Bud Norris debut

Cubs 12, Astros 0
51-50 (3rd N.L. Central)

The Cubs struck Mike Hampton(6-8) hard on Wednesday with six runs in the first, ultimately thumping the Astros 12-0. Houston batters ammassed just six hits, none of them for extra bases. The lone Astros hightlight was the debut of pitching prospect Bud Norris, the No. 2-rated talent in the farm system.


The 24-year-old right-hander was 4-9 for AAA Round Rock but sported a 2.63 ERA, 1.31 WHIP while strinking-out 112 in 120 IP.


Pitching the fifth, sixth and seventh innings in relief of Hampton, Norris allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking-out four Cubs.

The Astros are still just 3.5 games behind division-leader St. Louis, where they begin a three-game series at beginning Friday. First though, Russ Ortiz(3-5) will take the hill today to try to force a 2-2 series split with the Cubs before they leave Chicago.

James Nielsen Houston Chronicle

Astros take one from division leader

Astros 11, Cubs 6

51-49 (3rd N.L. Central)

Miguel Tejada and Jeff Keppinger led a relentless Astros offense that accumulated 17 hits on Tuesday. Keppinger went 4-5 with three RBI and Tejada was 2-4 with five RBI.

Says Elias Sports Bureau:

"It was only the fourth time in team history that Houston's starting shortstop and second baseman both had at least three RBIs in the same game, although it did happen once before at Wrigley, with Joe Morgan (4) and Sonny Jackson (3) doing damage in a 17-4 win in 1967."

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Astros starter Roy Oswalt(6-4), a winner in his last three, went down with a back strain in the second inning, and the Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz writes that he could miss more than just his next start.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Reliever Wesley Wright pitched 2.1 innings in relief of Oswalt allowing 3 runs largely off of five walks in the fouth inning, but went to the hospital where he was treated for dehydration.

Additionally, reliever LaTroy Hawkins went on the 15-DL with back shingles. Jesus Ortiz details Hawkins' injury and other Astros notes.

Chip Bailey nicely characterizes the "stupid crazy" 2009 Astros season in his Chronicle fan blog.

Plenty of fight in Astros

Astros 3, Cardinals 2
47-46 (T.3rd NL Central)

Over 6.1 strong frames, Brian Moehler fanned five and surrendered just two runs which both came off of Yadier Molina's fourth-inning single.

Carlos Lee gave Houston all the offense it would need with his 3-run blast in the bottom of the fourth. Such hits have become El Caballo's calling card as an Astro says Richard Justice.

Justice talks more Lee in his most recent blog. Leading the team with a $19 million salary, is the big clean-up hitter overpaid?

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)


The Astros are 5-2 since the break after another strong team performance against a top-NL club. After taking two of four at Los Angeles, the Astros gained ground on division-leader St. Louis. Now back just three games, look for Wandy Rodriguez to bring Houston even closer when he takes the hill tonight against the Red Birds.

Second half begins with win in Mannywood

45-44 (4th in NL Central)

The Astros finally got over the .500 hump with 3-0 shut-out of the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Remember when Wandy Rodriguez seemingly could only win at home? If you hadn't already noticed, those days are gone.

Wandy (9-6) posted another quality start, striking out six in 6 scoreless innings for the "W" at Chavez Ravine. Bullpen arms Alberto Arias and LaTroy Hawkins each pitched scoreless frames before Jose Valverde sealed the victory with his ninth save while preserving the Astros' fifth shutout of the year.

It was Dodger Manny Ramirez's first time back at Dodger Stadium since returning from his 50-game suspension, but Houston pitching limited him to a harmless single in four at-bats.



Offensively, the game was nothing to write home about.

But reserve catcher Humberto Quintero did hit his first home run of the year, a solo shot, off former Astro Randy Wolf, in the fifth that broke the scoreless tie and proved all Houston would need to win.

Game two of the four-game SoCal set proves to be another tight pitching match-up with Roy Oswalt facing All-Star Chad Billingsley.

No big trades for the Astros this summer?

Were you waiting for the Astros to make a move before the deadline? Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle writes that GM Ed Wade plans to keep this team intact for the stretch run.

Biggest summer trades in Astros history

Here are four of the Astros' biggest summer moves. Some of these examples prove that there's more to a trade than the biggest name involved.

1. August 31, 1990 - Astros send 37-year-old relief pitcher Larry Andersen to the Red Sox for AA third baseman Jeff Bagwell.

Let's pretend that Bags didn't go on to swell into a 5'11" version of Big Mac (PEDs? whisper, whisper) in the late 1990's or that he didn't sport that retched ZZ Top-ish 6-inch goatee EVER. What matters is that after he reached the majors in 1991, he went on to set team marks with 449HR and 1,529RBI over his 15 years as the Astros first baseman. Not bad to find a franchise superstar in a waiver-wire pick-up.

Not a bad return for Andersen, who posted four-and-a-half great years of middle relief for Houston. His 1989 campaign may have even been the finest of his 17-seasons: 87.2IP 85K 1.54ERA .198OAV. Getting rid of him must have raised some initial outcry.

(c) Houston Astros

2. July 31, 1998 - Astros trade pitchers Freddy Garcia and John Halama along with infielder Carlos Guillen to Seattle for pitcher Randy Johnson.

Sufice it to say, the Astros gave up some promising talent for a half-season Big Unit rental. But what a rental! He went 10-1 with a 1.28ERA and a .98WHIP over eleven starts for Houston as the Astros flew away with the NL Central en route to a 102-60 record, the best mark in team history. His 0-2 performance in the Division Playoff Series was hardly the result of his 1.93 ERA 1.00WHIP and 17Ks over 14IP, but rather the quiet Houston bats. The Astros were unable to resign Johnson following the playoffs, leaving them empty-handed from the deal in the end.

It turned out that the trio the Astros gave away for a summer of Johnson have all had nice careers. John Halama compiled a tidy 56-48 record over nine seasons as a big league pitcher. Freddy Garcia has shined brightly, going 118-77 over a ten-year career. Twice named an All-Star, he even earned a measure of revenge against the Astros when his White Sox team met them in the 2005 World Series. Garcia spun seven shut-out innings for Chicago in game four to seal a Series sweep against the team that once traded him away. Outfielder Carlos Guillen didn't bloom until he went to Detroit in 2004, where he has earned All-Star status three times, hitting .288 over 12 seasons with 104HR and 674Runs-scored.

Paul Kitagaki Jr. / P-I


3. June 25, 2004 - Astros aquire center fielder Carlos Beltran in a three team deal, sending closer Octavio Dotel to Oakland and AAA catcher John Buck to Kansas City.

What Randy Johnson did for the Astros pitching staff in 1998, Carlos Beltran did for Houston's lineup in the summer of 2004. In his 90 games with the team, Beltran hit 23HR with 53RBI and 70Runs-scored while stealing 28 bases. As potent as his offense was in the regular season, he was locked-in come play-off time. In Houston's first-round playoff series victory over Atlanta, Beltran hit .455 with four homers, 9RBI and 9R. It was the Astros' first-ever playoff series win. In the next series, against the Cardinals, Houston fell in seven games, but Beltran remained hot hitting .415 with four homers, 9RBI and 12R. Disapointingly, as with Johnson before him, the Astros failed to resign Beltran.








Nam Y Huh / AP

Octavio Dotel had notched 14 saves in 2004 as Billy Wagner's successor, but inconsistencies had worn out his welcome as Houston's closer. Dotel tallied 22 saves as Oakland's closer, but in subsequent seasons and with other teams he has been used primarily in middle relief, earning just 19 saves since 2005. John Buck was a prized hitting prospect with Houston who has hit for low average and moderate power in six seasons with the Royals. Despite Beltran's departure, one thinks the thrilling playoff run was sparked on the cheap.

(PHIL VELASQUEZ, CHICAGO TRIBUNE)

4. August 30, 1982 - Astros reel in outfielder Kevin Bass from Milwaukee as part of package for 37-year-old pitcher Don Sutton.

Don Sutton, a Hall of Famer-in-waiting, had come from the Dodgers in 1981 to join a formidable Astros rotation already veteran heavy with Joe Neikro and Nolan Ryan. But by the end of August 1982, the Astros were 62-69 and 11 games out of first. Though Sutton had posted a solid 13-8 record with a 3.00ERA, the team opted to trade him for younger offensive talent.

Included in the package of players from Milwaukee, was outfielder Kevin Bass who would be a key part of the Astros offense in the late 1980's. Over 14 years in the majors, Bass hit .270 with 118 home runs and 151 steals, but with most of that production coming during his eight seasons with the Astros.











(c) Houston Astros

Trade deadline looms...

How can this team be improved via trade?

I think the buy or sell question is moot at this point. The Astros need another bat, maybe Mark Teahen from KC? He's a super utility guy - plays the corners, second and outfield. I'd send them Kaz Mat for him. We could bring Edwin Maysonet back up from Round Rock to man second and release Jason Michaels to make room for Teahan. What do you think? A young effective starter would be nice, but I like our old guys. Plus if one breaks down, Chris Sampson could slip right in.






Copyright © 2007-2008 Total Pro Sports

At the break...

44-44 (3rd (tie) in the NL Central)

Oh those Astros just won't go away. Going 5-2 against the Pirates and Nationals over the homestand was a good sign that they have left the bottom tier of teams for good this season.
All considered, it's good to be an Astros fan right now - just ask the Houston Chronicle's Jerome Solomon.

Also from the Chronicle, Richard Justice writes about the Astros at the break and prospect C Jason Castro's fine outing at the MLB Futures game on Sunday. Not that Castro's everyday play at two minor league stops this season would have predicted otherwise. Don't be surprised to see Castro behind the Minute Maid Park dish before September.

It's safe to assume that the buy-or-sell discusion that comes for each team every July is mute for the Astros with the boys tied for third and just 3.5 games out of first. Drayton McClain has likely handed Ed Wade a blank check to add a bat(or two). Right now Houston is tied for 23rd in the MLB. A few more runs behind our servicable pitching staff would put this team at the top of the middling NL Central.

Justice Twittered on Saturday that Cecil Cooper's second-half rotation will be Wandy Rodriguez, Roy Oswalt, Mike Hampton, Russ Ortiz and Brian Moehler.











Cooper had been working a six-man rotation for a bout a month prior to the break, but decided to send Felipe Paulino down to Round Rock (AAA) for more seasoning. He really is an extra arm right now with our stogy vets delivering good outings.

Let's hope (and pray) for more good outings starting Thursday when the 'Stros begin a four-game-set in Mannywood against the best-in-baseball Dodgers. Just splitting that series would be a great way to kick-off the second half.

Astros Fun-tent

You don't wanna rumble with the Astros. Just ask H-town native and rapper Chamillionaire. His 2005 song "Turn It Up" was written while the Astros were en route to their first NL pennant and World Series appearance.

Wandy wonderful

Astros 5, Pirates 0

At the beginning of the season, the Astros rotation consisted of Roy Oswalt and a bunch of crossed fingers. I've since uncrossed my fingers about Wandy Rodriguez, Houston's best pitcher in the first half of the campaign.






(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)


Rodriguez (8-5) pitched a complete-game shut-out, the second of his career, to lead the Astros over the Pirates on Wednesday. In all, Pittsburgh had just two at bats with a runner in scoring position. The 30-year-old lefty fanned 11 Bucs while walking just one and scattering five hits.

The Dominican Republic native leads the 2009 Astros in wins (8), ERA (2.96) and strikeouts (106) and is second among starters in WHIP (1.28).

Wandy has been a big part of a successful Astros pitching staff, ranked 6th in the NL with a 4.15 ERA, that has carried an offense that has struggled, scoring the fewest runs in the NL Central.

Following their ninth series win out of their past twelve, the 41-42 Astros should finally get over the .500 mark this weekend. They entertain the 24-58 Washington Nationals who stumble into Houston on a 3-7 stretch behind the worst pitching staff in the National League.

Odds & Ends Dept

Let's play two! (Or at least finish-up the last game we started with Washington). A suspended game between the Astros and Nationals origianlly played May 5th will be completed prior to the start of Thursday's regularly scheduled contest. The Houston Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz details this and other Astros goings on.

Winning both the suspended and regular game tonight, will net the Astros their first winning record in a while, a fact not lost on the Chronicle's Richard Justice.

Remember how embarrassingly bad Michael Bourn was last year at getting on base? He's gotten better. The esteemed HighLeveragePerformer at The Crawfish Boxes compares Bourn with Boston's own speedy centerfielder, Jacoby Ellbury.

If you appreciate the nuances of each player's approach to hitting, you might enjoy this YouTube posting mimicking the batting stances of Astros, past and present. I'm a bit disappointed that they left out Jose Cruz, Alan Ashby, Glen Davis and Ken Caminiti...

Homestand begins well with Hampton

Astros 4, Pirates 1

Back from a 4-3 road trip the Astros got their home-stand off to a nice start by putting down the sinking Bucs. Hampton(5-5) looked sharp, allowing six base-runners over 7 IP to earn the win. It was also his fourth quality start out of his last five.











(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)


Jose Valverde, much maligned by this blog, struck out three in the ninth to earn his seventh save of the year. Just keep it up!

The hot offensive line of the night for Houston belonged to Miguel Tejada out of the two-hole:
AB 4 R 1 H 2 RBI 2 BB 0

Just 3.5 games back of first place, the Astros (40-41) are in a position to make hay going into the All-Star break. They have two more against the 37-46 Pirates before welcoming the reeling 24-56 Nationals to Minute Maid for a four-game set. Sweeping the two worst teams in baseball would be nice, but a 5-2 run and their first peek over the .500-mark for the season is the least I'm expecting.

All-Stars!
Miguel Tejada and Hunter Pence were named to the All-Star team over the weekend. The Houston Chronicle's Richard Justice weighs in on what makes these Astros worthy.

Lance Berkman has been a perennial representative for Houston at the All-Star game, but not this year. Justice writes in his blog that the Big Puma is still producing and may just be heating up for a big second half.

Moehler holds up

Astros 7, Padres 1

I was awful pleased to see Brian Moehler (5-4) win his third straight decision last night. The aging righty allowed just a solo home run over six innings while striking out a season-high eight batters. Moehler did walk a season-high four, but I'll let it slide since he was able to strand all of them.

Coupled with division-leading Milwaukee's loss, the Astros' win brings them within four games of first place. The Astros were 16-11 in the month of June including a 6-2 record in series play. They're currently up 2-1 in in their four-game set in San Diego. Another month of winning ball and the Astros may just find themselves in the NL Central driver's seat.

Odds & Ends Dept.

The Chronicle's Richard Justice writes why he love's baseball and the special quality of the Astros.

Also from Justice: Wandy Coming of Age

How does the Astro's payroll stack-up against the rest of the town's big clubs?
- Texans 2008-09: $108.4 (22nd in NFL)
- Astros 2009: $102.9 (8th in MLB)
- Rockets 2008-2009: $73.5 (8th in NBA)
Here's how the Astros' individual salaries stack up against Houstons' other professional athletes.

Because you asked: Here's a list from ESPN's Rob Neyer on quirky MLB park features he likes. Leading off: Tal's Hill.

Letting one get away...

Padres 4, Astros 3

Even Chris Sampson can have an off-night.
Too bad for Mike Hampton, though, who returned from athe DL to hand the bullpen a 3-1 in the seventh, hoping they'd secure him the win. But Petco Park opened up like the Serengeti to Padres bats as they dumped four hits in the frame to plate three runs and take the lead.

Tonight, Brian Moehler will be pitching for his paycheck. The Astros are currently rotating six starting pitchers - which presumably won't go on forever. With the team's highest ERA (6.05) and WHIP (1.57), Moehler figures to go the way of Brandon Backe after the All-Star Break. Thankfully, he'll have the warm SoCal air and vast recesses of the Petco Park outfield helping him to contain fly balls. In 61.0 IP this season, Moehler has given up a dozen bombs, but allowed none at Kansas City his last time out. Still, he gave up five total in the two games preceding that, though. Keep the ball down, Brian, and everything will be just fine. Maybe.

Odds & Ends Dept.:

The Astros' top pick in the 2009 draft, Jiovanni Mier, is featured here in a video interview by Astros.com with an accompanying piece on the young pro from MLB.com.

Richard Justice has a nice piece in the Chronicle about LaTroy Hawkins' solid productivity since coming to Houston in a trade last summer.