astros - Blog

Would Astros reaching World Series punch Baker's ticket to Cooperstown?

October 09, 2020, 5:18am

The Astros beat the Athletics 11-6 on Thursday in Game 4 of the American League Division Series, punching their ticket to a fourth consecutive AL Championship Series. And it brings Dusty Baker a step closer to a championship he has been eyeing for more than two decades as a manager. Baker has 1,862 career victories, 15th on the all-time list. He has been named Manager of the Year three times and won seven division titles. But the 70-year-old is searching for his first World Series title, the...

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Will longstanding tensions surface in ALDS battle between Astros and A's?

October 05, 2020, 6:03am

The Houston Astros, with a 29-31 record under former Nationals manager Dusty Baker, could be the first team in baseball history to make the World Series with a losing record thanks to a pandemic-shortened 60-game season. But this is more important to the Astros: The team is trying to erase the cheating image they have after banging on garbage cans to steal signs and beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the 2017 World Series. The Astros' general manager, Jeff Luhnow, and manager, A.J. Hinch,...

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Astros rally to eliminate Twins in wild card series, extending playoff losing streak

September 30, 2020, 4:42pm

Orioles

Astros rally to eliminate Twins in wild card series, extending playoff losing streak

The Twins won the American League Central by not losing two consecutive games at home during the season. Then everything changed when the postseason started. The Astros came to Target Field and added more history-making agony to the Twins' postseason record. After losing 4-1 and 3-1 to the Astros in the first two wild card games, the Twins extended their postseason losing streak to 18 consecutive games, more than any other National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, National...

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Lineups: Astros vs. Nats in West Palm Beach

February 26, 2020, 4:59pm

Nationals

Lineups: Astros vs. Nats in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman makes his Grapefruit League debut for the Nationals tonight, playing first base and hitting fifth against the Astros. "I was scratching my head about it, but I talked to him and he said he'd like to play today, which is nice," said manager Davey Martinez, who is well aware of the veteran's penchant for delaying his spring debut as long as possible. "We'll see three innings and hopefully get him two at-bats." Zimmerman came to Martinez a couple of...

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Manfred: "I think there is ... a good future for baseball in Baltimore"

February 16, 2020, 2:36pm

Orioles

Manfred: "I think there is ... a good future for baseball in Baltimore"

NORTH PORT, Fla. - Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred expressed no concerns this afternoon while speaking at the annual Media Day about the decline in Orioles attendance and the club's future as it goes through a painful rebuild process. He probably enjoyed the break from all of the Astros questions. "I have spent a considerable amount of time with the Angelos family during this offseason," Manfred said. "I think that the family is committed to making baseball as good as it can...

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One Houston fan's reaction to the Astros' cheating scandal

January 30, 2020, 6:10pm

Orioles

One Houston fan's reaction to the Astros' cheating scandal

By now, many fans have probably heard about what another fan did. That fan is 54-year-old Tony Adams and he is a Houston Astros fan. In an effort to get more information about the sign-stealing scandal, he went through 58 of the Astros' 2017 home games and cataloged the sound of a trash can being hit. Banging on a trash can was one way Houston players tipped teammates at the plate as to which pitch to expect. Someone would watch the catcher's signs on a television monitor, and before the...

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In cheating scandal, there were no penalties for players

January 17, 2020, 5:41pm

Orioles

In cheating scandal, there were no penalties for players

It has been quite a week in Major League Baseball. The cheating scandal took down one general manager and three managers. Franchises are tarnished. Houston got hit hard and Boston could be next. But the players involved were not fined or suspended, and none got fired. I'm OK with that. It would be hard to know exactly which players took part and how often. Cheating once is too much, but were I handing out the discipline I would not treat every player equally. In a sense, all the players on the...

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Astros fire Luhnow and Hinch after MLB levies penalties in sign-stealing case

January 13, 2020, 12:24pm

Nationals Orioles

Astros fire Luhnow and Hinch after MLB levies penalties in sign-stealing case

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch were suspended by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred Monday for allowing the team's uniformed personnel to steal signs electronically during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Luhnow and Hinch were suspended through the 2020 World Series. The Astros also were fined $5 million - the maximum allowed under MLB rules - and they'll have to forfeit first- and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021. About an hour the initial report...

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Trying to get a handle on cheating via technology in MLB

January 07, 2020, 1:44pm

Orioles

Trying to get a handle on cheating via technology in MLB

The hammer may be about to drop on the Houston Astros for their real-time sign stealing and cheating in baseball. But even before that hammer falls comes news that the Boston Red Sox are involved. Again. Wasn't the Apple Watch episode enough? And it can't be a good look for the sport when the World Series champs of 2017 (Houston) and 2018 (Boston) are tainted. You can say I'm exaggerating here, but a "Landis moment" may be coming soon for Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred. He...

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Rookie hurler delivers shutdown performance as Astros square World Series

October 26, 2019, 9:35pm

Nationals Orioles

Rookie hurler delivers shutdown performance as Astros square World Series

Rookie pitcher JosÃ© Urquidy pitched five shutout innings and Alex Bregman hit a grand slam Saturday night as the Houston Astros tied the World Series with an 8-1 win against the Nationals in Game 4. The Astros win guarantees the best-of-seven series, tied at two games apiece, will have a Game 6 on Tuesday in Houston. Game 5 is Sunday night at Nationals Park with the Astros' Gerrit Cole pitching against Max Scherzer, a rematch of Game 1. Urquidy, 24, who was the Astros' opening day starter...

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Astros seeing SÃ¡nchez well early on (Nats fall 4-1)

October 25, 2019, 5:32pm

Nationals

Astros seeing SÃ¡nchez well early on (Nats fall 4-1)

The Astros tallied a run in second inning of Game 3 of the World Series, thanks to three hits in a row against Nationals right-hander AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez. Carlos Correa doubled to left field. Josh Reddick dropped in a single to score Correa and Houston led 1-0. The throw home from Juan Soto went over the head of catcher Kurt Suzuki, allowing Reddick to take second. Robinson Chirinos singled to put men on the corners. Zack Greinke's sacrifice to third base put two runners in scoring position....

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Long layoff no big deal for SÃ¡nchez, and he's ready to go in Game 3

October 25, 2019, 3:32am

Nationals

Long layoff no big deal for SÃ¡nchez, and he's ready to go in Game 3

Tonight the Nationals host a World Series game for the first time in their franchise history. Nats manager Davey Martinez has selected veteran right-hander AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez to face off against Zack Greinke and the Astros. This will be SÃ¡nchez's third start in the postseason. He started Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, going 7 2/3 shutout innings and allowing one hit in a 2-0 win over the Cardinals. He is 1-0 with a 0.71 ERA over 12 2/3 innings with 14 strikeouts and...

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Hudson and Doolittle fine with sharing closing role

October 21, 2019, 10:38am

Nationals

Hudson and Doolittle fine with sharing closing role

The strength of the Nationals bullpen heading into the World Series boils down to Daniel Hudson and Sean Doolittle. Hudson has been a difference maker for the 'pen since his arrival July 31 in a trade with the Blue Jays. Hudson not only provided an arm that could close games but also brought the endurance to be a reliever that could extend past one inning if needed. Doolittle said Hudson's addition changed everything for him. Doolittle missed 12 games in late August due to right knee...

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A primer on the Astros, Nationals' opponent in World Series

October 21, 2019, 5:40am

Nationals Orioles

A primer on the Astros, Nationals' opponent in World Series

The Astros will play in their third World Series, and their second in three years, when the Fall Classic opens Tuesday night in Houston's Minute Maid Park. The Astros won 107 games and are champions of the American League West. They beat Tampa Bay in a five-game American League Division Series and then beat the Yankees in the AL Championship Series, just as they did in 2017. It's well documented that Washington is playing in the World Series for the first time since 1933 and trying to win its...

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Nats want to make sure Big Four can handle workload of long series

October 21, 2019, 3:48am

Nationals

Nats want to make sure Big Four can handle workload of long series

With the Nationals facing off against the Astros for the 2019 World Series crown, it is matchup that features the two best starting staffs in baseball. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin face off against Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke. And don't forget about AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez. The Nats have the staff to keep them in games, the major key to their run in these playoffs. "Obviously, a dream staff," said catcher Kurt Suzuki. "Three guys that strike out over...

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What O's can learn from Astros, plus more on last night

August 10, 2019, 9:29pm

Orioles

What O's can learn from Astros, plus more on last night

Now that Mike Elias and Sig Mejdal have come from the Houston Astros to the Orioles, O's fans are wondering and of course hoping the two can take some of what worked there and make it work here. Maybe even more so after last night's 23-2 loss to Houston. The Orioles suffered their most lopsided loss of the year, allowing season highs in runs and hits. It was just the fourth time in team history they've allowed 23 or more runs in a game. Houston lost 106 or more games every year from 2011 to...

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Dylan Bundy throws well, but O's are a run short in series opener

August 09, 2019, 6:17pm

Orioles

Dylan Bundy throws well, but O's are a run short in series opener

The Orioles had gone 11 straight games without a quality start. They just lost three straight to the New York Yankees and gave up 32 runs in getting swept. They could use a well-pitched game tonight. But could they get one against a surging and division-leading Houston Astros club? One that had won six in a row and nine of 10, and had scored 25 runs the last two games and 54 over its last six? The Orioles did get a well-pitched game from starter Dylan Bundy, but the O's offense was pretty...

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Nationals have chance to duplicate 2005 Astros' remarkable turnaround

July 19, 2019, 12:24pm

Nationals

As Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt studied videos of Cardinals batters in preparation for Game 6 of the 2005 National League Championship Series - the biggest game in Houston franchise history - he got an unusual interruption. Astros owner Drayton McLane came up to Oswalt and promised to buy him a bulldozer if he could pitch the team into the World Series for the first time. The incentive worked. Oswalt pitched seven strong innings and beat the Cardinals 5-1 in St. Louis, sending the Astros to the...

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As the holidays approach, some answers to pressing baseball questions

December 21, 2018, 7:21am

Nationals Orioles

As the holidays approach, some answers to pressing baseball questions

Here are answers to questions that might come up at family gatherings over the holidays: Question: The White Sox haven't had a winning record since winning 85 games in 2012. Why would Bryce Harper or Manny Machado consider going to Chicago's South Side? Answer: The White Sox hope to have two things going for them: money and a team that is loaded with young talent. The White Sox, tired of playing in the shadow of the crosstown Cubs, have to get Harper or Machado to believe that they would be...

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World Series over, a world of speculation about free agents begins

October 29, 2018, 11:40am

Nationals Orioles

World Series over, a world of speculation about free agents begins

Prepare yourself: The baseball offseason is here, and that means a never-ending stream of speculation about trades and free agent signings. John Schuerholz, former general manager of the Atlanta Braves, used to accuse reporters of blowing even the tiniest tidbit of conversation out of proportion. "Reporters take a kernel of popcorn and turn it into a large bag immediately," he said. In case you haven't heard, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are the two biggest names on the free agent market....