By Clint B.
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com.

While some consider 1998 to have been the greatest year in baseball history, the Astros’ season ended in frustration and disappointment. While the Central sluggers, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, caprtured the hearts of millions the world over, the Astros were quietly establishing themselves as one of the best teams in baseball. When the ‘Stros set the record for most wins in their franchise, that not only pumped up many Houstonians, it raised a lot of expectations around the country. After failing to hit the broad side of a barn against Atlanta’s pitching staff in the ’97 NL divisional series, much was expected out of this new and improved offense which saw the additions of Moises Alou and Carl Everett. But it was the same-old, same-old for the Astros, as they once again failed to win their first postseason series, dropping the ’98 divisional series 3 games to 1 to the eventual NL champion San Diego Padres. In the offseason, the ‘Stros welcomed back an old friend in ex-Padres’ third basemen Ken Caminiti.Read More

By Landestoy
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com.

As much foundation rattling as Kevin Brown’s brand spankin’ new contract did Saturday, Roger Clemens and his agents figure to completely annihilate the damage done. Somehow, through a strange handshake deal made two years ago, Clemens has entered baseball’s free agency spending spree despite entering the third year of a four-year contract. How, and more importantly, why, could very well send reverberations throughout the baseball world that could be felt for some time. If only the rest of baseball had the integrity Gerry Hunsicker seems to possess, who turned a deaf ear to Clemens’ demands and stood up to his strong-arming tactics. However we arrived at this bizarre conclusion to the Astros’ race to land the Rocket (a race, by the way, that has seen more hand wringing than any NASA mission), Hunsicker is right in his refusal to ante up to Clemens and crumble at the Houston-product’s demands. But as Brown’s new Dodger salary suggests, someone, somewhere, will be willing to listen to Clemens and most likely hang the moon to get him.Read More

Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com.

“To Clemens or not to Clemens, that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the Yankees and Rangers and their outrageous fortunes…or to pick up the greatest arm against a sea of playoff contenders and by opposing, end them…”Read More

By dwalt
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on October 15, 1998.

In the first installment to Bleacher Rap, Andyzipp talked about what it meant to be an Astro fan and about the Astros past. I would like to talk about the Astros future.Read More

Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com.

The Houston Astros. To the diehard Astro-Nuts who hang around the Talk Zone, these three words stir up a plethora of memories and emotions. We recollect fondly Chester Charge and General Admission, Rainbow guts and shooting stars, the drama of Scott’s No-No and Hatcher’s homer, the Orange Fire of Richard and Ryan and the Coneheads of Kerfeld and Andersen, the greatness of 1980 and 1986 and the growing pains of 1991, wondering how the team could lose so many games with Cedeno, Rader, Watson and May and how they could win with platoons at third and center in 1998, Howe’s bald dome and Sambito’s perfect coif, as well as Cabell and Landestoy’s Astro-puffs, the Cardiac Kids and the Killer B’s, the best and biggest scoreboard in the game and the Eighth Wonder of The World, Smith, Hofeniz, McMullen and Mclane and Durocher, Virdon, Lanier and Dierker.Read More