Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com.
So the Lone Star/Dr. Pepper/Enron/Compaq series got underway this weekend as Major League Baseball kicked off the annual Inter-league Farce (because it’s good for you stupid fans. Eat it.) Color me totally uninspired.
The only good thing about putting the Texas Rangers on the Astros schedule for 6 games is that the Stros should win 4-5 of those. A second good thing might be if Saturday’s game sent Kent Bottenfield packing.
Perhaps I’m far too cynical or maybe I’m getting too old, but am I the only person who doesn’t give a rat’s ass that the Astros are playing a team from Arlington? Yes, they are both Texas teams, and yes they’ve never played each other for a game that counted before. But it’s no more exciting than watching the Astros play the Twins. I don’t care about Dallas. I have no vested interest in watching them lose, or play, for that matter.
I’ve seen the listing of people who have played for both franchises. I’ve seen the listing of people who have played for one team and coached or managed the other. Y’know what? When Mike Simms stopped being an Astro, I stopped giving a shit about his performance. Same goes for Mark McLemore, Craig McMurtry, Dwayne Henry and Ken Caminiti. If it weren’t for my fantasy team (hush, Raup) I wouldn’t know 2/3rds the players on their team and it wouldn’t cause a hole in my life.
The one player I continued to follow after he left the Astros was Nolan Ryan, and no one even thought to invite him to the damn stadium. Which is a shame because I’m pretty sure the Old Man would have been loads more effective than Bottenfield, Jose Lima or most of the Rangers staff.
But once again, the uber-Selig knows best. Screw that whole tradition thing. And while you’re at it, screw your actual rivalries and team histories. Bud is going to re-write it for you anyway.
I am a native Houstonian. Other than the 16 times a year I hope the Cowboys lose, I do not think about the city of Dallas, or their sports teams.
All in all, I’d rather play the Padres.
When did people start caring about what Bob Brenly had to say?
The most overblown “controversy” this season has seen has got to be Bob “Marginal major-leaguer” Brenly getting his panties in a bunch about Ben Davis breaking up Curt Schilling’s perfect game with a bunt about a month ago.
I’m sure everyone knows the details, and everyone had their opinions about the levels of “bush” that Davis might be. I do not get the people like Brenly and Dusty Baker playing the old-school card. Old-school would have not been sitting back on your ass trailing by two runs and watching your team get no-hit. Old-school would have been Ty Cobb or even Pete Rose killing himself to get on base.
Did it ever occur to anyone that Brenly is complaining because he never had the heart or the guts to do anything to win a game? And isn’t that precisely what’s wrong with the game today?
Astro of the Week
What should be a travesty is being met with resignation to Drayton’s checking account balance. Moises Alou is having his best season as a pro. The last 7 days have been just another step in the parade of this professional hitter. Mo hit .429 with 3 homers and an OPS of 1.335 (.478 OBP & .857 SLG) while striking out only 2 times. It’s a shame that he’ll be gone next year.
Dis-Astro of the Week
The Renaissance lasted the better part of a century. The Renaissance Faire lasts about 5 weeks. The Vinaissance lasted about 4 games. Vinny Castilla followed his pretty good Enron weekend with a 7-day performance where he hit .190, slugged .190 and struck out 6 times. But without Castilla, how would the Astros draw fans from Chihuahua?
Personal Note… Sorry for the delay in updates, but between Wedding Planning (80 or so days away) the massive layoffs that I had to help with at my “other” employer, May was kind of a lost month. Updates on the race for .500 will become far more regular, at least for the next 80 days. Thanks for reading.