Carlos Beltran

The Screwball Economics of Major League Baseball

As another season begins, MLB faces an unsustainable future - and you're picking up the tab.

Is Ed Reed the New Carlos Beltran? Not Really

Since the Texans have signed no free agents that weren't with the team last year and have seen Glover Quinn, James Casey and Connor Barwin all leave for other destinations, the recent flirtations with Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed have been all Texans fans have to talk about. Nevermind the fact th ... More >>

The Good News-Bad News for the Rockets as They Drive for the Playoffs

Last night was a frustrating night for the young Rockets squad. They had their worst offensive output of the season, scoring just 78 points (10 in the first quarter) and getting it handed to them in the most lopsided loss of the season against the team directly ahead of them in the playoff chase, Go ... More >>

The Best Managers in Astros History

With the Washington Nationals out of the playoffs, their former third base coach Bo Porter is now in the field manager of the Houston Astros. He's busy assembling staff - retaining Doug Brocail and Dave Clark as coaches doesn't exactly fill me with confidence however. As of now, Porter's just anoth ... More >>

Dear Astros Fans, Repeat After Me: Rebuilding Is A Good Thing

There are some Astros fans who are kind of upset about the veteran purge going on with the team at the moment. These fans profess to understand the team's need to rebuild, finally. But they don't want this rebuild to come at the expense of the big league club. What has to be understood is the Astr ... More >>

Health Department Roundup: Nidda and Friends

You know what'd be interesting? Seeing a Health Department inspection of Minute Maid Park. We worked there a few years back, so nothing the city might turn up would surprise us at all (except maybe Carlos Beltran's personality, or Drayton's buried treasure). I guess when your average nightly attenda ... More >>

Rest of the Best: Houston's Top Mom and Pop Restaurants

For the next 20 weeks, we'll be rounding up the runners-up to our 2011 Best of Houston® winners. In many categories, picking each year's winner is no easy task. We'll be spotlighting 20 of those categories, in which the winner had hefty competition from other Houston bars and restaurants. Family-r ... More >>

Dear Fox Sports Houston: Your Astros Broadcast Suck

Dear Fox Sports Houston: I realize this is your last season with the cable rights to the Houston Astros. I realize that at this time next year you'll probably be losing cable systems while justifying that Little League game you're putting on in primetime. I also realize that you're tied into Fox S ... More >>

In Which John Royal Predicts the Winner of the 2012 World Series

The major league baseball season officially started last week when the Oakland A's and Seattle Mariners played two games in Tokyo. Most of the other teams open on Thursday, and the Astros get started on Friday when they host the Colorado Rockies. Thus, here are my predictions for this season. NATI ... More >>

The All-Time Ultimate Astros Roster

The Astros are celebrating their 50th season in major league baseball this year. The team's going to be rolling out the throwback uniforms on Friday nights, and they'll probably find other ways to celebrate their history before making a new start of it in the American League next season. I thought ... More >>

Carlos Beltran & Buyer's Remorse: Something To Make Astro Fans Feel Better

Carlos Beltran: The Mets admit a mistake​It's been a disastrous, disheartening season for Astro fans, and it doesn't show any signs of getting better. So you try to take your bright spots where you can. Today's semi-bright spot is a frank admission of buyer's remorse on the part of New York ... More >>

The Drayton McLane Era -- Asking That One Question

Plus: this. Minus: Tim Purpura​The end of the Drayton McLane Era as owner of the Astros is imminent. With today's announcement that local businessman Jim Crane's purchase of our hometown ball club, we can begin to evaluate the "Houston Astros, version McLane" in full. There are a handful o ... More >>

The Houston Astros: As Bad As We Thought They Were

John RoyalUpset with the Astros, well the Aeros give you a reason to cheer​Okay Houston sports fans. There's good news, and there's bad news. The bad news is that the Astros are 8-14 for the season and are, as expected, battling for the worst record in major league baseball. The good news i ... More >>

Morgan Ensberg On Bags, The Rocket And Milton Bradley

Ensberg: from starry-eyed rookie to stat-head blogger​Last week I gave you part one of an interview I did with former Astros's third baseman Morgan Ensberg. Ensberg, now retired, is moving into the broadcasting field, doing college baseball game analysis for such networks as Fox Sports and ESPNU ... More >>

Game Time: The Caballo Chronicles, Volume 2: A Look at MLB's 20 Biggest Contracts Ever

​This is my second go round living in Houston. Prior to moving back here in the summer of 2007, the last time I was an H-town resident was between 1994 and 2001. As an Astro fan, that means I was here when the Bagwell/Biggio nucleus finally broke through in 1997 and made the playoffs, I was he ... More >>

Game Time: Watch Me Compare Astros GM Ed Wade To Jennifer Love Hewitt

​The mood in the Astros clubhouse yesterday after the 2-1 loss to the Phillies was about what you'd expect. Michael Bourn tried to stay upbeat, citing that the team is fighting hard and they know they have good players. (Fortunately, unlike many around Minute Maid Park, Bourn sounded like he act ... More >>

Baseball Is Coming: 25 Things To Love About The Astros This Year

Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher​Believe it or not, but pitchers and catchers are reporting for the Houston Astros on February 19, 2010. Yes, the Astros are going to suck this year, but it's baseball, and I love baseball. That said, I realize that some of you might want some more specific reasons to get ... More >>

Astros Are Red-Hot...For Now

 Is it actually possible? Is it actually possible that the Houston Astros could climb into first place of the NL Central this weekend? Can it really be that we'll wake up on Monday morning and discover that the Astros will be in a position to actually start pulling away with the division le ... More >>

Scandal Of The Century -- No Obama Tickets Because Of Anti-Houston Discrimination

U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, a Democrat from California, decided to hold a contest to distribute his supply of tickets to the Obama inauguration.In order to win the coveted ducats, he asked people to tell him why they wanted to go.Winners were announced today. Also announced was the most blatant, stomach-t ... More >>

Astros-Reds: The Magic Number Goes Down to One

What’s the Deal with You Carlos Beltran Haters?

August Brings Several Opponents Who Are Actually Playing for Something

Astros-Orioles: That’s Eight in a Row

John Royal’s Roster of the Greatest Astros Ever

Astros-Cubs: Shawn Chacon Breaks His No-Decision Streak, While Hunter Pence Decides to Date a Very Attractive Woman

A Few Words for Brad Davies and Jose de Jesus Ortiz

You. Can't. Be. Serious.

Why John McMullen, Not Drayton McLane, Is the Best Owner in the History of the Astros

The Astros Have a New Utility Player. The Chron Has a Not-So-New Story on Sports Radio.

Jesus Ortiz Is a Fool

Jesus Breaks the Story...Four Years Later

Ready to Rumble

The Astros are on baseball's biggest stage, needing a comeback

We're Kings of the World!

Where to watch the World Series

Know Your Astros! Quiz

Encore or Bust?

Stressing about the 'Stros begins anew

Curses Again

God, Drayton and dogged Astros fans awake from another World Serious dream

Best Franchise Owner

The God Squad

With their own chaplain, the Houston Astros might be the most religious clubhouse in the majors

Center of Gravity?

Tal's Hill at Minute Maid takes on an uprising