Author: Dan P
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Christmas wishes for under the Astros’ trees
As Christmas 2015 approaches like a runaway train, it seems appropriate to list out some gift wishes for Santa to place under the various Astros’ trees. For owner Jim Crane – a heart that grows three sizes on Christmas day. For GM Jeff Luhnow – another playoff run by the 2016 team. For manager A.J.…
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After Protections – Astros’ Rule 5 Targets
A couple weeks ago this blog talked about the minor leaguers that the Astros were most likely to protect heading into the Rule 5 draft. Rule 5: Astros’ top 10 minor leaguers to consider The Astros protected a large group of minor leaguers by adding them to the 40 man roster, including IF Nolan Fontana, OF…
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Astros’ offseason: Pitching and baseball economics 101
With David Price hitting the $30 million a year level on his latest free agent contract, and Zack Greinke shattering that number, there has been much discussion on where the Houston Astros path forward should be on taking or not taking the plunge into the deep end of starting pitching free agency. The Astros have…
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December 2015: Crucial end to a great year for Astros
A year ago, the Astros entered December 2014 in a state of flux with very few of their many roster questions answered. At that time they had said goodbye to Jesus Guzman, Matt Albers and Jesse (we hardly knew ye) Crain. They had made the much maligned trade of Nick Tropeano and Carlos Perez for…
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A menagerie of off-season questions
The weather in Houston has turned from lingering summer to near winter conditions or winter as defined in southeast Texas where frost is considered the equivalent to a full out blizzard. So our minds wander to questions that may or may not matter in the coming season. Of the following players, who will have a…
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Rule 5: Astros’ top 10 minor leaguers to consider
The Rule 5 draft is coming up in December and it is a major driver in the next set of personnel decisions every team in the majors will make in the next month. The Houston Astros will definitely have their share of personnel decisions to complete on their eligible minor leaguers after losing the maximum 3 players…
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What They Said What They Meant – Postseason Style
For the first time in 10 seasons the Houston Astros played their way into the postseason and they showed they belonged there. So this edition of WTSWTM features Astros related quotes from chron.com (spit!!) and what the speaker really meant. Edinson Volquez on having knocked out George Springer for 2 months with an inside fastball:…
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Don’t despair: Positives ahead for 2016 Astros
Sports is the ultimate “What have you done for me lately” experience. The postmortem for the Houston Astros’ 2015 season will naturally lean towards the negatives of losing what had been as much as a seven game AL West division lead and a 6-2 lead six outs from appearing in the ALCS. But there are definitely…
ALL THINGS ASTROS 