Author: Chip Bailey
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Astros’ off-season: There’s a different feel in the air
For nearly a decade of winters, Astros’ fans have held out hope of turning a corner, only to turn the corner and run smack dab into another solid wall. From Woody Williams, Shawn Chacon, Mike Hampton, Ivan Rodriguez and Kaz Matsui to the throw-in-the-towel trades of Michael Bourn, Lance Berkman and Hunter Pence, fans have witnessed…
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Astros’ winter: Ready. Set. Go.
Ready. Set. Go. It’s not 2017 and the Astros may not be headed to the World Series in 2015, but it’s an off season when hope should surpass skepticism. Now, with the 2014 version of baseball’s Super Bowl behind us, let the player movement festivities begin. Jim Crane and his still-fledgling baseball organization has apparently…
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Just what are the Astros thinking anyway?
It’s a Monday. The World Series is nearing an end, the Steelers are throwing back weird uniforms, all is well in Cajun country with big wins for LSU and the Saints. But as the clock ticks toward the off-season of major league baseball, many are still wondering what the Astros are thinking and what tact…
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Free blog weekend: Of lulls, trades, hitting and the thorn in the left side
Happy Friday and welcome to a long-time tradition: Free Blog Weekend. It’s your turn to drive the conversation. We’ll discuss what you think is important or significant at this juncture of the off season. Here are some starters for you. The lull is coming to an end. While recent weeks haven’t exactly been a lull…
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Can the Astros win 90 and make the playoffs in 2015?
Okay, before you shout me down, consider five reasons it’s possible — possible — the Astros could win 90 games in 2015 and could make the playoffs. And, no, MLB didn’t expand the season to 180 games. Granted, I did say could, so while this isn’t an outright prediction, getting to 88-90 wins in 2015…
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Free blog weekend: K’s, drafts, manager criteria and more
It’s Friday and there won’t be any baseball today. Nada. America’s past time returns Tuesday with the Royals and Giants in the World Series. If you believe some predictions, two years from now, it will be the Astros and another National League team starting the best of seven MLB championship. By the way, tune in…
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FREE Blog Monday: Observations, questions and thoughts
No, it’s not the weekend, but it is the off-season, so anything goes, right? Starting off a week with a Free Blog Monday, a first, but probably not the last. It’s your opportunity to opine, divert the discussion, throw in your two cents and generally steer the conversation. I’ll get us started. The Royals and…
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Astros 2015: The path to $75 million and 85 wins
The consensus of the experts on this blog is that the Astros may top out at $65 million for its 2015 payroll. Even Jim Crane predicts the Astros’ payroll will increase by $20 million from 2014 to 2015. Depending on the figures you use, that could mean $65-$70 million. So that essentially puts the expert…
ALL THINGS ASTROS 