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Timing Is Everything: Should Luhnow Pull The Trigger at 3B or LF?
In May 1991, I made friends with a guy named Steve. He was a buddy of my best friend, but Steve and I had never met. Serendipity, it seems, had kept us apart until that fateful time. Steve and I worked late each night together, and one night we were talking books. I recommended to…
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Astros’ Starters: The best part of the 2014 season
The Houston Astros improved 19 games in 2014 from the depths of hell season that was 2013. A reasonable breakdown of the areas that led to this improvement might go as follows: Improved Starting rotation – 60% Improved Hitting – 20% Improved Defense – 15% Barely improved bullpen – 5% There are a lot of…
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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…
ALL THINGS ASTROS 