As they started the series against the Phillies in Houston there was a lot of excitement. Most of that excitement had to do with seeing Hunter Pence and Roy Oswalt in Minute Maid Park again. No one expected much in terms of wins, least of all me. I hoped for one singular win. I prayed the Astros wouldn’t look ridiculous against the best team in baseball. Turns out God was listening.

For the second straight night, the Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies. I’d say lightening definitely struck twice. And it was enough for Houston to win the series. Tomorrow afternoon, we’ll all see if they have it in them to sweep the boys from Philly.

I think the best part of these two wins is they came from excellent outings from the mound by two former Phillies backed with excellent hitting. Toinght JA Happ showed us again that perhaps his time down in AAA at OKC paid off. He threw 6 innings allowing 4 hits, 1 earned run (a homer) while walking 4 and striking out 4. This is a different Happ than we saw earlier in the season. It’s a shame this pitcher showed up so late in the season. But he’s now 2-0 against his former team and 2-1 since he returned from OKC.

Brad Mills was happy with Happ’s outing as well. “JA did a real good job of keeping his emotions under control. He stayed down in the zone which I thought was outstanding.”

When the bullpen came in, they did exactly what they’ve done well this second half of the season by allowing only 1 hit between Fernando Rodriguez and David Carpenter, only 1 earned run and striking out 6. It was a great night of pitching for the Astros. We’d all gotten used to the bullpen blowing 4 run leads. I can’t say that lately. They’ve held their own and games since the All-Star Break.

I can’t not mention the hitting tonight as well. Two batters really stood out tonight. Clint Barmes hit a 3 run homer in the 4th to put the Astros up 5-1. He was 2-4 with 2 run, and 3 RBIs on the night. then JB Shuck came into the game when Jason Michaels injured himself on an amazing catch in right field. Shuck made his presence known as he was 3-3 with 1 run as well.

And defense! I’ve complained about defense this season, but tonight? I have NO complaints. In the 2nd Jason Michaels made a diving catch in right field that bent his hand backwards ending up breaking a left metacarpal badly enough that he’ll require surgery and his season is done. Odds are he has played his last game in an Astros uniform. Then JD Martinez made an outstanding catch at the LF wall in the 5th when the Phillies had bases loaded and two outs. Definitely a pivotal play to keep the lead.

Now my question is this – can lightening strike three times? I can’t say no. I would have NEVER bet the Astros would win two of these games, but now it seems that anything is possible. The Astros are holding their count to 100 losses at 3 to go as they took their record to 51-97 with only 14 games to play this year.

I have to say this – this Astros team lately? They’re playing some really fun baseball.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can read her Astros blog at www.talesfromthejuicebox.com, email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

I pinched myself and it turns out it wasn’t a dream. the Astros just beat the Phillies! Now, historically, the Astros play really well against the Phillies. Really well- they’re 30-19 versus the Phils since 2004. But this year, I expected nothing, especially this series. Tonight was Hunter Pence’s first game in Minute Maid Park as a Phillie and he’s been on a tear. It was the first time Roy Oswalt would take the mound in Houston as a Phillie. It was the kind of night that I thought we’d see fireworks.

Fireworks, indeed, but from the Astros rather than the Phillies. Granted, the Astros success tonight was in no small part due to blunders by the visiting team, but a W is a W no matter how you put it on the board. And this W put Houston at 50 wins and keeps them 3 shy of the century mark on losses. I’ll take it.

Most impressive tonight? Brett Myers who grabbed his fifth win of the season and his second straight. He pitched a solid 8 innings allowing 6 hits and only 1 earned run while walking 1 and striking out 4. Very nice job, Brett. Perhaps there is something about being a father again that makes Brett pitch this well? Or is it the chance to beat his old team? Either way, I’ll take it. This was the Brett we all love tonight, firing on all cylinders, efficient and effective.

The only production the Phillies were able to get going tonight came in the top of the 2nd. Raul Ibanex doubled to left field and then scored when Pete Orr singled to center. That would be it for them. And with no run support behind him, Roy Oswalt proved you can’t go home as he lasted 7 innings, but allowed 11 hits, 5 earned runs walked 2 and only struck out 2. He’d never pitched that many innings with fewer than 4 strikeouts. It was not his night.

JD Martinez and Humberto Quintero were incredibly productive with three hits on the night while Carlos Lee nailed a 2 run homer into the Crawford Boxes to put the Astros up 4-2. Oh what a night indeed. In the bottom of the 4th we saw Martinez and Bogusevic both score ; on a single from Paredes and a double from Q. Then the Lee homer in the 5th made it 4-2. The final run would come in the 7th when JD Martinez would run home after singling, and then advancing to third on a wild pitch by Oswalt and finally being hit in by Brian Bogusevic.

The bullpen had a quiet evening as only Mark Melancon got a call to hit the field. He would throw 19 pitches in the 9th, 9  for strikes. In fact, he made fans a little jumpy when his batters went walk, fly out, fly out, walk, but a ground out on the 5th batter closed it out in only 2:22 leaving the Astros to win 5-1.

I’m so giddy I can hardly type. All I wanted from this series was one teeny weeny win. One night was all it would take. They get two more chances. Am I foolish if I think they can do it again? I don’t know that lightening can strike twice in Houston this week, but if it could, I’d be delighted. If the bats are as alive tomorrow as they were today, anything is possible.

Oh, by the way, that guy who used to play right field, Hunter Pence? He got a nice partial standing ovation on his first at bat and he gave a way to the crowd. He was 2-4 tonight  and the best hitter in the lineup. So there’s that.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can read her Astros blog at www.talesfromthejuicebox.com, email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

Yep...That's 100 baseballs. When will the Astros get loss #100?

I spent yesterday with a lot of old friends. They know my obsession with baseball and once they’d all gotten the details straight about the Pence and Bourne trades and vented adequately, swearing they were “done with the Astros” a voice of reason and fun came out of the crowd. My good friend, Ellen’s husband, Sean spoke up to say, “I think we should make a game out of when the Astros will get to 100 losses. It would be the best office pool ever!”

Great idea, Sean. So great that I’m stealing it! I hope you don’t mind, Seanie, but you’ve known me long enough to know that I was going to snag that one!

Now, yesterday there were lots of roster moves as Chris Johnson and Brett Wallace were sent back down to the minors to see if they could locate their lost swings. Jimmy Paredes is coming up from AA Corpus Christi and Brian Bogusevic will once again be brought up from AAA OKC. The kids are playing ball the rest of the season at Minute Maid Park. It should be fun to see these guys start to stretch their legs in the Majors. So we’re going to have a little fun with it!

As of this morning the Houston Astros are 35-73. They are 27 losses away from hitting the magic number. When do you think they will get to 100?

Reply in the comments by Friday, August 5th, giving me your best guess as to when they’ll suffer their 100th loss and the person who answers correctly or most closely to the actual date will win 2 seats to one of the remaining Astros games this season, or if the 100th loss is late enough, the tickets will be provided for next season. You’ll also get dinner for 2 before the game courtesy of me! The best prize of all is that you’ll start having fun watching the Astros lose because you’ve got a reason to cheer either way! Go ‘Stros….er…that other team!

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can read her Astros blog at www.talesfromthejuicebox.com, email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

The lashing out by fans this weekend has been much more intense than I expected. I knew people would be upset when Hunter Pence was traded. Heck – I was a little teary-eyed over that one, but I didn’t think the anger would go so deep. And now with this morning’s announcement that Michael Bourn will be playing in Atlanta in exchange for four players, the outrage hit a new height.

I’ve been reading Facebook statuses, twitter posts, Google + comments and the thoughts and words being directed towards Ed Wade and the Astros organization are scathing. It seems people feel that the team gets talent and immediately ships them off in the lead up to the trade deadline. I get why it feels that way. I get why it seems all our good players end up on other teams. Plus, we’ve become attached to these guys.

The Astros are increasing the talent with their Minor League Affliliates

Players like Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn are friendly, good guys who contribute to the community and are generous with time and attention to fans. They’re fans’ ball players. Oh, and they’re pretty darn good ball players. They’re the hardest kind to lose. We had been spoiled in Houston for a long time, though. We had a core group of guys who were with the Astros for long, long stretches. They were “career Astros”. The team’s not like that anymore.

BUT – and this is a big but – we needed to lose some talent this year. Let’s face it folks, it’s not about winning this season. It probably won’t really be about winning next season. The Astros have used the term rebuilding for a couple of years, but haven’t fully committed to it. This year, it appears they’re committing. The next couple of years will be all rebuilding. I think I’ll custom  make a shirt that says “Astros 2014″ because I think that season will be their true rebirth.

Until then, the name of the game is to trade for the best prospects that they can. The Astros’ farm system was neglected and the talent pool was starting to resemble a dust bowl. Without a strong farm system feeding talent up to the majors, a team is going to stink. That’s what had been happening. The good news? There’s some real potential in the kids that the Astros have acquired this season. Will they all pan out? Only time will tell.

So, yes, there’s some risk involved in these trades, but it’s risk that HAD to be taken. The Astros were not going to win more often with aging players and no one to pull from in the system when they needed help or depth. It’s been time to strip the major league club and rebuild the farm for a while now. They’d dipped a toe in previously. Now it appears they’ve really jumped in with both feet.

I know you’re mad. I know you’re sad. I know you’re upset. I also know that if you’re reading this, odds are you’re a true fan. True fans stick with the team through the good, the bad and the ugly. Hang in there, Houston. I know you’re mad about the trades, but think about it and I’d bet deep down you’ll agree…it’s about time.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can read her Astros blog at www.talesfromthejuicebox.com, email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

The writing was on the wall tonight as minor league players started being pulled from their games. Jonathon Singleton, Jarred Cosart, JD Martinez all one by one were reportedly out of their lineups.

As all of that transpired I was glued to the television, watching as Hunter Pence leaned against the rail in the away dugout in Milwaukee, visibly upset and shaking his head. Despite being traded to a team in contention, the Philadelphia Phillies, for Cosart, Singleton and two players to be named later, the emotion on Pence’s face as well as his teammates as he bid them adieu was obvious.

It looks like Hunter will miss Houston as much as Houston will miss Hunter.

As soon as the formalities are officially released, I’ll be back with details, but for now, I wish the right-handed right fielder the best of luck and thank him for playing his heart out in each and every game. We’ll see you in Philly, Hunter! Good Luck!

8:45 pm -The deal is not being confirmed yet by Ed Wade, although he will be available to the media starting at 9:15pm CDT. We’ll bring you the details as soon as it’s confirmed.

9:00 pm – Reports are coming in now that possibly pitcher Josh Zeid will also be included in the deal.

9:06 pm – Reports now saying that the Astros paid $1mm to the Phillies in the deal as well.

9:17pm – It’s being reported by Alyson Footer, Sr. Director of Social Media for the Astros, via twitter that the deal is finalized. The Astros HAVE traded Hunter Pence to the Philadelphia Phillies for 1B/OF Jonathon Singleton, RHP Jarred Cosart, RHP Josh Zeid, a player to be named later and $1million in cash.

9:46 pm – RF JD Martinez has been called up from AA Corpus Christi Hooks. Cosart and Zeid are heading to Corpus Christi, and Singleton is headed to Lancaster.

I know that this is a tough blow to fans. There will be sadness and outrage. I get it. But it’s the right thing for this club to do. By the time the Astros will be good enough to be a contender again, Hunter would be expensive and on the wrong side of thirty. Let the rebuilding truly begin!

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can read her Astros blog at www.talesfromthejuicebox.com, email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

3:00pm CDT is less than 48 hours away and Houston fans are all aflutter. The talk of “will they” and “won’t they” trade Hunter Pence is reaching system capacity. I’m not sure my little heart can take it all.

So what’s the latest?

Brian McTaggart, MLB’s beat reporter for the Astros reports:

The Astros remain in intense trade talks regarding All-Star right fielder Hunter Pence on Friday afternoon, specifically with the Philadelphia Phillies.

MLB.com has confirmed Pence was briefly removed from the lineup prior to Thursday’s game in St. Louis because of potential trade, but wound up staying in the order and going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles in the Astros’ win. Pence was in the lineup on Friday night for Houston’s series opener against the Brewers, batting fourth.

Although there are reports the Astros and Phillies have discussed a three-team deal, a person close to the situation told MLB.com Friday that a two-team swap remains Houston’s focus. The Astros are coveting several prospects for Pence, who’s the top name on the trade market in the wake of the Carlos Beltran trade.

Meanwhile on MLB Trade Rumors: 

We learned yesterday that the Astros are deep into trade talks for Hunter Pence and that a deal could be completed today. The Phillies, who appear to be willing to include Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton and others in a deal, may have a Friday pre-deadline for reaching an agreement, so that the Astros have time to explore deals with other suitors, like the Braves, Reds and Red Sox. The Pirates, Rangers and Angels aren’t seriously in the mix at this point. Here are today’s rumors with the latest updates up top:

• Jon Heyman of SI.com suggests the Phillies will continue negotiating with the Astros until Sunday if they need to, since Pence “is the guy” for them (Twitter link).
• The Astros want pitching for Pence, according to Heyman (on Twitter).
• The Phillies and Astros are exploring potential three-team deals involving Pence, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. Jon Heyman of SI.com and Joel Sherman of the New York Post agree (Twitterlinks). The Phillies may be willing to trade Brown to a third team to get the prospects the Astros want for Pence, Stark writes.
• The Braves offered a package that included prospects they didn’t offer to the Mets forCarlos Beltran, but the Astros turned the offer down, according to Stark. The Braves may be moving on, which would leave the Phillies as Pence’s primary suitor.  The Red Sox, Reds, Pirates and Indians appear to have peeled off, according to Stark.
• Jon Heyman of SI (via Twitter) hears that the Astros don’t love the Phillies’ prospects, and that may even include Domonic Brown.
• The Astros would prefer to deal Pence to the Braves, but Atlanta continues to be very protective of their big-time pitching prospects, tweets Jon Heyman of SI.  The Phillies are still working to get something done.
• Joel Sherman of the New York Post hears that the Astros prefer the Braves’ prospects to the Phillies’ prospects (Twitter link). Atlanta won’t give up the “key guy,” who is believed to be Mike Minor, Sherman writes.
• ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports that the Braves, generally speaking, have zero enthusiasm about giving up Minor, Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino or Randall Delgado (Twitter link).
• Pence was told during last night’s game that he was being pulled because of a trade, then wasn’t pulled, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
• The Reds are in on Pence, but he’s the Phillies’ to lose, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
• There’s a sense that the Phillies might be able to obtain Pence by offering Domonic Brown instead of Singleton and including Cosart in the deal, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
• The Astros still have an “unreasonable” asking price for Pence, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
• There’s a “huge bidding war” going on for Pence, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (on Twitterlinks). The Braves don’t value on-base percentage as much as other teams, one NL official told Olney (Pence has a .354 OBP).

In a year where we’re used to losing streaks, Astros fans are getting a taste of how the other half cheer. For the second night in a row, the Astros found a way to take down the NL Central leading St. Louis Cardinals, splitting the four game series. I’m as shocked as you are.

With the trade deadline looming and rumors of trade talks for Hunter Pence sending fans into a nervous frenzy, the boys from Houston still found a way to pull it out. Twice.

Wandy Rodriguez had a strong start on the mound allowing only 5 hits and 3 runs while striking out 6 batters in his 7 innings pitched. The bullpen was in good shape last night as well as Sergio Escalona held the Cardinals to no hits or runs in the 8th and Mark Melancon did they same in the 9th getting the save.

Carlos Lee found that elevation he’s been missing again with a single homerun in the 6th while Bourn, Pence and Bourgeois all doubled. The hit parade was out in force with 9 hits that they were able to turn into 5 runs – enough to take the Cards 5-3. And with Michael Bourn and Jason Bourgeois both adding to their stolen base count, the offense was as solid as we’ve seen it this season. Will it carryover into Milwaukee? That remains to be seen, but a litte success can go a long way to instilling confidence.

Brad Mills opted to sit Brett Wallace again last night, making many question what the heck he’s doing. When the club acquired Wallace last season as their everyday first baseman, we all thought he’d play everyday. Um, apparently not. HoustonCounterplot has a great take on Brett Wallace’s Day Off, so take a minute to read his thoughts. I agree with him 110%.

Meanwhile, the trade rumors abound. Each time there’s a slight new piece of information or anyone thinks there might be some movement my twitter feed explodes. The latest rumors? The Astros are still shopping Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez and Michael Bourn. The one everyone wonders about – Hunter Pence is being pursued hard by the Phillies and the Braves. Astros GM Ed Wade has a history of sending Houston talent to Philadelphia, so the scuttle tends to lean that way, but nothing’s final until there’s a deal, so hold tight Astros fans…the next 72 hours might be bumpy!

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can read her Astros blog at www.talesfromthejuicebox.com, email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

My Constant Expression Until July 31, 2011 at Midnight

Remember Junior High School? Remember the rumor mill back then? You never knew who to believe and what to trust. People would tell tall tales just to get their name in circulation or to look cool or “in the know.” The run up to MLB non-waiver Trade Deadline is Junior High School all over again…and it’s going to be the death of me!

The biggest rumors involving the Astros are around Hunter Pence. There seems to be a bit of a split personality going on with fans, myself included. On one hand we all understand that Hunter is valuable and if the Astros could get a really great deal that helped build up the farm system and give the team a future that it is the smart thing to do.

But, my heart doesn’t want the Astros to do the smart thing. My heart thinks that the club should remember that Hunter’s one of the few things drawing fans to Minute Maid Park this season and to lose him would be devastating. Fans would be irate and I’m certain the outrage would be bigger than it was when MMP thought it was the home of the Red Sox a few weeks ago. Ed Wade, Hunter’s only 28 and at least with him we know what we’ve got. Prospects don’t always pan out!

Do you see what’s happening to me as the trade deadline approaches? I’ve developed multiple personality disorder over what I think should happen! I’m not sure my blood pressure can take 9 more days of this. We’ve lost Jeff Keppinger to the Giants, which was sad, but at the same time exciting since that trade led to the promotion of Jose Altuve from AA Corpus Christi and the hype around that kid has been big. It seems the rumors surrounding the Braves going for Pence have subsided, but MLB Trade Rumors has been reporting that the Phillies are hot after a right bat and that Pence might just be the bat they’re after.

I suppose all I can do is sit and wait and guess. I’ll keep my eyes on twitter and the rumor sites and watch my moods fluctuate with the updates. I will keep reminding myself that it can’t get any worse in Houston and that whatever trades are made, the Astros will live to play another day and I will live to cheer another day. But just in case, could someone have 911 on speed dial for me?

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can read her Astros blog at www.talesfromthejuicebox.com, email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

Last night as the Astros lost to the Nationals, I was watching from home. My daughter, the weeone, was sitting with me for the first few innings. She doesn’t always like to watch a game on television as she’s spoiled a bit to live baseball, but with Jordan Lyles pitching (and really well at that), she couldn’t resist. He’s quickly won her heart since he was brought up from OKC.

As the game went on we talked a little about the struggles of the Astros this season. Granted, my analytical baseball discussion with a nine year old was bit top line, but it made me realize something. I think the city of Houston needs to start looking at the Astros through the eyes of a child.

Children have a blind loyalty to the things they love. They easily forgive a friend who has wronged them, a parent who has disciplined them, a teacher who has awarded them a less than stellar grade. They also apply that loyalty to the sports teams and players they adore. It stands to reason that a child raised by me would be an Astros fan, but you might be surprised at the ferocity with which she stands by this team. I’m pretty sure that Hunter Pence will own her heart for the whole of his career no matter what he does on the field. She still talks about Craig Biggio as if he were the first man to walk on the moon.

The Weeone introduces a good friend to her first love, the Astros, earlier this season.

Wins are celebrated by kids and losses taken and tossed away by the next morning. So to my daughter, the Astros are her Astros regardless of how many games they lose this season. She’s asked when they’ll start winning more games and at that moment I thought it might be easier if she’d asked me to explain sex. I’ve tried my best to convey how a failing farm system makes a major league team weak and the only thing that strengthens it all in the end is time and good decision making by owners, GMs and Managers. She completely understands that, so why don’t the rest of the fans in Houston?

Maybe we all need to take a trip down memory lane, remember what it felt like to love a team because it was the one you were raised with or because there was a player you identified with or because it was the team representing your city. It always feels better to win, I don’t deny that. But it also feels good to be loyal and watch a team rise from the ashes.

The Astros are in the ashes this season and I, for one, am excited to see what happens over the next two to three years. With a change in ownership we will certainly also see changes in other aspects of the leadership of this team. With the approach of the trade deadline we will certainly see changes in the players we cheer for each game. With the state of the current team we will certainly see improvement in the coming years.

So, Houston, can well all just look at the Astros through the eyes of a child for now? Can we lend them a little blind loyalty and love and hang on to the hope that one day our beloved boys from Houston will give us more to cheer than to jeer? I won’t stop questioning what decisions are made, but I also won’t stop cheering. I’m apparently not much older than my nine year old daughter and I’m okay with that.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can read her Astros blog at www.talesfromthejuicebox.com, email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

Hunter Pence was the lone representative from the Houston Astros in last night’s All-Star Game, but it seems that was enough to help the NL overtake the AL to claim the game. Pence, who went to the 2009 All-Star Game but saw no playing time, found himself in left field in the top of the fourth inning, replacing Matt Holliday who started the game. It was a position Hunter hadn’t played since his days in Lexington playing for the Class A Legends, but it didn’t stop him from success.

Pence proved his worthiness when Adrian Beltre hit a line single to left field off Tyler Clippard. There were two outs and the National League was down 0-1 as Jose Bautista tried to score from second base. His plans were thwarted as Pence aggresively scooped the one-hopper and managed a perfect strike home to catcher Brian McCann. Bautista was tagged out to end the inning and limit the damage. » Continue reading “One Astro Proved to Be Enough”