Category: Astros
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Looking ahead: It’s not all about 2017 for the Astros

I’m still a Jeff Luhnow fan. His resume as the Astros’ general manager is replete with success stories. Yes, sure, just as with any leader in an organization, you can point to weak spots or failures. Overall, though, Luhnow has guided the Astros to the best record in the American League. He has used every…
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Can Jeff Luhnow lead the Astros to the next level?

Back in the 1980s I was forced by the Houston economy to uproot my family and take them to Arkansas for seven years. It was a lovely place with great people, who had one really touchy spot to be aware of during conversations…..Arkansas Razorback sports. One day I opined that the Razorback basketball team would…
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Maybe all this sudden greatness has spoiled us all

Yes, the Astros have the best record in the American League and the second-best record in baseball. Just doesn’t seem like it some days. Yes, the Astros have a 15-game lead in the AL West and the other four teams in the league are looking like “wait ’til next year”. But on some days, it…
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The Devo-lution of the Astros’ bullpen

This is not to blame the crash and burn of the bullpen on one man, Chris Devenski, because the failure lately has been a team effort similar to the team’s offensive production. But just in the wrong direction. Devo was the poster boy for how good the bullpen was and now he is a focal point for how…
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July ChipalattAwards: Offense, offense, offense
Despite losing two of their best three offensive players during the month (Carlos Correa and George Springer) and despite having to deal with shorter starting pitching stints for replacement starters and returning starters and despite having some really crummy bullpen support, the Astros finished the month of July with a 15-9 record. That would be…
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Will The Luhnow Plan turn into The Luhnow Gamble?

Now that the trade dust is settling and numerous players are wearing different uniforms, there are a few obvious conclusions about the Astros’ tepid participation in the deadline festivities. Here are some thoughts. Jeff Luhnow is gambling that his rotation will be healthy come October.
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The greatest Astro enters the Hall of Fame

That was a tough title to write. I love Craig Biggio. I do. He was everything you could ask for in a ballplayer. But he was not as great as the man who enters the Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday, Jeff Bagwell. Stats Look at the Astro single season records held by Bagwell: Highest BA…
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Free Blog Friday: What we don’t know far outweighs what we know
As per a Chip Bailey tradition, let’s go Free Blog Friday today. You can talk about anything you want Astro-wise, but a hunch informs us that trade deadline talk will dominate, so here are a few trade related nuggets to consider. What We Don’t Know #1 It is easy to look at teams that are…
