New York Mets

One Man's (Idiotic?) 2013 Baseball Predictions

The major league baseball season opened up on Sunday night with the Rangers traveling to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington South to face the Astros. Most of the teams started up yesterday, and the rest of the league will get underway today. With the season getting underway, it's time once again to make ... More >>

5 Fourth of July Sports Moments

Though only a few sports are in full swing in July, all sorts of marvelous, bizarre and messed up sports moments have occurred on America's Independence Day. Here are five of them.

U.S. Open Rooster-Crow Guy Will NOT Face Charges (w/ VIDEO)

After a Monday that saw a few significant legal waves ripple throughout the sports world -- a "not guilty" verdict for Roger Clemens in his federal perjury trial, continued disturbing testimony in the Jerry Sandusky child molestation trial, Roger Goodell cackling at the appeals of the suspended New ... More >>

The Mets Impostor "No Hitter Celebrator" Is Awesome, But He's Kind of a Crappy Dad (w/ VIDEO)

It hasn't been easy being a Mets fan these last few years. Since moving into their new home (Citi Field) in 2009, they have yet to crack the 80-win barrier. Also, mired in the throes of a Ponzi scheme, their ownership group has become a punch line. But things are looking up so far in 2012! In a se ... More >>

MLB: 4 Season Win Total Bets You Can Still Get Down on Before Friday Morning

Happy Major League Baseball Opening Day! Oh, what's that? You say I missed Opening Day? It was actually last night when the St. Louis Cardinals helped christen the Miami Marlins' new ball park (and new name and new uniforms and new manager and...) with a 4-1 win? Oh, I'm sorry, that was the domesti ... More >>

In Which John Royal Predicts the Winner of the 2012 World Series

The major league baseball season officially started last week when the Oakland A's and Seattle Mariners played two games in Tokyo. Most of the other teams open on Thursday, and the Astros get started on Friday when they host the Colorado Rockies. Thus, here are my predictions for this season. NATI ... More >>

So How Much Do You Really Know About the Astros and the DH?

​There has been a strange uproar over the Astros' possible move to the American League. There's been whining over start times, bitching about Bud Selig, and much, much discussion about the designated hitter not being real baseball. And while people are upset, it needs to be noted that the As ... More >>

Carlos Beltran & Buyer's Remorse: Something To Make Astro Fans Feel Better

Carlos Beltran: The Mets admit a mistake​It's been a disastrous, disheartening season for Astro fans, and it doesn't show any signs of getting better. So you try to take your bright spots where you can. Today's semi-bright spot is a frank admission of buyer's remorse on the part of New York ... More >>

The Mets' Strange And Usually Awful History In Houston

Mr. Met doesn't like Houston, except for a few big games​The New York Mets came into the majors the same year as the Astros, but ESPN is somehow choosing to commemorate the New York team's 50th anniversary with a running blog on the team's history. Which does seem to be jumping the gun a bit, ... More >>

Top Five Worst Rapper-Athlete Collaborations

​Ever since Shaq flung the doors wide for athletes to satisfy their microphone dreams, many have tried to follow in his steps. The athlete-rapper experiment usually works, as long as the athlete leaves all the rapping to the rapper. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with these five songs. I ... More >>

Friday Juvenile Time Waster -- Live TV Cussing Videos!

Bleep happens.​Since getting into radio a few years ago, my biggest fear hasn't been a "dear in the headlights" moment (I prepare pretty meticulously), it hasn't been a guest or caller sending the show sideways. The one thing I'm still most fearful of is accidentally cursing on the air. You' ... More >>

Terry Collins: Former Astros Manager Might Be Back From The Dead

Terry Collins: Not really missed here in Houston​It's been more than 10 years since former Astros manager Terry Collins has headed up a team, but rumors are building that he may be getting a new gig, on a big stage. ESPN reports that Collins is a favorite to fill the New York Mets' coaching v ... More >>

Houston's 10 Best Sports Moments*

*And the 5 most heartbreaking...

5 Ways Lady Gaga Could Spice Up The Astros' Season

Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​Last Friday night, Rocks Off's favorite pop star, Lady Gaga, bum-rushed her way around Yankee Stadium during the opening game of the New York Yankees three-game homestand against crosstown rivals the New York Mets. Somehow she talked her way past secur ... More >>

Morgan Ensberg On Bags, The Rocket And Milton Bradley

Ensberg: from starry-eyed rookie to stat-head blogger​Last week I gave you part one of an interview I did with former Astros's third baseman Morgan Ensberg. Ensberg, now retired, is moving into the broadcasting field, doing college baseball game analysis for such networks as Fox Sports and ESPNU ... More >>

Game Time: The Caballo Chronicles, Volume 2: A Look at MLB's 20 Biggest Contracts Ever

​This is my second go round living in Houston. Prior to moving back here in the summer of 2007, the last time I was an H-town resident was between 1994 and 2001. As an Astro fan, that means I was here when the Bagwell/Biggio nucleus finally broke through in 1997 and made the playoffs, I was he ... More >>

For Opening Day: Five Terrific Baseball Movies, None Of Which Star Kevin Costner

Opening Day is finally here, and we can once again try to resolve our love/hate relationship with the Houston Astros.As of this writing, they are undefeated, so -- so far, so good.Baseball, for all its problems, has long had an unbreakable hold on Americans. So have movies. So here are five great ba ... More >>

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 le ... More >>

Out of the Park

The Houston Press discusses our national pastime with Lance Berkman.

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 ... More >>

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 ... More >>

New York Metropolitan Opera: Madama Butterfly

Web exclusive!

Nine Things Not to Be Thankful For

I understand that yesterday was Thanksgiving, and that we're supposed to be all thankful and everything. But seriously, did any of you watch those football games? How can a person be thankful after being subjected to nearly 11 hours of blow-out football? So in that spirit, I've put together a lis ... More >>

Astros-Reds: The Magic Number Goes Down to One

Astros-Reds: No Time for Mistakes

The Clash: Live at Shea Stadium

Astros-Reds: No Fundamentals, No Way

Top Ten Astrodome Sports Moments

Astros-Mets: The Chron’s Steve Campbell Knows the Score

Astros-Mets: Houston Takes Two of Three from New York, But St. Louis and Milwaukee Keep Chugging Along

Astros-Brewers: All Hail the Fonz

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

Astros-Mets: Houston Sweeps New York

August Brings Several Opponents Who Are Actually Playing for Something

Wandy's Mediocrity Revealed in 9-5 Loss to Reds

John Royal’s Mid-Season MLB Progress Report and Predictions

The Top Five Astros-Killers of All Time

Covering the Spread: A Humble Request for Stacks of Twenty Dollar Bills

Instant Replay in Major League Baseball: Why Right This Instant?

Play Ball: John Royal’s MLB Predictions

Anna Benson Is Hot. Oh, and Her Husband Is a Decent Pitcher.

John Royal's MLB Playoff Predictions: Satan Is Our First Base Coach, Go D-Backs!

Going, Going, Gone: Craig Biggio Winds Down, the Playoff Chase Speeds Up

We Would Call This an MLB Playoff Preview, But We Really Don't Know What's Gonna Happen

This Could Be One Serious Tuesday. Let's Hope Purpura Doesn't Do Something Stupid.

An Accountability Moment

Chan Ho(me Run) Park

John Royal's MLB Predictions

Phil 'er Up

Free Kicks

Once in a Lifetime remembers when soccer players lived like rock stars