2012 Astros: Game by game Follow all 162 games of the Astros' 2012 regular season. May 23: Astros 5, Cubs 1 J.D. Martinez went 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs to help the Astros complete a three-game sweep of the Cubs at Minute Maid Park. Record: 21-23. (James Nielsen / Chronicle) May 22: Astros 2, Cubs 1 Astros celebrate after beating the Cubs for their second straight victory. Record: 20-23. (Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle) May 21: Astros 8, Cubs 4 The Astros drew first blood against the Cubs with a pair of three-run home runs by Jason Castro and Chris Johnson.Record: 19-23. (Chronicle) May 20: Rangers 6, Astros 1 Jordan Lyles looks on as David Murphy rounds third base after he hit a ... Continue reading →
“Now, I return to this young fellow. And the communication I have got to make is, that he has great expectations.” -Charles Dickens, Great Expectations Mr. Dickens, arguably the greatest writer of the Victorian period, knew the 2012 Astros before you ever root, root, rooted for Jed Lowrie or had heard of Marwin Gonzalez. About 150 years before, in fact. Maybe you didn’t like Great Expectations or A Tale of Two Cities (I’m more of an Oliver Twist kind of guy, myself). That’s okay. You’re watching this novel play out in front of your eyes this summer. SIDE NOTE: Brett Myers might have a case against the legendary author. Looks to me like Dickens is guilty of plagiarizing the look of the potential All-Star closer. ... Continue reading →
You may recall that I commented in this space a few weeks ago about the condition of the Astrodome after reporters were allowed access to the building for the first time in about two years. Frankly, I still feel guilty every time I drive along the South Loop and see the Dome. Given our tendency to personify inanimate objects, I can just imagine it crying out, “Why have you forgotten me? Either fix me or put me out of my misery.” Clearly, I watched too many cartoons as a kid and beyond. End of digression. I returned to Reliant Park on Wednesday for the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp. board meeting to hear consultants’ reports on what should be done with the building. You ... Continue reading →
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As much as symmetry and the mighty dollar, the reason baseball seasons are 162 games long is players like J.D. Martinez. There will be highs like his first three weeks, which were probably a lie, and lows like his last three weeks, which also were probably a lie. Life as a ballplayer is a series of corrections, both self-imposed and probability-imposed, and for Martinez, the latest correction was to a 6-for-57 slump he had been riding since April 28. Martinez hit the go-ahead triple on a bloop down the right-field line and finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs as the Astros swept the Chicago Cubs with a 5-1 victory Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park. It was the Astros’ third sweep of the year, all at ... Continue reading →
