Houston Astros Baseball Blog http://www.astroshomeplate.com A blog about Houston Astros Baseball Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:35:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Astros bring back Mike Hampton http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-bring-back-mike-hampton/ http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-bring-back-mike-hampton/#comments Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:35:37 +0000 Cliff http://www.astroshomeplate.com/?p=79 Mike Hampton will once again be a Houston Astros as long as he passes his physical this week. The team signed the starting pitcher to a one year deal while terms of the contract were not disclosed. As long as Hampton can stay healthy (and that is a big if) he would probable be a back of rotation kind of guy for the staff in my opinion.

Signing Hampton to a one year deal which probably came cheap allows management to stay within their budget without taking a lot of risk. I don’t think the Astros will do a whole lot this off season due to the lack of money that the team has for free agents etc.

What do you think of the team bringing back Hampton?

Astros Blog

]]> http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-bring-back-mike-hampton/feed/ Astros blown out by the Marlins 14-2 http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-blown-out-by-the-marlins-14-2/ http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-blown-out-by-the-marlins-14-2/#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:32:02 +0000 Cliff http://www.astroshomeplate.com/?p=78 The Houston Astros were blown out by the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night by the score of 14-2. This is a game that the Astros just need to forget about and start thinking about Thursday’s game. The Astros have now lost three games in a row as they are having trouble staying in the wild card race.

Brandon Backe was terrible on the mound as he only lasted 1 2/3 innings. Backe gave up six hits and five runs including two home runs in the game. Backe took the loss after getting shelled and is now 9-13. The bullpen wasn’t very good either as Jack Cassel gave up one run, Fernando Nieve three runs, and Dave Borkowski five runs. It was a bad night to be a Astros pitcher.

The only offense for the Astros on the night came from Hunter Pence. Pence hit two solo home runs in the game. I can’t really fault the offense to much however as the pitching staff put the offense in a huge hole.

Thursday’s game is pretty much a must win in my opinion. If the Astros lose Thursday’s game, I think you can pretty much pack things in.

Astros Blog

]]> http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-blown-out-by-the-marlins-14-2/feed/ Astros drop both games to the Cubs http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-drop-both-games-to-the-cubs/ http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-drop-both-games-to-the-cubs/#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:13:01 +0000 Cliff http://www.astroshomeplate.com/?p=77 Blah, so much for a even two game series against the Cubs up in Milwaukee. First off the crowd is 99% cubs fans, so the Astros were already at a disadvantage, and then add in the fact that the team is so tired, it is no wonder why they struggled in both of the games.

In the two games, the Astros only had one hit. Yeah, they were no hit my Carlos Zambrano on Sunday night, but I figured they would have a good shot on Monday. However, Ted Lilly gave up one hit in seven innings of action as the Astros struggled once again at the plate. One hit simply won’t get it done against the Cubs.

Brian Moehler took the loss as he was charged with six hits and five runs. Moehler gave up two home runs as well in the game. Chris Sampson also gave up a home run in the game and was charged with one run. Just another bad day for the Astros pitchers.

Now the Astros find themselves 2.5 games behind the Brewers and Phillies in the wild card race. The Astros need to have a good series against the Florida Marlins before they play a weekend series against the Pirates.

Stay positive Astros fans, the teams needs some confidence and we have to give them some help.

Astros Blog

]]> http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-drop-both-games-to-the-cubs/feed/ Astros beat the Pirates once again http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-beat-the-pirates-once-again/ http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-beat-the-pirates-once-again/#comments Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:05:31 +0000 Cliff http://www.astroshomeplate.com/?p=76 The Houston Astros got the best of the Pittsburgh Pirates once again as they beat them on Wednesday night. This time it was by the score of 7-4 as the Astros won for the third straight time in the four game series. The Astros continue to play some aswesome baseball as they try everything they can do to get into the playoffs.

Brian Moehler picked up the win for the Astros after tossing the first six innings of the game. Moehler gave up five hits and two runs as he improved his record to 11-6. Wesley Wright had some trouble in the game as he allowed two runs to score as well. Jose Valverde notched the save which was hit 42nd of the year.

Miguel Tejada had the big hit for the Astros when he hit a grand slam in the sixth inning. Tejada led the Cubs with four rbi. Hunter Pence finished with a two-run home run and two rbi in the game while Darin Erstad also added one rbi.

Astros will try to go for the sweep on Thursday. I think they will get it! Astros Blog

]]> http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-beat-the-pirates-once-again/feed/ Alberto Arias and the Astros shut out the Pirates http://www.astroshomeplate.com/alberto-arias-and-the-astros-shut-out-the-pirates/ http://www.astroshomeplate.com/alberto-arias-and-the-astros-shut-out-the-pirates/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:06:05 +0000 Cliff http://www.astroshomeplate.com/?p=75 The Houston Astros got five shutout innings from Alberto Arias and went onto beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Monday night. It was a great start to the series for the Astros as the improved to 77-67 on the year.

The two runs that the Pirates did score came off of Wesley Wright in the sixth inning. He gave up rbi singles in the inning. Other then Wright’s two runs, the rest of the pitching staff pitched great. Doug Brocail, Chris Sampson, LaTroy Hawkins, and Jose Valverde all threw out of the bullpen after Wrigth was taken out. Valverde finished things up in the ninth inning for his 41st save of the season.

All three of the Astros runs came in the fifth inning when they were finally able to get to Pirates starting pitcher Ian Snell. Snell gave up a solo home run to Saccomanno and then Miguel Tejada and and Lance Berkman knocked in a run each with rbi singles.

The offense was lucky that the pitching staff threw the ball so well as they struggled against the Pirates pitchers. A win is a win however, and right now the the Astros need every win they can get.

Astros Blog

]]> http://www.astroshomeplate.com/alberto-arias-and-the-astros-shut-out-the-pirates/feed/ Randy Wolf and the Astros finish off the Cubs http://www.astroshomeplate.com/randy-wolf-and-the-astros-finish-off-the-cubs/ http://www.astroshomeplate.com/randy-wolf-and-the-astros-finish-off-the-cubs/#comments Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:50:19 +0000 Cliff http://www.astroshomeplate.com/?p=74 What a great series for the Houston Astros as they swept the Chicago Cubs in a three game series at Wrigley Field. The Cubs had one their past 11 series and had been playing good baseball at home but the Astros took the wind right out of them from the get go and never looked back.

On Wednesday night, Randy Wolf tossed a complete game shutout as the Astros completed the three game sweep with a 4-0 victory. Wolf kept the Cubs hitters off balanced at the plate as he struck out eight batters and only walked two. Wolf is now 9-11 on the season after picking up the win.

Humberto Quintero got the Astros scoring started in the second inning with a rbi single that scored Hunter Pence. The big shot of the game came in the fifth inning when Ty Wigginton hit a two run home run off of Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster. David Newhan scored the Astros fourth run in the ninth inning when Michael Bourn was caught in a run down between first and second base and Newhan beat Ryan Theriot’s throw to homeplate.

Astros Blog

]]> http://www.astroshomeplate.com/randy-wolf-and-the-astros-finish-off-the-cubs/feed/ We are taking Labor day off http://www.astroshomeplate.com/we-are-taking-labor-day-off/ http://www.astroshomeplate.com/we-are-taking-labor-day-off/#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:22:56 +0000 Cliff http://www.astroshomeplate.com/?p=73 Hello all Astros fans, just wanted to let you know that we will be taking Monday off as we spend time with our friends and family to celebrate Labor Day. We hope that you are able to enjoy the day and even catch a game or two on tv!

Hope everyone has a great day!

]]> http://www.astroshomeplate.com/we-are-taking-labor-day-off/feed/ Astros take two out of three against the Reds http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-take-two-out-of-three-against-the-reds/ http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-take-two-out-of-three-against-the-reds/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:05:41 +0000 Cliff http://www.astroshomeplate.com/?p=72 The Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds just finished up a three game series that saw the Astros take two out of three games. On Thursday in the rubber game, the Astros defeated the Reds by the score of 3-2. It was a good series win for the Astros who have about a month left in the season to improve on their 68-66 record.

Brad Backe earned the win after throwing 6 2/3 innings. Backe gave up six hits and two runs while picking up his ninth win of the season. The Astros bullpen did a great job to hold the Reds to the two runs that Backe gave up. Doug Brocail, LaTroy Hawkins, and Jose Valverde all threw out of the pen for the Astros. Valverde finished the game up and picked up his 35th save.

All three of the Astros runs in the game via the home run ball as they hit three solo shots off the Reds pitchers. Ty Wigginton got things started with his homerun in the first inning and then in the fifth it was Humberto Quintero’s turn to go deep. The third home run came from Wigginton in the sixth inning as he finished with two home runs and two rbi. Great day for Ty at the plate!

Astros Blog

]]> http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-take-two-out-of-three-against-the-reds/feed/ Astros crushed by the Mets 9-1 http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-crushed-by-the-mets-9-1/ http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-crushed-by-the-mets-9-1/#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:41:39 +0000 Cliff http://www.astroshomeplate.com/?p=71 Wow what a butt kicking the Houston Astros received from the New York Mets on Monday night. The Astros and Mets opened up a series in New York and it was the Mets kicking the Astros butt by the score of 9-1. Two homeruns from Carlos Delgado fueld the big game for the Mets as the Astros pitchers just didn’t have it going for them.

Three different Astros pitchers combined to give the nine runs. Starting pitcher Brian Moehler was tagged for six hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings. Moehler gave up the first home run to Delgado who hit a three run shot off of Moehler. Relief pitcher Wesley Wright pitched the next 1 2/3 innings and gave up two hits and three runs including the second three run home run to Delgado. Doug Brocail finished up the terrible pitching night for the team by giving up two more hits and runs in the eighth inning.

There isn’t a whole lot to blog about for the offense as they only scored one run in the game. In the top of the ninth inning, Ty Wigginton grounded out to first base and David Newhan scored.

Astros Baseball

]]> http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-crushed-by-the-mets-9-1/feed/ Astros fall to the Brewers 5-2 http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-fall-to-the-brewers-5-2/ http://www.astroshomeplate.com/astros-fall-to-the-brewers-5-2/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:08:16 +0000 Cliff http://www.astroshomeplate.com/?p=70 The Houston Astros were unable to beat the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday and take two out of three games in the series as they lose 5-2 in Milwaukee. The Astros were right in the game until the seventh inning when they allowed the Brewers to score two runs and extend their lead.

Wandy Rodriguez ended up with the loss as he was charged with three hits and allowed three runs to score through 5 1/3 innings. Wandy had a problem with is location as he walked five batters in the game. Wesley Wright was charged with one run when he allowed a base runner on and then Doug Brocail gave up a two run home run to J.J. Hardy in the seventh inning.

Both of the Astros runs came in the fourth inning when Geoff Blum and Reggie Abercrombi had rbi singles.  It was pretty bad that the offense played as bad as they did. They should have scored more runs then two as the Brewers scored five runs on only four hits. Just one of those games I suppose.

Astros Baseball

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