Subject: Kazuo Matsui

• Who's Leaving First: Ed Wade, Cecil Cooper or Roy Oswalt?

  The Astros were able to actually win a series this weekend, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in two of three games. And the good news is that they should be able to win a couple of games this week as their next four games are against the Colorado Rockies, another losing team, like the Astros, but one who just fired its manager.But that's not the real news emerging from the Astros this weekend. First there's a report from SI.com on Friday that says it's Ed Wade, not Cecil Cooper, who should be fi

  June 1, 2009

• Astros Sign Kaz Matsui, Corner the Market on Mediocre Middle Infielders

  December 3, 2007

• Spring Training Doesn’t Count, Except for When It Does

  March 10, 2008

• Spring Training: Pain, Pain and Ball Girls

  March 11, 2008

• Play Ball: John Royal’s Predictions for the Houston Astros

  March 28, 2008

• Astros-Marlins: How Did Roy Oswalt Become Woody Williams?

  April 14, 2008

• Astros-Rockies: Say Hello to Eny Cabreja

  April 21, 2008

• Astros-Diamondbacks: Playing Around with Play by Play

  April 30, 2008

• Astros-Nationals: Lance Berkman Is on Fire

  May 8, 2008

• Astros-Dodgers: All Hail Big Puma

  May 12, 2008

• Astros-Giants: Big Puma Takes It Easy, Only Gets One Hit

  May 14, 2008

• Astros-Giants: Big Puma, Billy Jack and Doug Rader

  May 15, 2008

• Astros-Giants: Biggio Attacked? Hold Up.

  May 16, 2008

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

  May 20, 2008

• Astros-Phillies: Don’t Blame the Bullpen

  May 26, 2008

• Astros-Cardinals: Good Pitching Wins Again

  May 29, 2008

• Astros-Cardinals: St. Louis Smacks Houston Again

  May 30, 2008

• Astros-Rangers: Houston Wins, Barely, and Somehow Manages to Outclass Atlanta

  June 25, 2008

• A Houston Astros Mid-Season Progress Report

  July 15, 2008

• Astros-Mets: Houston Sweeps New York

  August 4, 2008

• Astros-Giants: Bad Calls from Cecil Cooper and Richard Justice

  August 12, 2008

• Astros-Giants: Don’t Get Your Hopes Up, People

  August 13, 2008

• Astros-Giants: Any Day Now Cecil Cooper Will Be Starting Brad Ausmus at First

  August 15, 2008

• Astros-Diamondbacks: Ugly Weekend for Houston

  August 18, 2008

• Astros-Rockies: Feel the Pain

  September 8, 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

• Astros Spring Training Starts Friday

  Pitchers and catchers report to Houston Astros spring training on Friday, which means that come Saturday, the Astros will be out of contention. And the Chron is getting everybody ready for the season to come with a couple of articles in yesterday's paper on the status of the team and its roster. Jose de Jesus Ortiz provides a seemingly upbeat, yet still rather realistic outlook of the team. But Richard Justice has the team contending for a playoff spot. Of course, to get to that contention,

  February 9, 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

• 10 Ways Miguel Tejada Can Do His Public Service

  To: Drayton McLane From: Pam Gardner Cc: Ed Wade, Tal Smith, Cecil Cooper Re: Miguel Tejada's Community Service _____________________________________________ Mr. McLane: As you are no doubt aware, the team yesterday agreed to help Miguel Tejada, shortstop, fulfill the 100 hours of community service that is part of his sentence for lying to Congress. I've done some brainstorming with my marketing people, and I think we have come up with some ways to handle this while giving the team ju

  March 27, 2009

• 10 Jobs That Are Tougher Than Jim Nantz's

  Listening to Jim Rome yesterday, I learned that Jim Nantz is the toughest man in the world. Nantz is a tough bastard because, according to Rome, Nantz was able to do play-by-play for college basketball in Detroit on Monday night, fly first class to Atlanta, then head out to Augusta for The Masters on Tuesday morning, yet still find time to call Jim Rome. And I know that Nantz's gig is supposedly a tough one because if you ever read Nantz's book, like I did, you would know that he tells everyb

  April 8, 2009

• 10 Jobs That Are Tougher Than Jim Nantz's

  Listening to Jim Rome yesterday, I learned that Jim Nantz is the toughest man in the world. Nantz is a tough bastard because, according to Rome, Nantz was able to do play-by-play for college basketball in Detroit on Monday night, fly first class to Atlanta, then head out to Augusta for The Masters on Tuesday morning, yet still find time to call Jim Rome. And I know that Nantz's gig is supposedly a tough one because if you ever read Nantz's book, like I did, you would know that he tells everyb

  April 8, 2009

• 10 Ways Miguel Tejada Can Do His Public Service

  To: Drayton McLane From: Pam Gardner Cc: Ed Wade, Tal Smith, Cecil Cooper Re: Miguel Tejada's Community Service _____________________________________________ Mr. McLane: As you are no doubt aware, the team yesterday agreed to help Miguel Tejada, shortstop, fulfill the 100 hours of community service that is part of his sentence for lying to Congress. I've done some brainstorming with my marketing people, and I think we have come up with some ways to handle this while giving the team ju

  March 27, 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 Starts Friday

  Pitchers and catchers report to Houston Astros spring training on Friday, which means that come Saturday, the Astros will be out of contention. And the Chron is getting everybody ready for the season to come with a couple of articles in yesterday's paper on the status of the team and its roster. Jose de Jesus Ortiz provides a seemingly upbeat, yet still rather realistic outlook of the team. But Richard Justice has the team contending for a playoff spot. Of course, to get to that contention,

  February 9, 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

• Love in the Time of Chundering

  Hoping to be a modern-day Pillow Talk, Bossa Nova merely blows its cookies

  May 25, 2000

• 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

• Astros Suck At Everything But Texting Anonymous Criticism Of Their Boss

  Photo by Aaron M. SprecherI've got an admission to make. Baseball is my true love. My favorite sport. Yet I haven't really been following the Astros these past couple of weeks because I've found myself busy with the Houston Aeros. I know a little of how the team's been doing, and that Cecil Cooper once again has no control of clubhouse, but I just haven't seen the team play any games lately.  (Hey, it's not like I'm the Chron's Brian McTaggart who is having to report on just about every tea

  May 20, 2009

• Carlos Lee's Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer

  I give Richard Justice a lot of grief. But there are times when I think he's right, and yesterday, I think he was right. And he was right about something that's been bugging me for three years and which nearly cost the Astros a baseball game last night.As we're all aware, Carlos Lee has rarely been known to go above a jog, either when "chasing" a fly ball in left field or running down to first on a ground ball. Wednesday night, Lee went into his walk-down-the-line routine on a grounder again, on

  June 19, 2009

• How The Hell Can You Be Optimistic About The Astros?

  Photo by Aaron M. SprecherI was listening to sports talk radio yesterday -- the past couple of days actually -- and it appears that there are people out there who think the Astros still have a chance to make the playoffs. As far as I could tell, these people weren't on the Astros payroll. And I just don't understand where this thinking comes from.After last night's 4-3, 11-inning loss to the Kansas City Royals, the Astros record is 32-37. Sure, they're no longer in last place in the NL Central,

  June 25, 2009

• The Astros, Making Sure That Their Rare Young Talent Stays Hidden

  Photo by mighty_maxicanOne would think that infielder Edwin Maysonet might be a little pissed about the Astros sending him back down to the minor leagues on Saturday night. He would be justified, seeing as how all he did was play excellent defense at second and third base, while showing off some good range and the ability to get on base while hitting a decent average. It's what one expects from a baseball player, after all, and it's generally something that's rewarded.  But this is t

  June 29, 2009

• 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 lead?They just swept the St. Louis Cardinals, after all, and there's no way this team should have been able to sweep the Cardinals, especially with Chris Coste starting at first base the last two games.

  July 24, 2009

• The Ten Least Intimidating Athletes In Houston History

  There have been some tough guys in Houston sports history -- native sons George Foreman, Nolan Ryan, and Roger Clemens (even if you factor in his chemically-aided roid rage) -- all come to mind. Anybody can rattle off a list of ten of those guys -- and we might just do that next week -- but we were thinking today of the least toughest, most unintimidating athletes in Houston sports history, and without further ado, here they are: 10. Ernest Givins, Oilers: We'll give Givins some credit -- he kep

  August 4, 2009

• Ten Reasons to Attend an Astros Game

  Photo by Groovehouse​The slumping Astros are facing the slumping Milwaukee Brewers this weekend in a series that is key only to those of you deluded enough to think the Astros have a shot in hell at making the NL playoffs. The good thing is that both teams have been losing, and losing badly. The pitching staffs are beaten up. And there promises to be lots of fireworks. But if you're looking for a reason to attend one of the games, then just read up, as we've got ten good ones. 10. If yo

  August 7, 2009

• Make The Astros Better: Forget Free Agents

  Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher​A friend sent me this Richard Justice blog post over the weekend, then he asked, given the premise that Drayton McLane was going to allow unlimited spending for next season's team, just what it was that I would do.  First, unlike one of Justice's suggestions, I wouldn't waste any money on Oakland pitcher Justin Duchscherer. He hasn't pitched this season because of injuries. He missed most of last season because of an injuries. He's currently undergoing treatment

  August 25, 2009

• If You Love Roy Oswalt, Set Him Free

  ​Ed. Note: We mistakenly stated that Brian McTaggart was with the Houston Chronicle, which has now been corrected. We regret the error. If you were watching the Astros lose on Wednesday night, then you probably recall that at one point, Albert Pujols hit a soft groundball right up the middle of the diamond that went for a hit because neither Miguel Tejada nor Kaz Matsui were in much of a position to get it, and it appeared that neither made much of an attempt to get to the ball. And you'

  August 28, 2009

• There's An Opening In Quality Control At The Astros, We Have To Assume

  ​I've read that there are companies out there that employ people who do nothing but Quality Control. These people are supposed to make sure that the best product comes out while catching the errors. I'm not sure if Drayton McLane has such a person working for the Astros, but if he does, that person must be somehow related to Creed Bratton because there's just no other way to explain some of the things to have happened to the Astros over the past several years.After all, would a real person

  September 10, 2009

• Our Condolences To New Astro Manager Brad Mills

  ​Let me be the first to offer my condolences to Brad Mills. Now I'm sure Mills doesn't think he needs my condolences. After all, he just achieved his dream, which is becoming the manager of a major league baseball team.But that team is the Houston Astros.Mills, who accepted the job today, was actually the second choice of Astros management. But as in all things except Carlos Lee, Drayton McLane was too cheap to pay, and Manny Acta, the team's first choice, turned them down to take the manag

  October 27, 2009