Tag Archives: Baseball

Crane sues McLane

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be fun. Jim Crane’s Astros ownership group filed a state court lawsuit Thursday against former Astros owner Drayton McLane, Comcast and NBC Universal, accusing them of fraud and civil conspiracy and accusing McLane’s corporation that owned the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Crane sues McLane

Bye-bye, Bud

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say I’m sorry to see the tenure of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig come to a close. Bud Selig said Thursday that he plans to retire as baseball commissioner in January 2015 after a term of more than 22 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Better bats

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Technology marches on. As part of new MLB regulations, manufacturers use ink to test bats’ stability. If the dot bleeds more than a quarter inch, indicating low density, that wood isn’t major-league caliber. Thanks to that practice and more implemented … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Better bats

On wins and losses

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This story about CC Sabathia and his chances of winning 300 games in his career got me thinking along some slightly different lines. CC Sabathia won his 200th career game [last] week against the Minnesota Twins, becoming the 114th pitcher … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on On wins and losses

You have a strange definition of “only”, Bud

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Or maybe it’s your definition of “logical”, I’m not sure. But while first-year manager Bo Porter continues to fire up his players and general manager Jeff Luhnow oversees year one of a complete organizational overhaul, many longtime Astros fans continue … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

How cursed is Houston as a sports city?

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

So another Super Bowl is history, and as you might have noticed the Houston Texans were not be playing in the game. This continues an unbroken streak of Houston football teams not making it to the Super Bowl, some in … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hall of Fame elects nobody

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Truly, utterly, ridiculous. Steroid-tainted stars Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa were denied entry to baseball’s Hall of Fame, with voters failing to elect any candidates for only the second time in four decades. Bonds received just 36.2 percent … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hall of Fame elects nobody

The Hall of Fame and guilt by association

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

John Royal hits on one of the least admirable traits of Hall of Fame voters. There are some voters out there once again claiming that Jeff Bagwell used ‘roids, and these same folks are claiming that Craig Biggio used them … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Biggio on the ballot

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Former Astros great Craig Biggio will make his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot this year. Ballots for the 2013 Hall of Fame class will be issued this week to media members; candidates will officially be announced Wednesday. Results … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

RIP, Marvin Miller

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Marvin Miller, whom Red Barber said was “one of the two or three most important men in baseball history, along with Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson”, has died at the age of 95. It is impossible to overstate Miller’s impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mills and Clemens

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Enjoy your paid time off, Brad Mills. General manager Jeff Luhnow and owner Jim Crane see no reason to wait until the season ends to begin the search for the next Astros manager after Brad Mills was fired and replaced … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why I hold the Hall of Fame voting process in contempt

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This story has the best distillation of why the Baseball Writers Association of America should have had the Hall of Fame voting privilege taken away from them years ago. Former BBWAA president Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Clemens cleared

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The saga ends. A federal jury today acquitted baseball superstar Roger Clemens on charges of lying to Congress about the use of performance enhancing drugs in a stinging rebuke to a four-year campaign by legislators and federal prosecutors to turn … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Clemens cleared

Calling a ball a ball and a strike a strike

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Bobby Valentine says that’s the way he wants it. A day after being ejected, Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was still steamed about umpiring, and said technology should be used to eliminate human error in calling balls and strikes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Calling a ball a ball and a strike a strike

Retire #50!

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I was enjoying this story about JR Richard, was was inducted into the Astros Walk of Fame at Minute Maid on Friday night, until I got to these paragraphs: The Astros have been more liberal than most teams in retiring … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

More replay for MLB, please

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

They’re thinking about it, but don’t rush them. Major League Baseball currently is exploring the expansion of instant replay with the World Umpires Association, and no timetable has been specified for any adjustments to the current policy. The owners and … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on More replay for MLB, please

No, San Antonio will not be getting an MLB team any time soon

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

You are right to be skeptical. It’s a development that has become as predictable as yellow pollen in the spring. A Major League Baseball franchise, struggling financially, seeks a new stadium deal, a new location, a new life. In the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Friday random ten: Opening day

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains. But all the time, there’s Friday Random Ten. 1. Opening Ceremonies – from the “Chess” soundtrack 2. Opening: I Can’t Turn You Loose – Blues Brothers 3. Open All Night – … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Friday random ten: Opening day

Two wild cards are one too many

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t care for this. Major League Baseball expanded its playoff format to 10 teams Friday, adding a second wild card in each league. The decision establishes a new one-game, wild-card round in each league between the teams with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The “Moneyball” approach to public education

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Via Lisa Falkenberg on Facebook, SBOE member Thomas Ratliff uses the philosophy from Moneyball to analyze the accountability system for Texas public schools. The book says, “One absolutely cannot tell, by watching, the difference between a .300 hitter and a … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Why salary caps suck

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

In a sane world, the Houston Texans would not have to worry about whether they have or can free up the cap space to re-sign Mario Williams as well as whichever else of their free agents they would like to … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

No more Not-Stros

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Glad we got that settled. New owner Jim Crane ended a week of speculation and rare attention on a national level and anticipated backlash among Houstonians, saying he would not change the name of the club – a possibility he … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Houston Not-Stros

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, hell no. Even more drastic changes could come next year, when the [Astros move] to the American League. Possible transformations include new uniforms and logos, changes to the playing field and “Tal’s Hill” in center field, and even a … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Larkin elected to Hall of Fame

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Barry Larkin on his Cooperstown call. I just wish he had some company for the dais. Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop and current ESPN analyst Barry Larkin was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday, getting 86.4 … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Larkin elected to Hall of Fame

MLB labor deal calls for more use of replay

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This overview of what’s in the proposed collective bargaining agreement for Major League Baseball has the following interesting tidbit: MLB wants to expand replay to include fair-or-foul calls, “whether a fly ball or line drive was trapped” and fan interference … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on MLB labor deal calls for more use of replay

Skeeter mascots

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Swatson and Moe, the mascots of the Sugar Land Skeeters. I guess when your franchise is named for a winged pest, your options for cuddly anthropomorphic representations are somewhat constrained. Be that as it may, the Phillies Phanatic comparison … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Ron Santo elected to Hall of Fame

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Long overdue. Ron Santo, a nine-time All-Star who amassed 342 home runs and five Gold Glove awards, has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Golden Era Committee, it was announced today. Santo was the lone … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Sports Authority will not impede Astros move to AL

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

One of the odd side stories that came out after MLB officially approved the sale of the Astros to Jim Crane was this contention by attorney Kevin W. Yankowsky of Fulbright & Jaworski that the Astros’ lease at Minute Maid … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

MLB approves Astros sale

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official. Jim Crane’s $610 million purchase of the Astros from Drayton McLane was unanimously approved by Major League Baseball’s owners this morning. All that remains is a formal closing of the transaction, which likely will take place early next … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Astros almost to the AL

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s happening. Prospective Astros owner Jim Crane and his group of investors have reached an agreement with Major League Baseball that would shift the franchise to the American League, two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed Friday. One person … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Good enough to do it twice

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I confess I did not follow the World Series very closely this year. I caught a few bits and pieces of games, including the latter innings of Game Six, but for the most part missed them. My first thought after … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Shunning A&M

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not just the UT-A&M football game that’s on the endangered list. The SEC-bound Aggies have said they’d love to keep playing UT as a non-conference foe, but Longhorns athletic director DeLoss Dodds has said the school’s football schedule is … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Astros to the AL update

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I remain puzzled by this. Major League Baseball is discussing with prospective Astros owner Jim Crane possible compensation for agreeing to move the team to the American League. Three people familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday that MLB has … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

RIP, UT-A&M

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Tradition, schmadition. This Thanksgiving one of college football’s oldest and most storied rivalries will be put on indefinite hold when Texas and Texas A&M meet for the last time as Big 12 foes. The Aggies wanted to continue the series … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment