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Stros 2009 Season Review, Part Three
Given the inexplicable popularity of NFL football practice in these parts, who cares about Major League Baseball anymore, anyway? As expected, the Stros (59-62) faded into obscurity during the third quarter of the 2009 season, going 19-21 during that...
Stros 2009 Season Review, Part Two
The Stros (41-41) reached the halfway point of the 2009 season in an incongruous position. Although they are performing only slightly better than predicted before the season and are in fifth place in the six team National League Central...
Stros 2009 Season Review, Part One
While waiting in line to pick up a bottle of water at a Stros game earlier in the week, an old friend of mine and fellow longtime Stros season-ticket holder stopped by to say hello and chat. Eventually, the...
Batter up! Stros 2009 Season Preview
Today is Opening Day for the Major League Baseball season and Houston, so it's time for HCT's annual preview of the Stros' upcoming season (previous annual previews since 2004 are here). The Stros opening day roster is here over...
Stros 2008 Season Review, Part Five: Season Recap and Report Card
The Stros 2008 season has been over for over a week now, so it's time for my final review of the 2008 season (prior 2008 season reviews are here) and my grading of the Stros players for the 2008...
Stros 2008 Season Review, Part Four
After falling apart during the third fifth of the 2008 season, the Stros (64-64) made an unexpected rebound during the fourth fifth of the season, going 20-13 over that stretch. Although the Stros' recent play was more fulfilling to...
Stros 2008 Season Review, Part Three
Inasmuch as Major League Baseball is taking a break for the All-Star break, I decided to post the third part of five periodic reviews of the Stros' 2008 season a game or so early (previous parts for the 2008...
Stros 2008 Season Review, Part Two
Through 40% of the season, the Stros' record is precisely what you would expect from a club that struggles to maintain National League average performance -- 32-32, including 15-16 in the second fifth of the season. That's about the...
Stros 2008 Season Review, Part One
Despite a weekend sweep of the division-rival Brewers (16-16) and another stirring comeback victory over the Nationals (14-19), the Stros' record (17-16) reflects their performance through the first fifth of the 2008 season -- an average National League ballclub. Collectively,...
Batter up! Stros 2008 Season Preview
The Stros are on the road for the first week of the 2008 Major League Baseball season, but that's not a bad thing considering that the optimism usually associated with Opening Day during the Biggio-Bagwell era of the Stros...
Stros 2007 Review, Part Ten: Season Recap and Report Card
It’s been a week now since the Craig Biggio Farewell Tour drew to a close during the final eighth of the Stros’ disappointing 2007 season. With the end of the season, the tremendously successful Biggio-Bagwell era in the history of...
Stros 2007 Season Review, Part Seven
Gosh, it's amazing how fast 20 games go by for the Stros (62-79) when the club's General Manager and manager are fired in the interim (previous periodic reviews are here). The reactions to the firing were varied (see here and...
Stros 2007 Season Review, Part Six
As the Stros (54-67) close in on the three-quarters pole of the season, I can't decide whether it's more of a reflection of the sad state of baseball analysis in local mainstream media outlets, or simply the remarkably mediocre nature...
Stros 2007 Season Review, Part Five
At the quarter pole of this season, I observed the following: Stros management, for all their declarations of trying to field a playoff contender, is really biding its time this season as Biggio trudges toward his 3,000th hit. There is...
Stros 2007 Season Review, Part Four
So, now that the Stros are done with that, where does the club go from here? As the Stros (34-47) reached the halfway point of the 2007 season, that's the question confronting the owner Drayton McLane and General Manager Tim...
Stros 2007 Season Review, Part Three
Back when the Stros were close to a .500 ball club, I concluded the previous periodic Stros season review (all previous 2007 reviews are here) as follows: Thus, my sense is that Stros management, for all their declarations of trying...
Stros 2007 Season Review, Part Two
As the Stros reach the quarter pole of the 2007 season, the club's prospects on the surface seem to be somewhat improved over the dreary first eighth of the season (prior season reviews here). The Stros (20-21) stabilized a bit...
Stros 2007 Season Review, Part One
The first 21 games of the season of the Stros' (9-12) season has been one of streaks -- they started out the season by losing 5 of their first 6 games, rebounded momentarily by winning 8 of their next 9,...
Stros 2006 Review, Part Ten: Season Recap and Report Card
With the League Championship Series matchups now set, it's time to put the Stros 2006 season to rest. At least the Stros' late season surge was fun while it lasted, but it ended in the same manner as too many...
Stros 2006 Review, Part Nine
As I've noted before, it's funny how our expectations for the Stros color the way in which we view the team at a particular stage of the season. After essentially playing themselves out of the National League playoff race in...
Stros 2006 Review, Part Eight
When we last checked in on the Stros at the 7/10's pole, the club had shown signs that it was going to climb back into legitimate contender status in the National League playoff race. Unfortunately, those signs of a playoff...
Stros 2006 Review, Part Seven
As the Stros pass the 7/10's pole and turn on to the stretch run of the 2006 National League regular season (previous 10% segment summaries are here), there is good news and bad news. First, the good news. For the...
Stros 2006 Review, Part Six
After the Stros were blown out by the Mets on Friday night and fell to a season-worst 46-51 record, it's looking clearer by the day that the magic of the Stros' past two second-half playoff runs has worn off completely....
Stros 2006 Review, Part Five
Well, the Stros (39-42) are halfway through their 2006 season and the first half of the season reminds us again of just how much expectations shape our perception of how likely it is for the club to contend for another...
Stros 2006 Review, Part Four
Although the fourth of the Stros' ten segments of the 2006 season (prior 1/10th of a season posts are here) was not the most successful -- the Stros had to win five of their last six to finish 7-9 for...
Stros 2006 Review, Part Three
Where have you gone, Roger Rocket? That's the question that most Stros fans are asking at the 3/10's pole of the season (prior 1/10th of a season posts are here), but it's the wrong one. It's highly unlikely that a...
Stros 2006 Review, Part Two
I don't know about you, but it sure seems to me that the first 20% of the Major League Baseball season flew by quicker than a Roger Clemens fastball. Now, if we could only see a Clemens fastball. As predicted...
Stros 2006 Review, Part One
This is my first periodic review or the Stros' season in my third straight year of blogging the club, and the first 10% of the season has has initially justified my generally rosy pre-season outlook. The club has burst out...
Batter up! Stros 2006 Season Preview
It's Opening Day today in Houston as the Stros take on the Marlins this afternoon at Minute Maid Park, so it's time for my annual preview of the Stros upcoming team and season (last season's preview is here). Let's first...
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