BallHype - Latest Houston Astros News Articles

Astros put an end to Castro's season

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 17:24:00 +0000

The Astros sent prospect Jason Castro home from the Arizona Fall League on Sunday, officially ending what was an eventful 2009 season for the 22-year-old catcher.

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Three more Astros file for free agency

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 01:22:00 +0000

Shortstop Miguel Tejada, reliever LaTroy Hawkins and third baseman Aaron Boone have filed for free agency.

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Phillies' Emergence Threatens World Series Chances of Low-Budget Teams

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:44:12 +0000

Can a low-budget team win the World Series? The answer is a qualified yes. But it appears to have gotten harder just within the past year or two. That's because historically it has been easier to do so from one of the two leagues than the other. Who are the high-budget teams? I drew the line at a payroll of $100 million for this year. Start with the two New York teams, the two Chicago teams, and the two Los Angeles teams. Then add Boston, Detroit, and Seattle in the American League, and Philadelphia and Houston in the National League. In the American League, if you said that three of the four contenders will be Los Angeles, New York, and Boston, you'd be right most years. Only the American League Central has any real competition, with all but Kansas City having won the division within the past five years. Who were the low-budget World Series winners? The St. Louis Cardinals in 2006. The Florida Marlins in 2003. The Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. All National League teams. There was almost ...

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Astros purchase contracts of Abad, Sutil

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 23:02:00 +0000

The Astros added Minor Leaguers left-hander Fernando Abad and shortstop Wladimir Sutil to the 40-man roster on Thursday to protect from the possibility of losing them in next month's Rule 5 Draft.

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Tejada, Valverde to head for free agency

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:11:00 +0000

Two of the Astros' best performers -- shortstop Miguel Tejada and closer Jose Valverde -- are among a group of Houston players expected to file for free agency during the filing period that began Thursday.

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New Astros Coach Bobby Meacham Victim of Memorable Base-Running Blunder

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 23:48:53 +0000

Let me preface this piece by saying that Bobby Meacham, the new Houston Astros first-base coach, is described as a very classy guy and a respected coach. They say that those who can, do and those who can't, teach. Baseball's filled with successful managers who were mediocre players (Tommy Lasorada had a lifetime pitching record of 0-4 while Earl Weaver never even made it to the big leagues). That being said, when I read that Meacham will be first-base coach and has even been a baserunning coach , it made me chuckle. Here's why: Meacham's in an elite club when it comes to baserunning immortality. He's one of only six pairs of runners in Major League history who were tagged out at home plate on a double play. Back on August 2, 1985, the New York Yankees were hosting the Chicago White Sox at Yankees Stadium. In the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied 3-3, Meacham was on second while Dale Berra (Yogi's son) was on first. Rickey Henderson cracked a 400-foot drive to deep left ...

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Astros decline option on Doug Brocail, add coaches

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:51:25 +0000

HOUSTON - The Houston Astros added several coaches to new manager Brad Mills' staff Friday, hiring Brad Arnsberg as their pitching coach, promoting Al Pedrique to bench...

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Gaston will manage Blue Jays through 2010

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:14:53 +0000

Sporting News staff reports Cito Gaston will return to manage the Blue Jays in 2010, according to the Toronto Star. Following the 2010 season, however, Gaston will serve as a consultant for four years. There had been some speculation that Gaston wouldn't be retained, mainly because there was a near player mutiny late in the season. Some players complained about Gaston's managerial style, his communication skills and the way he treated them. There was even a rift in the coaching staff, and as a result, pitching coach Brad Ansberg decided to leave the organization Friday to become the Astros' pitching coach. The Blue Jays finished 75-87 this season and fired general manager J.P. Ricciardi in the regular season's final weekend. Alex Anthopoulos is the team's new GM.

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Houston Astros decline option on Doug Brocail, add coaches

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:53:27 +0000

The Astros added several coaches to new manager Brad Mills' staff Friday.

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Blum re-signs with Astros

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:57:00 +0000

With the Astros facing uncertainty on the left side of the infield next season, the club re-signed veteran infielder Geoff Blum on Friday.

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Astros decline Brocail's option for 2010

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:50:00 +0000

Veteran relief pitcher Doug Brocail isn't quite ready to call it a career, but his time with the Astros is over.

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Astros add coaches, deny Brocail's option

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:50:00 +0000

The Astros on Friday announced they've hired Al Pedrique as bench coach and Bobby Meacham as first-base coach for the 2010 season.

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Will the Houston Astros Drop the Ball on Catchers? Chris Coste Now a Free Agent

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:52:06 +0000

If you're a veteran catcher, have your agent give the Houston Astros a phone call. The 'Stros just might need your services. That's because 36-year-old Chris Coste, acquired by Houston earlier this year after the Philadelphia Phillies had placed him on waivers, has rejected the team's outright assignment to Triple-A Round Rock and is now a free agent. Some believe the stat sheets define a player in strictly black-and-white terms, and they'd no doubt think this was a great move: Coste hit .224 this year with two home runs and 18 RBIs. With Houston, he hit .204 with 10 RBIs in 43 games. Coste is somewhat of a late bloomer to the MLB, having spent four seasons in the bigs. (No, that Disney movie The Rookie wasn't about Coste.) Let's face it—Coste's no Johnny Bench, but neither are the two catchers currently on Houston's roster: Humberto Quintero (who's 29) and J.R. Towles (who's 25). Neither is particularly great with the bat. Houston must be thinking that a 36-year-old man with four years of ...

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Astros hire Mills

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:08:40 +0000

HOUSTON -- Brad Mills is finally getting his chance to run a big-league team. The 52-year-old Mills was hired by the Astros yesterday after six seasons as Terry Francona's bench coach in Boston. He'll manage in the majors for the first time, thoug...

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Houston Astros Name Brad Mills the New Manager, Assign Fitting Jersey

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:25:52 +0000

Looking at the press conference photo of Brad Mills being named the new manager of the Houston Astros and watching Ed Wade and Drayton McLane look like they're playing tug-of-war with Wade's jersey, I see something very fitting. The Terry Francona disciple and former Boston Red Sox bench coach will wear jersey no. 2 with the Astros. You know: 2, as in second choice. Mills was named manager after the 'Stros first choice, Manny Acta, decided to take his act to the Cleveland Indians. One has to wonder how Mills feels being named manager only after the club's first choice nixed the idea. With Mills, we all will hope he turns into another Ben Roethlisberger. You remember: the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger after other highly-touted quarterbacks like Eli Manning had already been taken. Big Ben now has two Super Bowl rings. And, if my understanding of cinematic history is right, Ridley Scott was something like the fifth or sixth choice to direct Alien. Well, all Scott did was turn ...

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Francona thrilled for good friend Mills

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Terry Francona lost a coworker on Monday, but couldn't be more thrilled, as his good friend Brad Mills was named manager of the Houston Astros.

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Astros hire Red Sox coach Brad Mills as manager

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:20:12 +0000

Brad Mills is the new manager of the Houston Astros.

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Astros hire Mills as manager

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:16:43 +0000

Brad Mills is the new manager of the Houston Astros.

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Astros hire Mills as manager

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:54:15 +0000

Brad Mills is the new manager of the Houston Astros. The 52-year-old Mills has been Terry Francona's bench coach in Boston for the past six seasons. He'll manage in the majors for the first time, though he's managed a total of 11 seasons in the minors, with affiliates for the Chicago Cubs (1987-92), Colorado Rockies (1993-96) and Los Angeles Dodgers ...

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Astros hire Mills as manager

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:48:15 +0000

Brad Mills is the new manager of the Houston Astros.

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Astros hire Red Sox bench coach Mills as skipper

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:26:52 +0000

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Astros hire Red Sox's Mills as manager (AP)

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:24:29 +0000

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Astros hire BoSox bench coach Mills as manager

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:06:07 +0000

HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston Astros hire Brad Mills as manager.

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Report: Houston Astros to name Boston Red Sox's Brad Mills skipper

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:57:39 +0000

Boston Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills will be hired as the Houston Astros' next manager, KRIV-TV in Houston is reporting.

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Astros hire Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:53:00 +0000

The Houston Astros have hired Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills as their next manager. The team expects to make a formal announcement of the hiring sometime later today. ...

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Houston Astros Owner Drayton McLane Names Himself Manager (Satire)

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:27:36 +0000

Saying he wasn't satisfied with any of the candidates the Houston Astros interviewed, owner Drayton McLane will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. CST Wednesday to announce he's hiring himself as the team's manager. The team reportedly had tried to hire Manny Acta as manager, only for Acta to bolt the 'Stros for the Indians. Fans had also called on McLane to hire Astro greats Craig Biggio or Jeff Bagwell to manage the team. "After five minutes of careful consideration, I have decided to hire myself as manager," McLane said in a statement that he'll read tomorrow. "I like me, I like baseball, I like being on the field and I think I can do a good job running this team." McLane plans to try to hire Phil Garner, Dave Clark and Brad Mills as coaches. At least three other times in Major League Baseball history has an owner tried to manage a team: Judge Emil Fuchs managed the Boston Braves for a season in the late 1920s (they finished last); Chris Von Der Ahe for the Boston Braves (he ...

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Astros interview Mills for third time

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:47:00 +0000

Boston Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills arrived at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday morning to interview with the Astros for the third time about their vacant full-time manager position.

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Source: Houston Astros to interview Brad Mills for third time

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:53:54 +0000

The Houston Astros, moving closer to a decision on their managerial hire, were scheduled to hold a third interview Tuesday with Boston Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills, a source told ESPN.com.

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Mariners pitching co-ordinator Dave Wallace moves on

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:24:03 +0000

Dave Wallace was known as one of the better pitching coaches of his generation, helping to develop the arms of Orel Hersheiser, Pedro Martinez and John Wetteland, to name a few. The past two seasons, since leaving the Boston Red Sox in 2006 and spending a year with the Houston Astros, he'd been with the Mariners. His first job here was as a special assistant to GM Bill Bavasi, and then this past year as the team's minor league pitching co-ordinator. He worked closely with a number of young arms -- Mark Lowe, Brandon Morrow, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Phillippe Aumont, to name a few -- being groomed by the M's for better things.

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New Indians manager Acta sees Cleveland as his 'perfect place'

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:31:34 +0000

Manny Acta had two choices for his second job managing in the majors. He picked Cleveland over Houston, where his baseball career ...

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Indians introduce Manny Acta as manager

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:23:59 +0000

Manny Acta had two choices for his second job managing in the majors. He picked Cleveland over Houston, where his baseball career began.

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Acta officially introduced as Tribe's 40th skipper

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:51:08 +0000

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Manny Acta had two choices for his second job managing in the majors. He picked Cleveland over Houston, where his baseball career began.

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New Indians manager Manny Acta says Cleveland is the 'perfect place' for him

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:32:18 +0000

Manny Acta had two choices for his second job managing in the majors. He picked Cleveland over Houston, where his baseball career began.

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Astros closer to selecting new manager

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:24:00 +0000

The Astros will interview Boston Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills for a third time and interim manager Dave Clark for a second time on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park. Both men were expected to arrive in Houston on Monday night.

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Cruz given new role with Astros

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Jose Cruz, the Astros' long-time left fielder and former first-base coach, has been named as a special assistant to the general manager/community outreach executive, Houston general manager Ed Wade announced on Monday.

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