AnotherHotCornerHasBeen

Miguel Tejada came into the game tonight with a .353 batting average, leading the National League in hitting. Then he was on 4 times tonight, including a game winning home run in the bottom of the eleventh inning. The Astros won the game 3-2 for a four game winning streak. That is a modest streak, but it is a step in the right direction.

My youngest brother, who lives now in Michigan, was in Houston on business yesterday and we were able to meet for the Astros game at Minute Maid Park against the Dodgers. It was about perfect for us.

My brother and I both have a passion for the game, so we appreciate the good players from every team, though we still pull for the Astros first and foremost. So last night we admired the talent of young left handed pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, of the Dodgers and the sweet swing of Manny Ramirez, who hit a mammoth home run.

But the Dodgers could not beeat the Astros this very pleasant night, and my brother and I got to enjoy a few hours together!

Brian Moehler had a good season for the Houston Astros last year. Brian Moehler may have a good season for the Houston Astros this season. But he did not have a good game last night!

When he was pulled in the second inning, the Chicago Cubs had scored 8 runs on their way to a an 11-6 win. The Astros made bid to get back into the game, hitting five home runs, but it was not enough.

I am one of a group of six that split a pair of season tickets for the Houston Astros baseball games at Minute Maid Park. Four of the guys take ten games each while two of us have twenty games each. Each season we have a draft to determine which games we will get.

We had our draft last night and I had the number one pick, so I will be at Opening Day against the Chicago Cubs next Monday. I expect to see Roy Oswalt as the starting pitcher for Houston and Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs. It will be a wonderful day as the new season opens with all the promise and the excitement!

Miguel Tejada’s immediate playing future was cleared up today when he received probation for having lied to Congress. He was liable for up to a year in jail and a $100,000 fine for his crime, but was given leniency because he plead guilty. He will also have to pay $5000 as his fine, but now he can get on with his preparations for the season without an ax hanging over his head. Let’s hope that translates into a good season for him and the Astros!

THe Houston Astros have won their last two games, both against the New York Mets, in dramatic fashion. Last night Mark Loretta hit a grand slam to break a tie and propel the Astros to the win. Tonight, Geoff Blum got a hit with the bases loaded in the ninth, scoring the two tying runs. Then in the tenth, Darin Erstad got a sacrifice fly to drive in the winning run. Nice Weekend so far!

My Wife and I celebrated our 40th anniversary on Saturday! On our first anniversary we did not have much money, and it was opening day at the Astrodome, which at the time was still very new and the place to go, especially for a baseball fan! We could buy tickets for $4 each back then, park for $.50 and eat for $5–both of us!

We continued to go to Opening Day for our anniversary till it became a tradition with us. We have only missed two Opening Day games with the Astros since 1968, one when we took a cruise for out 25th and one when I took my dark haired beauty to see Beauty and The Beast on Broadway for our 35th.

Today we debarked from a cruise to Cozumel at 10:15 in Galveston. We dropped off our dirty things at home, took a shower and then were off to see the Astros open the season against the Pirates!

This is Wedded Bliss!

The Houston Astros had lost seven games in a row, mostly because the offense has been so ineffective.  After last night’s performance of scoring one run despite many opportunities, the Astros called up their top prospect from Triple-A, Hunter Pence.  He will replace Chris Burke in center field.  Tonight in his first and he struck out, got hit by a pitch, and had his first single and eventually scored on and Adam Everett double.  Through the sixth inning tonight, the Astros are leading the Brewers 10 to 1.  I’m sure the presence of Pence is going to improve the offense, but tonight the big difference is that Lance Berkman has three hits including a bases-loaded hit to open the game up.  As the announcer said we’ve been waiting on that hit for about 10 days.

I wrote this a few months ago on another blog 

For those of us who remember how bad the Astros were before Jeff Bagwell came on the scene, the announcement a few days ago that made it official that he will never again play for the team was sad. Before Bagwell the team had not had a consistent and legitimate star power hitter. Jimmy Wynn and later Glenn Davis were the closest resemblance to long ball threats in the first 30 years of the franchise’s existence. But Bagwell changed that.

He was rookie of the year in 1991, and became the League MVP in 1994, in which he averaged driving in more than a run a game for the season. His batting average that year was 368. Until the arthritic shoulder impaired him, he was one of the most dominant players in the game. His homerun totals would have been much higher if his first ten years had not been played in the spacious Astrodome.

Bagwell was a tremendous force in the rise of the Astros to serious contention every season. Before Jeff came along, there were a few good seasons, but not the consistent level of competitiveness displayed throughout his career.

Farewell, Jeff. Some of us can remember the gift you brought to Houston. And we appreciate it!

I am taking my two youngest grandsons to the ballgame tonight at Minute Maid Park.  The Astros and Coca-Cola and a really nice promotion.  I got four tickets to the ballgame, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and, and two Astros baseball caps for $60.  It’s a real bargain in today’s market.  I hope the Astros bats come alive in May could be a fun game for everybody concerned.