A note from Terri: if you sit near Greis at a game, you will know at all times who her favorite Astro is and where he is on the field, in the dugout and in the lineup. And if you let her near your daughter, she will convince your daughter to join in. But never fear, she’s no cleat-chasing fangirl….this chick knows good baseball. Consider yourselves warned! 

Recently, while talking to a friend about something sports related, he said, “Wow, you really do know your sports!”. My initial thought was “Do you know nothing about me at all?”, because obviously, and then I died a little because HELL YEAH I DO!! I was raised right, yo!

I’m a sports fanatic. I take pride in my sports love. It’s one of those pieces of me that will never change, but don’t worry, we can still be friends if you don’t like sports. However, I can’t date you if you’re a fan of the Baby Bears, the Red Birds or that NY team…I do have standards.

When it comes to my favorite teams (Astros, Texans, Longhorns)  I’m as loyal a fan as you’ll ever meet. I root for them in the best of times and I’m still there cheering in the worst of times. I live in Houston, let’s be honest, there have been a LOT of bad sports times here.

My first true (sports) love is baseball. I haven’t missed an opening day in over 20 years and most seasons I make it to more than 60% of the home games (there are 81 total). Minute Maid Park is one of my “happy places”. It’s where I feel most content and stress-free, unless the Astros are in play-off contention and then I’m a big ball of nerves. I go watch the game and forget about life for a few hours. It truly is one of the few things that makes me really happy!

As a fan you become connected to the players. You grab hold of one or two that you deem your “favorite” and you hope that he sticks around for a very long time. Sometimes your favorite will stick around forever (Craig Biggio) and other times (Lance Berkman) you’ll find yourself crying in the middle of Target (true story) as the news that he’s been traded makes its way to you.

The Astros are in a re-building stage right now. They are a “young” team, of relatively unknown players, that is still trying to find its groove. They’ve been a whole lot of fun to watch, just one month into the season, already exceeding a lot of people’s really low expectations for them. At the start of the season, last month, I was content to not have a “favorite” player. I was ready to take on all the new faces and cheer for them all equally.

My root for everyone equally mindset lasted all of one week, because that’s when I found my new “favorite” player, or as I like to call him on Twitter, #MyBaseballBoyfriend. His name is Travis Buck and I think I may have a slight obsession with him now. I was immediately drawn to his smile and his good looks, but as I’ve watched him play more intently I’ve fallen in love with Travis Buck the baseball player.

Travis is not just a pretty face. As a pinch hitter off the bench he’s contributed his fair share this season, hitting .714 in those 7 PH at bats. His overall BA is a respectable .297 and he’s a reliable outfielder whenever anyone needs a day off.

And then this happened…

and I fell in LOVE with him even more.

I’ve met a lot of ball players in my 33 years. Only a few have made me nervous. Travis can now be added to that list. You can’t tell from the picture but I felt like a giddy 13 year-old, racing heart and shaky hands included. I can only assume it’s the same way I’ll fee, times 100, if/when I ever meet Justin Timberlake.

Mark my words, Travis Buck will be a household name in Houston by seasons end, and I just hope that he always remembers the fan who loved him FIRST!

Greis Perez (AmazingGreis), pronounced Grace, is a lifelong Astros fan and contributor for Aerys Sports. You can email her at amazing_greis@yahoo.com, or follow her on Twitter, @AmazingGreis, where she professes her undying love for Travis Buck (#MyBaseballBoyfriend), Justin Timberlake and all things sparkly!

I want THIS logo back!

This week there was an awful lot going on in the world of Houston Astros Baseball. Here’s the wrap:

The CAREavan continued around the state (and even into Oklahoma). Former and current players as well as owner, Jim Crane, and GM, Jeff Luhnow, participated in bringing some Astros joy to many fans this past week.

Over on Footnotes, Alyson Footer’s blog, you can find tips for Spring Training attendees, so check that out if you’re planning to attend!

Jessica, the caption contest winner, and me at the reception before the Baseball Dinner.

The Astros in Action Foundation hosted the Annual Baseball dinner benefitting Grand Slam For Youth Baseball last night. I was there along with Jessica (@mamu30) who won my caption contest. It was a who’s who of baseball history for Houston celebrating the 49 years of baseball in this great city and looking forward to the 50th season.

Jayne Hansen, who writes What the Heck, Bobby, a blog about the Astros minor league system, had an entertaining run in with JR Richards last night. Head over to her blog and give it a read.

Lance Berkman was there and stole the show, on his birthday no less. After taking the stage to be honored as the Houston Chapter of the BBWAA’s MLB Player of the Year he solemnly stated how touched he was to be onstage with a host of historical Astros baseball figures. He leaned over, head in hand as if to collect himself then popped up smiling and said, “Just kidding!” And then went on to tease the audience about how that probably felt as awkward for us as walking into Minute Maid Park in a Cardinals uniform was for him!

Lance was his ever-charming self when he thanked the “Houston Lonestars” for the award and then looked over his shoulder at players and front office peeps to confirm, “Wait, it wasn’t approved? We’re still the Astros?”  And yes, Lance said we.

That wouldn’t be the only reference to Lance as an Astro as stated he would always consider himself one. Later, when Jeff Luhnow took the stage he reminded Lance that in 2013 the team would need a DH and Berkman’s services may be needed. Oh, how I wish that would happen. If Luhnow could bring Lance back to HTX for one more season to end his career as an Astro, he would forever be my baseball hero.

Brad Mills even made a good funny at Lance’s expense when he wished Berkman a happy birthday and then stated, “I hope you play your age next year.”

Yes, Mr. Berkman stole the show. The other current players also honored: JD Martinez, Wandy Rodriguez, Jason Bourgeois.

With that, it’s time for me to get ready to head to Minute Maid Park. In case you’re not aware, today is FanFest! The event itself is free, and autographs are $10/ticket with 3-4 players per session. There are “Talkin’ Baseball” sessions and batting practices you can do, activities for kids and anything else you can imagine to get you ready for Spring Training. You can find the schedule of events for the day on the Astros website.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

I’ve been revisiting some great moments in what was a less-than-exciting Houston Astros season in the past couple of days and it is amazing the great plays we so easily forget. When October comes around and your team is done playing baseball, it’s as if our minds just want to hit a “reset” button.

There is no reset button for the Astros 2011 106 loss season and some players might actually be glad for it. In that category you may well find Brett Wallace. Although Brett bounced between the majors and the minors and struggled at the plate at times this past season, he had one at bat that makes my favorites list.

In a home game against the Colorado Rockies on September 24th, Wallace hit a 448 foot home run in the second inning off Rockies’ pitcher, Jason Hammel. The home run was the fourth longest home run hit by an Astro at Minute Maid Park, but it was the longest hit by an Astro who wasn’t Lance Berkman (his 2003 shot off of Jeremi Gonzalez of Tampa Bay that went 464 feet is still the longest).

It was a BIG way to snap a 0-28 hitting streak. This was one game on which Brett Wallace wouldn’t want to hit reset.

Click the photo to watch the video.

Brett Wallace kills a hitless streak...and a ball.

I can’t post this without mentioning that in the Budweiser patio that night, Astros Sr. Director of Digital Media, Alyson Footer, was hosting a Social Media Night (plus it was her birthday), so the patio was packed with die-hard fans and one of them got that ball. Congratulations Jessica on the catch!

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

Craig Tatum...let's get that boy an Astros uni

Yes, there’s news. No, it’s not about the sale of the team or the possible move to the American League.

-Ricky Adams, the former infielder for the Angels, passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer, reports the Washington Post. Adams was 52 years old. Although he spent his MLB career with the Angels, Adams was the first-round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 1977. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Adams’ family and friends.

-If you thought the Houston Astros were a bit thin at catcher this past season, well, you’d be right and it looks like they’re working on that. The ‘Stros claimed 28 year old Craig Tatum off waivers yesterday from the Baltimore Orioles. He will join Jason Castro, Humberto Quintero and Carlos Corporan on the 40 man roster.

-It’s no secret that Roy Oswalt is a free agent this year. It’s also no secret that many Astros fans have much love for the pitcher. Over at The Crawfish Boxes, David Coleman takes a look at whether Houston should make an attempt to welcome him back with open arms….or should it be Brad Lidge?

- I begrudgingly offer Lance Berkman congratulations on the Cardinals World Series win. I’m still a bit heartbroken that he’s not an Astro anymore, frankly. He proved that you can come back and play the best ball of your career when no one expects it. Not only that, but he helped block the Texas Rangers from a WS win which is a big plus in my book. Okay, now can we pretend I didn’t say anything nice about the St. Louis Cardinals?

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured 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 ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

When you’re the team at the bottom of the NL Central and you’re playing the team that leads the NL Central you don’t expect miracles. You go out and just play the best ball that you can. Tonight at Minute Maid Park, the Houston Astros did just that.

Bud Norris had fans and announcers whispering the word “no-no” as he threw 6 2/3 innings of no hit baseball with the well played defense of his teammates. Studly Budly is known for being a strike out guy, but not tonight. He had 3 straight lead off walks (all followed by double plays) and only 2 Ks on the night, but by keeping his pitches low he was able to get lots of ground balls in play and economize his pitches.

Brad Mills was impressed with his starter tonight. “You can’t say enough about Bud. I mean, he was absolutely outstanding. The big thing there, I think, tonight is that he really kept the ball down on his own. Eleven groundball outs was really huge for him.” It was huge for the team as a whole as well.

The hit that ruined the possible no-hitter? A solo homerun by Lance Berkman that went just out of the reach of Hunter Pence and over the right field wall. The Cards would get only one other hit the whole night – a double by Pujols in the ninth, but the Redbirds never could get any momentum going and the Astros were able to keep them at bay. » Continue reading “Did the Astros Just Beat the Cardinals? Yep, They Sure Did!”

This hasn’t been a fun year at the plate for Carlos Lee (.229 BA, 20 RBIs, 3 HR). He’s been slow to get moving toward any sort of power hitting so I started wondering if the magic of Friday the 13th could be the date that turns the tide for El Caballo and the Astros organization.

You know what I found? On April 13, 2007…a Friday…Carlos Lee hit three-yes 3, that’s tres – home runs in one game. Is tonight the night he gets his hitting mojo back? During that 2007 game in Philadelphia, Roy Oswalt struggled early to put the Phillies up 3-0 at the end of the first inning. But Lee hit a solo homer off Brett Myers (of all pitchers) into right field to put the Astros on the board 3-1.

In the second inning Brad Ausmus started the inning strong with a double followed by an Oswalt strike out. Craig Biggio came up and grounded out, but moved Ausmus to second base. Myers walked both Morgan Ensberg and Lance Berkman loading the bases. El Caballo walked to the plate and nailed one to centerfield off Myers again for a Grand Slam to put the Astros up 5-3.

By the ninth inning the Astros still clung to an 8-6 lead and had 2 outs and no one on base when Carlos Lee hit his third home run of the game – a nice shot to center off reliever Ryan Madson. The Astros won that game 9-6 and Carlos went 3-5 with 6 RBIs. It was quite a game for the man in left field.

Not only was that Friday the 13th in 2007 good for Carlos Lee, but Craig Biggio moved up to eighth place on the all-time doubles list that night, and Roy Oswalt got the 100th win of his career. I’d say that Friday the 13th has some freaky good luck for this team.

Some people think that Friday the 13th is bad luck and fear it. I think for Carlos Lee and the Houston Astros, Friday the 13th could be the right amount of freaky good luck they’ve been waiting for this season. We’ll see if I’m right tonight as they welcome the NY Mets to Minute Maid Park and Studly-Cudly-Budly Norris (2-2, 3.16 ERA) faces Dillon Gee (2-0, 3.80 ERA). There won’t be a hockey mask in sight.

What do you believe about the Friday the 13th? Evil day filled with bad luck? Just another day? All things are possible?

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the Senior Houston Astros Reporter 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.

So, another series, another chance to finally win one, another time coming up short. It’s not that the Astros are botching entire games, they aren’t, but at some point in most games, the wheels just completely fall off.

Prime example? Last night’s sixth inning. Yep, that inning that lasted about 3 days? That one where the Cards scored 9 runs…it was painful. Up until that point, and really the whole game, the Astros had been hitting pretty well, even Lee managed a double last night. Wallace was on fire as he has been of late. But the pitching? The pitching just downright stunk.

It’s not a secret that I’m not a fan of Figueroa as a starter, but he actually managed to give up only 2 walks and no hits or runs through 3 with some help from the defense. But in the 6th, he just imploded allowing 3 straight hits and 2 runs. Mills tosses Abad into the game whose first batter, Berkman, hits a 3 run homer. It just went downhill from there. Fulchino then replaced Abad allowing 4 hits and 4 runs before Del Rosario came in to replace him. Finally a third out put everyone out of their misery.

Now, the bullpen hasn’t had a night like this yet, really. Overall they’ve been pretty dependable, but with the starters not lasting, the team’s been relying on the bullpen a little too heavily. The wear and tear of that strategy showed itself loud and clear last night. This team, even without power hitters doing much can get guys on base. They’re even moving around the bases fairly well, but what they need desperately is better pitching. If I could, I’d shout it from the rooftops.

Was there a bright spot? Absolutely. In fact there were a couple. First, hitting. The Astros aren’t hitting a lot of long balls, but the whole lineup, with only a couple of exceptions, is hitting pretty consistently. And Brett Wallace…oh BDub….he’s on quite a streak. He’s now hitting .373 and although they’re not flying out of the park, he is producing his fair shar of doubles (9 to date).

Defensively, the team fought hard. In game 2 of this series they managed to turn an amazing five, yes 5, double plays. No one can accuse them of rolling over and giving up. Speaking of not giving up, I think they’re starting to gain some confidence, even with the losses. They’re learning that they have the ability to battle back and they’re doing it…just not quite soon enough to win many games.

So, they’ll welcome the Brewers to town tonight for 3 games and we’ll get a chance to see the first 3 starting pitchers take the mound. Hopefully, they can take the lessons learned over the past week and put them to good use.

Finally, Clint Barmes is coming back to Htown, while we wave goodbye to Joe Inglett who we’ll have to wait and see if after he clears waivers will end up at AAA OKC or be released or traded.

I’ll be cheering on the boys from section 208 tonight and Sunday as will the weeone- and she seems to bit a bit of a good luck charm for the Astros, so let’s hope that holds!

I was asked by the Lead Cardinals Reporter for Aerys Sports, Christine Coleman, if I would do a guest post today about how I felt about Lance Berkman returning to Houston with the St. Louis Cardinals. I jumped at the chance to talk about a favorite son. You can check out my thoughts in that post at Aaron Miles Fastball – In The Wrong Uniform, A Texas Boy Comes Home To Minute Maid Park.

I wrote all of that before I read the comments that Milo Hamilton made regarding Lance and his time so far in St. Louis. In case you’ve been under a rock or without power or on the space shuttle and didn’t get to hear or read what Milo said, here it is – Milo commented while on a radio show on how in shape Berkman got this year and how he hadn’t done the same his last few years in Houston, saying, “He got in excellent shape by hiring a trainer and if he’d done that the last couple of years he was here, he could have finished out a really fine career in Houston if he’d have given it that same dedication. I just want a simple answer, why did you not think it was necessary to get in shape for the Astros?” Milo went on to criticize Berkman’s leadership while in Houston as well, basically ripping on the 35 year old for being a poor role model for younger players, essentially teaching them that they could slack off.

Now, Milo’s been calling Astros games on air since 1986 and he knows a lot about the Astros and even more about baseball, and he’s entitled to his opinion, but I have to disagree a bit with him regarding the when, why and how on this. We aren’t in Lance Berkman’s head and we don’t know what made him suddenly take an interest in getting himself in better game shape. But you know how I am, so I’ll take a guess -

He’s 35 and that’s no spring chicken in baseball. Is it possible he started realizing that if he didn’t do something that he wouldn’t be playing much longer? Is it possible the constant knee problems his last two seasons in Houston affected his ability to get in the kind of shape he’s in today? I think it’s entirely possible that the trade to the Yankees followed by his release by them was a wake up call. He was suddenly aware of the possibility of the end of his career. I think given the opportunity, Berkman would have come home, but the Astros weren’t interested.

So, what do you do when your career is threatened? You put up or shut up. Berkman, it seems, has put up. So far in 19 games with the Cardinals he’s been amazing at the plate, hitting .377/.449/.725 and 6, yes six, home runs. It’s the Berkman of the old days. He was last week’s NL Player of the Week. So Milo, do you really think Berkman was holding out on this team or are you upset those stats aren’t helping Houston this year? I can’t read your mind so I won’t put words in your mouth, but do me a favor and grant Lance the same benefit of the doubt. I know you were as sad as I was to see him go because I know you’re a true fan of this team and its players. I think this is just about the fact that it hurts to see that man in another team’s uniform, but let’s welcome him home anyway.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the Senior Houston Astros Reporter 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.