StatPipes

I would say Austin by a mile, but I have never been to Boise so I can't compare the two. I lived in New Braunfels for a few years, which is about halfway between Austin and San Antonio, and it is hard to beat that area. Austin is very liberal compared to the rest of the state, but you can be a conservative and still have plenty of fun. I am from the Houston area originally and live there now, so I guess I am used to the humidity factor. As far as Texas not having anything to do, I couldn't disagree more. Unless you are wanting to do something in the snow, there is plenty to do. Big Bend National Park has the mountains, the coast has beaches and fishing, the central has the Hill Country, etc. 4 of the largest cities in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, yet still have plenty of space for small town living. Not to mention the economy didn't take the hit most of the country did, and there is also no state income tax. I travel quite a bit, and while there are other places I enjoy to visit I could never see myself living anywhere else. I just spent the last 3 months working in Wyoming out in the middle of nowhere, and I just can't get used to that kind of weather (-41 was the worst I saw). I will take 100 degrees everyday before I want to do that again...

Well of course everyone is worried about the Brewers play, and since they are still in first then it's win and your in...But having to deal with 3 teams trying to catch you instead of 2 should be worrisome, especially since the Astros remaining schedule is fairly soft. They are also 34-16 since the All-Star break. BTW, anyone still questioning the Wolf and Hawkins pick-ups? They are 8-1 in Wolf's starts, and Hawkins has a 0.00 ERA over 13 innings with 19 strikeouts. Ed Wade for GM of the Year!

These are guys I find or found annoying, I hate to say dislike because one of these days they might play for the Astros and then I could find them tolerable. Sort of like T.O. in Dallas, yes Im a Cowboy's fan... Julian Tavarez (ok, I wouldn't want this guy on my team anyway) Felipe Lopez Aramis Ramirez Fernando Vina Coco Crisp Albert Pujols Bret Boone and closing in: Braun and Fielder (They like to pimp the home run, and it usually seems to occur against us) BTW, Pence is just a goofy looking dude. I guess I can see how that would be annoying, but in no way does he showboat. I like him just because just watching him throw and run, you would think he was just pulled out of the stands to play right field.

And i guess it depends on who is considered a #2...Either way, he just better be a "big game" pitcher, haha

Hardy isn't going to get you a #2, not alone anyway. Your right, ACL, slightly better situation than Tommy John...

True, Braun is a lot scarier than Kapler, but Braun wasn't running the bases either. That first inning with Hardy's double, there would have been a runner at second and no outs, instead of the bases empty. The Cameron play I have no idea what was going on. Moehler was struggling last night, but the Brewers bailed him out a few times. But to stay on topic, Sabathia is pretty much out of the question for next year, and if Sheets isn't back, what do the Brewers do? Parra, Gallardo back from Tommy John, Suppan? The Brewers are going to have to spend money to stay close to the top, so saying Sheets isn't that guy I just don't understand. Again, I would be glad to have him here in Houston.

As an outside observer I have to ask then...If you don't want to bring back Sheets next year because you don't think he is a big game pitcher, then who are you going to bring in? Sabathia isn't coming back, so who are you going to spend the money on? I hear Lowe, Garland, etc, but are they better "big game" pitchers? I am just curious what the rationale is. Again, I am an Astros fan, so I just curious. Personally, even if there truly wasn't a "big game" pitcher, someone still has to get you to the big game. You know, Brandon Backe has pitched phenomenal in the playoffs, but would you take him over a Sheets, Garland, Lowe? Of course not, that would be ridiculous. Someone still has to get you to the big game, if you know what I mean. I think the main concern for the Brewers would be the inconsistency offensively. Last nights game would have been a lot different if ya'll wouldn't have been horrendous on the base paths. Hardy in the first getting thrown out with no outs trying to go to third, and Cameron trying to score with one out and being out by 20 ft. Maybe if Sheets had more than 2 runs every game it would be a different outcome. I don't mean this as bashing the Brewers, I like ya'll a heckuva lot more than the Cubs and Cards. Just some constructive criticism.

I can go either way on Sheets, and I am an Astros fan. I personally hope we can sign him, and if this is as bad as he pitches like some of ya'll are saying, then I will be more than happy. Just don't get on such a short term kick. Remember when we got Carlos Beltran? The guy was amazing for us in half a year, and everyone was declaring him the best center fielder in the game. We offered him a 111 million and he turned it down, and we couldn't have gotten any luckier on that one.

The prospects we gave up were most likely not going to amount to anything...I don't care what mlbtraderumors tells you, Reinenke was not going to be the next "Chad Qualls" or whoever else they tried to compare him too, and they also mentioned the draft position topic. If we hear the name Reinenke again,(for being a good pitcher)then I will come back to this thread and apologize. If he was that good he would have been in the bigs by now, especially with the lack of pitching we have. Im not saying I am an Ed Wade fan by any means, but people getting up in a stir over Randy Wolf? He has been fairly solid since coming here, and if anything maybe he will come back next year. There are worse back of the end rotation guys out there than him... We might have a dilusional owner sometimes, but I would rather have one that is willing to make a move to win than not...The stros have been pretty successful since he took over the team Im certain.

I don't think we here in Houston think we have a realistic shot of making the playoffs, we know all the teams we have to leapfrog and the games we still have to make-up. And we have been beating up on the likes of the Reds and Giants, however, since the All-Star break we have played very well. Hey, we have won every start that Randy Wolf has started, and Latroy Hawkins has pitched great. Losing Carlos Lee hurts, especially since he was on fire at the time, already driving in another 100 rbis this year. But you look at the D-Backs and Dodgers and you hear that those are decent teams, yet we have the same record in a much harder division. Im just glad we haven't mailed it in, at least it is still fun to watch. And i don't want to hear that we cost ourselves draft position because we won a few more games, this isn't basketball or football, it isn't that big of a deal where you draft in the 1st round.

I agree, the right field gap, before the bullpen, should be deeper. Maybe the wall should be a little taller as well. On a side note, with all of the oil and gas companies around Houston, I was hoping that when Enron tanked they would just replace the "n" and "r" with a couple of X's. Of course Exxon is a little conservative for that, however I do remember Conoco making a pitch. We do get to fill the train with those Texas-sized oranges now, so I guess it all worked out.

Im an Astros fan as well, and hearing the prolonged negativity of the park gets old. The hill hardly ever comes into to play, and the flag pole even less (sans Sexson). Oddly enough, I played a little college ball (D-III) and we once had a tournament out in L.A. We played at 4 different fields, and all but Occidental had hills in LEFT field, which happened to be my very position. Before the game I would get acquainted with them, but I never once felt my health was in jeopardy because of it. Of course I only had to actually climb it 2 or 3 times during a game. I understand the Crawford box complaint, I just wish they would jettison deeper quicker if that makes sense. Overall it is a nice park however, not exactly the circus some make it out to be. The way I usually tend to look at it, if a ball flies to the back or above the Crawfords, it would be a home run at most parks, except maybe the far right corner, those are the ones I hate the worst. It is also the place where Kendall home run droughts go to die. He hit one last year, maybe the year before, that broke a year plus long drought. He loves this place.

Unfortunately, the Puma has struck out 3 times tonight. On the other hand he stole his 9th base, tying his career high...I guess he is not taking the nickname lightly.

I enjoy listening to Rome every chance I can...I understand his style isn't for everyone, and when his show gets picked up in a new city that has never heard him, he will tell them it will probably take a while to catch on. Not liking him is one thing, but saying he isn't talented is completely wrong. He can't do a worse interview with Braun than Corolla did. Not being from Milwaukee or seeing Braun do any interviews, I thought he did just about as well as he could with the questions Adam was throwing at him.

Yes we do, but that is cool...It isn't like I would kick Prince off my team or anything

I had asked if you could take Berkmans yearly career numbers, or throw them away for the potential that Prince might bring. I realize there is an age difference, I know if you had to have one for the long haul here on out, it probably would be Prince. Most said that they would reject Berkmans numbers, all I said was I wouldn't be sure about that. Both are outstanding players I know. I just think Berkman brings more to the table is all.

Berkman is hilarious, and he is even keeled as well. He knows it is a long season and doesn't get distraught when he or the team is going bad or too happy vice/versa. Supposedly his first few years in the bigs he drove his old beat-up F-150(maybe even an F-100) to the park everyday, even when the A/C went out(not sure this is 100% true) He is just a goofy guy that happens to be a stud baseball player, but doesn't show it. Roy Oswalt said it best yesterday, If Lance was playing in New York or Boston, he would be the next president. He does speak the truth, almost too much, and was not happy about the offseason moves at first, harping on Valverde's antics and just the fact he had lost a lot of friends he had played with for years). But he also reached out to the new players(as well as Valverde) after he settled down and now seems to get along great with them. I still can't agree with the thought of Prince over Berkman, but everyone has their reasons.

I don't think that was the one that got people talking last year. It was a homerun vs the Astros at MP, where he looked in the dugout and flipped the bat. It was after that one on the 11th. Found it, Sept 5th Unless you were talking about hitting a good pitch, then you are correct sir

"I don't know why everyone has a problem with guys watching their home runs" Lets not get into that whole subject again...

Ha, yeah it has a ring to it, that is what he is called around the Houston area

Well almost every rotation lacks depth, that is why every year each playoff team has players that played over their head or had career years to get them there. I am not saying the Astros are the favorite, but in this division it isn't all that far-fetched. And as I asked on the other topic, if you could you take Berkmans career numbers and yearly output would you, or would you reject those for the potential that Prince obviously brings? Just a little hypothetical for ya. Oh, and Fatty Berks is good, but I am a fan of Big Puma, moreso than Fat Elvis...

The Astros look better than most are going to give credit. Everyone says the starting rotation is weak, but they have pitched better than most would have thought. Oswalt actually has the second highest ERA out of the starters, mostly from his first 3 outings of the year, however he has won his last 4. The "projections" might say they will be inadequate, but holding a 4.50 ERA or so might be good enough with that lineup. Kaz has been pretty big as well. He is getting on base, and one of the best defensive 2nd baseman in the league. A huge upgrade of what they had with Biggio the last few years. Bourn has struggled, but is still 2nd in league in steals, and is a big upgrade defensively as well. Tejada has been better than advertised, and Lee is driving in runs, although he hasn't looked as sharp as he has in the past. Berkman leads the league in HRs(13), RBIs(38), Runs scored(42), and slugging(.800), and is second in avg(.393) and hits (55). He is also a very good first baseman, which some dind't agree with in the topic I brought up last week. Dude is absolutely raking right now, hitting .605(26-43) during his 11 game hitting streak, and .641 in May total. And he is doing it from both sides of the plate, hitting .471 from the right side and .368 from the left. I tried to sell him last week and no one wanted to listen, just trying to back up my case again. But of course it will come down to pitching, which no one is going to be scared of until they prove it over the long haul, and the "projections" won't agree with most people

No, if Prince were guaranteed those numbers from Berkman's last 7 years. If you are saying you would rather have Prince, you would have to be willing to say that you would not accept those numbers, for the reasoning that Prince would put up better numbers. I realize age difference, that is why I mentioned that in the opening statement.

I wouldn't agree that Berkman is below average...He was below average when he played center,obviously, but at first he pretty decent. Ok then this, if you were guaranteed the numbers Berkman has put up the last 7 years for Prince, would you take it? Because if you do then you can't say you would rather have Fielder. Just opinion of course.

Im not viewing the struggles of Prince this year, more just the way Berkman seems to fly under the radar. I know people know he is a good hitter, I just don't think people realize how good. Take the last 2 years: Berkman AVG HR RBI OBP 2006 .315 45 136 .420 2007 .278 34 102 .386 Fielder 2006 .271 28 81 .347 2007 .288 50 119 .395 Last year was the first time Berkman's OBP fell below .400 since 2000. And taking in to account what Berkman did his 5 years before this(posted earlier)and now the start of this year, I just don't see how you can say Prince (or even Lee) just based on potential. Pure, raw power, maybe. But with everything included, I just don't understand the rationale.