Stros all alone in first place !!!

[DaDakota]

Can you say wire to wire?


http://baseball.espn.go.com/mlb/standings

DaDakota


------------------
If you like RTS games, check out this one.

www.frontierwars.com

coming soon to a PC near you.

[Rockets R' Us]

WOOOOHOOOOOOO

------------------
Note: It was my cowhead. I started the cowhead craze, and my cowhead inspired Mooch to step up and bring us a victory. Thank you for your time. :D

[ROXRAN]

Let's have it that way all year!!!

------------------
I'm just a nut, trying to get a squirrel!

[haven]

I'm telling you, 1-8 it's the best lineup in the league. The Astros are getting deserved attention in the media, for once.

I can't tell you how sick I am of hearing of the Red Sox here in Boston.

They suck! Yeah, Pedro, Manny, and Nomar kick butt... but what about the rest of the frickin' team? A first baseman who hit .250 last year. A second pitcher who hasn't thrown a ball in the majors since 99. Wheee! Oh, and Cone... yankee leftovers.

They suck! The Astros rock... and I'm going to gloat all year long http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/smile.gif.

------------------
Boston College - Big East -East Division Regular Season Champs

Worst to First in 2001!

[Nomar]

Sacrilege my friend, utter sacrilege.

------------------
The next time I have meat and mashed potatoes, I think I'll put a very large blob of potatoes on my plate with just a little piece of meat. And if someone asks me why i didn't get more meat, ill just say, "Oh, you mean this?" and pull out a big piece of meat from inside the blob of potatoes, where ive hidden it. Good magic trick, huh?

[Puedlfor]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Nomar:
Sacrilege my friend, utter sacrilege.
</font>

The Red Sox suck this year. One game played and they already blew a masterful Martinez outing because with Nomar hurt and Manny hurt the only above-average hitter the Sox have left is Everett, who's CRAZY. Other than that they've got two pitchers who were good 10 years ago and thats it.

Oh, And I can't believe were 1/2 game behind Philly for home field advantage, I think the Astros can make it up tomorrow by beating the hapless Brew-crew(who have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs). The Lima start will be HUGE in influencing the the rest of the season, but I know Ausmus can keep him under control.

------------------
Founder and President of the Houston Homers Club(HHC) - Are you a homer? Join now!

The Rockets will be NBA champions. Believe.

[DaDakota]

Stos 3-0 with the largest lead of any division in Major League Baseball.

It could be our year, I am feeling it..

http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

DaDakota

------------------
If you like RTS games, check out this one.

www.frontierwars.com

coming soon to a PC near you.

[ROXRAN]

It already is a "magical" atmosphere for this team!...btw is D. WARD da Bom or what?!

------------------
I'm just a nut, trying to get a squirrel!

[DaDakota]

4-0

Going to keep bumping this until the streak ends...maybe we have the '85 Tigers here...wire to wire..

Winning is contagious...and remember Crash said "Never F!ck with a winning streak"

DaDakota

------------------
If you like RTS games, check out this one.

www.frontierwars.com

coming soon to a PC near you.

[finalsbound]

Go 'Stros! Sweep the Pirates!

------------------
Chris Webber at the July 28, 2001 3:00 PM news conference when he announces where he will go:

"It seemed tough, but with guidance from Steve Francis, I learned my true destiny. That destiny is to play for the Houston Rockets, to bring them back to championship glory. One big man is all they need, and I believe I can fill that void. Thanks to the loyal fans in Sacramento, but Houston, Texas is where I belong."

[Raven Lunatic]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by DaDakota:
Winning is contagious...and remember Crash said "Never F!ck with a winning streak"
</font>

You know why? Because they don't happen very often. Andd if you think you are winning because you are breathing through your eyelids, or eating certain foods, or wearing women's underwear, then you are!

Love that movie.

------------------
"Any event, once it has occurred, can be made to appear inevitable by a competent historian."
Lee Simonson

[RKMAN]

Read the sig...

------------------
RKMAN

Proud believer of the 2001 World Champion Houston Astros.

[Gascon]

Only 158 more to go. http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/tongue.gif

------------------
"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.

There is another which states that this has already happened."


Douglas Adams

[Raven Lunatic]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Francis3:
www.astrosconnection.com (http://www.astrosconnection.com)

</font>

The only problem I have with this site is its BBS is of crappy design. I hate that cascading messages crap. You have to click on each individual post in order to read it.

However, like Clutchcity.net, this site is home to all the most knowledgable Houston sports fans, so really there is no other Astros BBS alternative.

The guys who run the site are pretty cool, and I really dig all their columns.

------------------
"Any event, once it has occurred, can be made to appear inevitable by a competent historian."
Lee Simonson

[JayZ750]

Used to be a fairly active one at Astros.com until MLB took over. A lot of the regulr members there left and formed their own ezboard type BBS, which can be found below.

http://pub45.ezboard.com/bastrosbaseball

It isnt as active as Clutchcity (is there any BBS as active as clutchity?) but a lot fo the guys over there are pretty knowledgeable and long time astros fans.

------------------
Haha.. you fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is: Never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well know is this: Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!

[Band Geek Mobster]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by DaDakota:
Going to keep bumping this until the streak ends...
</font>

RIP Thread

[DaDakota]

Still in first, so....

Bump.

DaDakota

------------------
If you like RTS games, check out this one.

www.frontierwars.com

coming soon to a PC near you.

[haven]

Is there a clutchcity.net type place for the Astros?

------------------
I would believe only in a God who could dance. - Friedrich Nietzsche

[Francis3]

www.astrosconnection.com (http://www.astrosconnection.com)

------------------
"Break off the block like Maurice Green" --- Steve Francis

President of the Moochie Norris fan club.

[DaDakota]

Bumperoooo !!

------------------
If you like RTS games, check out this one.

www.frontierwars.com

coming soon to a PC near you.

[Timing]

A great game from Lima tonight. Wade Miller goes tomorrow!

------------------
The ox is slow but the Earth is patient.

[Ali Cat]

Does anyone else think Truby is great? He had an awesome outing tonight.

------------------

[Lynus302]

Here's to hoping the Astro's will hold on to their talent.

Seriously, I love the 'Stros. I just hate hearing how good they are at picking up "young talent" only to have the "young talent" bolt 'cause Drayton won't pay them.

Excellent outing tonight, great job Jose, and hell yeah Truby!

------------------
"I have no regrets except that I wasn't up to keep Randy from getting on that plane."
--Ozzy Osbourne on guitarist Randy Rhodes

[Frank Black]

If we can get this kind of production out of our #8 hitter all season then I'll just sit back in my recliner scratching myself and smile as I see the 'Stros post W after W.

It's nice to see Lima do well. We have to have quality starts from him.

Go 'Stros!!

------------------
"...just because a clever person can complicate the discussion about the truth doesn't necessarily mean he or she is making any progress in finding it."

[Band Geek Mobster]

Our true test will be this friday when the St. Louis series begins.

I'm not ready to believe this team is playoff bound when all they've done is beat the brewers and the pirates. They didn't even win the series against the Pirates.

As far as Lima remember he's 9-0 against the Brewers in his career so it's not that surprising that he shut them out, he owns them.

Sorry for the Reality Police sighting.

Anyway I am very happy Truby, Biggio, and Wagner are producing.

This weekend series is going to be a big sign to what we can expect from this team for the rest of the season.

------------------
Never judge a man until you walk a mile in his shoes. That way when you do judge him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes.

[gr8-1]

I think we'll definitley contend. It's between us and St. Louis, imo. The Cards don't scare me as much as last year.

I didn't know Wade Miller had that kind of stuff.

Wags flat-out embarassed the Brewers. I was embarassed for them.

Lynus, I don't think Houston lost talent cuz it was cheap. There were a variety of reasons. The Stros made competitive offers to both Randy and Kile. Hampton was another issue.

------------------
"norm, would you like to buy an indian scalp ? This deal isn't gonna make or break me Norm, so don't jerk me around." Harry Carey "Norm, if I had a mohawk scalp, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."

[dylan]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by gr8-1:

Lynus, I don't think Houston lost talent cuz it was cheap. There were a variety of reasons. The Stros made competitive offers to both Randy and Kile. Hampton was another issue.

</font>


They were very competitive with Kile but I really don't remember us being that close to Arizona's offer. They offered him an extra year AND a higher yearly salary if I remember correctly.

Even if we had, though, it was pretty clear he wanted to be in Arizona.

Now Kile is just a stingy bastard who take slightly more per year to play in a state with an income tax. So not only is he a stingy bastard, he's a retarded stingy bastard.




------------------

[Lynus302]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">They were very competitive with Kile but I really don't remember us being that close to Arizona's offer. They offered him an extra year AND a higher yearly salary if I remember correctly.</font>

I believe you're right. I got the impression Randy would have stayed had we matched that offer. After all, the 'Stros were a LOT closer to contention than Arizona.

On another note: Wagner is an absolute STUD. Damn, I love his arm!

------------------
"I have no regrets except that I wasn't up to keep Randy from getting on that plane."
--Ozzy Osbourne on guitarist Randy Rhodes

[gr8-1]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Lynus302:
I believe you're right. I got the impression Randy would have stayed had we matched that offer. After all, the 'Stros were a LOT closer to contention than Arizona.

On another note: Wagner is an absolute STUD. Damn, I love his arm!
</font>

Kile was just being a punk. I don't think it was about the money with him.

Johnson never took a liking to Houston, imo. He said the right things,and we just started the bidding for him.

The ESPN announcers were practically laughing at the Brewers. Only Jenkins could get a foul tip. BTW, why the heck was Jenkins b!tching to the umps ? Was Wags throwing TOO hard ?



------------------
"norm, would you like to buy an indian scalp ? This deal isn't gonna make or break me Norm, so don't jerk me around." Harry Carey "Norm, if I had a mohawk scalp, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."

[Frank Black]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by gr8-1:
BTW, why the heck was Jenkins b!tching to the umps ? Was Wags throwing TOO hard ?
</font>

Those strike calls were...uh...questionable. Not that I'm rooting for the other team or anything. IMO it was just obvious that the ump either sucked or just wanted to go home.

------------------
"...just because a clever person can complicate the discussion about the truth doesn't necessarily mean he or she is making any progress in finding it."

[gr8-1]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Frank Black:
Those strike calls were...uh...questionable. Not that I'm rooting for the other team or anything. IMO it was just obvious that the ump either sucked or just wanted to go home.

</font>

They may have landed outside, but they definitely went through the strike zone. One of em may have been questionable, but I don't see it.



------------------
"norm, would you like to buy an indian scalp ? This deal isn't gonna make or break me Norm, so don't jerk me around." Harry Carey "Norm, if I had a mohawk scalp, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."

[Frank Black]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by gr8-1:
They may have landed outside, but they definitely went through the strike zone. One of em may have been questionable, but I don't see it.
</font>

Alright, we don't need to debate this. Or do....nah. One pitch to Jenkins was clearly a ball. My roommates and I all laughed simultaneously when the ump called it a strike.


------------------
"...just because a clever person can complicate the discussion about the truth doesn't necessarily mean he or she is making any progress in finding it."

[Raven Lunatic]

This thread is going to dominate for a long time if the Astros can do a wire to wire... here's to hoping this thread remains in near the top for months and months!

------------------
"Any event, once it has occurred, can be made to appear inevitable by a competent historian."
Lee Simonson

[bobrek]

The first true test will be this weekend against the Cardinals. They'll face Kile, Ankiel and Benes. Although they have gotten off to a good start, it is hard to get too excited when you realize they are 5-0 against the Brewers and 1-2 against the Pirates. The positives have been good pitching (for the most part) and they have scored some runs without much help from Bagwell and no help from Alou, but, again, they have played all of their games against a couple of teams with highly suspect pitching.

------------------

[Timing]

Damn Wade Miller was the friggin man tonight. I didn't know he could throw up in the 95-96 mph range. He sure had great stuff tonight. The Brewers looked lost out there. Let's hope for the SWEEP tomorrow!

------------------
The ox is slow but the Earth is patient.

[DaDakota]

To coin Gene Peterson...

How sweet it is....

Astros 4-2 over the Cards.

DaDakota

------------------
If you like RTS games, check out this one.

www.frontierwars.com

coming soon to a PC near you.

[Puedlfor]

I have a feeling that this thread might be spending a lot of time at the top.

------------------
Founder and President of the Houston Homers Club(HHC) - Are you a homer? Join now!

The Rockets will be NBA champions. Believe.

[Timing]

Great game tonight! I love these pitching duels. Kent Bottenfield was fantastic! I kept waiting for him to falter but it never happened. I heard Moises Alou might be back tomorrow too. Great news!

------------------
The ox is slow but the Earth is patient.

[Frank Black]

Long live the Stros all alone in first place !!! thread!!! With Bottenfield's performance tonight I'd hate to see him demoted to the pen. I'd much rather have Dotel as a reliever. This 5-man rotation to go along with our relief is pretty sweet.

1)Elarton
2)Reynolds
3)Lima
4)Miller
5)Bottenfield

------------------
"...just because a clever person can complicate the discussion about the truth doesn't necessarily mean he or she is making any progress in finding it."

[Puedlfor]

Why constrain ourselves with a 5-man rotation?

------------------
Founder and President of the Houston Homers Club(HHC) - Are you a homer? Join now!

The Rockets will be NBA champions. Believe.

[Frank Black]

s.o.p.

------------------
"...just because a clever person can complicate the discussion about the truth doesn't necessarily mean he or she is making any progress in finding it."

[SamCassell]

The Cards could be in real trouble this season if McGwire can't stay healthy. A real opening for the Stros.

As for the rotation, I'd put Dotel back in the pen myself (where he was more effective last season). At least give Bottenfield the chance; he's got more pitches and is more durable. If he fails or if Shane suffers a setback, Dotel is a nice security policy.

------------------
I'm about to boldly go where many men have gone before.

[JayZ750]

Ive heard we can expect to see Shane come back either April 17th or April 18th, depending on whether or not he takes Dotel's or Bottenfield's spot.

I think Dotel actually has more potential, but the consistency isnt there yet. Bottenfield is a veteran pitcher who, in combination with a veteran catcher (Ausmus) can be fairly consistent, say a 14-7 record or so. The only worries I have with Bottenfield are pitching in Enron. As far as Dotel goes, he is a on one day, off another type at the moment. With some experience and good tutalage he should become the better pitcher.

Tommorow's game should be interesting. How will Ankiel fare after beating Arizona? I think it is fair to say this Astros lineup has a little bit more pop in their bats.

------------------
Haha.. you fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is: Never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well know is this: Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!

[bobrek]

Reynolds is scheduled to pitch Wednesday which would be Bottenfield's normal turn. it is a nice problem to have as long as all continue to pitch well. Dotel's next start could decide if it is he or Kent who eventually go to the pen. I would hate to see Dotel pitch well and then be taken out of the rotation. Hopefully, Elarton will step up tomorrow and break the Astros 3 game losing streak in day games. 7-0 at night, 0-3 during the day.

------------------

[bobrek]

The daytime jinx is over - Astros 7 Cardinals 4, Wagner gets his 4th save. Elarton pitches great except for 3 solo home runs. He also left the game after some sort of injury in the 8th inning. Let's hope it was only a precautionary measure.

------------------

[Francis3]

Truby with 2 more homers today. Gives him 6 for the year. #2 in the NL.

------------------
"Break off the block like Maurice Green" --- Steve Francis

President of the Moochie Norris fan club.

[JayZ750]

Starting to get some recognition:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/columns/kurkjian_tim/1171904.html

With nightmare of 2000 over, Astros back and kicking

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Tim Kurkjian
ESPN The Magazine



You know all is well with the Astros when the sparkle is back in Craig Biggio's eyes and the limp is gone from his stride. All is well when Jeff Bagwell is at his self-deprecating best, joking about his shortness and his swing -- "I have 48 check-swing strikeouts already," he says. All is well when Billy Wagner's elbow doesn't hurt, and he's throwing in the mid-90s.

All is well everywhere with the Astros, quite a change from this time last season. They've made friends with their ballpark, their lineup is one of the best in the game, their pitching looks better than it has in several years and they've won six of their first eight games. And they've done this with little production from Bagwell, and with no help from left fielder Moises Alou or right-handed pitcher Shane Reynolds, who have yet to play this year because of injuries.

We've got a chance to be very good," says Wagner. "Good things are happening to us again."

That started late last season -- too late to salvage anything other than setting the National League record for home runs in a season -- when the Astros decided that they can't beat little Enron Field, so they might as well beat it to death.

"Going there wasn't an easy adjustment," Wagner says. "We went from one of the biggest parks (Astrodome) in the game -- you could throw the ball in the middle of the plate there -- to one of the smallest. We had to change everything. At Enron, you have to pitch inside as much as possible. Now, we are."

They didn't win their fourth game at Enron Field until May 9, 2000. They won their fourth game there this year on April 6. They've won because they've blasted their opponents, three of their four home wins have been over the Brewers. Third baseman Chris Truby ("look how big his arms are," says Biggio) homered in each of the first three games (Mark McGwire and Willie Mays are the only players in history to homer in each of the first four of a season); center fielder Richard Hidalgo knocked in 10 runs in the first three games -- no player in the last 25 years had that many RBI so early in a season.

As good as those guys were, the Pirates, who also got a good look at Houston's power, raved mostly about outfielder Daryle Ward, who has slimmed down from last year but won't even start when Alou returns. Believe it or not, the NL record 249 homers the Astros hit last season might last just one season the way they're hitting the ball.

"Corner to corner," Bagwell says of the new success at Enron. It's a very small ballpark down each line, but a big place to dead center. The Astros have their pull swings going this season.

But what they also have is strength of pitching, which comes primarly from an attitude change. "No more excuses," says pitching coach Burt Hooton. He made it clear from the start of spring training that there will be no complaining about the dimensions at Enron: it is what it is, deal with it. Anyway, it's not as hitter-friendly as it was last year after netting was put up in left center; already, two or three balls that were home runs last year have been doubles this season. Hooton also has stressed pitching inside more, and throwing more fastballs. "What I saw when I got here (midway through) last year, was a bunch of guys throwing a lot of breaking balls," Hooton said. "What is it that gets players signed? A good fastball."

Few have a better one than Wagner, who is healthy again after attempting to pitch through excruciating pain in his elbow for the first two months of last year. The pain is gone, he has two saves and hasn't allowed a run in four innings. In his one-inning save on Tuesday night against the Brewers, he struck out the side in the ninth on 11 pitches.

"I owe it all to Robb Nen," Wagner said. "He told me last year to get my elbow done (surgery) right away rather than wait until the winter. I couldn't have been ready for this year if I had waited." Wagner also has more help than ever this season, with Doug Brocail and Mike Jackson by his side.

Wagner still has the best stuff on the staff, but Wade Miller is a close second. Miller's stuff was undeniably good last season, but he's been even better in his first two starts this year against as he has struck out 23 batters in 16 2/3 innings.

With Jose Lima apparently over his fear of Enron, Scott Elarton at the top of his game and Reynolds on the way back, the Astros' rotation has a chance to be dominant by July. And running the staff is catcher Brad Ausmus, who is considered to be one of the game's best handlers of pitchers.

Bagwell and Biggio were among those who questioned why the Astros would trade their pal Ausmus two years ago. Well, he's back. And there they were, three good friends, taking early batting practice at Milwaukee's Miller Park on Tuesday. Their smiles were unmistakable. They were smiles that we didn't see at all last year.

------------------
Haha.. you fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is: Never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well know is this: Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!

[This message has been edited by JayZ750 (edited April 14, 2001).]

[DiSeAsEd MoNkEy]

well i dont know that much about all the other teams, but i do know i love the 'stros! i went to their pre-season game on umm friday...... march 30th against the red sox, the 'stros won yay! well just thought yall guys needed to know that! and enron field is pretty kick ass!! bye byes=)

------------------
im a girl...YAY!!!

[gr8-1]

what the hell was Barker thinking scoring from second ? he was out by a mile.....

------------------
"norm, would you like to buy an indian scalp ? This deal isn't gonna make or break me Norm, so don't jerk me around." Harry Carey "Norm, if I had a mohawk scalp, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."

[JayZ750]

As of right now the Stros are no longer alone in first place (Chicago???). Perhaps this thread should die and a new one should start when they recapture sole possession of 1st in the Central!

------------------
Haha.. you fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is: Never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well know is this: Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!

[unt2003]

got to love the 'stros!!! they are going to have a fabulous season

------------------

[RocksMillenium]

No wire to wire this year. But still a great start considering the disaster of a season the Astros had last year.

------------------
See the three, be the three.

[gr8-1]

Looks like the Pirates will be one of those teams that gives the Stros trouble, like the Cards and Reds have in the past.

------------------
"norm, would you like to buy an indian scalp ? This deal isn't gonna make or break me Norm, so don't jerk me around." Harry Carey "Norm, if I had a mohawk scalp, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."

[Raven Lunatic]

Thought I might bring this thread back, since the Astros are in first place again. :D

Now we can just post in this thread, instead of starting a new Astros thread every couple of games.

Houston Astros, your 2001 World Series Champions!

:D