover and for the hitters perhaps that’s somewhat true but I think the worst hangover is affecting the front office. It is their job to put the best team in the dugout and for AJ to put the best team on the field. While we persist in putting Fisher, Marisnick and Gattis in the lineup there are hits and runs being completely wasted in Fresno.

    At the quarter pole in the season we’re not dealing with small sample size any more. I’m actually very concerned about Altuve. His OPS is now below .800 and he has shown an alarming lack of power. Of course we all know he can get hits on balls well off the plate but he can’t drive those kind of pitches. Why settle for a flare or a dink with less than two strikes when you can drive a ball in the gap or into the seats? I love Springer leading off but wonder if putting Altuve in the leadoff spot just might enforce a bit more discipline on him. Having George hit second wouldn’t be so bad.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Well, the flip side to our nagging about those same guys is that I want to believe the experts know more than us. Gattis for instance looks like a new man suddenly. He’s having mostly all good at bats. Historically, he hits. So if he is back on track, then I’m grateful for all the patience shown.

      Fisher is a tougher one for me. I just don’t know if he is going to get it. But again, I understand why they are staying with him. Tucker is not ready to go, and Kemp might not be much of an upgrade.

      Jake, he’s the zombie. I can’t defend Luhnow on this one. Maybe Tim will.

      Like

      Reply

  39. The ipad is working only when it feels like it. So I will try this assignment from a desk top in the office. Yes, I’m working today. I’ve sent all moms home today.

    1. I apparently became a baseball fan before I can recollect. Four older brothers determined that for me. If the old black and white TV was working (often it was not) I was on the floor in front of the Yankee game on WPIX channel 11. But soon enough I switched over to the Mets. They became my first real team in 62.

    By the way OP, my father grew up around Ebbets Field. But when his Dodgers abandoned him, he too was done with them.

    2. And then in 1970, we moved to Houston. As a family we quickly became loyal to the new hometown team. It’s been that way ever since.

    3. Favorite player of all time? That’s a tough one. Jose just might be on his way to being that guy. He just just shows such a love for the game and continues to get better and better at his craft. Don’t worry, he’ll start hitting everything soon. The other thing is that Jose was born on my late fathers birthday. Not many of today’s ballplayers impressed my old man, but he had a soft spot for Mr. Altuve.

    4. I guess Mickey Mantle gets the nod for greatest player in person, at least greatest former player, with a second career as whiskey drinker. Yeah, so I he and Larry Hagman became drinking buddies when that TV show “Dallas” was the rage. Those two guys together would have been thrown out of any bar in town, much less the 5 Star Mansion on Turtle Creek without their pedigrees. So I just happened to be there with buddies one night after work and we simply got sucked into the festivities. We were innocent bystanders. Please believe that. On somewhat of a somber note, I think that was The Micks nightly MO.

    I also met Biggio, way back in 1993, when he was just becoming known as a really good ballplayer, right here on Nevis, when he was with his wife Patti on a Nike sponsored trip. And then I ran into him years later at Murphy’s Bleachers, the infamous bar just outside of Wrigley. No, he did not remember me.

    5. Oh jeez, when I hung out in bars, I met many baseball players. In those days, the bar was their gym.

    6. I’ve certainly mellowed as a fan. A loss does not stick with me. I guess that’s the easiest way to explain it.

    7. I don’t think winning it all really changed me much. I’m just looking forward to seeing what this organization can accomplish going forward. I want to see what kind of sustained excellence can be achieved.

    8. Wrigley Field remains the best. The whole neighborhood lives and breathes baseball. Cub fans are mostly friendly and very proud of their temple.

    9. That Blue Jay park kind of sucks. And I’m not impressed with the Fish house.

    10. The second baseman, the shortstop and if they let him play his position, maybe the center fielder.

    11. By all means, baseball can survive. Look around Minute Maid. Whole families are attending games. The Latino and Hispanic presence at the park has grown remarkably. I don’t know whether or not 3 million people will show up this year, but the fan base is much different than it was even five years ago. I think there are fewer bandwagon fans at the park.

    12. As the commish, I’d make sure every park had a percentage of seats set aside so that anyone from any income group could go to a game. Some teams do this better than others. I’d also let old people slide into home plate after a game of they wanted to. I’d put on my long pants for that.

    13. I would not support a new stadium in Houston. I don’t know what the problem with the location of the D’Backs stadium is, but that swimming pool sure was a dumb gimmick. If the public has to foot even part of the tab for the new stadium, then they are suckers.

    14. Speeding up the game is a dumb half assed initiative.

    15. I watch on line. For some reason, Nevis does not carry Astro baseball. I don’t like our announcers. Too much non baseball chatter going on in the booth especially when that PR girl comes in for half an inning.

    16. I don’t despise any team, but I think Bannister creates a bad atmosphere within that clubhouse. When Morton threw behind Mazara, it was low, it was safe. It was the obligatory message. But then Mazara had to glare out to the mound like he wanted to start the rumble. What did he expect? He’s lucky he didn’t get it up a chin level.

    17. I’m bored by the Trevor Bauer claims.

    18. I’m intrigued by the shifts. I don’t mind them a bit. Heck, if guys like Gallo can’t figure out a way to beat the shift they are using against him, when half the field is wide open, he should be ashamed. How could he go through life and not learn how to bunt? He probably can’t make a foul shot either.

    19. Verlander gets that ball. Cole is ready behind him.

    20. I’ll take the 20.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • My read was he was warned by McCann, and I could’ve swore Mazara said “appreciate that” to Brian as the ump was walking toward Charlie. I don’t like retaliation, but having a real player in the booth in Blummer – he set the record straight quick, saying he had no problem with it. The way that situation was handled by the Astros was first class IMO. It’s part of baseball to get pitched inside, and the Rangers for all their faults, I don’t think Fister would deliberately hit our guy, as even Springer gave a gesture to Hamels on the way to 1st the other day. I just think it’s pretty desperate to pitch that borderline, and we know it. Just look at them!

      Like

      Reply

  40. Dan answers Dan’s questions:
    1) I became aware of baseball when I was 7 years old, but we were living in Dallas and did not have a team. When we moved to Houston the next year I became an Astro fan for life.
    2) See 1)
    3) Favorite player of all time – man I ask tough questions. I have always loved Biggio and Altuve not only for their excellent play, but the way they were 100% hustle.
    4) My parents were 100% Milwaukee Brave fans – so the greatest player I saw in person was Hank Aaron. Greatest Astro – Jeff Bagwell.
    5) I met Andy Pettite at DisneyWorld at the buffet at the Crystal Palace – it was just after he had returned to the Yanks but I told him I appreciated what he had done for the Astros. Saw Luis Gonzalez coming out of our church one Sunday. Took my two oldest to Sports Town (long gone store) when Biggio who was still a catcher came and was there to sign autographs. He was as nice as could be asking the kids whether they played, what position. I’ve been to Xavier Hernandez’s house – very nice guy – his wife sang in our choir and they hosted the choir Christmas party one year.
    6) I’ve changed as a fan – more sophisticated – maybe more cynical in how I watch the players. Just growing up in a cynical world.
    7) I think I am more laid back after the Championship – I am no longer worrying about never seeing it happen.
    8) I’ve not been to a bunch of stadiums – I like MMP the best of the ones I’ve gone to. Thought Wrigley was OK.
    9) Went to the old stadium in Milwaukee after the Brewers came and it was a lot like old Colt Stadium was like based on people talking – so that was probably the least favorite.
    10) Correa for sure – Altuve probably
    11) Baseball is OK – the concussion thing and the political crap has not hit it.
    12) If I were commissioner for a day, I go with the thought that this commissioner should not be making many rules – I would probably undo some.
    13) I love my Astros, but if Jim Crane came begging for a new stadium, I would tell him to sell a golf course.
    14) If they are going to stick their nose in the length of games – they should leave the game on the field alone and get at length of advertising (which they never will do)
    15) I mostly watch games, but do enjoy the radio too. Sparks is the weak link, but he has improved over time.
    16) I still hate the teams that get too much attention – the Yanks and Dodgers mostly (some of the Dodger hate goes back to Lasorda dissing our players at All-Star time). I don’t like this version of the Rangers – they are dirty.
    17) Bauer bothers me a bit, but I watch games and I’m not seeing weird twitches or the guys touching their caps or their gloves looking for sticky stuff.
    18) I finally have gotten used to the fact that a hit up the middle is no longer an automatic out. I sure see a lot of balls hit right at our fielders which means it is working.
    19) I would start Verlander, but right now I think any of the guys would do OK.
    20) I’ll take another championship – you could say I was greedy, but if I was really greedy I would take the money.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  41. Not much love for Steve Sparks on the radio broadcast. I admit he wanders off course from time to time, but I think he is very good at being inside a pitcher’s head and in analyzing the pitcher-hitter dynamic of the moment. And I like his sense of humor. Just wondering why others dislike him?

    Like

    Reply

    • Sparks is okay for color but he’s bad at play by play. He can’t describe what’s going on quickly and what he does describe leaves me scratching my head. Milo was like that too. He would call the game like a TV announcer where the audience could see the action. Ford is much quicker on his feet and judges fly balls a lot better.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  43. 72 pitches and just 9 outs, but Jake saved Moore by going down on three pitches. I think the poor zombie needs help, not more at bats.

    Like

    Reply

  44. Continued from yesterday

    6) I’ve changed over the years in the sense that I’m not as involved as I used to be. Part of it is not having gone to a game in 21 years for various reasons. That said I became more involved during the tear down/rebuild . The last few years with the grocer owning the team almost killed my enthusiasm off for good

    7) Think it may have spoiled me.

    8) astrodome by default. Only place I’ve ever been to a game! I have no real desire to go to MMP as I despise the area with a purple passion. I’m probably the only person here who would welcome a new stadium in a different part of town. If I ever move out of state and God Willing I can get to Colorado where I truly want to live, Coors Field would be it.

    9) n/a

    10) Correa at SS, easily. Altuve will overtake Biggio at 2B. Hinch at manager is currently tied with Dierker

    11) no idea . I can’t relate to these people these days. I’m going to be 40 but in someways I feel like I’m going on 80. People today want all of the sizzle none of the steak.

    12) quit trying to change the rules to speed up the game. You aren’t bringing in new fans just pissing off those who are still here!

    13) hell yes. Get out of the cluster**** known as downtown Houston

    14) everything. This jabroni is making me miss Bud Selig a bit

    More later

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hey Billy, you will love Coors Field. I was there the second game when the place opened. First game was a night game – they had snow on the field that morning. The next game (that I was at) was a day game. When we walked in they handed us a souvenir pin that said “Coors Field Opening Day”. Had to comment to the lady handing me the pin: “But yesterday was opening day.” She immediately shot back: “No that was opening night, this is opening DAY!”

      Like

      Reply

      • Ha ha ha love it. That’s actually one of the things I’m looking forward to the most if my transfer goes through, going to a Rockies game.

        Liked by 1 person

    • After the experience of going to quite a few games at Minute Maid and literally hundreds at the dome, it’s simply easier to get out of downtown than it ever was getting out of the dome parking lot, especially if one is willing to walk a few blocks. In addition, obviously, there’s a lot more going on outside the park than there ever was outside the dome. And there are plenty of hotels within walking distance for those in town to see the Astros. To this day, our newer park and the overall experience is far superior to the dome and it’s setting. All that said, I liked the dome too.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      • Everything you say is true. But I still recall my first game at the dome. I thought it was the most beautiful place I’d ever seen. I still miss it.

        Liked by 1 person

  45. BIG NEWS FOR THE M’S. Robinson Cano got hit on the right hand today, left the game with it broken. Probably be out 2 months. Same place that Bumgarner got hit in spring training.

    Like

    Reply

  47. Think Luhnow will trade Marisnick for J.D. Davis or Kemp while they are out in California? It’s past time to send Jake to Fresno. He isn’t getting much real playing time, and if Luhnow sends him to Fresno he will. J.D.Davis is on *FIRE* and so is Tony Kemp. I just can’t justify keeping him up, if you’re not getting anything from him offensively.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  49. How cool is this, Verlander, Cole, and Morton have the 3 lowest era in the AL!
    And…thank you Tony for not giving up any runs!

    Like

    Reply

  50. If one had to find a cloud from the silver lining its that our bullpen is not getting much work. I think they would be more effective with more work but who can fault this superb starting rotation? One thing that has really been great to see is the health of the starters. No one has missed a start. Last year we were using duct tape and baling wire to put together a starting group which is one reason the bullpen melted down later in the year. If Uncle Jeff will just get us some more offense I still think we could run away and hide from the division even if the Angels and Mariners are improved. I was somewhat encouraged by what he said on the radio pre-game show today when he stated that the best place for us to pick up offensive help is right in our own system. It’s nice that the good folks in Fresno have a good offense to enjoy but I really want to see some of that here.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Exactly!! Our starters are going to the 7th inning, so the bullpen is pretty fresh everyday! Plus as I said above we have some pretty good talent in Fresno!

      Like

      Reply
Newer Comments »

Leave a reply to Simon Davey Cancel reply