The old backfoot slider

that shit is dirty

I've probably stared at that gif for 2 hours over the last week

Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman are going to retire together. I doubt either will make the Hall of Fame despite being great players throughout their career. It's tough seeing Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio being overlooked for the Hall of Fame. Biggio, in particular, has barely missed out the past two years. Literally a couple votes shy of being inducted.



Roy Oswalt to retire as an Astro with Lance Berkman

Houston AP: Roy Oswalt, a three-time All-Star, has decided to retire after 13 seasons. Oswalt said that he and Lance Berkman, teammates in Houston from 2001-10, will sign one-day contracts with the Astros and retire together. Berkman announced his retirement on Jan. 29.

“I’m pumped,” Oswalt said. ” It means a lot. Houston drafted me. They gave me a chance from the very beginning. ”

Oswalt said he approached Berkman over the winter and suggested they retire together.

“We wanted to retire together in Houston,” Oswalt said.

The Houston Astros confirmed Tuesday that the team is looking to sign one-day contracts with former stars Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt so they can retire with the team. “We love Lance, he’s one of the best Astros ever so we’re going to do whatever works for Lance and I think we have a day set aside already to honor him,” owner Jim Crane said. “

Berkman, who turns 38 on Monday, spent 12 season with the Astros hitting 326 homeruns. For his career, Berkman hit .293 with 366 homeruns and 1,234 RBI. Oswalt pitched for the Astros from 2001 to 2010. He was named the MVP of the National League Championship series when the team reached the World Series in 2005. For his career, Oswalt racked up a 163-102 record with a 3.36 ERA and 1,852 strikeouts.

Pitchers and catchers reported for the Astros today. First spring training game is thirteen days away on February 28 against the Braves.



Peter Moylan in the locker room as Astros catchers and pitchers report to spring training.



Astros pitchers Peter Moylan (left) speaks with Mark Appel.



Astros pitcher Jerome Williams is one of several pitchers and catchers to report early to spring training.

Early position players arrived on day two of spring training. I'm really excited about that new look outfield the Astros have entering the 2014 season. Robbie Grossman in left field, Dexter Fowler in center field and George Springer in right field. Those guys should be our starting outfield on opening day against the Yankees. J.D. Martinez and L.J. Hoes will likely be our fourth and fifth outfielders if they make the team. I'm pretty sure Hoes will make the team because he's valuable as a pinch runner with his speed.



Dexter Fowler catches a ball in the outfield during workouts for early-arriving position players.



George Springer, left, and Dexter Fowler, right, sign autographs for the fans.



Jose Altuve, left, and Dexter Fowler, right, horse around at batting practice.

I don't think 21-year-old Domingo Santana (6'5 and 230) is quite ready to make a splash in the big leagues this year despite putting up excellent power numbers in the minors last year. He's been compared to a young Vladimir Guerrero but is probably another year or two away. I could see George Springer moving to left field and Domingo Santana in right field at some point in 2015.

But I'd like to see what Robbie Grossman can do with a full year. A young switch hitter with some pop.
He showed some flashes of brilliance last year on offense and defense before injuries shortened his year.

It's not likely that 19-year-old Carlos Correa and 22-year-old Mark Appel will make the team this year but it's nice to see them working out with the big league team this spring. I expect both of them to be on the Astros' 25-man roster at some point in 2015. If we end up drafting 21-year-old Carlos Rodon with the top pick this June and he's a quick call up, we could have all three first overall picks in consecutive drafts playing with us next year and hopefully for the next 10 to 15 years.



Carlos Correa takes grounders during workouts for early-arriving position players.



Carlos Correa prepares to bat during workouts.



Houston Astros RHP Mark Appel (74) prepares to stretch with teammates.

One more month until the Astros open the 2014 season at home against the Yankees on April 1
I'm still not sure if I'll be going to the game or not. Tickets are actually selling fast for that game.
I went to Opening Day at Minute Maid Park in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2008. It's been a while for me...
It's a seven-game home stand to start the season. Three with the Yankees and four with the Angels.

6/28/07: Legendary Astros broadcaster Milo Hamilton has the call as Craig Biggo gets career hit No. 3,000



Biggio arrives in Astros camp to lend expertise
Houston legend heartened by outpouring of support since missing HOF by two votes
By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com | 3/3/2014 9:26 A.M. ET

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/craig-biggio-arrives-in-astros-camp-to-lend-expertise?ymd=20140303&content_id=68611332

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The outpouring of support Craig Biggio received from friends and family members after coming just two votes shy of election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame two months ago made things easier to swallow for the Astros legend.

Biggio, who arrived in Astros camp on Monday for four days, is likely to get elected next year, when he'll be on the ballot for a third time. But the man who has more hits than any other Astros player (3,060) and more doubles than any right-handed hitter in history was disappointed.

"I really think the way that everybody's felt really has made it easier for myself, as far as the disappointment that everybody expressed to me," Biggio said. "It made it easier for me ... just from the standpoint of people wanted it to happen. We kind of hoped it would happen, but it didn't, but we came close. The way that everybody felt about it, it made it easier for me at least, I know that."

Biggio appeared on 74.8 percent of the ballots of the voting members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, missing the 75-percent cutoff point of 429 by two votes. That tied Nellie Fox in 1985 and Pie Traynor in '47, both of whom also missed by two votes, for the smallest margin in balloting history in terms of number of votes. That sets Biggio up to be an overwhelming favorite to make it next year. When asked if he would like to see any changes in the voting process, Biggio said he's not questioning anything.

"I'm grateful that we came really close, and hopefully next year it will be a really magical year," he said. "Like I said before, it's not for me. It's for my family, number one; it's for the fans; it's for the organization; and I'm fourth on the list. It's true."

"The Astros don't have a guy in there, and I couldn't think of something more exciting than to be able to hopefully have that happen for them. You couldn't get any closer. I knew I needed 39 votes or something from the year before, and we got the 39 votes, except they picked up two more writers."

Lold at Jon Singleton

talking about being addicted to weed

what a weak minded pussy

Brett Wallace was a first-round draft pick out of Arizona State by St. Louis back in 2008.


It was about time the Astros released first baseman Brett Wallace. He just never lived up to his potential. He has some pop but we already have too many guys who hit for a low batting average and strikeout a lot. I'd like to see Jonathan Singleton win the first base job at some point. Chris Carter is a nice option to have for now since all he does is swing for the fences. Dexter Fowler has been fun to watch this spring and rookie George Springer had the game-winning hit yesterday. I've been watching a few of the spring training games being televised on CSN Houston. I love those rainbow jerseys they've been wearing every game.