I went last night to the Houston Baseball Dinner which was held at the Hilton Americas. They honored Biggio with a lifetime achievement type of award...Pettitte was pitcher of the year...Ensberg was MVP...Lidge won the Darryl Kile award. Taveras won Astros rookie of the year. It was a blast. Thought I'd share with you guys about it: 1. Gene Coleman, the team doctor, is absolutely hilarious. He talked about how tiresome it was to hear Pettitte play Eye of the Tiger everyday in workouts and particularly on days he pitched...but was surprised that on Pettitte's CD, the songs immediately following Eye of the Tiger were by Cher. Talked about joining the team in the 70's, "around the time Lidge's father was born." 2. Garner talked about the 18 inning marathon being a microcosm of their entire season...starting out losing and never giving up, even when you're down to your last out...your last strike. He said when they were planning out bullpen rotation that day before the game, they planned to hand the ball to Pettitte from the 15th inning on if necessary. Then Pettitte shows up at the park with the flu...had been up all night with his kids who also had the flu. They sent him home. In the 12th Andy calls up Garner and says, "Skip, if you need me I can be there." Garner told him not to worry about it...that they would need him for another day. In the 14th inning Garner went back in the training room and Andy was already there in the hot tub loosening up...with about a 102 degree fever. He talked about looking out to that bullpen and seeing Clemens getting ready and realizing that history was going to be made that day. And then the elation of watching Chris Burke hit that homer in Bobby Thomson fashion. 3. The impression I came with strongest...I can not imagine a pro team with so many guys on it who are such "good" guys. I've never seen that before. The first thing they talk about when they talk about each other is integrity...their service to the community..the kind of man they each are. From Morgan...to Craig...to Andy...to Willy...to Brad...they're all just good guys. That clubhouse is tight. Very close. Each player, but especially Morgan Ensberg, thanked management for not breaking up the nucleus of the team after they started 15-30. 4. Adam Dunn was honored as the Houston area player of the year. He talked about how amazing the fans were in Houston...easily in the top 5 in the league, he said. Talked about how distracting it is with the noise in there when the roof is closed. Each Astro talked about that, too. Adam looked down the table and said, "I wish I could say thanks to Garner for this last season...Drayton, let's talk about that." 5. Despite the criticism they get...the Astros are a tremendous organization. Very well run. Good people. I can't wait for Opening Day!!!!!!
Max, you left off the fact that Rice Owl Joe Savery received the honor of Preseason College Baseball Player of the year. http://riceowls.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/012706aag.html Local Baseball Writers Honor Savery As Preseason College Player Of The Year Preseason Award Jan. 27, 2006 HOUSTON -- Sophomore first baseman/pitcher Joe Savery was presented with the plaque as the 2006 Houston Area Preseason College Player of the Year by the Houston Athletic Committee (HAC) and local chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America at the organization's annual awards dinner Friday evening downtown at the Hilton Americas grand ballroom. The Owls' standout was honored alongside Houston Astros stars Craig Biggio, Andy Pettitte, Morgan Ensberg, Brad Lidge, Willy Taveras and Phil Garner, manager of the 2005 National League champions. The HAC also honored the area's high school baseball head coach of the year and the members of the 2006 preseason all-Greater Houston high school all-star team. In thanking his family, coaches and teammates in his acceptance speech, Savery stole the show describing what baseball has meant to him and its unique rewards (such as the opportunity to represent the United States overseas as a member of Team USA last summer). His remark of "what a thrill it was to meet Craig Biggio at age five," drew a roar of applause from the dinner's capacity crowd. When Savery finished, Master of Ceremonies and broadcast Hall of Famer Milo Hamilton returned to the podium and told the crowd "that may be one of the best speeches I've ever heard."
texx -- you're right. sorry. Joe's speech was FANTASTIC. truly from the heart. Lidge came up next to introduce Gene Coleman and he said, "how in the world do i follow Joe's speech?" i was very impressed with Joe.
Awesome!!!! I know it's probably wishful thinking on my part, but I think that we have a very very good shot at Dunn when he's a FA. Even though it's a few years away, the thought of Dunn in our lineup gets me pumped up...
yeah, everyone kinda looked around at each other after he said that. he talked about coming to this baseball dinner every year and how impressive it is. it's the biggest one in the country...there were 1400 people there last night at $75/person.
he wasn't one of the honorees. other than the guys i mentioned, there were no astros in the crowd or at the dinner at all.
