Jason Castro

Looking Forward To The Astros In 2013

With 2012 coming to an end, let's kiss this lost year of the Astros goodbye and take a look at what's coming in 2013. The key word is "new," as in new uniforms, new logos, new TV network, new broadcasters, new players, new manager and coaches, and on, and on, and on. 5. Welcome to the American Lea ... More >>

Hey Astros Fans, It's Free Agency Time

Tonight's the night Astros fans. Tonight's the night the Astros can start snapping up free agents from throughout baseball. Tonight's the night Jim Crane, with all of the money he's saved by dumping the team's high-priced veterans last season and with all of the money's he's going to make off the te ... More >>

Upcoming: Converge, Heartless Bastards, Valient Thorr, Matisyahu, Kreayshawn, Etc.

Abandon All Ships: Wed., Oct. 24, 6 p.m., $13/$15. Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, Houston. Antibalas: Wed., Oct. 10, 8 p.m., $15. Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, Houston. Better Than Ezra: Thu., Dec. 20, 8 p.m., $23/$40. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston. Buxton: Fri., Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., ... More >>

Jeff Luhnow Declares Independence From Carlos Lee

Jeff Luhnow traded Carlos Lee to the Los Angeles Dodgers last week. Lee dilly-dallied and whined about his taxes, so the Dodgers pulled out of the trade. It appeared that the Astros would thus be stuck with Lee for the rest of the season as the Dodgers were really, really, really desperate for anybo ... More >>

The Astros And The Brett Wallace Dilemma

Matt Downs started at first base for the Houston Astros yesterday. Brett Wallace is on the team, and he's healthy, yet Matt Downs started at first base for the Houston Astros yesterday. Maybe it's just me, but Matt Downs should never be starting over Brett Wallace. But in the end, it's probably no ... More >>

25 Positive Thoughts As The Astros Head off to Spring Training

Jed Lowrie could be the Astros' best all-around shortstop since Dickie Thon, if he stays healthy​Spring training begins for Major League Baseball next week, and that means the Astros will be reporting to camp in Florida and prepping for the upcoming season -- yes, despite whatever happened las ... 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 >>

The Year In Astros Baseball: Thank God That's Over

​So let's continue our look back at the sporting year that was 2011 by taking a look at the Top 25 events to happen to the Houston Astros. 1. They finished with the worst record in team history, which was quite the accomplishment seeing as how the Astros were pretty damn bad for most of the ... More >>

Ed Wade: Burning Down The House

Ed Wade's theme song​I was okay with the Astros trading Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn. This is the worst team in baseball, and changes needed to be made. Many changes needed to be made. I've been advocating the blowing up of this team for many years now. Many, many years. Yet coming in t ... 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 >>

Play Ball, Baby

A new season for the Astros, and hopefully a new team.

Astros 2011: It Ain't Going to Be Pretty

Bad news: The Astros are actually playing baseball this season.​The Astros are probably opening up the season tomorrow -- they're scheduled to play, but the weather in Philadelphia might not cooperate. And if the stories that have been kicking around are true, this might be the last opening d ... More >>

Astros Spring: Please Save Jordan Lyles from This Club

Is Jordan Lyles this season's savior of the Astros?​The news from Astros camp last week was that Carlos Lee had to DH in some games because he had a tired shoulder. Which begs the question of don't you actually have to use the shoulder for something before it can become tired? Is this what co ... More >>

Astros Spring Training: Is the Season Over Yet?

Is the season over yet?​We're approaching the end of the first week of spring training and the news for the Astros has been rather mixed. The team's not really hitting. The pitching is half-assed. And frankly, there's just not much going on to be optimistic about. So I thought I would take ... More >>

Houston Texans -- Owen Daniels Gets Paid

Owen Daniels gets his contract​It's been quite an odyssey for Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels these last few years. The highlight of his Texans career thus far has probably been his trip to the Pro Bowl at the end of the 2008 season. Since then, to say O.D.'s journey has been star-cros ... More >>

Caswell at the Bat: Chef Partners with the Astros and Aramark

Caswell with his mother and father.​I don't know if Chef Bryan Caswell can produce tears on demand -- in which case, he's a damn fine actor -- but the burly man standing in front of me Friday afternoon had suspicious signs of moisture in his eyes as he discussed helping the Astros revamp their ... More >>

Vanilla Ice And 11 Other Artists Dallas Can Keep

​Tomorrow night at 2016 Mainstage, Houston gets to relive its (our?) dark white-rap past when Dallas native Vanilla Ice hits the stage at the venue formerly known Sammy's On Main. Yes, that Vanilla Ice, from our haughty neighbors to the north who can do no wrong in the eyes of Texas Monthly. ... More >>

The Catastrophe That Is Your Houston Astros

Optimism -- not in the cards​The Houston Astros made some much-needed moves last week, dealing Roy Oswalt for a bottom of the rotation starter and some prospects and sending Lance Berkman to the Yankees for some middling prospects.There are problems with the deals -- with all of the money Drayton ... More >>

The Post-Oswalt Astros: Oy

Bye-bye, dude​The seemingly impossible happened yesterday, as the Astros front office found a moment of competence and finally found a way to trade Roy Oswalt.Of course, this being the Astros' front office, Oswalt ended up with the Philadelphia Phillies in a deal about as surprising as Gary Kubiak ... More >>

Sean Berry Out, Jeff Bagwell In, Drayton McLane Still In Charge

Jeff Bagwell, from his Awkward Years​How Sean Berry held on to his job as Astros hitting coach was something that I was wondering about several months ago. The Astros, after all, rank near the bottom in just about every major offensive category that there is in major league baseball.And in t ... More >>

Ed Wade: This Team Is Yours (Unfortunately)

He's no Gerry Hunsicker​I know that Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade has some defenders in the city. They say we can't judge Wade, supposedly, because he's hamstrung by contracts that were given out before he arrived. We can't judge Wade because, supposedly, he's still putting his blueprint ... More >>

Dear Ed Wade: What Took So Long?

It's fun to watch the Astros again​Dear Ed Wade,I'm really wondering if you can yet provide me with a legitimate answer for why you kept Chris Johnson stuck down in Round Rock for so long this season?Yes, his defense has been as bad as advertised, but it's really been no worse than the defense of ... More >>

Astro Roster Changes Finally Come, As Reality Sets In

The youth movement begins....​Maybe it was getting swept by the Texas Rangers, or maybe it was losing two of three games to the Kansas City Royals.Maybe it's that the Houston Astros are 2-8 for their last 10 games, or that through 70 games they are one of the worst teams in baseball with a r ... More >>

Minute Maid Park: The Old Folks' Home

Turn down that music!!!!​So reading around on the internets yesterday, I discovered that the Houston Astros do, indeed, have an organization philosophy when it comes to developing talent.According to an article on one of the team's draft choices this year, Ed Wade said that "If anybody is wonderin ... 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 >>

The Official 2010 Astros Preview, And It Ain't Pretty

​So it's Opening Day today, a day generally reserved for baseball optimism. Unless you live in Pittsburgh or Kansas City, or...Houston. I know that Lance Berkman thinks  that this team can compete, but seeing as how the Big Puma is starting the season on the disabled list with a balky knee, ... More >>

11 Things To Ponder As The Astros Open Spring Training

​Pitchers and catchers are reporting to Houston Astros camp today. The first workout is tomorrow. It's going to be a spring training full of questions for the Astros as management, the media, the players, and the fans try to figure out just what exactly this year's team is going to be like. As ... 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 >>

Distant Early Warning: The Appleseed Cast, Cut Chemist, Norah Jones, Sondre Lerche, Torche, etc.

​Abacabb, Upon A Burning Body, Molotov Solution, Dr. Acula: Fri., Jan. 29. Meridian. Al Di Meola: Sat., Feb. 13. Dosey Doe Coffee Company. Alpha Rev, The Fox Derby, Tyagaraja, The Language Room: Fri., Jan. 8. Warehouse Live. The Appleseed Cast: Fri., Feb. 26. Rudyard's. The Bellamy Brothers: Fri. ... More >>

Hey, Astros: Please Don't Make Terrible Trades

I think Clear Channel has John Lopez working way too many hours. I made the mistake of listening to him for a bit yesterday, and not only did he make the mistake of wishing that the Astros would trade for Toronto's Roy Halladay, he appeared to be upset that the team isn't putting forth the necessar ... More >>

Idol Beat: The Top Nine Results

Photos by Michael Becker/ Fox No joy in Megan's world Wednesday night.Karma's a bitch, ain't it? Megan Joy admits that she doesn't care what Simon Cowell thinks of her performances, and then, when the judges have to decide whether or not to save her from elimination, Simon throws that comment ... More >>

Astros Sign Ivan Rodriguez

Photo by Bob Jeter After denying interest for most of this past year, the Houston Astros yesterday inked catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a one-year $1.5 million contract that also includes $1.5 million in incentives. Reportedly, the Astros had not been interested because he didn't mix well with pitchers, ... More >>

Astros Sign Ivan Rodriguez

Photo by Bob Jeter After denying interest for most of this past year, the Houston Astros yesterday inked catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a one-year $1.5 million contract that also includes $1.5 million in incentives. Reportedly, the Astros had not been interested because he didn't mix well with pitchers, ... More >>

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 hav ... More >>

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 hav ... More >>

American Idol Returns Tonight... Yawn

Come back Kelly Clarkson, all is forgiven... If you've been lucky enough to spend the past several months in a media-deprivation tank - or maybe you just don't read the Houston Chronicle - then you no doubt know Fox's shrill-singing flagship series American Idol returns tonight at 7 p.m. (As ... More >>

Cheap Move: Astros Draft Jason Castro