Subject: Mike Hampton

• Year of Living Dangerously

  Sports palaces, city cell-phone shenanigans and subdivisions where Montrose once stood. Could any self-respecting survivalist leave the bunker behind?

  December 28, 2000

• Behind the Music: Craig Biggio

  July 5, 2007

• Jesus Ortiz Is a Fool

  July 23, 2007

• Why John McMullen, Not Drayton McLane, Is the Best Owner in the History of the Astros

  August 3, 2007

• An Open Letter to Richard Justice

  August 7, 2007

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

  February 26, 2008

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

  March 10, 2008

• Play Ball: John Royal’s MLB Predictions

  March 31, 2008

• Astros-Padres: The Best Offense Is...a Good Offense

  April 3, 2008

• Astros-Padres: Shawn Chacon, Not So Bad?

  April 4, 2008

• Astros-Padres: Say Hello to Miguel Tejeda, Who Apparently Hits a Lot Better Than Miguel Tejada

  April 23, 2008

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

  May 1, 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

• Ten Ways To Stay a Texans Fan Despite the Economy (and the Price Gouging)

  Despite the fact that the Houston Texans have yet to field a winning team after seven seasons, or come close to sniffing the playoffs, and despite their inability to make a significant free agent acquisition, and despite just general incompetence on the field and in the front office, the Houston Texans decided on Friday afternoon to announce that they are raising ticket prices by 3.7 percent and that parking costs are increasing by three dollars. The Texans are raising prices despite the econ

  January 20, 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

• 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

• 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, but supposedly Astros ace Roy Oswalt had been pushing the team to sign Rodriguez. Rodriguez is known as one of the game's greatest catchers, having won 13 gold gloves for defensive excellence along

  March 17, 2009

• This Season's MLB Predictions: The National League

  With baseball season due to start next week, I thought I should put myself on the line and make some predictions. I made my American League predictions yesterday. Today I'm going to take a look at the National League, and on Monday, I'll take an in-depth look at the Astros as they prepare to open the season against the Cubs. So here's the National League. I list the teams by division, and by predicted order of finish in the division from first place to last. NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST: 1. Phila

  April 1, 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

• We'll Pay the Filing Fee...

  August 17, 2000

• 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

• This Season's MLB Predictions: The National League

  With baseball season due to start next week, I thought I should put myself on the line and make some predictions. I made my American League predictions yesterday. Today I'm going to take a look at the National League, and on Monday, I'll take an in-depth look at the Astros as they prepare to open the season against the Cubs. So here's the National League. I list the teams by division, and by predicted order of finish in the division from first place to last. NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST: 1. Phila

  April 2, 2009

• 10 Reasons To Be Optimistic For the 2009 Astros

  Photo by William Holtkamp I know what you're thinking. After yesterday's 12-1 spring training loss to the New York Mets, the Astros are now 1-16-3 and haven't won in 19 straight games. You're probably going through some kind of depression - I know I am, but that's got more to do with losing my job than anything else. So you want to know why you should feel good about this upcoming season? Well, I've got 10 reasons for you to feel optimistic about the Astros in 2009. 10. So far, neither Mik

  March 20, 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, but supposedly Astros ace Roy Oswalt had been pushing the team to sign Rodriguez. Rodriguez is known as one of the game's greatest catchers, having won 13 gold gloves for defensive excellence along

  March 17, 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

• 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

• Ten Ways To Stay a Texans Fan Despite the Economy (and the Price Gouging)

  Despite the fact that the Houston Texans have yet to field a winning team after seven seasons, or come close to sniffing the playoffs, and despite their inability to make a significant free agent acquisition, and despite just general incompetence on the field and in the front office, the Houston Texans decided on Friday afternoon to announce that they are raising ticket prices by 3.7 percent and that parking costs are increasing by three dollars. The Texans are raising prices despite the econ

  January 20, 2009

• 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 various baseball teams, including the Houston Astros. Now this guy gives two rosters, the All-Time Home Grown team and the All-Time Acquired team. I'll let you go look at his rosters, but I thought I wo

  January 12, 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

• Stadia Watch

  Sacrifice Flies

  January 6, 2000

• When You're Old Like The Astros, Even Home Runs Can Hurt

  Photo by I'mClaudeHow does somebody get hurt hitting a home run? I'm serious. Carlos Lee hit a home run in the fourth inning on Friday night and strained his right Achilles tendon. And I don't understand how the injury could happen.Sure, I can see him pulling a muscle on a strikeout. And if he were to ever decide to actually run on the bases, then I could understand an injury there. But hitting a home run? Sorry, I just don't see it. That's about the one thing that Carlos Lee can do well, so one

  April 27, 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

• Backe's Back In The Rotation: Just How Bad Can The Astros' Farm System Be?

  Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher The oft-injured Hampton, injured againHere's some shocking Astros news. According to the Chron, Mike Hampton is going on the 15-day disabled list. Yeah, I know, who would ever think that Hampton would get injured. It's not like he missed two of the last three seasons because of injuries, or anything. Even Matt Schaub and Tracy McGrady think he's injury-prone.Here's the really scary news, though. Brandon Backe's returning to the starting rotation to take Hampton'

  June 17, 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

• 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

• Astros' Solution To A Lousy Rotation: Add More Lousy Pitchers

  Photo by Aaron M. SprecherOver the past two Astros games, Jim Deshaies has been talking about the Astros going to a six-man pitching rotation. And Deshaies has given a lot of reasons for doing this, but as much as I like JD, I'm a little disappointed in that, with all of his discussion about going to the six-man rotation, he's failed to give the one, defining reason why the Astros shouldn't: the pitching sucks.Back before John Smoltz was scheduled come off of the disabled list, there was t

  June 30, 2009

• That Steroids List Sounds True, Even If It Isn't

  Via the blog The Big Lead (linking to the blog Rotoinfo) comes the most eagerly sought list of names in years. That's right, this is the supposed list of the 104 MLB players who failed the 2003 steroids/HGH drug testing.  The Big Lead breaks down the list and provides a couple of reasons for why this list is not the actual list, including the exclusion of Jason Grimsley's name, which is kind of a killer to the list because Grimsley has admitted to being one of the 104 players to fail th

  July 1, 2009

• The Astros, Hanging On Despite Themselves

  The Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers and Thursday and Friday to get their record to 46-44. For a short time, the Astros were in a three-way tie for second place in the NL Central. And with the first-place St. Louis Cardinals coming in for three games starting tonight, there was a chance the Astros were going to be playing for a shot at first place.Then Mike Hampton couldn't keep the Dodgers close on Saturday night, and the Astros bullpen blew the game on Sunday, and just like that

  July 20, 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 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

• And Lo, A Rookie Shall Lead Them

  ​Just when the Astros were looking their most desperate, just as they were teetering on the verge of collapse after losing four straight games and six of the last nine, just as the team's two best pitchers had been beset by injuries that caused them to leave games early, one Astro came through and delivered when it really mattered.Thus allowing the Astros to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 yesterday and allowing the team to salvage one game of the three played against the Cards over the

  August 3, 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

• The Astros: Where Pitching Careers Go To Die

  Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher​I don't know what Cecil Cooper has against pitchers, but it's really beginning to harm the team. The Astros put Wesley Wright on the disabled list yesterday. Chris Sampson, who recently came off of the DL, is pitching as if he's still injured, and he and Cooper had a closed-door meeting the other day where Sampson expressed his displeasure at how he's been used. Doug Brocail just went back on the DL. Wandy Rodriguez, Roy Oswalt, and Mike Hampton have been battling in

  August 13, 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

• 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