Houston Astros 2004

Astros Add Depth Through Draft

2008-08-17T05:27:00.000-07:00

The Astros grabbed young OF Brad Hawpe with their first pick (8th overall) in the 2004 MSL draft. Hawpe is expected to take over RF duties from the aging Larry Walker beginning in '06. Houston was a bit shorthanded heading int0 draft as 2 players have been ruled out for the '04 season. Garrett Atkins and Hector Carrasco will be placed on the PUP list and will be unavailable for the entire season.

The Astros addressed their lack of a returning 2B by nabbing 3 in the draft. The 2B by committee will be handled by Todd Walker, Junior Spivey and Jerry Hairston Jr. The bullpen added some arms in Justin Duchsherer, Akinori Otsuka, Todd Williams, John Halama and Tim Harikkala. Catching depth was also addressed as 3 backstops were added - Alberto Castillo, Miguel Ojeda and Kelly Stinnett. Eli Marrero, John Mabry and Russ Adams will help bolster the offense. Shawn Chacon and Tomo Ohka were added in hopes of making the rotation in '05. Ohka will also see some spot starts throughout this campaign.

Overall, Houston management is pleased with the additions. Owner Mick Newman, "we fully expect to build on making the playoffs last year. We feel we have put ourselves in a position to make another run at the postseason. Everyone else got better as well. So now it's up to the players to go out and get the job done."

Season ticket sales have spiked as the Astros expect to be playing in front of large crowds when playing at home in the friendly confines of the SkyDome.

Astros Make Blockbuster Trades

2008-01-24T19:52:00.000-08:00

A (5-10) stretch and clubhouse fight recently got the GM thinking about the future. Richard Hidalgo got into a pushing match with an unnamed player (rumor has it as David Eckstein). This occurred minutes after Hidalgo K'd to thwart a Houston rally that ended in a loss. Labeled a clubhouse cancer, the 'Stros later sent him to Anaheim for a 2nd round draft pick in a very smooth and easy deal w/ Blaise Castren. Seemingly, putting Houston's focus on the future.

Realizing that Houston is still in a pennant race, Newman got back to work and he and Boston owner Matt Fenton hammered out a whopper of a deal. The Astros sending phenomenal 1B Mark Teixeira and their 2nd & 3rd round draft picks to Boston for Mike Sweeney, Tom Glavine, Garrett Atkins and a 1st round draft choice. Fenton was a pleasure to do business with as both owners put much thought into the deal. Boston had previously signed Atkins to a multi-year deal, thus avoiding future arbitration. Houston immediately added 5 more years on to make it a 10 year deal in all. Therefore, Atkins is expected to be the Houston 3B for a long time targeting '05 as his time to take over 3B from Burroughs.

With the deal, the Astros have an eye on the future, but also got some needed help to assist in their playoff run this season. Hidalgo's bat and defense will be tough to replace, but his poor attitude and first half performance will not.

Team Captain Larry Walker: "Hidalgo just never seemed to fit in around here. He was kind of a loner. We all wish him the best, but none of us are sorry to see him go. I think Sweeney will fit nicely into our new line-up and as a team we will do battle."

3-12 Homestand Sends Astros Plummeting

2007-12-19T06:49:00.000-08:00

Houston was atop of the Killebrew Division after the first series of games. Then, an awful 3-12 homestand has dropped Houston into 3rd place 2 1/2 games out of first. The Astros dropped 3 extra-inning games and a few more 1-run decisions during their freefall.

5 key players are mired in varying degrees of slumps. Larry Walker, a coach and fan favorite, is hitting just .250 w/ only 15 RBI's. Jeff Bagwell is hitting just .246 but is producing somewhat with 9 bombs and 24 RBI's. Alex Cintron, an expected .300 hitter, is hitting just .230. Mired in deep slumps are Richard Hidalgo (.210 4 HR's and 18 RBI's) and Mike Piazza (.210 6 HR's but just 10 RBI's).

With just 6 road games in the next series of games the Astros better get their home woes under control.

Astros Broom Jays Then Get Broomed

2007-12-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

The Astros were riding high after sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays. Lance Berkman just had a career game which resulted in a record-setting performance. Jason Johnson continued his surprisingly strong start with a CG victory to finish off a 3 game sweep of Toronto.

Then, Boston came into town and spanked the 'Stros before 3 sell-out crowds to bring them back to reality. Pedro was lights out in Game 1, allowing just 5 hits in 7 innings before John Smoltz registered his 10th Save of the season. In Game 2 - Wade Miller got tattooed as he couldn't get out of the 2nd in a 9-5 Boston rout. Game 3 was an embarassment as Derek Lowe's sinker had the Houston hitters looking foolish.

"That's baseball" said Mick Newman. "The season is a marathon, not a sprint. You can look unbeatable one day and like a JV team the next. We'll just have to battle and come back strong next series. "

In re-capping the Toronto series. Houston used their managerial edge in Game 1 as 5 pitchers combined for a 4-hit shutout. Wade Miller gained the Win and Wagner the Save. Berkman's groundout in 3rd scored the game's lone run. In Game 2 - the bats were red-hot in knocking out a league record 30 hits. Berkman set individual league records with 7 hits (19 total bases) and 11 RBI's on the day. Everything clicked as the Astros scored in every inning but one. In Game 3 Bo Hart tripled with the bases loaded in the 2nd to help his club to a 6-1 win.

"Walker and Hidalgo are struggling right now, but those guys are veterans and I have confidence they will get things moving in the right direction. Fortunately for us, Hart, Eck and Matheny are playing out of their minds."

Houston 9-6 after 15 games

2007-11-30T09:47:00.000-08:00

Atlanta takes 2 of 3 - Game 1: Crafty Lefty Brian Anderson CG 6-hit shutout in 7-0 win. Game 2: Adam Eaton CG 8-hitter in 6-1 Atl. win. Game 3: Jeter singles in Choi in 7th for 1-0 Atl. win.

Houston takes 2 of 3 over Anaheim - Game 1: Jose Contreras tosses no-hitter as Mackowiak gets 3 of games' 4 total hits in 2-0 Ana. win. Game 2: Houston bangs out 16 hits and Ana. leaves 11 on in 11-4 win. Game 3: 16 more Houston hits including GS by Cintron in 13-5 win.

Dodgers take 2 of 3 - Game 1: 4-run first propels Hou. to 5-3 win. Game 2: Sheff knocks in a pair as Hou. strands 12 in 5-2 loss. Game 3: Sheff hits 2 bombs in 7-5 Dodger win.

Houston sweeps KC at the Sky Dome - Game 1: Jae Seo gets CG win as Bags goes yard twice and knocks in 4 in 7-1 win. Game 2: Both teams knock out 15 hits, but Bags 3 RBI's propel Hou. to 7-5 win. Game 3: Kotsay knocks in 3 in 5-1 Hou. win. Crawford swipes 5 bags for Royals in series.

Houston takes 2 of 3 from Philly to open season

2007-11-30T07:03:00.001-08:00

Game 1: Jason Johnson gets the W and knocks in 3 as do Cintron and Bagwell in 13-8 win.
Game 2: Javier Vazquez pays immediate dividends for Philly as he shuts down Astros 7-1. FA Matos and Pujols each knock in a pair.
Game 3: All 5 Houston runs score via the longball as Mike Matheny's unlikely 3-run big fly in the 8th proves to be the difference in 5-2 win.

What do these 5 guys have in Common?

2007-11-29T19:48:00.001-08:00

Yes, they can hit. But these guys are winding their careers down. Their window is closing. Owner/GM/Manager Mick Newman wanted to give these professionals a chance to win now. The acquisiton of Kip Wells and the drafting of Jae Seo - and spending 3 more draft picks to secure some SP for next season - gives Houston that chance over the next 2 seasons. The future is now for these gamers.

Houston Astros New Ownership

2007-11-13T18:46:00.000-08:00

AP: New Owner Mick Newman has the city of Houston on edge. No one knows what to expect from this maverick owner. First, he drops hundreds of millions to completely renovate his ballpark and re-names it the "Sky Dome". Then, he goes and trades all-world CF Torii Hunter and Mr. Astro Craig Biggio.

He has won the favor of his players with the purchase of a private jet, rumored to cost in the tens of millions, to tote around his ballclub. After showing off his latest toy to the team, he then named himself the manager and GM.