Category: Astros
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How far can revamped bullpen lead the Astros?
Writing about the Astros’ terrible bullpen of 2013 in a previous post inspired me to do a little research on how historically bad the pen was. Before long this morphed into this post based on a couple of recent examples, about how far back can an improved Astros’ bullpen lead this young team? A quicky review –…
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A Trip to the Voodoo Priestess: Or Welcome to Kissimmee

It’s spring training. Get a full perspective with new entries from the chipalatta team. Chip Bailey: Lots to watch as Astros’ hope springs eternal. Dan Peschong: Spring training really matters, except when it doesn’t. • •• ••• •• • By Brian Todd The orange rental car pulls off the side of a lonely highway in…
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Spring Training Really Matters, Except When It Doesn’t
It’s spring training. Get a full perspective with new entries from the chipalatta team. Brian Todd: A trip to the voodoo priestess. Chip Bailey: Lots to watch as Astros’ hope springs eternal. • •• ••• •• • By Dan Peschong Baseball fans would seem to be of two minds on Spring Training. Some think it…
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Lots to watch as Astros’ hope springs eternal

It’s spring training, so get the full perspective from the chipalatta team. Dan Peschong: Spring training really matters, except when it doesn’t. Brian Todd: A trip to the voodoo priestess, or welcome to Kissimee. • •• ••• •• • by Chip Bailey As spring training begins, the checklist for the Astros is long and could…
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More thoughts as countdown goes from weeks to just hours
A handful of thoughts as the months and then weeks have now turned to hours before Houston’s pitchers and catchers report to Kissimmee. Didn’t see Brett Wallace clearing waivers and remaining with the Astros’ organization. Just shows how far the former first rounder has fallen. At this point in the spring — and the Astros…
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Astros’ rotation still building a bridge over troubled water

For the Astros’ rotation, the future is not now. Not today anyway. Not April 1. Perhaps later this year. Perhaps 2015. Unfortunately for the team in 2014, the organization is still building a bridge over troubled water. Perhaps the good news is that the shore — read: the promised land — is coming into sight.…
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Riders of the Pine: The 2014 Astros’ Bench
Let’s see, the Astros have 25 roster spots. Five pitchers in the rotation, seven in the bullpen, and eight positions on the field … let’s see, twelve plus eight, carry the one, add that pesky DH … and now we’re at twenty-one. Yep, there’s little room left for the bench. Four spots for all our…
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Weekend thoughts: Challenges, Porter, payroll and depth

A few weekend thoughts while wondering if the Astros are largely finished with roster significant roster movement before pitchers and catchers report next weekend. Depth may be the biggest obstacle or challenge for the Astros in 2014, especially if they are to get that 100-loss monkey off the back of the organization. While there may…
