Tag Archives: Baseball

No more Not-Stros

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Glad we got that settled. New owner Jim Crane ended a week of speculation and rare attention on a national level and anticipated backlash among Houstonians, saying he would not change the name of the club – a possibility he … Continue reading →

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The Houston Not-Stros

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, hell no. Even more drastic changes could come next year, when the [Astros move] to the American League. Possible transformations include new uniforms and logos, changes to the playing field and “Tal’s Hill” in center field, and even a … Continue reading →

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Larkin elected to Hall of Fame

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Barry Larkin on his Cooperstown call. I just wish he had some company for the dais. Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop and current ESPN analyst Barry Larkin was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday, getting 86.4 … Continue reading →

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MLB labor deal calls for more use of replay

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This overview of what’s in the proposed collective bargaining agreement for Major League Baseball has the following interesting tidbit: MLB wants to expand replay to include fair-or-foul calls, “whether a fly ball or line drive was trapped” and fan interference … Continue reading →

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Skeeter mascots

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Swatson and Moe, the mascots of the Sugar Land Skeeters. I guess when your franchise is named for a winged pest, your options for cuddly anthropomorphic representations are somewhat constrained. Be that as it may, the Phillies Phanatic comparison … Continue reading →

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Ron Santo elected to Hall of Fame

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Long overdue. Ron Santo, a nine-time All-Star who amassed 342 home runs and five Gold Glove awards, has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Golden Era Committee, it was announced today. Santo was the lone … Continue reading →

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Sports Authority will not impede Astros move to AL

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

One of the odd side stories that came out after MLB officially approved the sale of the Astros to Jim Crane was this contention by attorney Kevin W. Yankowsky of Fulbright & Jaworski that the Astros’ lease at Minute Maid … Continue reading →

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MLB approves Astros sale

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official. Jim Crane’s $610 million purchase of the Astros from Drayton McLane was unanimously approved by Major League Baseball’s owners this morning. All that remains is a formal closing of the transaction, which likely will take place early next … Continue reading →

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Astros almost to the AL

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s happening. Prospective Astros owner Jim Crane and his group of investors have reached an agreement with Major League Baseball that would shift the franchise to the American League, two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed Friday. One person … Continue reading →

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Good enough to do it twice

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I confess I did not follow the World Series very closely this year. I caught a few bits and pieces of games, including the latter innings of Game Six, but for the most part missed them. My first thought after … Continue reading →

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Shunning A&M

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not just the UT-A&M football game that’s on the endangered list. The SEC-bound Aggies have said they’d love to keep playing UT as a non-conference foe, but Longhorns athletic director DeLoss Dodds has said the school’s football schedule is … Continue reading →

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Astros to the AL update

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I remain puzzled by this. Major League Baseball is discussing with prospective Astros owner Jim Crane possible compensation for agreeing to move the team to the American League. Three people familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday that MLB has … Continue reading →

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RIP, UT-A&M

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Tradition, schmadition. This Thanksgiving one of college football’s oldest and most storied rivalries will be put on indefinite hold when Texas and Texas A&M meet for the last time as Big 12 foes. The Aggies wanted to continue the series … Continue reading →

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Will the feds get another shot at Clemens?

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Probably. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton is considering the possibility that putting Clemens on trial again would subject him to double jeopardy. Walton, who declared a mistrial on July 14, has ordered both sides to submit their arguments in writing … Continue reading →

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Steroid prevalency: Opinions differ

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Richard Justice writes about steroids in sports, in particular steroid use among high school students, and quotes a familiar source. [Don Hooton] cites a Procter & Gamble Co. study in which 2,000 kids were asked if an adult, parent, coach … Continue reading →

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Judge declares mistrial in Clemens case

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve got to be kidding me. The judge declared a mistrial Thursday in baseball star Roger Clemens’ perjury trial after prosecutors showed jurors evidence that the judge had ruled out of bounds. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said Clemens could … Continue reading →

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Der-ek Jet-er!

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Clap-clap-clap clap clap. After Derek Jeter fouled off consecutive full-count pitches in the third inning on Saturday, the Yankee Stadium organist tickled the ivories to the tune of “Let’s-Go, Yank-ees!” Impulsively, the 48,103 fans who made up the sold-out crowd … Continue reading →

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MLB needs to stand by all of its players

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A brief history of baseball’s other color line. There is no Latin American Jackie Robinson, no single Hispanic ballplayer who lifted his people onto his back and crashed through baseball’s racist barricades. But there always has to be a first, … Continue reading →

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MLB realignment?

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this is interesting. A simple form of realignment being seriously considered has been raised in the labor talks between Major League Baseball and the players’ association, according to four sources: two leagues of 15 teams, rather than the current … Continue reading →

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Start ’em young

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Jordan Lyles, whom the Astros hope will be a big piece of their future, has arrived. The Astros took an injury to lefthander Wandy Rodriguez as a cue to summon Lyles to make his first major league start tonight against … Continue reading →

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Astros sold

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

With everything else that’s been going on I’ve only been peripherally aware of the ongoing sale of the Astros to a new owner, which is now official. Jim Crane stood behind the microphone Monday afternoon at Minute Maid Park, in … Continue reading →

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HISD approves tougher teacher evaluation plan

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I have some concerns about this. Teachers in the Houston Independent School District next year will face tougher job evaluations that grade them on their students’ test scores under a nationally watched plan that trustees approved Thursday. The 7-2 vote … Continue reading →

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A night with the Skeeters

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I learned a couple of interesting things from this Richard Justice column about the forthcoming Sugar Land Skeeters minor league baseball team. Among them: You may think you know what a Skeeter is, but you don’t. If you’re wondering what … Continue reading →

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Bike to the ballpark

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From the CTC email list, this is very cool: Bike to the Ballpark – May 1 Play Green Week at Minute Maid Park runs today through Sunday, May 1st. Throughout the week, the ballclub will be raising awareness of green … Continue reading →

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Bonds found guilty on one charge

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A mixed result for Barry Bonds and the feds who have been pursuing him. Just like the whole Steroid Era: We’ll never really know. Even the one charge that left Barry Bonds a convicted felon didn’t specify steroids. Instead, a … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Joltin’ Joe

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was my dad’s birthday. In his honor, here’s a classic clip of his favorite baseball player, Joe DiMaggio, appearing as the mystery guest on “What’s My Line” in 1955. All together now: Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, a … Continue reading →

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Alomar, Blyleven enter HOF

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Roberto Alomar and (at long last) Bert Blyleven for their election to the Hall of Fame. Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were chosen to the baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday, in an election in which voters again … Continue reading →

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The Skeeters have a stadium name

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We now know the name of the stadium that will someday house the Sugar Land Skeeters. Fun at the ol’ ballpark will now officially take place at….StarTex Power Field. It’s named, as you already know if you work for this … Continue reading →

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The 2011 Hall of Fame ballot

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Brace yourself for lots of posturing and moralizing about the eeeeevils of steroids and the general decline of society. Suspected steroid users Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez are on baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, joining Bert … Continue reading →

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Will their first fan giveaway be flyswatters?

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Sugar Land Skeeters? For serious? Sugar Land’s minor league baseball team has yet to be formed, but planners have begun selling tickets for its 2012 inaugural season Wednesday after unveiling the team’s name, the Skeeters. Hair Balls has a … Continue reading →

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An early peek at the Sugar Land baseball stadium

Posted on November 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the city’s web page: Sugar Land recently began the process to select a final design-build contractor for the construction of a minor league baseball stadium northeast of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A. A final decision is expected … Continue reading →

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Spreading the wealth

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s something that occurred to me after this year’s World Series concluded: In the past ten seasons, an awful lot of teams have celebrated milestones. Consider: In 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks won their first pennant and their first World Series … Continue reading →

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Sugar Land contemplates its transportation options

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via Houston Tomorrow, here’s an interesting story about how Sugar Land is thinking about the effect of the planned baseball stadium and Imperial Sugar Mill redevelopment on traffic. Both projects mean this older part of Sugar Land is likely to … Continue reading →

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Halladay makes history

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Roy Halladay waited his entire life to pitch in the postseason. Then he delivered the game of a lifetime. Halladay threw a no-hitter Wednesday in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Reds at Citizens Bank … Continue reading →

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