Subject: Ivan Rodriguez

• Re: Are Umpires Racist? Maybe.

  August 15, 2007

• Get Lit: Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and the Battle to Save Baseball, by Jose Canseco

  April 27, 2008

• We Now Present... Steroids, The Musical

  June 4, 2008

• Houston Astros 2009 Season Preview

  The Chron tried to get everybody in the mood for baseball yesterday with their story on what the 2009 Houston Astros roster looks like. If you're not excited about the season, don't blame the Chron because they're not the ones who put the roster together. And folks, this isn't a good roster. Citing budgetary constraints and the faltering economy, the Astros non-tendered third baseman Ty Wigginton who, on the weight of an incredible August, was going to break the bank at arbitration. And they je

  January 8, 2009

• UPDATED: Astros Doctor Can't Follow Tender, Delicate Team PLUS Spring Training Updates

  Photo by OakleyOriginalsThis may hurt a little. The Houston Astros signed Mike Hampton earlier this off-season. Mike Hampton has not pitched a complete season of baseball since 2004. And last season they signed Kaz Matsui who gets injured while standing still. Brandon Backe and Chris Sampson have had major arm surgeries. Carlos Lee is returning from injury. Hunter Pence walks into glass doors. I could go on with a history of Houston Astros injuries, but I think you get the point. They'

  February 17, 2009

• Astros Spring Training Not Without Its Ups and Downs

  You might not realize this if you've only been watching ESPN or paying attention to the national sports media, but the New York Yankees aren't the only team with players reporting to spring training, and Alex Rodriguez isn't the only player in baseball. So I thought I would help out and fill you in on some of the goings on at Astros camp in Kissimmee, Florida. In brief, we've definitely learned that Drayton McLane is a liar and a hypocrite. And that Roy Oswalt is a blowhard. That Miguel Tej

  February 19, 2009

• Houston Astros Spring Training: Prognosis Not Good

  Photo by William Holtkamp As the Astros guy around here, I feel obligated to say something about the team. But seriously, just what is there to say about a team that is 1-10-1 so far in spring training play? That the team is bad is actually something to be expected. And the fact that spring training records count for absolutely nothing is also something in which I believe. But... 1-10-1? Certainly that means a little something. Now the team has been without Carlos Lee, Miguel Tejada, Ro

  March 13, 2009

• Cecil Cooper, Standup Comic

  Thanks to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Chron, I'm able to bring you the comedy stylings of Houston Astros manager Cecil Cooper. Only problem is, according to Ortiz, Cecil Cooper wasn't joking. "We should win 90 games this year," Cooper told the press yesterday. The Astros are going to "go under the radar" and surprise everybody, Cooper said. The Astros would have won 90 games last year, but Hurricane Ike had the nerve to disturb the season. "We've got three of the best offensive players (C

  March 24, 2009

• Houston Astros 2009 Season Preview Part 2: Happy Opening Day!

  Photo by Michael (mx5tx) Are you psyched? I'm psyched, so I hope you're psyched. Of course, I'm psyched because I love baseball, not because I think the Astros are any good. And after I take a look at the team, I don't think you'll be psyched about this team, either. But first...here is the winner (and top four runner-ups) of the Astros Marketing Slogan contest for this season. 5. Astros Baseball: Better than the Pirates since 1993 - Ben Burnham. 4. Astros Baseball: Really? - Crush78. 3

  April 6, 2009

• Houston Astros 2009 Season Preview Part 2: Happy Opening Day!

  Photo by Michael (mx5tx) Are you psyched? I'm psyched, so I hope you're psyched. Of course, I'm psyched because I love baseball, not because I think the Astros are any good. And after I take a look at the team, I don't think you'll be psyched about this team, either. But first...here is the winner (and top four runner-ups) of the Astros Marketing Slogan contest for this season. 5. Astros Baseball: Better than the Pirates since 1993 - Ben Burnham. 4. Astros Baseball: Really? - Crush78. 3

  April 6, 2009

• Cecil Cooper, Standup Comic

  Thanks to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Chron, I'm able to bring you the comedy stylings of Houston Astros manager Cecil Cooper. Only problem is, according to Ortiz, Cecil Cooper wasn't joking. "We should win 90 games this year," Cooper told the press yesterday. The Astros are going to "go under the radar" and surprise everybody, Cooper said. The Astros would have won 90 games last year, but Hurricane Ike had the nerve to disturb the season. "We've got three of the best offensive players (C

  March 24, 2009

• Houston Astros Spring Training: Prognosis Not Good

  Photo by William Holtkamp As the Astros guy around here, I feel obligated to say something about the team. But seriously, just what is there to say about a team that is 1-10-1 so far in spring training play? That the team is bad is actually something to be expected. And the fact that spring training records count for absolutely nothing is also something in which I believe. But... 1-10-1? Certainly that means a little something. Now the team has been without Carlos Lee, Miguel Tejada, Ro

  March 13, 2009

• Astros Spring Training Not Without Its Ups and Downs

  You might not realize this if you've only been watching ESPN or paying attention to the national sports media, but the New York Yankees aren't the only team with players reporting to spring training, and Alex Rodriguez isn't the only player in baseball. So I thought I would help out and fill you in on some of the goings on at Astros camp in Kissimmee, Florida. In brief, we've definitely learned that Drayton McLane is a liar and a hypocrite. And that Roy Oswalt is a blowhard. That Miguel Tej

  February 19, 2009

• UPDATED: Astros Doctor Can't Follow Tender, Delicate Team PLUS Spring Training Updates

  Photo by OakleyOriginalsThis may hurt a little. The Houston Astros signed Mike Hampton earlier this off-season. Mike Hampton has not pitched a complete season of baseball since 2004. And last season they signed Kaz Matsui who gets injured while standing still. Brandon Backe and Chris Sampson have had major arm surgeries. Carlos Lee is returning from injury. Hunter Pence walks into glass doors. I could go on with a history of Houston Astros injuries, but I think you get the point. They'

  February 17, 2009

• Houston Astros 2009 Season Preview

  The Chron tried to get everybody in the mood for baseball yesterday with their story on what the 2009 Houston Astros roster looks like. If you're not excited about the season, don't blame the Chron because they're not the ones who put the roster together. And folks, this isn't a good roster. Citing budgetary constraints and the faltering economy, the Astros non-tendered third baseman Ty Wigginton who, on the weight of an incredible August, was going to break the bank at arbitration. And they je

  January 8, 2009

• The Astros: Even Worse Than We Thought?

  Photo by William HoltkampSure it's just one week. Just seven games. But damn. The Astros are bad. Historically bad.  How bad?  The Astros record of 1-6 is the team's worst start to a season in 25 years. But it doesn't stop there. The Astros have failed to score in 27 of their last 28 innings. They are the only major league team that has failed to score a run in the first or second inning this year.  The Astros have played 64 innings of baseball, and they have had the lead for only

  April 14, 2009

• 25 Things About The New Yankee Stadium And The Astros

  Now that I'm unemployed, I'm spending way too much time at home watching TV.  Particularly the MLB Network. I've become addicted to that thing. And yesterday, with the Astros having a day game against the Pirates on Fox, and there being an afternoon game on the MLB Network, I was in kind of a weird baseball nirvana.  But I took notes, so I'll share with you some of the things I learned.1. The New York Yankees have a new stadium. I don't know how I missed knowing that, but it's the bigg

  April 17, 2009

• Column Calamity

  The Chron editor starts to make a mark

  July 11, 2002

• Despite Sweep, All's Not Well With Astros

  Photo by Aaron M. SprecherCongratulations are in store for the Houston Astros who, this weekend, got their first three-game sweep of the season by beating up the moribund San Diego Padres. Of course, the Astros didn't have to face Padres ace Jake Peavy in this series, and they struggled in all three games.But despite a season-best record of 14-17, things aren't all fine and dandy with the Astros. After being bumped from third to fifth in the batting order before Friday's game, slumping slugger L

  May 11, 2009

• Why The Hell Should Wandy Rodriguez Listen To Pudge Anyway?

  In this corner, we have Wandy Rodriguez. Wandy's the very definition of a mediocre pitcher who has managed to hold on in the majors only because he's a left-hander. His career record is 42-45 and his career ERA is 4.59. This season, he's 5-5, but he's lost his last three games, pitching a total of only 13.2 innings in those three starts. Yet, in that short amount of time, he's surrendered 29 hits, 18 runs, 12 earned runs, and four home runs.  And in this corner we have Ivan "Pudge" R

  June 9, 2009

• Dale Murphy Is Too Damn Good For These Astros

  So I got stuck having to listen to portion of yesterday's Astros game while I was in my car, which meant that I didn't get to listen to Jim Deshaies. What I did hear, at one point, was Dave Raymond and Brett Dolan get into a conversation about Dale Murphy. Normally, this would be a good thing as I'm a huge Dale Murphy fan, but this time, they lost me when they talked about what a great fit Murphy would be in the Astros clubhouse.Which proved to me that these guys really didn't know anything abou

  June 26, 2009

• The Gloom Starts To Gather For The Astros

  With the MLB non-waiver trade deadline fast approaching, the Houston Astros are a listing ship quickly going under. The Astros just lost three of four games to the Chicago Cubs and have gone from surging toward first place to trying to hold off the Milwaukee Brewers for third place.The latest disaster in Chicago saw the Astros starters pitch just 15 of 38 innings in four games -- Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven of those innings on Monday night. Roy Oswalt had to leave his Tuesday start after 1.2 i

  July 31, 2009

• Five Songs to Send Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez Back to Arlington

  Aaron Sprecher​Future Hall Of Fame catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, signed to a quick one-year contract by the dis-Astros at the end of spring training in April, was dealt to the Texas Rangers yesterday for two mid-level minor leaguers. The Rangers are deep into a playoff race (remember those?) and were looking to bolster their depth at the backstop position. Rodriguez will actually be the back-up catcher on the roster, behind daintily named UT ex Taylor Teagarden. Seriously, open up a bed and

  August 19, 2009

• Pudge Ends His Career As An Astro, Chron Readers Learn Eventually

  Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher​At noon yesterday, the long rumored and speculated-on demise of the Houston Astros baseball season was officially confirmed. Not so surprisingly, approximately five hours later, the long rumored and speculated on demise of the Houston Chronicle as a news-gathering organization was also confirmed.  It was at noon yesterday that the Dallas Morning News reported that Astros catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez was waiving his no-trade clause and had agreed to be t

  August 19, 2009

• Five Songs to Send Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez Back to Arlington

  Aaron Sprecher​Future Hall Of Fame catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, signed to a quick one-year contract by the dis-Astros at the end of spring training in April, was dealt to the Texas Rangers yesterday for two mid-level minor leaguers. The Rangers are deep into a playoff race (remember those?) and were looking to bolster their depth at the backstop position. Rodriguez will actually be the back-up catcher on the roster, behind daintily named UT ex Taylor Teagarden. (Seriously, open up a bed an

  August 19, 2009