I love the idea of the Astros playing in the American League because it has the potential to create a legitimate rivalry with the Texas Rangers. The Astros have never had a real rival because all the good ones are taken. Interleague play hasn’t really stirred anything between the Astros and Rangers because they play [...]
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SportsJustice
A sports blog with Richard Justice
Ed Wade is threatening to break up our Astros because he doesn’t like what he sees. Jim Crane might feel the same way about the front office.
Listen, there are things Ed Wade can be held accountable for and things he can’t. If you take two steps back and a big gulp of air, you’ll see that the Astros were going to have a tough time contending no matter how shrewd his player evaluations. And they haven’t been very shrewd at all. [...]
Read MoreTexas-OU is again the most interesting college football game of our 2011 season, but there are a dozen others you won’t want to miss
1. Texas-OU at Dallas The Longhorns open with Rice, BYU, UCLA and Iowa State, so we’ll know plenty about this team by the time they roll into the State Fair. If they get through those four games unscathed, this game will be the first really tough test of Mack Brown’s overhauled coaching staff. By the [...]
Read MoreIf you don’t like Bud Norris, you don’t like a double-double from Whataburger, and of course, everyone does
Bud Norris believed he belonged in the big leagues the moment he arrived, and even though he has gotten roughed up a few times these last three years, he never stopped believing in himself. That kind of confidence can help a kid hang in there emotionally through tough times, but there’s a downside to it [...]
Read MoreI just don’t believe Mack Brown cheats. I don’t think he has to. Is there cheating going on at Texas? That’s another question.
I intend to conduct a thorough investigation of these allegations of cheating in the University of Texas football program. Tick, tick, tick. All done. Hands washed. Move along, folks. Nothing to see here. Whew, that was close. Seriously, if there was cheating going on at Texas, don’t you think I’d know about it? After all, [...]
Read MoreChris Johnson is fighting through a tough sophomore season, but maybe he’ll come out of it just fine
Chris Johnson surpassed all expectations last season when he finally got a chance to play everyday and hit .308 with 22 doubles, 11 home runs and 52 RBIs in 341 at-bats. He batted .316 against right-handed pitcher, .286 against lefties. He’s never going to be mistaken for Brooks Robinson at third base, but his defense [...]
Read MoreWe’re not letting Ed Wade acquire another second baseman. Come to think of it, third base and shortstop are out, too
Kaz Matsui, Pedro Feliz and Bill Hall will end up getting more than $24 million of Drayton McLane’s hard-earned money. If I’m Jim Crane the first thing I’d ask Ed Wade is something along the lines of: “What were you thinking?” And there’s Miguel Tejada. He got $30 million out of Drayton’s deep pockets. “Why, [...]
Read MoreRockets announce the hiring of Kevin McHale, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he became a really good head coach
I guess it’s the times in which we live. Fans began ripping Daryl Morey the moment Jonathan Feigen broke the news of Kevin McHale’s hiring. I haven’t heard such name-calling since our last family reunion, which incidentally will be this weekend at Lake Whitney. Cussing. Drinking. Scratching. Cussing Republicans. Oh, you’ve never seen such a [...]
Read MoreBrett Myers could be on his way to one of the most amazing seasons in recent history
Brett Myers is on pace to pitch a career-high 237.2 innings and to have 25 quality starts and a very respectable 3.72 ERA. What could those numbers get him in terms of victories? Twenty? Eighteen? At the very least, Brett should be in line for his first All-Star appearance, right? Well, no. At his current [...]
Read MoreTexans have had a nice draft, but most people don’t want to believe it
My buddies from 1560 were at a restaurant the other night, and when the Texans drafted J.J. Watt, boos echoed around the room. I’m pretty sure most of those booing fans didn’t know a thing about J.J. Watt. They just guessed the Texans had gotten it wrong again. That’s the price an organization pays for [...]
Read MoreAt what point do the Astros pull the plug on Carlos Lee?
Carlos Lee is hitting .200 and looking like a guy at the end of the line. With J.B. Shuck and J.D. Martinez hot in the minor leagues, the Astros surely have discussed cutting ties with Lee and eating the remaining $37 million on his contract. Actually, the money is irrelevant. The Astros are on the [...]
Read MoreAstros have spent 28 consecutive days in last place, and that’s not even the worst news
Actually, friends, it’s a lot worse than that. For one thing, it’s easy to look at the raw offensive numbers and think there might be something to build on. Yes, the Astros are right in the middle of the pack in the National League in terms of scoring runs_7th of 16 teams. But that’s the [...]
Read MoreLet’s go ahead and clear a spot for Brett Wallace on the 2011 National League All-Star Team
If we’re going to judge Brett Wallace by the company he keeps, he’s going to find his way onto the 2011 National League All-Star Team. Meanwhile, in Toronto, they’re crushing Blue Jays management for trading Wallace. That’s the kind of stuff that usually happens around here. You know, Daryl Morey trades Tracy McGrady, and [...]
Read MoreWhere will Mario Williams play? Here, there and everywhere.
Long ago and far away, I covered the Washington Redskins. Back then, the Redskins were one of the NFL’s great franchises. Under Joe Gibbs, they went to the playoffs eight times in 12 years and won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks. In those days, the rivarlies in the NFC East would be hard [...]
Read MoreWho should the Rockets hire? Casey? Frank? McHale?
The Rockets appear to be focused on three names: Dwane Casey, Lawrence Frank and Kevin McHale. All have head coaching experience. Casey and Frank are extremely respected in NBA coaching circles. McHale was one of the great players ever, but hasn’t had the same success as a coach or general manager. Frank, 40, has far [...]
Read MoreRemember what the Mavericks were like before Mark Cuban? Yes, Astros fans, things can change quickly
When I watched Mark Cuban make his way onto the court to shake Phil Jackson’s hand Sunday afternoon amid a joyous celebration and a soldout arena, I was reminded what the Dallas Mavericks used to be. Before Mark Cuban, they were among the worst sports franchises in this country. They were bad on the floor, [...]
Read MoreA&M loses a good man and a good coach, but Bill Byrne will find another
Once upon a time, Jerry Krause said something really, really smart. OK, he probably said a lot of really smart things in his day, but this particular thing stands out. “Players and coaches don’t win championships,” he said. “Organizations win championships.” Krause was roasted for those comments because they seemed dismissive of Phil Jackson, Michael [...]
Read MoreJosh Pastner or Buzz Williams? Could Texas A&M get either, and who would be the best fit in Aggieland?
I asked a really smart friend this morning advice he would give to Bill Byrne in his search for a new basketball coach. Here’s his response: First, I think I’d make 1,000% certain that Rodney Terry wouldn’t leave his brand new job (likely won’t). –Then I’d make Wojo (Duke) tell me no himself with a [...]
Read MoreThese Astros never quit, and in a really tough season, that’s something to hang your hat on
When Jim Crane takes control of the Astros, he’s going to look at every layer of the organization to figure out who stays and who doesn’t. I’m guessing he’s going to love what he has in manager Brad Mills and his coaching staff. Of the many things Ed Wade has gotten right–yes, he has gotten [...]
Read MoreIf I were Ed Wade, I wouldn’t be signing any long-term leases
I’m reading tea leaves here, and that’s always a dangerous thing to do, even for someone of my uncommon unintelligence. I believe Jim Crane is going to clean house. On the business side. On the baseball side. First, it makes no sense for Pam Gardner to stay with George Postolos coming on as CEO. George [...]
Read MoreReconsidering the Miguel Tejada trade 1,251 days later
I’d say 1,251 days is enough time to evaluate a trade, even one with as many moving parts as this one. When Jim Crane and George Postolos begin evaluating Ed Wade, they may very well begin right here. I don’t think there’s a chance in hell that Pam Gardner, Ed Wade and Tal Smith will [...]
Read MoreDrayton McLane is about to exit, so what’s next for the Astros?
Pam Gardner and Tal Smith have been Drayton McLane’s most trusted advisors for a long time. I’m guessing both of them will be fired within six months. Ed Wade was brought into an impossible situation. He arrived after the 2007 season to find no farm system, a mediocre major league team and an owner in [...]
Read MoreI’ll forgive the Texans for not drafting Vince Young if they go sign Nnamdi AsomughaIf
I’m hearing it already. Too expensive. Bob McNair won’t go down that road. Even if the Texans made Nnamdi Asomugha a competitive offer, he’ll end up playing for the Cowboys or Redskins. Enough! Where’s the can-do spirit that made Houston a great city? I’ll admit it doesn’t look good. Bob McNair once told me he [...]
Read MoreI’m tearing up thinking about all the good times Drayton and I had through the years
Me: Are you going to fire Jimy Williams? Drayton: I don’t understand baseball. Do you? Baseball is sure a funny game. Me: Are you going to fire Jimy Williams? Drayton: How about those Baylor Bears? I think this is the year we beat Texas. You won’t like that, will you? Me: Are you going to [...]
Read MoreAstros face a long, tough climb back to respectability. It can’t be done by spending more money, either.
You want the new guy to spend more money. Hey, I want the new guy to spend more money, too. I just want him to spend it in different places than you want him to spend it. I want more national scouts, more regional scouts. I want to give the good scouts raises. I want [...]
Read MoreI keep trying to convince myself Ed Wade has done a bad job. Problem is, he hasn’t.
I’m pretty sure Ed Wade is going to be fired once the new ownership takes over. It’s not that he has done a bad job. It’s that the new guys may want a different way of evaluating players and rosters. That’s their right. It’s their team. But if Ed is allowed to make a case [...]
Read MoreMario Williams is the key, and his new coaches can’t wait to get him on the field and get started making him a superstar
This lockout stinks because the Texans have so much work to do, and they’re so anxious to get started. Gary Kubiak told me Thursday that he and his staff have already finished the playbooks and preseason game plans. Those are things they normally don’t do until the weeks just before training camp. So in terms [...]
Read MoreThings Jim Crane should NOT say to Commissioner Selig…
If Jim Crane wants to make a good first impression with Commissioner Selig, he’ll research the conversation that took place when George Bamberger came to Milwaukee and met his future boss for the first time. OK, I threw this topic out on twitter this morning, and some people ran with it. Surprisingly, quite a few [...]
Read MoreI say we focus on the positive and discuss all the things that have gone right for the 2011 Astros
I’m probably a lot like you in that I see the glass as half full. Even in the darkest of times, I can find something positive. I want to thank readers of this blog for their daily cheeriness, for forcing me to see what’s right with the world instead of what’s wrong. As LBJ once [...]
Read MoreBud Norris is emerging as solid major league starter, and isn’t that just about the best news you’ve heard today?
Stuff happens. That’s one of the lessons of this silly season. Jason Castro blows his knee out. Clint Barmes breaks a bone in his hand. Chris Johnson can’t find last season’s magic. One of the things a lot of us thought these Astros would be pretty good at would be pitching the baseball. We liked [...]
Read MoreIf Jim Crane is half as good at customer service as Drayton McLane and Pam Gardner, he’ll be spectacular
In the last decade, I’ve probably gotten two dozen emails complaining about customer service at Minute Maid Park or describing some special circumstance. Each time, the Astros responded like champions. Sometimes it was Drayton McLane himself. Other times it was Pam Gardner. But the Astros responded every time. Their message consistently was: (a) we appreciate [...]
Read MoreKevin McHale brings leadership to the table, and that may be way more important than what he doesn’t bring
Kevin McHale wasn’t even on the radar screen when the Rockets began looking for a new coach. They set out to hire Lawrence Frank or someone a lot like Lawrence Frank. In other words, a Jeff Van Gundy clone. They might have hired JVG himself, but let’s be kind and say there might have been [...]
Read MoreI have no idea if Daryl Morey reads these comments, but he might be able to learn a few things from a guy named Kubiak
Last week when I asked Gary Kubiak why he never reacts to criticism or tough questions or second-guessing, he had a good answer. “To tell you the truth, it motivates me,” he said. He said he’d listened to Gary Allen’s I Get Off on the Pain during his morning treadmill workout. “I think I do [...]
Read MoreTexans and Rockets moving up. Astros under new management. When you stop and think about it, things are pretty sweet on the Houston sports scene
We’re about to be the envy of an entire nation. Our teams have been down for a couple of years, but things are changing and quickly. So much is happening here I wouldn’t be surprised if ESPN opened a Houston bureau within the next fews months. Or they could just, you know, add a Houston [...]
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