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Astros 2016: Five challenges for spring training
The Houston Astros are just over 2 weeks away from the pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training and 3 weeks away from having all hands in camp. For the first time in a decade the team that heads to camp will do so off of a playoff appearance. The Astros appear to be in much better…
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If you had only one question to ask…
It is a relatively quiet time for the Astros and their fans, despite the fact they added depth to their starting rotation with the signing of tall righty Doug Fister on Thursday. Today – you are given a hypothetical challenge. If you were given a chance to ask one and only one question of Astro…
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Astros 2016: Reading between the lines
Actions often speak louder than words, except when you are watching some WWE actor/wrestler screaming at you on the TV. So, there have been a number of actions made by the front office that are meant to send a message this off-season. Potentially going to arbitration with Jason Castro over a $250,000 difference Teams usually…
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The $250,000 message to Jason Castro
So, as readers here are aware, the Astros exchanged arbitration numbers with catcher Jason Castro recently. Castro and his agent, Relativity Baseball, have asked for $5,250,000. The Astros countered with an even $5 million. In the grand scheme of baseball salaries, a lousy quarter million dollars is chump change. And in the end, it doesn’t…
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Numbers tell the story: Whence the Astros have come
The Houston Astros have gone through a tremendous transition since the nadir of the 2013 season. Most fans know that the most important numbers which demonstrate that improvement are 51 and 86, the number of wins in 2013 followed by the number of wins in 2015. But there are a lot of other numbers that…
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WTSWTM: The Astros’ off-season edition
It is time to return to the wonderful world of WTSWTM – What They Said, What They Meant. A quote is taken from chron.com (Spit!!) showing what an Astros-related person said and this is followed by an explanation of what they really meant. Jeff Luhnow on the Dallas Keuchel settlement for $7.25 million (most for…
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2016 difference makers: Bregman, Gomez and Reed could solidify Astros
If you recall, I wrote in these pages back in 2012 that the Astros should begin building their nucleus around Jose Altuve. All they needed to do, I surmised, was add one or two key players a season to reach the goal of competitiveness and regular playoff appearances. Little by little, one by one, the…
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In defense of Evan Gattis (Brian ducks and covers)
I get fed up with Evan Gattis as much as the next guy (or gal). With runners on, he presses. He swings and misses at low-and-outside pitches Jose Altuve couldn’t handle. He is a defensive liability. His beard is more creepy than cool. (There, I said what we’ve all been thinking about that beard.) However…
