The Crawfish Boxes (Free subscription) | 10/27/2009
More photos » by Al Behrman - AP Reliever Sammy Gervacio Browse more photos » Your Tuesday morning special is a look at the 2009 Astros bullpen. First, though, I thought we could consider a question: Can a minor league reliever be considered a prospect? Almost all the Astros homegrown bullpen additions this decade have been starters in the minors before making the major leauge club. Guys...
The Crawfish Boxes (Free subscription) | 09/23/2009
More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP Browse more photos » If anyone has a thing for 67 year old chubby managers of one time NL championship teams, then you're in luck! The Astros' top choice for their managerial position may Jim Fregosi . Richard Justice is confident that Ed Wade, who made decisions in Philly to hire both Terry Francona and Charlie Manuel, will choose the right man to...
The Crawfish Boxes (Free subscription) | 09/14/2009
More photos » by Dave Einsel - AP My opinion: 2010 hinges on this man's performance. Browse more photos » I'll admit from the outset that this depressing for me to write for two reasons. One, of course, being that it's depressing that I can't find anything worth writing about the 2009 Astros and two being that I am left wondering how the 2010 Astros can do better than their 2009 version....
The Crawfish Boxes (Free subscription) | 08/22/2009
This exercise, called "Restoring the Rosters" , at NBC Sports in fairly interesting. The premise: construct, for each MLB team, a team comprised only of current players who were signed by the team. The author then rates the rosters. The Astros come in No. 19, even though the starting lineup and rotation looks fairly decent. The reason the rating is downgraded, according to the article, is...
Miami Herald (Free subscription) | 08/15/2009
The Houston Astros optioned pitcher Chris Sampson to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday and recalled pitcher Samuel Gervacio to take his place on the roster.
kansascity.com (Free subscription) | 08/15/2009
The Houston Astros optioned pitcher Chris Sampson to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday and recalled pitcher Samuel Gervacio to take his place on the roster.
The Big Lead (Free subscription) | 08/14/2009
Marlins 9, Astros 2: Mike Hampton gave up 3 runs in 5 innings before making way for Chris Sampson. Sampson gave up six runs in 2/3 of an inning. Jorge Cantu and Ronny Paulino each homered for Florida. Brewers 12, Padres 9: Mike Rivera and Prince Fielder both homered twice and Rivera drove in five runs. [...]
The ClownVision Chronicles (Free subscription) | 08/14/2009
Last night, Brian McTaggart at MLB.com posted a story on Chris Sampson being sent to the minors after a disastrous appearance against the Florida Marlins. McTaggart also reported that Sampson was blindsided by the move, and he's got quotes from Sampson saying that he's still injured, needs rest, and probably needs to go back on the DL. Sampson says the Astros knew that he was still injured when
The ClownVision Chronicles (Free subscription) | 08/14/2009
According to a Brian McTaggart tweet, reliever Chris Sampson has been optioned to Round Rock, and Sampson's not happy. Sampson got shelled in tonight's game against the Marlins, and it appears that Cooper's response was to send him to the minors.I haven't seen any story on this yet, so I don't know who the Astros brought up to replace him on the roster. And I don't know if the Astros are going to
The Crawfish Boxes (Free subscription) | 08/14/2009
Chris Sampson optioned to Round Rock, Samuel Gervacio called up Richard Justice, via Twitter. My condolences to Sampson who should be sent to the DL, not AAA.
The Crawfish Boxes (Free subscription) | 08/14/2009
More photos » by Alan Diaz - AP Pretty much the look on my face the entire game. Browse more photos » Mike Hampton didn't pitch badly, but was forced out of the game with a sore shoulder after 5IP . Coop went to the bullpen and threw a fatigued Chris Sampson into the fray. What was a manageable game became unmanageable. via www.fangraphs.com The one positive I draw from tonight's game was...
Hair Balls (Free subscription) | 08/13/2009
Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher I don't know what Cecil Cooper has against pitchers, but it's really beginning to harm the team. The Astros put Wesley Wright on the disabled list yesterday. Chris Sampson, who recently came off of the DL,...
The Crawfish Boxes (Free subscription) | 08/12/2009
Astros Bullpen Management J.J. Ortiz at the Chronicle says the Astros' bullpen is shot, and blames Cecil Cooper. Although I realize that Ortiz isn't exactly a Cooper booster, I think there is some truth to what he says. Related to the bullpen, Cooper had to schedule another "closed door" meeting with a player to "clear the air"--this time with Chris Sampson.. It t urns ou t that...
The Crawfish Boxes (Free subscription) | 08/12/2009
More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP Browse more photos » With the playoffs seemingly more and more like a fleeting memory for Astros ' fans, the 2009 off-season is becoming more and more the topic of conversation around TCB. It's safe to say that this year's squad has played reasonably well considering the constraints (payroll, injury and lack of talent) that were omnipresent from day...
The ClownVision Chronicles (Free subscription) | 08/12/2009
So Brian McTaggart is tweeting that Cecil Cooper and Chris Sampson had a closed door meeting today as Sampson is upset about the way that Cooper's been using him. I know that Sampson hasn't been his best lately, but I'm wondering how much of that can be related to Cooper's misuse of him in the first half of this season'Sampson pitched injured, got hit, went on the DL, and has been hit since he
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