Category Archives: Baseball

I think we all knew it was the end of the line for Jeff Bagwell. Now he has made it official. “It’s been a long journey, but it’s been a great ride,” Bagwell said. “It really has.” Bagwell’s retirement has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I don’t doubt that the Yankees did everything they could to bring Andy Pettite back to the Bronx. (And as a lifelong Yankee fam I appreciate that effort.) But let’s face it: The Yankees didn’t win Pettite so much as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It’s that time of year again, when the Hall of Fame ballot is released. This time, it comes with a side order of heartburn. Mark McGwire, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. headline the first-time candidates on the 2007 baseball … Continue reading → Continue reading →

You might have missed the announcements of the MVP awards, as decided by the Baseball Reporters Association of America (BBRAA). No great loss if you did, as they made two poor selections, one defensible and one not. Joe Sheehan has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

So the Astros have said goodbye to Jeff Bagwell as a player by not picking up his 2007 option. No surprise, and though Bags says he’s not necessarily finished as a player, I think we’ve seen him take the field … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Silas Simmons, the oldest living baseball player, has passed away at the age of one hundred and eleven. He died Sunday in a retirement nursing home, Zion Hill Mortuary said Wednesday. Simmons, a left-hander, played for several teams from 1912-29, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Very good news. Following nearly a quarter century of labor wars, baseball players and owners will have 16 years of peace. They set aside their long history of bitter negotiations to reach a tentative agreement on a five-year contract, the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle was killed yesterday when the small plane he was piloting crashed into a highrise in Manhattan. Moments after passing above the 59th Street Bridge, Lidle’s single-engine plane disappeared from the radar. And just 13 minutes after … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Now that people are focusing on the AL Championship Series between Detroit and Oakland more than they are on Detroit’s Division Series win over the Yankees, I’m going to let Joe Sheehan speak for me in the matter of The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Buck O’Neil, one of the best ambassadors the game of baseball has ever had, passed away on Friday at the age of 94. A star in the Negro Leagues who barnstormed with Satchel Paige, O’Neil later signed Hall-of-Famers Lou Brock … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Apparently, there was an odd double play in Wednesday’s Mets-Dodgers game. The Los Angeles Dodgers are accustomed to gridlock. They just never expected traffic congestion to doom them at Shea Stadium. With a chance to take an early lead against … Continue reading → Continue reading →

By now I’m sure you’ve heard of the allegations by former pitcher Jason Grimsley that his onetime teammates Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite joined him in using performance-enhancing drugs. That’s a charge both current Astros strongly deny. “I’m stunned, obviously,” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Meet Silas Simmons, the oldest living player from the black major leagues near the turn of the century. Simmons, known as Si, was born on Oct. 14, 1895 – the same year as Babe Ruth and Rudolph Valentino, and before … Continue reading → Continue reading →

With all due respect to a truly great baseball player, are we sure that this was Roger Clemens’ last game? The man has had more farewell tours than Cher. I don’t blame him for coming back – Lord knows he’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I caught a little bit of an Astros game over the weekend, and while I was watching they flashed a graphic that showed Craig Biggio was currently #9 all time in career doubles, and in fact is only three two-baggers … Continue reading → Continue reading →

If you don’t care for the current style of baseball, perhaps this will be more to your liking. Former major league pitcher Jim Bouton announced Thursday the launch of an organization that will play by 19th century rules: The Vintage … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Chronicle’s blog empire just got a little more interesting with the addition of former Astros manager Larry Dierker to its stable. Dierk was a pretty insightful analyst on TV (as well as a not-too-shabby manager), so it’ll be very … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I saw this story in the Chron awhile back and meant to write about it but never got to it. As today is the day of the MLB All Star Game in Pittsburgh, in which I have no interest beyond … Continue reading → Continue reading →

You know, five trips to the College World Series in the last ten years really doesn’t suck. And of course, the last time the Owls made it to Omaha, coincidentally also after having been the #1-ranked team for a good … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Looks like the Astros may be getting close to signing Roger Clemens for the rest of the year. Astros owner Drayton McLane negotiated deep into Tuesday night with Roger Clemens’ agents, and he appeared on his way to finalize the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Congratulations to Barry Bonds for hitting home run # 715 yesterday. Whatever you think of him today, and however you think he covered the last steps on this journey, that’s a hell of a feat for a truly outstanding player. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I suppose I should say something about Barry Bonds finally catching up to Babe Ruth in the career home run department. I addressed this topic almost three years ago when Bonds spoke publicly about his pursuit of 714 and ultimately … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Want to let everyone know how you feel about your favorite sports team but don’t want to start a(nother) blog? Check out Armchair GM, which is looking for fans to adopt their favorite team and be a part of that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s your first set of inductees to the College Baseball Hall of Fame, currently under construction in Lubbock. Former USC head baseball coach Rod Dedeaux has been elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame, the College Baseball Foundation announced … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As expected, the Astros have filed suit to collect on their disability insurance claim for Jeff Bagwell. Bagwell, who is on the 15-day disabled list with arthritis and bone chips in his right shoulder, was deemed disabled as a professional … Continue reading → Continue reading →

What do you know? It’s a reason to visit Lubbock. “Just like Canton and Cooperstown, sports fans around the nation will begin to turn their attention to Lubbock every summer,” said John Askins, chairman and CEO of the College Baseball … Continue reading → Continue reading →

On a happier baseball note, Jay Jaffe celebrates his fifth blogiversary by recalling that a quarter century ago yesterday, a pudgy 20-year-old from Mexico toom the mound in Dodger Stadium and shut out the Astros. Seven starts and four more … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Have I mentioned lately that Chron sportswriter Richard Justice is an idiot? In case I haven’t, let me correct that oversight: Richard Justice is an idiot. I’m sure it makes him feel all tingly and self-righteous to advocate wiping out … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Bagwell insurance claim denied. Lawyers for Astros owner Drayton McLane and Connecticut General Life Insurance are bracing for litigation over Connecticut General’s decision to deny the total disability claim the Astros filed to recoup $15.6 million of disabled first baseman … Continue reading → Continue reading →

If the end of the line for Jeff Bagwell isn’t here, it’s getting really close. Conceding that it might take “a miracle” for him to play again, Houston Astros slugger Jeff Bagwell went on the disabled list Saturday in a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I don’t say this very often, but I agree with George Will in his assessment of Barry Bonds. It is still unclear if there will be judicially imposed punishment in this matter. But condign punishment for a man as proud … Continue reading → Continue reading →

And speaking of the Hall of Fame… Effa Manley became the first woman elected to the baseball Hall of Fame when the former Newark Eagles executive was among 17 people from the Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues chosen Monday by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This Sunday article on longtime Astro Craig Biggio briefly discusses his likelihood of getting into the Hall of Fame. Biggio someday will hang up his elbow pads and mucky helmet, but don’t rush him. He’s still in great shape, he’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

So it looks like Sammy Sosa will be retiring, now that he rejected the Nationals’ lowball contract offer. Sosa’s production fell off a cliff last season, so perhaps this was a propitious time for him to hang ’em up. Unfortunately … Continue reading → Continue reading →