Subject:

Kazuo Matsui

  • Blogs

    March 16, 2012

    Forgive Ed Wade? Why?

    As the regular season start of Season One of the Jim Crane Era approaches, one can't help but finally get some sense of optimism when it comes to the Astros. A sense arising primarily from the feeling that the adults are back in control of the franchise, something that couldn't be said since the day ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 17, 2012

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    November 28, 2011

    Astros Fire Ed Wade & Tal Smith: The New Era Begins

    Where have you gone, Ed Wade? A nation's no-hit, aging, injury-prone free agent infielders turn their lonely eyes to you. Where have you gone, Ed Wade? A nation's worth of middle relievers looking for multimillion contracts turn their lonely eyes to you. Ed Wade is gone. So is Tal Smith. Jim C ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 6, 2011

    Since When Is It Okay For Minute Maid Park To Be Fenway Park South?

    Back in the day, even celebrities like Janine Turner couldn't be shown at Astros games if they were pulling for the opposing team​I started working with the Astrodome DiamondVision crew on opening day of the 1988 season. And I worked on that video crew, either at the Dome or at Enron Field, t ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 15, 2011

    Astros Pitching Coach Brad Arnsberg Fired: Four Things to Watch

    You're outta here.​"It was philosophical differences between a manager and a general manager and a pitching coach. I don't want to get into the details. It's just been kind of rearing its ugly head the last two, three weeks, and I guess they felt like they had to make a move for the betterment ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 13, 2011

    Astros Finally Sold, Or So It Appears

    ​Ding, dong, the wicked witch is dead. The Astros have, it appears, finally been sold. At least that's what Drayton McLane has told Mark Berman over at Fox 26. The papers are still being finalized, though it is hoped that the parties will sign off on the sale next week. McLane was not wil ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 18, 2011

    The Drayton and Milo Show: Somewhere, Two Villages Are Missing Their Idiots

    ​Drayton McLane visited with Milo Hamilton during Saturday's game against the San Diego Padres. As is usual whenever Milo's in the booth, it was already impossible to know what was actually happening during the game because Milo doesn't believe in talking about the events occurring on the fie ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 22, 2011

    We Are Your Astros: The 25 Rejected Slogans

    For Sale! Cheap!​The Astros' slogan for this year is "We Are Your Astros." Seeing this slogan is enough to make one think that Drayton McLane's wasting way too much money on advertising agencies. My second thought was that the guys at the Astros County blog had a much better slogan, "Infect ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 20, 2010

    Cardinals Mercifully Take Feliz Off Astro's Hands

    Photo by Aaron M. SprecherA GM worse than Ed Wade?​I didn't think it was possible, but apparently, there's another baseball general manager out there who is actually able to make Ed Wade look smart. But meet John Mozeliak, the GM of the St. Louis Cardinals who, yesterday, actually traded for Pedr ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 2, 2010

    Game Time: Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman -- Five Thoughts

    Photo by groovehouseActually enjoying a game at Minute Maid?​I know it's only three games. I know they were playing the Brewers. I know my judgment may be clouded by the fact that they actually won all three games, getting great pitching in the process. But I actually enjoyed going to an Ast ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 6, 2010

    Astros' Mid-Season Report Card: It's Ugly Out There

    The Astros in 2010, symbolized​The Houston Astros passed the halfway mark in games played this weekend, and after losing three straight to the San Diego Padres, the team's record for the season is 32-51. There are only two teams in baseball with worse records than the Astros, the Pittsburgh ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 14, 2010

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    May 28, 2010

    Game Time: Roy Oswalt -- Is It Possible He's Pitching Just a Little Too Well?

    cutline​Sending all of you off with a brief nugget to ponder as you begin your drunken, Memorial Day haze. Here goes....As of this morning, these are the things we know:1.) The Astros suck; they're 16-31, and they rank last in the National League in every statistical (as in numbers) and subjective ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 4, 2010

    Drayton McLane: The Myth That He's Not Cheap

    Scrooge had his good points, too, but he still was Scrooge​There was an item written over at Chron.com sports last week that I wanted to address -- yeah, I'm a little late, but I just read it. It was written by one of their fan bloggers, and in a decent post about some of the reasons why the ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 15, 2010

    Are The Astros Worth What Drayton Is Asking?

    Photo by verndogs​So Drayton McLane has made it known that he's really, really willing to sell the Houston Astros. And as his price, he's asking for $650 million.I'm sure the potential buyers are putting every aspect of Drayton's baseball empire under the microscope, but I thought I would pr ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 11, 2009

    Astros: Second Prize Is A Set Of Steak Knives

    ​I swear, the sense of desperation with the Astros and their desire for a Mariano Rivera-type reliever has me believing that Drayton thinks that Alec Baldwin speech in Glengarry Glen Ross is "always buy closers," not "always be closing."It's like he and his staff are afraid that Mitch and Murray a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 10, 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 pe ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 8, 2009

    Hey Astros: Call Frank Robinson, For Crying Out Loud

    ​Richard Justice is back on the Fire Cecil Cooper bandwagon, but this time, instead of Jeff Bagwell, he's back to urging Drayton McLane to hire third base coach Dave Clark. Clark has no major league managing experience, and he sucks as a third base coach. Yet this is the guy that Justice wants to ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 7, 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 ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 4, 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 ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 19, 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 ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 11, 2009

    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 ... More >>

  • Blogs

    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 ... More >>

  • Blogs

    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 ... More >>

  • Blogs

    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 winn ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 27, 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 communit ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 27, 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 communit ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 24, 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 ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 24, 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 ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 17, 2009

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    March 17, 2009

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    September 24, 2008

    Astros-Reds: No Fundamentals, No Way

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    September 10, 2008

    Astros-Pirates: Another Win for Houston

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    August 28, 2008

    Astros-Reds: Roy O Continues to Massacre Cincinnati

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    August 15, 2008

    WTF? Lance Berkman Doesn't Think Michael Phelps Is a Real Athlete?

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    August 4, 2008

    Astros-Mets: Houston Sweeps New York

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    July 29, 2008

    Astros, Reds Ramp Up Epic Battle for Fifth in NL Central

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    July 20, 2008

    Astros-Cubs: Two Wins, One Loss, and a Few Roster Changes

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    June 6, 2008

    Astros-Pirates: Time to Bench Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada?

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    May 29, 2008

    Astros-Cardinals: Good Pitching Wins Again

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    May 26, 2008

    Astros-Phillies: Don’t Blame the Bullpen

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    May 12, 2008

    Astros-Dodgers: All Hail Big Puma

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    May 8, 2008

    Astros-Nationals: Lance Berkman Is on Fire

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    May 1, 2008

    Astros-Diamondbacks: Good Hitting, Bad Pitching, Wash, Rinse, Repeat

    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 >>

  • Blogs

    April 25, 2008

    Astros-Reds: That’s Five in a Row

    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 >>

  • News

    April 3, 2008

    Who's On Deck for the Houston Astros in 2008?

    The Astros' post-Biggio era begins with a lot of unanswered questions, but the biggest one of all is: Just how bad are things going to get?

  • Blogs

    March 19, 2008

    Spring Training: Itching for Pitching

    The Astros' post-Biggio era begins with a lot of unanswered questions, but the biggest one of all is: Just how bad are things going to get?

  • Blogs

    March 10, 2008

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

    The Astros' post-Biggio era begins with a lot of unanswered questions, but the biggest one of all is: Just how bad are things going to get?

  • Blogs

    February 26, 2008

    Spring Training: Clemens, Niekro and Cruz...Reliving Bygone (Sucky) Eras

    The Astros' post-Biggio era begins with a lot of unanswered questions, but the biggest one of all is: Just how bad are things going to get?

  • Blogs

    February 21, 2008

    The Shawn Chacon / Justin Timberlake Connection

    The Astros' post-Biggio era begins with a lot of unanswered questions, but the biggest one of all is: Just how bad are things going to get?

  • More >>
VOICE Daily Deals

Most Popular Stories

for free stuff, news info & more!

Now Click This

About Us | Media Kit | Work for Houston Press | Esubscribe | Free Classifieds | Houston Press Advertising | National Online Advertising | Mobile | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site Problems? | RSS | Site Map
© 2012 Houston Press, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
avatar
Newsletters | Mobile
  • Voice Places

    Voice Places

    Discover restaurants, nightlife, travel, shopping...

  • VOICE Daily Deals

    VOICE Daily Deals

    Get 50 to 90% off every day on restaurants, movies, massages...

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    More than 10,000 of the BEST things to eat, drink, and experience

  • My Voice Nation

    My Voice Nation

    Join the Village Voice community and get exclusive deals and info

  • Happy Hour

    Happy Hour

    Your local Happy Hour guide at your fingertips

or

Log in or Sign up

Social Connect:

Use your favorite account to access My Voice Nation.


Use your My Voice Nation account to log in:





Forgot password?
or

Sign Up or Log in

Social Connect:

Sign up for My Voice Nation with your preferred network.


Sign up for a My Voice Nation account:



Privacy policy