J.R. Richard

One Man's Baseball Bucket List

The thought of baseball season is depressing for some people, primarily because the Astros are going to be so damn bad. But that doesn't bother me. I'm a baseball addict, and while the Astros will be bad, it's not really going to matter because I'll be watching baseball -- and thanks to Comcast Spor ... 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 >>

Houston Sports Stories That Need Their Own ESPN #30For30 Episodes

Red-Blooded American Man's newest obsession -- behind Kate Upton -- has to be ESPN's 30 For 30 series. The sports documentary series takes on notable and not-so-notable events in sports history and gives them the 360-degree treatment. Since 30 For 30 debuted in late 2009, the directors have tackle ... More >>

We Dared To Go: The Astros Last Home Game Of A Godawful 2012, And the End Of Several Eras

Check out our slideshow of Milo Hamilton saying goodbye and more during the Astros' final 2012 home game. Astros fans probably knew back in April that they would have a hard row to hoe this year, but even still, every April brings out a sense of optimism in fans, and the unspoken concept that maybe ... More >>

Tonight: The End Of An Astros Era (Last Chance To See National League, Old Uniforms, Bill Brown, Etc.)

For many, the end of this year's Houston Astro season -- much like last year's Astro season -- could not come soon enough. There are only so many 100-loss campaigns even the most diehard fans can be expected to endure, after all. (In case you are keeping score at home, the Astros are 42 and a half ... More >>

The Return of Roger Clemens and Some Other Dumb Ideas for Jim Crane

I've been onboard with most of what the Houston Astros have done this season. The team needed to be blown up. New blood was needed in the front office, the dugout, and on the roster. All that has happened, and though the team has been bad, the promise of the future has kept me invested in this team. ... More >>

A Few Suggestions For Houston Sports Moments and Personalities To Be Memorialized

The greatest player in the history of the Houston Oilers is, without a doubt, Earl Campbell. And Ross Greenburg, the former head of HBO Sports, is producing a documentary on the life and career of Campbell that will air later this year on the NBC Sports Network. And last month the MLB Network did a ... More >>

The Astros And The Fourth of July: 10 Moments to Remember

This is the Astros final season in the National League. And since I was asked to provide a Fourth of July holiday post, I thought I would like back at some of the Astros games played on the holiday. There have been some memorable games, and some not so memorable. And on at least one instance, there ... More >>

The Houston Astros Are Seeking The Added Dimensions Of Roger Clemens; We Offer 20

You're the new owner of a major league baseball team. And you come with a bunch of baggage attached. Baggage like war profiteering and various EEOC charges involving sexist and racial statements and actions directed toward your employees. Your team is bad, and there are large portions of your fan ba ... More >>

Do The Right Thing, Astros. Retire J.R. Richard's Number

Let's stipulate that the Houston Astros have retired too many numbers, especially for a franchise that's been to just one World Series. Let's also stipulate that most of the retired numbers are for players who, while fan favorites, really didn't do anything to deserve having their numbers retired. L ... More >>

Celebrate Good Times, C'mon: Astros Breaking Out the Rainbow Jerseys Tomorrow

Tomorrow brings a rare chance to see awful-jersey awesomeness, as the Astros will be wearing their love-'em-or-hate-'em rainbow jerseys. Each month this season brings a different throwback jersey for Friday night home games, and it's the rainbow's turn. The first two months featured the smoking-gu ... 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 >>

20 Modest Fan Suggestions for Jim Crane

The word from on-high came earlier this week when the Houston Astros announced that Jim Crane had heard the voice of the fans and thus would not be changing the team's name. It's nice that Crane paid some attention to the people who buy tickets (though it does seem strange to see how many people co ... More >>

Carlos Lee, Team Leader? Well, the Astros Have Had 25 Worse Ideas

Believe it or not, this guy's not actually running the Houston Astros​Astros Manager Brad Mills traveled to Panama last week to meet with his left fielder/first baseman/slacker Carlos Lee.  The trip was billed as a bonding mission.  And while there's nothing wrong with a manager an ... More >>

Was Roy O The Best Pitcher In Astros History? No

Wasn't this guy, either​The talk of greatest Astros pitcher ever was part of the discussion when Roy Oswalt was traded last week. And it seemed that most of the Houston media were in agreement that Oswalt was, indeed, the greatest pitcher in Astros history. But as much of a Roy Oswalt fan as I am, ... More >>

Lance Berkman & Roy O: Don't Retire Their Numbers, Drayton

JR Richard: Here's one number that should be retired​With the trades of Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman last week, the talk has started about whether the Astros should consider retiring their numbers once they retire. Now as much as I like to the honor the history of baseball and some of the great te ... More >>

Roy Oswalt: Why's Everyone Hating On The Dude?

Oswalt, with what passes for a smile for him these days​Can somebody help me out here? Really, I'm curious, and I'm hoping someone can give me the answer. What I want to know is the reason for some of the hate I've been reading about Roy Oswalt from the fans since the Friday trade request announce ... More >>

Astro Memories, Part Three: The Longest Night

​Apparently I didn't get the memo telling me that it's nostalgia week here at the Houston Press. So even though I'm a bit late, here's my favorite Astros memory.First, a few things. Lots of you think I hate the Astros. I don't hate the Astros. I hate what Drayton McLane has allowed them to be ... More >>

$timulating Show

DiverseWorks makes the case for unfettered support of artists.

The Best Houston Astros Home Grown and Acquired Rosters of All Time

So I was fooling around on the interwebs yesterday, and between the launch of the MLB Network, the naming today of the new class for the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the coming of spring training, I was in a bit of a baseball mood. And I came across this blog detailing the All-Time Rosters for variou ... More >>

Astros-Brewers: Corey Hart Still Looking Good

Astros-Cubs: So That’s What a Good Team Looks Like…

Worse, Worser and Worst: You Just Know Travis Johnson Made the List

For a Sucky Team, the Astros Sure Have Retired a Lot of Numbers

You Know, Because Almost Dying for the Team Would Generally Be Considered a Good Thing

Home Run

Get Back, Honky Cat

Barry Manilow whites the songs. Is that so wrong?

Letters

J.R. Richard: The Human Condition

Shooting Star

Houston’s busiest filmmaker relies on Zen calm — and guerrilla tactics

RIP, KIKK

A redneck institution drowns in a flood of syrupy smooth jazz

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