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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’ position reviews: What to do at catcher and DH, if anything?
Oh, that TV money is burning a hole in my pocket like a pair of quarters when the new packs of baseball cards came out back in the day. (Yes, I just gave everyone a glimpse at my age.) But Crane said we’ve got $20 million to spend … I assume (ha!) that’s not including…
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Astros’ position reviews: Could 1B and 2B be any more different?
Coming off an Astros’ 2014 season of improvement, possibly no position provided more improvement than second base and possibly no position provides more of a challenge heading into 2015 than first base. Here is a look at each position last season and the outlook for 2015. Second Base. In the afterglow of a tremendous 2014…
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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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Astros’ relief: The good, the bad and the bullpen
Where’s Sergio Leone when you need him? Can he get out left-handed hitters? Despite a fistful of dollars, the Astros’ bullpen again posted the worst ERA in the majors. The 4.80 of 2014 might have been bad, but — shockingly — it was better than the 2013 version’s 4.92. A similar improvement might just turn…
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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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Astros’ infield: The problem children of the left side
The second part of our examination of the 2014 Astros with an eye towards 2015 will concentrate on two side-by-side perceived problem areas: third base and shortstop. The title referring to Problem Children seems appropriate. For the most part the Astros have left the left side of their infield in the hands of the extremely…
ALL THINGS ASTROS 