Author: Chip Bailey
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In the Castro-Altuve comparison, frankly, there is none
The Astros locked up Jose Altuve last year with a long-term deal. Earlier this week, Houston avoided arbitration with Jason Castro on a one-year, $2.45 million contract. That shouldn’t come as a surprise as the ingredients and particulars are different with these two players. While most everyone would agree that a two or three year…
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Baseball replay is a logical step…as long as it doesn’t get carried away
The new baseball replay rules could radically alter the game. Or not. Will it slow the game? It shouldn’t. Will it change the outcome of a game? It could. Will it get the call right? Sure, just like the NFL and other sports who use any type of replay. Is it a perfect system? No.…
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Can Appel follow Cole, Strasburg and Price to majors?
It shouldn’t be surprising if Mark Appel makes a meteoric rise to the major leagues in 2014. Yes, 2014. Sure, the Astros could take the safe route and allow their top pick in the 2013 draft to incubate at Corpus Christi and Oklahoma City this season. That wouldn’t be a shock either. But college players…
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Astros’ reset: Dates, arb, draft picks and favorites
Now that the new year is fully behind us, the Texans have a new coach and Astros’ pitchers and catchers report in about month (February 15), there are still a few matters on the immediate horizon. Here’s a quick update on approaching dates: January 17. Dates for teams to exchange arbitration numbers. It isn’t likely…
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Yes sir, the Astros should be all in on Tanaka!
If the Astros want teams, players and fans to know they’re serious about building a winner, they should join in the bidding on Masahiro Tanaka. If the Astros want to build a winner using the draft and minor leagues as a foundation and continue to follow the Jeff Luhnow blueprint, they shouldn’t tie up a…
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As off season turns corner, Astros still have payroll room
The baseball off-season is about to turn the corner. Many general managers, owners and managers will tell you they like to have the bulk of their roster work done by Christmas. For some teams — and I emphasize some — that has happened in 2013. For others like the Astros, some shuffling and rearrangement still…
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Wait, didn’t the Astros and Jose Veras have a “mutual interest”?
Obviously, the Astros didn’t value Jose Veras as much as we may have thought. Veras, who served as Houston’s closer for the first half of last season, signed a one-year deal with the Cubs Tuesday. One year. $4 million. The deal includes a 2015 option for $5.5 million or a $150,000 buyout. A pretty sweet…
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Okay, maybe we should chat about Shin-Soo Choo
So the Astros missed out on Joba Chamberlain. Probably Matt Garza. Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran too. Most fans — including this one — expected the Astros the dabble in the low-to-mid range of free agents and other acquisitions. The three-year, $30 million deal for Scott Feldman and the trade for Dexter Fowler pretty much…
ALL THINGS ASTROS 