Category Archives: Baseball

Somebody doesn’t like something about the Astros

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still not sure what we’re supposed to conclude from this long but mostly unsourced screed about how the Astros are running their team. The Astros have become one of baseball’s most progressive franchises as they try to rebuild and … Continue reading →

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Ralph Garr

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

On the anniversary this week of Hank Aaron’s 715th home run, the Chron profiles his teammate and resident of nearby Richmond, Ralph Garr. With Henry Aaron sitting on 714 career home runs as the Braves prepared to play the Dodgers … Continue reading →

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Still dreaming about MLB in San Antonio

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

From The Rivard Report, a grassroots group in the Alamo City is keeping hope alive. If you’ve been a San Antonio sports fan for any length of time, you’ve heard it. It’s the label that the Alamo City has been … Continue reading →

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Lance Berkman

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Former Astro and Rice Owl Lance Berkman hung up his spikes this week. Lance Berkman, who starred at Rice before becoming one of the most clutch hitters in Astros history, is retiring after a 15-year career in the major leagues. … Continue reading →

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MLB adopts expanded instant replay

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent. Baseball’s replay age has finally dawned, thanks to Thursday’s unanimous approval by owners of what commissioner Bud Selig called a “historic” expansion of replay to correct missed calls. The new system, which will go into effect this season, will … Continue reading →

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No BGO for HOF

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Missed it by one vote. One of the most majestic induction classes in the history of the National Baseball Hall of Fame was set on Wednesday with the announcement that Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas were elected by … Continue reading →

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Hall calls for Torre, Cox, and LaRussa

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to the newest members of the Hall of Fame. The first wave of inductees for the 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame class have been announced. The Veteran’s Committee has decided to induct managers Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, and Tony … Continue reading →

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Time to ponder how the Hall of Fame voters will screw things up this year

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Pinstripe Alley reviews this year’s Hall of Fame ballot and heaves a sigh. If I was given a ballot and asked to name at most 10 players for induction, I would first complain that I can’t add more, then submit … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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