Tough 4-3 loss for the Astros. We had two on with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and Jose Altuve hit a sharp liner to right field but Nate McLouth made a nice running catch for the final out. Our bullpen, Anthony Bass and Josh Fields, both gave up one earned run in the top of the 8th and top of the 9th, which blew our late 3-2 lead. They play so hard all night only for the bullpen to blow it again.

I feel so bad for Jarred Cosart. Another quality start wasted. The ERA of the Astros starting rotation is ranked 4th best in the American League and has been pretty good this year. It's the bullpen that is bringing them down. The worst bullpen ERA in all of baseball and not just in the American League.

I've seen enough of Josh Fields to know he'll never be any good. He was tagged with tonight's loss and is now 0-3 with a 9.58 ERA on the season. His batting average against is .282 and he walked two more guys in only one inning tonight. He does have two saves but also one blown save. A closer he is not. Our 9-18 record is in large part to ineffective players like him who have no business being in the big leagues. Bo Porter was unreasonable thinking he could use a closer by committee approach.

It seems like every time the Astros have a two-game winning streak they simply can't get over that hump and win three games in a row.

Oh gawd I wish the indians had your starters, every starter on the indians blowing every single game.

I miss the days when the Houston Astros had a competitive ball club that was capable of making the playoffs. 2005 was the last time they made the postseason. I wanted to see them avoid 100-plus losses for a fourth year in a row but they're definitely on pace to lose close to 101 games in 2014.

9-19 record. Second worst record in baseball. The Diamondbacks are 9-22 and 1.5 games worse at the moment.

LOL, I'm still torn on what I want for the Astros this season. Winning games matters to me but if we're not going to call up Jon Singleton to start at first base pretty soon, much less release or send down our garbage relievers like Josh Fields, then it's obvious to me that management doesn't give a rat's ass about winning ballgames this year. It's still about milking another first overall pick in every round of the draft.

I'm going to start hoping to lose games just so we end up with the first overall pick for a fourth year in a row during the 2015 MLB draft next year. In the mean time I can enjoy our incredibly stacked and talented minor league teams as well as prepare for the 2014 MLB draft next month. We're already on the clock at number one...



Jon Singleton has 9 home runs with an OPS of 1.045 through 26 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City right now. His batting average slipped from .325 to .293 though. He's been on a bit of a slump in recent games but he's still drawing some walks (18 total) and getting on base.

The Astros' platoon situation at first base you ask? Jesus Guzman is hitting .236 with 2 home runs in 20 games. Marc Krauss is hitting .120 with 2 home runs in 18 games. We mostly use Chris Carter as a DH but he's also started at first base for a couple games this year and he's hitting .153 with 3 home runs in 26 games.

Needless to say, I wouldn't be going out on a limb to suggest the 22-year-old Jon Singleton could come up to the big leagues right now and at least be a major upgrade at first base for the Houston Astros over our current first basemen? We've been a franchise that has been spoiled with many talented first basemen in the past but we haven't had a good one since Lance Berkman and Jeff Bagwell retired.

I'm ready for the Jon Singleton era at first base to start. The guys we currently have are not any good.
If the Astros are going to delay it for another month or two, or even a September call up, then oh well.

I can be a little more patient regarding Domingo Santana but this kid should be starting in left field for us already.
He's at Triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting close to .300 with 3 home runs and 20 RBIs. 9 doubles and a triple.
I'd like to see the talented kids playing already at the big league level. At least give me some more excitement.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on Apr 30 2014 11:57pm

The RBI triple that Domingo Santana hit the other day. Knocking in Jon Singleton.



This is the young 21-year-old kid people are comparing to a young Vladimir Guerrero. He's 6'5 and 225. Excellent speed, quick bat, amazing arm in the outfield as well. Watching our Triple-A team, the Oklahoma City RedHawks, is more exciting than watching the Astros games.

If the Astros were to call up Jon Singleton and Domingo Santana soon, I'd honestly be happy even if we keep losing games. I want to see the future of the ball club already. I've been patient long enough and enduring what is likely to be a fourth straight 100-plus loss season.

I want our everyday lineup to eventually look something like this at some point in 2015 next year.

1. Dexter Fowler CF
2. Jose Altuve 2B
3. Jason Castro C
4. Jon Singleton 1B
5. Domingo Santana LF
6. Matt Dominguez 3B
7. George Springer RF
8. Carlos Correa SS
9. Chris Carter DH

That's assuming we don't do anything in free agency this winter. Perhaps try and sign a slugging power hitter at DH who would be a big upgrade over Chris Carter. Somebody who can produce a respectable slugging percentage & on-base percentage and possibly hit six in the lineup. We need much better production out of our designated hitter. That much is certain.

For now anyways, I guess I'll just try to keep enduring all of these losses at the big league level. I'm excited to watch Collin McHugh (2-0. 0.59 ERA) and his 19 to 3 strikeout-to-walk radio starting on Sunday afternoon against the Seattle Mariners. I may buy a ticket to that game but I don't know yet. I'd actually pay good money to see the Astros play in person if they actually tried to improve the team. I live about 20 minutes away from Minute Maid Park. But for now the product on the field isn't worth paying for. I can watch all the games inside the comfort of my own home on CSN Houston.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on May 1 2014 12:36am

stopped reading after there.
cant compare anyone to vladdy.

unless that guy has hit a ball for a HR that hit the ground before it got to the plate, no way.

He's probably drawing the comparisons because of his similar size, playing style (aggressive swinger) and he's also from the Dominican Republic. Just like say, a Carlos Correa, may draw some comparisons to Alex Rodriguez purely based from a physical standpoint.

It doesn't mean there going to turn out anywhere near the superstar caliber of player at the Major League level but it sure is encouraging to see them having some minor league success at 21 years old and 19 years old respectively. Also in today's game a player's talent is 100 % natural. It's harder to cheat and take performance-enhancing drugs. I'm not saying Vladdy, in particular, cheated or anything like that (wouldn't surprise me) but we all know A-Rod for sure did and was a bit of a fraud in that regard.

Jon Singleton has drawn comparisons to Ryan Howard as well. It doesn't mean the young kid will become an all-star player in the big leagues but he sure has a shot if he keeps working hard and improves his game. The kid can flat out rake and he's only 22 years old himself. The Astros have a ton of interesting prospects right now. I'm hopeful that at least one or two, if not more will pan out in the big leagues.

no way vladdy cheated. he was done at like 36 dude. vladdy used to haul in full grown cows at like age 11 by hand. like pull them in dude. plus when he got hurt, he was really hurt. same way griffey was, no bounce back immediately and hit 50+ hrs. vladdy was legit, how dare u...