Tag Archives: Houston Astros

Aug28

Fun Fact Friday: Houston Astros Orbit Best Mascot EVER!

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Well it has been a hard busy week and we could all use a laugh so here are some of the best clip of the Astros Mascot Orbit. Who even though I am a Ranger fan I just love Orbit he makes me laugh so have a laugh and smile the weekend is here.

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Jul21

MLB Predictions: The Surprise Factor

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I hate making predictions. It’s a hard thing to do. You take a roster of men, and based on stats and previous performance and/or scouting reports, you make a prediction.  There is an element in baseball that no one talks about but everyone knows: The Surprise Factor. While self-explanatory, it has many examples: the 1951 Giants — “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” — a dream when on the bottom that you can work your way to the top of the standings.

 

In more recent years, the 2004 Red Sox, during the ALCS, down three games to none, came back to beat the Yankees ( which you know I am always happy about) and later win the World Series against the Cardinals.

This year, I tried my hand at predicting the winners and wildcards. My NL Predictions and  AL Predictions.  I admit fully that I was blinded by Cub fandom. I just really want to see the Cubs in the World Series.  I was surprised at Lester. I thought he had a pickoff move. This is essential in small ball in the NL.  No one could have guessed what the Astros have done. I mean, if I weren’t a huge Ranger fan, I would be cheering for these Texas boys. The Astros have made the AL West a real division, with some real competition.

Who would I pick to win now? Well, being a glutton for punishments, I would say this:

My new AL predictions:

West: I would like to see the Astros beat the Angels, and I predict Astros will win the division. I think that if they make some trades, there could be real Wild West fun. I see the Angels being the wild card again, like last year.

Central:  Royals Royals Royals. They still have the magic from last year, and, no surprise, what make a great team great: camaraderie.

East: If you going to spend some money, you might as well get something for it. The Yankees should be on top, for all they put into the team.

My new NL predictions:

West: I love the Dodgers, where pitching is king. There is going to be some back-and-forth in the standings with the Giants, Dodgers will prevail.

Central: I think we will see The Surprise Factor at work. The Pirates are coming back in a big way. It’s going to make for some fun baseball.

East: Chocolate sauce all around. The Nationals have this in the bag. That being said, I see the Mets coming in as the wild card.

 

 

 

Jul16

Q and A with Miss Baseball

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For today’s post, I was inspired by Jon Heyman. I used a few of the question he answers For example, he was asked who gives the best interviews. I haven’t had any responses yet to my two interview requests.  Feel free to ask me questions, and I will respond.

1. DH or no DH?

DH. This chick digs the long ball.

2. Favorite team: Rangers or Royals?

ALWAYS RANGERS!

3. Favorite baseball movie?

“A League of Their Own.” Also answer to favorite movie.

4. Peanuts or Cracker Jack?

Cracker Jack

5. Slugfest  or pitchers’ duel?

Slugfest. Chick digs the long ball!!!!!

6. Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig?

Lou Gehrig

7. Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays?

Mays

8. Favorite baseball food?

Hot dogs

9. Beer or soda during a game?

I always drink soda because you never know when a ball is going to come flying at you.

10. Surprise team of the year?

Houston Astros

 

Jun5

Sad Fact Friday: Goodbye Tal’s Hill

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Artist rendition of the new centerfield from the Houston Astros

This is the last year of Tal’s Hill, the 30 degree incline in centerfield at Minute Maid Park. Miss Baseball is a little sad that it is leaving.

Some facts about the hill:

With the removal of the hill the center field wall will be 409 and not 436

It will now be the 6th longest outfield

No injuries were ever cause by the hill

Now lets go to the tape

For more info go to http://www.foxsports.com/southwest/story/astros-removing-tal-s-hill-at-minute-maid-park-060415

 

May14

Can you guess who is in the picture?

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Well for throw back Thursday I thought I would play a game. This is the Championship poster of the minor league double A team for the Houston Astros affiliate the Corpus Christi Hooks. Do you know who is on the top row? I highlighted him for you here.

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Apr14

Miss Baseball’s MLB Franchise Four picks

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Oh lets have some fun today. I love baseball, I love everything about the game, and I love the long rich history of the game. So MLB has a ballot online at :http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2015/ .jsp

Well I thought I would give you my picks for each team. Now i have to say this was hard. My love of the game and some personal morals and knowledge of the game really made some of these choices hard. In some cases I would cry out to the baseball gods and ask how am I supposed to choose. (toughest teams were Yankees and Red and Cardinals)

So being a life long Texas girl lets start there

Texas Rangers: When I think of Ranger baseball who comes to mind. Now I don’t know if the team made the list or if MLB made the list but my first three choices were no brainers.

Micheal Young, Ivan Rodriguez, Nolan Ryan and my write in because I don’t know how you can talk about Ranger baseball and not mention him. RUSTY GREER!

Astros: I really thought about who do you think about when you think about the Astros, Nolan Ryan is a given. Then you have to pick the killer Bees. Bagwell, Berkman and HOF Biggio

Angels: Anderson, Guerrero,Finley,Salmon

A’s: Simmons, Foxx, Henderson, Eckersley

Mariners: Griffey, Johnson, Martinez, Suzuki

White Sox: Minnie Minoso,Harold Baines,Frank Thomas,Paul Konerko

Indians: Bob Feller,Jim Thome,Omar Vizquel,Tris Speaker

Tigers: Ty Cobb,Alan Trammell,Hank Greenberg,Justin Verlander

Royals:George Brett,Bret Saberhagen,Alex Gordon,Write In: Bo Jackson

Twins:Kirby Puckett,Walter Johnson,Rod Carew,Harmon Killebrew

Red Sox: Cy Young,Carl Yastrzemski,Ted Williams,Pedro Martinez

Orioles: Cal Ripken Jr,Brooks, Robinson,Frank Robinson,Jim Palmer

Yankees: Joe DiMaggio,Lou Gehrig,Babe Ruth,Mickey Mantle

Rays: Evan Longoria,Carlos Pena,David Price,James Shields

Blue Jays: Jose Bautista,Joe Carter,Carlos Delgado, and because I can write in my favorite Blue Jay Frank Catalanotto

National League

Braves:Hank Aaron,Greg Maddux,John Smoltz,Eddie Mathews

Marlins: Livan Hernandez,Giancarlo Stanton,Josh Beckett Write in: Rick Helling

Mets: John Franco,Dwight Gooden,Mike Piazza,David Wright

Phillies: Chuck Klein,Jimmy Rollins,Mike Schmidt,Chase Utley

Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman,Andre Dawson,Vladimir Guerrero,Gary Carter

Cubs: Ernie Banks,Ryne Sandberg,Ferguson Jenkins,Ron Santo

Reds: Johnny Bench,Barry Larkin,Joe Morgan,Frank Robinson

Brewers:Prince Fielder, Rollie Fingers,Paul Molitor,Robin Yount

Pirates: Roberto Clemente,Ralph Kiner,Willie Stargell,Honus Wagner

Cardinals:Lou Brock,Dizzy Dean,Rogers ,Hornsby,Stan Musial

Diamondbacks: Luis Gonzalez,Randy Johnson,Curt Schilling,Matt Williams

Rockies: Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla,Todd Helton,Larry Walker

Dodgers: Steve Garvey,Sandy Koufax,Jackie Robinson,Fernando Valenzuela

Padres: Adrian Gonzalez,Tony Gwynn,Trevor Hoffman,Jake Peavy

Giants: Christy Mathewson,Willie Mays,Buster Posey, and I don’t know how you can talk about the Giants and not mention Will Clark so he is my last write in vote.

Ok so that’s the list, Who would you pick?

Nov24

Vote for Biggio

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The list for the Hall of Fame is out. This list is a veritable who’s who of baseball from the ’90s. Two of the “Killer B’s” are on the list, and the scuttlebutt is that Craig Biggio will not have enough votes to make it this year, after falling short last year. I am so mad right now, I am wearing my Astros hat. Why are we having this conversation? Why is it not just a given? So let me refresh the BBWAA minds of who Craig Biggio is. I could say something simple: 3,000 hits. That should be enough to get someone who hasn’t cheated into the Hall of Fame, But apparently, the BBWAA needs more, so let’s look at something I hold near and dear to my heart. He stayed with one team his whole career. 291 home runs, an All-Star and in the ’90s, a force to be reckoned with. In the Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, page 315, he says Craig Biggio is the BEST UNRECOGNIZED PLAYER. He also lists Biggio as number 35 of the 100 GREATEST PLAYERS OF ALL TIME, which you can read about on page 162. I will summarize for you. Biggio is better than Ken Griffey Jr., other than home runs. I am not someone who is an expert in baseball, but Bill James is, and to quote:

“Look, I’m not knocking Ken Griffey. Ken Griffey Jr. is a great ballplayer. Craig Biggio is better. The fact that nobody seems to realize this, well that’s not my problem. I’m not going to rate players by how many Nike commercials they do.” (Page 362 if you want to read the whole summary yourself).

I am done with my rant, but there is a real injustice in baseball. Craig Biggio needs to be in the Hall of Fame, and he needs to be in NOW!