Results tagged ‘ Astros ’
Snapshots from Spring Training, Day Three.
A month ago, it looked as if catcher Jason Castro, who had two injury setbacks over the course of one calendar year, might not be ready to start the season when Opening Day rolls around on April 6.
Today, the level of optimism is much higher. It’s more likely than not that Castro, who had season-ending knee surgery last Spring Training and foot surgery this past December, is on track to start the season on time.
This isn’t to say that he’s maintaining the same workout pace as the other catches in camp. He’s not. He’s participating in drills and catching bullpens, but on a slightly lesser scale than the rest. The goal is for him to build stamina without overextending himself, even if it means not being quite ready to play when the Grapefruit season gets underway in another 10 days.
Regardless of when Castro appears in his first spring game, the catching situation this year, so far, is light years ahead of where the team was a year ago. There is no stat line that can truly describe how valuable a catcher is to a team. He’s top lieutenant on the field and can provide a huge sense of security to pitchers. On the flip side, if a catcher is inadequate in his ability to call games and block pitches in the dirt, it can wreak havoc on a pitcher’s psyche.
Castro’s return will be a big lift for the team, and the addition of Chris Snyder, a veteran catcher, should not be overlooked. The Astros now have three catchers in a pool that also includes veteran Humberto Quintero, giving them experience, depth and a plan B. They pretty much had none of those things a year ago.
A couple of housekeeping notes:
* The final Houston-based Astroline will air on Thursday at Buffalo Wild Wings in Midtown. Former outfielder Kevin Bass will join Milo Hamilton for the hour-long show, which can be heard on 740 KTRH and Astros.com.
Astroline will resume the following week on Feb. 29 at the Disney Boardwalk in Orlando. Keeping with tradition, the first Florida-based show will feature manager Brad Mills.
* The first full-squad workout will be held Feb. 26, and as always, workouts are free and open to the public. Gates open around 9:30 a.m. The first Grapefruit League game will take place at Osceola County Stadium on March 3 vs. the Nationals. Workouts on home game days are closed.
* Two spring games will be televised this year: March 20 vs. the Cardinals and April 3 vs. the White Sox (at Minute Maid Park).
And we conclude with images from Day 3 on a cloudy but rain-free morning at the spring complex:
Brian Bogusevic, Jed Lowrie
Practicing fielding comebackers: Brad Mills and Kyle Weiland.
Having some between-drills laughs: Jose Altuve, roving minor league baserunning coordinator Milt Thompson, Jimmy Paredes, Jose Cruz.
PFP: Bud Norris.
Two former first-rounders: Delino DeShields (2010) and George Springer (2011).
Batting practice: J.D. Martinez, Jose Altuve.
Jimmy Paredes waves to a fan.
Brandon Lyon and Jason Castro discuss Lyon's bullpen session when it ended.
Why Livan? One word: innings.
Much of the talk so far this spring has been about how many jobs are available, at just about every position, with the exception of just a few.
Let’s just say most of the players aren’t making permanent arrangements for Houston just yet. Instead, the mantra is one of caution: “I have to make the team first.”
If anything, that uncertainty will make for a more intriguing Grapefruit League season. Not only will several infield and outfield positions be up for grabs, but the starting pitching situation could also become pretty dramatic as the spring season draws to a close.
While there are no real guarantees in life beyond death, taxes and mind-numbing traffic at every corner of the greater Kissimmee metropolitan area, barring any unforeseen trades, it’s pretty definite that three of the rotation spots are going to Bud Norris, Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers.
That leaves a slew of candidates for the remaining two spots, and with that, of course, comes uncertainty about not only who will win these jobs by the time camp breaks, but also how reliable these pitchers will be over the course of a full season.
That is why a team must have more than one option and more than one plan moving forward. And that is precisely why general manager Jeff Luhnow saw enough in Livan Hernandez to sign him to a low-risk Minor League contract.
If healthy and effective, the 37-year-old Hernandez gives the Astros something they might find they desperately need a couple of months into the season: innings, innings and more innings. Specifically, around 200 of them.
Over the last five seasons, Hernandez has averaged 180.1 innings per year. The ERAs have been all over the map, from very good (3.66 in 2010) to not so good (6.05 in 2008) to respectable (4.93 in 2007 and 4.47 in 2011). What manager Brad Mills and the coaching staff like about Hernandez is his ability to do two things: keep his team in the game, and still be on the mound in the seventh and eighth innings.
The Astros will look at many candidates this spring to fill those final two spots in the rotation. J.A Happ and Jordan Lyles have an upper hand in that they were both part of the equation, for varying amounts of time, just one season ago. Lucas Harrell, Zach Duke, Kyle Weiland and Henry Sosa could see some starts this spring as well.
But it would be impossible (and irresponsible) to label any of the candidates with a broad brush, mark them down in red pen and declare them as guaranteed innings-eaters.
That’s why the Astros signed Hernandez. If he’s healthy and does well this spring, he could be a big lift for a rotation in transition.
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Randoms:
* Another day, another Astros tweeter. Harrell has joined the Twitterverse and can be followed at @lucasharrell34. On an unrelated note, he also lost a bet to a buddy a while back and can’t cut his hair for a year, which is why he looks a little unruly these days. And he’s only 7 1/2 months into paying up.
* There are more position players in camp than I can count, so I’m not going to attempt to give an unscientific number of who’s already here. But I did sneak into the batting cages today and spotted Jed Lowrie, Jake Gobbert, J.B Shuck and J.D. Martinez, among others.
(More than half of the players in there are also active on Twitter. This completely irrelevant, I realize, but it kind of made me feel like a proud den mom.)
* While a Major League coaching staff consists of only seven people (including the manager), a Spring Training staff is much larger. Nearly two dozen coaches and special assistants comprise the spring staff. That includes all Minor League coordinators and instructors and select members of the coaching staffs of the Minor League teams. For example, the Triple-A Oklahoma City manager and coaches are working in big league camp, and slowly, as cuts are made and the Minor League spring seasons get underway, they will filter back over to their regular-season assignments.
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Feeling peppy? The Astros will hold auditions for Park Patrol hopefuls on Friday, March 2 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 3 from 8 a.m. to noon at Union Station at Minute Maid Park.
The Park Patrol is an interactive squad that performs at Astros home games. Game presentation activities include t-shirt launches, prize giveaways and trivia contests, in addition to performing dance routines and “skits” with the Team Mascot.
Park Patrol members will perform these tasks live in the stands, on ballpark concourses and will be featured on the stadium video boards. The Astros Park Patrol will also make appearances at season ticket holder events, Astros in Action Foundation events, and any approved event in connection with the Houston Astros.
Qualifications:
• Must be able to perform activities and interact with fans on camera in front of 40,000+ people. Prior entertainment experience preferred.
• Squad will wear baseball-inspired, cheerleader-styled attire. Previous experience as a cheerleader, pep squad, or drill team member or some dance classes a plus, but not required.
• Individuals must have outstanding communication skills and a positive, energetic personality.
• They must also have stamina and fitness level capable of performing in conditions for several hours before and during games.
• Individuals must be available to work during Astros home games and other special events as needed.
• Must be reliable, punctual, and courteous. Good listening skills and ability to work with brief instruction required. Must also be flexible and able to handle situations with a quick and professional response.
• Those who are selected to the squad must be able to attend mandatory training sessions being held March 22 to March 25.
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And we leave you with more images from another sunny morning in Central Florida:
Thought this was pretty cool: after Livan Hernandez finished throwing his bullpen session, he hugged his catcher, Chris Wallace, and thanked him. I'm sure this is not the first time such an exchange has taken place in similar settings, but it was still a nice gesture from a veteran pitcher to a young prospect whom he just met two days ago.
Jason Castro takes BP on the back field with the other catchers in camp.
Castro and hitting coach Mike Barnett discussed the BP session when it was over.
Post workout stretching sessions often double as social occasions. Jorge DeLeon and Jimmy Paredes wrap up the day with some general chatter.
Jed Lowrie, jettisoned from Boston in the Mark Melancon trade, is one of many position players who are already here.
Bud Norris throws his first bullpen session of the spring.
Morning links: Schafer apologizes, Crane tours Kissimmee, and Manny gets yet another chance.
Jordan Schafer did the smart thing by speaking directly with reporters about his offseason troubles immediately upon arriving to Spring Training on Monday.
Schafer was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop soon after the season ended. He’s currently taking part a court-ordered pretrial intervention in program and if he completes it without incident, his record will be cleared.
In this Brian McTaggart report on MLB.com, Schafer was contrite, apologizing to the Astros for the spot he put them into and thanking them for standing behind him.
“I got caught up in a bad situation, and hopefully I’ve learned from my mistake and moved on and become a better person for it, and hopefully we don’t have any more instances like that,” he said. “Hopefully, I can be a good role model and learn from this.”
Schafer is active on Twitter, and if you follow him, you were able to see first-hand, thanks to the magic of Twitpics, that he was serious when he said he put on 20 pounds of muscle this offseason. You also received this tweet from him as he turned in for the night:
“Goodnight twit fam, busy day n I’m beat. Good to finally get everything off my chest n move on. Thanks 2 all of u 4 the support. Muchluv.”
Other notables:
* George Springer, the Astros’ first-round pick from last year’s Draft, has reported to camp and will be one of a handful of top prospects spending some of the spring with the big league club. Springer won’t make the team this year, but the experience of going through a Major League Spring Training could be valuable for him, as well a few other key figures who could be a big part of the Astros’ future, including Jonathan Singleton, Jonathan Villar and DeLino DeShields, among others.
* For 90 days, Jim Crane, along with his partners, has owned a baseball business. Monday, he finally owned a baseball team, writes the Chronicle’s Zachary Levine. Crane spent the day in Kissimmee on Monday, taking in his first Spring Training. By all accounts, he thoroughly enjoyed himself.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I hadn’t been in a locker room in a long time, but you never forget what it’s like.”
* When word traveled through the baseball world that Manny Ramirez was looking to make a comeback, I surmised that 30 of 30 teams would pass on him. After all, he’s turning 40 in May, right around the same time that he’d be eligible to play his first game after serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
I was wrong. Twenty-nine of 30 teams passed on him, leaving just the Oakland A’s ready and willing to take a chance on Manny being Manny. The contract is almost commitment-free: it’s a Minor League deal, which means it’s non-guaranteed, and it’s worth no more than $500,000.
Risk-free, yes. But is it even worth it to take that chance?
Dierker hits the books — and the links — for a worthy cause.
The Astros retired Dierker's number in 2002, but that didn't mean he was ready to ride off into the sunset...
In the more than 10 years that have passed since Larry Dierker stepped down at the Astros’ manager, he’s had his hands in plenty of activities. He’s written books, dabbled with writing a screenplay, traveled and spearheaded forming an Astros alumni group that has, over the years, been quite visible in baseball circles in Houston.
Dierker has also allotted a lot of his time to charitable efforts. Most notably, he is a champion of Literacy Advance of Houston, a non-profit organization that has helped people through its free adult literacy programs for nearly five decades.
Dierker, an avid reader in his own right, has personally contributed more than 1,000 volunteer hours for the cause. And he’s set to host Literacy Advance’s Reader Cup – Larry Dierker Celebrity Golf Tournament on Feb. 27 at the BlackHorse Golf Club.
Each year, a host of sport celebrities participates in this golf tournament. This year, the guest list includes Phil Garner, Art Howe, Shane Reynolds, Kevin Bass, Dan Pastorini, Jim Deshaies, Bill Brown, Randy McElvoy, Burton Gilliam (of Blazing Saddles fame), Dayna Steele, Dave Elmendorf and Mark Dennard.
“I play in dozens of tournaments every year that raise a lot of money for various organizations, many of which represent serious diseases,” Dierker said. “I am happy to do that. I’m not a doctor; I cannot cure a disease. I can, however, teach adults to read and write. It’s relatively easy and quite rewarding. Tutoring makes giving personal.”
Available tournament sponsorship opportunities range from $500 – $10,000, with all proceeds benefiting Literacy Advance of Houston.
Registration on event day will begin at 8 am with a hot breakfast, followed by a shotgun start at 9:30. Post-tournament, sponsors and players will enjoy a hearty lunch and the chance to win auction items, including night on the town packages, gifts and sports memorabilia.
For more information on the event or a downloadable sponsorship/registration form, please visit www.literacyadvance.org/golf or call (713) 266-8777.
Milo Hamilton declares the 2012 season his last in the broadcast booth.
Jim Crane, left, Milo Hamilton and George Postolos announce that 2012 will be Milo's last season behind the mic.
Milo Hamilton mentioned a couple of times last year to friends and colleagues that the 2012 season would likely be his last as a lead play-by-play announcer on Astros broadcasts.
Milo will turn 85 in September, and, as he said last year, “That’ll be enough.” On Wednesday, he made that official, formally stating that he’ll retire at the end of the season.
Perhaps there’s no “best” time for a beloved figure to step down, but the timing of the announcement will allow the Astros to weave a season-long salute to their long-time broadcaster in with the celebration of the franchise’s 50th anniversary.
Plans to honor Milo this year will be officially announced in full at a later time, but here’s a sneak peek:
* Sept. 2, Milo’s 85th birthday, will be “Milo Hamilton Day” at Minute Maid Park.
* The Astros plan to host a special dinner in Milo’s honor during the season, with proceeds benefiting the Astros In Action Foundation.
* There will be an online vote for fans to select Milo’s greatest calls.
* We’ll start an appreciation Facebook page, dedicated to fans saluting Milo’s great career.
* The Astros plan to create a Milo Hamilton college scholarship for broadcasting students.
Stay tuned for more announcements.
“We will provide a fitting tribute for one of the all-time great broadcasters in our industry,” said Astros President and CEO George Postolos. “The unique bond that Milo has built with our fans is very special. With that in mind, we have created ways for our fans to participate in our tribute to Milo. They will have an opportunity to do that throughout the season.”
Milo’s plan is to only retire from the broadcasting side. He will still be a part of the organization in 2013 and beyond as an emcee for special events and fundraisers, and will take part in the caravan and FanFest. He’ll also appear at events for sponsors and season ticket holders and will be incorporated into the radio broadcasts.
Watch the video from Milo’s announcement
More video: Biggio, talking about Milo and his retirement
Milo, by the numbers:
66 — years as a broadcaster.
58 — years as a baseball broadcaster.
27 — years an Astros broadcaster.
5 — Halls of Fame that have honored Milo, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1992.
715 — Hank Aaron’s milestone, record-breaking home run, which Milo called as a Braves announcer in 1974.
4,000 — Nolan Ryan’s milestone strikeout, which Milo called as an Astros announcer in 1985.
3,000 — Craig Biggio’s milestone hit total, which Milo called as an Astros announcer in 2007.
From the photo archives: first, a few good ones from the past…
Jeff Bagwell and Milo in 2006, the day Bagwell announced his retirement.
Milo and former skipper Phil Garner at FanFest a few years back.
Milo celebrated his 84th birthday last year by wearing a gigantic blue bow on his head.
Keeping with the theme of intesting head gear, here's Milo and Brad Lidge a few years ago at Spring Training, reading Dr. Seuss books to kids.
…and finally, images from Wednesday’s press conference…
Craig Biggio, who announced his retirement from this very room a little more than four years ago, attended Milo's press conference.
Later, the two convened for an impromptu photo shoot.
The Houston media contingent surrounded Milo following the formal part of the presser.
Astros CAREavan wrapup, in pictures.
The Houston Astros 2012 CAREavan wrapped up another successful winter road trip with stops last Friday in Katy, Texas. The Astros CAREavan completed its annual tour making 47 stops in 13 cities over eight days, traveling more than 3,500 miles. More than 35 Astros players, alumni, coaches and front office staff participated in CAREavan.
The Houston Astros 2012 CAREavan hit the road on February 1, with three full days of visits throughout central and south Texas. The team made two-day trips to Austin (Feb. 1-2), Brownsville, Harlingen and McAllen (Feb. 1-2) and San Antonio (Feb. 2-3), and spent a day in Corpus Christi and Victoria (Feb. 3). Highlights included conducting several youth baseball clinics, visiting with military and pediatric patients at hospitals and serving fans lunch at Chick-fil-A.
During the CAREavan’s second week, the Astros traveled to Oklahoma City (Feb. 6) and visited with military personnel at Tinker Air Force Base, patients at Mercy Hospital and Oklahoma City RedHawks season ticket holders and sponsors. The week also included five, single-day trips in Houston, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress and Katy. The local tours visited numerous schools for reading activities and Fielder’s Choice assemblies, conducted youth baseball clinics and made daily stops at Academy Sports + Outdoors stores for free autograph sessions.
The CAREavan experience, in pictures:
Austin: Dave Raymond, Jordan Lyles, J.B. Shuck, Kyle Weiland, Doug Brocail at Cedar Park Middle School.
Austin: Ronald McDonald House.
Brownsville: Fernando Rodriguez, Jose Altuve, Jimmy Paredes at Lucio Middle School.
Brownsville: Chick-fil-A
San Antonio: Brett Dolan, J.A. Happ, Angel Sanchez, Jarred Cosart, Humberto Quintero, Larry Dierker at RBI San Antonio.
San Antonio Military Medical Center
Corpus Christi: Jim Crane signs an autograph for a young fan at the Hooks' luncheon.
Victoria: Shane Reynolds givis pitching tips at a Baseball and Softball clinic.
Oklahoma City: David Carpenter and Milo Hamilton.
Meeting with the Oklahoma City RedHawks fan base.
Houston: Bud Norris serves drive-thru customers at Chick-Fil-A.
Houston: Astros front office members and players participated in a "Careers in Baseball" seminar at Carver High School.
Sugar Land: Bud Norris, David Carpenter, Chris Johnson, Brett Wallace visit babies and new parents at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.
Sugar Land: Chris Johnson and Brett Wallace sign autographs at Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Spring: Brad Mills, Jason Bourgeois, J.D. Martinez, Brian Bogusevic, Jose Cruz at AVANCE-Southwest School.
Hanging with the kids at AVANCE.
Cypress: Jed Lowrie at a CAREavan Baseball and Softball Clinic.
Cypress: bilingual storytime with bilingual GM Jeff Luhnow.
Katy: Bill Brown, Jose Cruz and current Astros players participate in an assembly at Brookwood Community.
Tips and notes for the Spring Training traveler.
Back by popular demand, we’re running our yearly, informal, hopefully helpful Guide To Spring Training. In this blog, you’ll find tips for navigating around Osceola County Stadium and for getting around the areas surrounding the ballpark, with suggestions as to where to eat, where to lodge and what roads to avoid if you don’t want to lose your mind (yea, I’m talking about you, highway 192).
Hopefully, these tips will help you out as you travel to Central Florida for another spring season. Please feel free to contribute in the comments section below. I’m sure a lot of you are seasoned Spring Training veterans and have found plenty to do when you’re down (over) there. So please share your knowledge/experiences. Thanks!
For those of you not going to Spring Training, please check back often to this blog and astros.com for complete coverage of everything happening with your Astros throughout the spring season. We’ll be providing news, photos and videos, all with hopes that you’ll reacquaint yourselves with some of your old favorites as well as get to know those who are new to the team. You can also follow me on Twitter, where I’ll be providing minute-by-minute updates throughout. Where I go, you’ll go.
1. Where is Kissimmee and how do I get there?
Kissimmee is about 20 minutes from Disney, to the west of Orlando, on Highway 192. The address is 1000 Bill Beck Blvd., on the left heading toward the turnpike.From the Orlando Airport, take the South exit (to Kissimmee) out of the airport. Merge onto Boggy Creek Road, pass under the #417 – Greenway and continue on Boggy Creek to the next stop light (Circle K store on corner) turn right. This is still Boggy Creek Rd. After you pass the Lakeside Subdivision stay in the right lane and go right at the next light (still Boggy Creek), go over the bridge, turn left at the light (Bill Beck Blvd.). Stadium parking lot will be on the right approximately 1/2 mile ahead.
If you are staying anywhere near Highway 535, which is directly off of I4 in Lake Buena Vista, I strongly suggest you travel to the ballpark via Osceola Parkway. It’s a toll road, so you’ll have to pay around two bucks each way, but it’s worth going that way and avoiding 192 and its billion stoplights. Take the Parkway East for about four miles to Michigan Ave. (You’ll see a shopping center on the left that has, among other things, a Buffalo Wild Wings). Turn right on Michigan for about two miles until you get to 192. Turn left and the ballpark will be on
your left, about a mile down.
2. How can I watch the team work out?
Just show up at the ballpark — workouts begin Feb. 20 (pitchers and catchers) and Feb. 26 (full squad) and they’re open and free to the public. It’s a great time to get an up close view of your favorite players and you’re free to roam around all fields in the back of the complex, while the workouts are going on.
Workouts usually begin around 9:30 a.m. and last until noon or so. They’ll probably conclude a little earlier during the first five days, when it’s just pitchers and catchers. WORKOUTS ARE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC ON HOME GAME DAYS. When the team is on the road during Grapefruit season, half the squad stays back and works out at the home complex. Those workouts are also open and free to the public.
3. Where can I obtain autographs?
Most players do not sign during the workout hours, but don’t be discouraged. Many players finish the workouts on the field, go into the clubhouse to hit the weight room, and then come back out to sign. Once the games start, the best place to obtain autographs is the patio located near the back of the clubhouse, down the left field line. Typically, once a player comes out of the game, he’ll stop and sign before he heads inside. Sometimes, he’ll first go inside to work out and then come out and sign.
The patio area is located down the left field line. Most players sign after they come out of the game and make their way to the clubhouse.
Most players sign, but not at all do. Odds are, you’re going to have a great success rate getting autographs from the young players. The veteran guys are pretty good about signing as well but there are always exceptions.
If you bring four things for one player to sign, you’ve got “dealer” written all over you and you’re probably going to be blown off. Please don’t ruin it for everyone else, especially the kids. Game programs, ticket stubs and hats are great indications that you’re a well-meaning fan, not a dealer. Success rate odds increase heavily when you bring those items.
4. What else is there to do in Kissimmee?
Kissimmee is located next to the Happiest Place on Earth, so there’s plenty to do. Disney isn’t just an amusement park anymore; there’s something for everyone, including great nightlife for adults.
“Astroline” will begin its Florida broadcasts on Feb. 29. The show will air live every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET (7 CT) at the ESPN Zone on the Boardwalk at Disney. There are lots of restaurants and nightclubs along the Boardwalk, so once Astroline is finished, you can find plenty to do in the same area.
In terms of dining, I’m partial to La Forchetta, located a couple of miles from the Osceola County Stadium complex at 321 S. John Young Parkway (when you’re driving away from the ballpark, turn left on JYP and go about a mile and a half. It’s on the left. If you get to the bridge, you’ve gone too far.) La Forchetta has delicious Italian home cooking, overseen by owner Maria Manzi. Get there early — the restaurant has only about 15 tables, and during Spring Training, it fills up quickly.
The Loop on Osceola Parkway has really grown over the last several years, and you’ll find just about anything you’re looking for there, from restaurants to brew pubs to shopping and a movie theater. Restaurants of note: Pei Wei, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Bonefish Grill.
Downtown Kissimmee has been built up nicely in the last few years as well. If you turn left on Main (coming from the ballpark) and head toward Downtown, you’ll find a nice array of restaurants, sports bars and wine bars. A few of us Astros types are partial to Three Sisters — good bar food, cold beverages, great happy hour specials. Very casual setting.
5. When do games start?
The Astros open the Grapefruit League season at home this year. They will play the Nationals on March 3 beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET. All exhibition games will be aired on either 740 or 790 am. FS Houston will televise the games on March 20 vs. the Cardinals and April 3 vs. the White Sox (at Minute Maid Park).
You can view the full Spring Training schedule here.
6. How do I get tickets?
Individual game tickets can be purchased at astros.com, in person or by mail at the Osceola County Stadiums box office (home games only). You can also order by telephone and in person at Florida Ticketmaster outlets (home and road games). The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET and on all game days.
Credit card purchases can be made by calling Florida Ticketmaster at (407) 839-3900. Mail orders for home games can be sent to Osceola County Stadium, 631 Heritage Park Way, Kissimmee, Fla., 34744. Checks should be made to Osceola County Stadium and include $5 postage and handling for each order.
Of course, the easiest way to order tickets is online at astros.com. There is an interactive map of the seating area at Osceola County Stadium that allows you to pick your own seat.
7. Housing
There are hotels everywhere, but it also might be more economical for a family or group of friends to rent a townhome. If you’re looking for last minute housing, try Bob Rivera, either via email (bob@gblservices.com) or by phone — 321-946-8889.
Astros FanFest to be held Feb. 11 at Minute Maid Park. Details here.
The Astros released the details of their 2012 FanFest, which will take place on Feb. 11 at Minute Maid Park. That is also the day individual regular season tickets go on sale.
FanFest tickets are open to the public with no admission fee.
Player autograph session times will be released soon. There will be a nominal fee for autographs.
Here’s the FanFest rundown, taken from the press release:
This year’s festival will include several current and former Astros players signing autographs, a “Talkin’ Baseball” session with Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow and President & CEO George Postolos, and several activities for children. Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase autographed and game-used memorabilia as well as promotional items and MLB Authentics merchandise. Proceeds from the event benefit the Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy.
Fans will also have the opportunity to paint or sign their name to the Astros 50th Anniversary mural, which will be displayed in the ballpark throughout the 2012 season.
Autograph Sessions
The list of current Astros players scheduled to sign autographs throughout the day are: Brian Bogusevic, Jason Bourgeois, Jason Castro, Chris Johnson, Jed Lowrie, J.D. Martinez, Bud Norris, Humberto Quintero and Fernando Rodriguez. Manager Brad Mills will also be in attendance.
Former players scheduled to sign autographs include Enos Cabell, Jose Cruz, Larry Dierker, J.R. Richard, Shane Reynolds, Bob Watson, Jimmy Wynn and many more.
Talkin’ Baseball Sessions
Astros Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton will host an informative and entertaining “Talkin’ Baseball” session with Luhnow and Postolos, during which fans will have the opportunity to participate. Alyson Footer will also host multiple sessions that day, including a chat with former Astros players and a sneak preview into the Astros 50th Anniversary celebration plans.
Footer will also hold an interactive chat session with Astros manager Brad Mills and right-handed pitcher Bud Norris. The two will interact with fans in person and online simultaneously. The session will take place in the Union Station Lobby, where the two will take questions from fans in the audience and from fans following online.
On The Playing Field
For a small donation, fans will have the unique opportunity to take batting practice on the field of Minute Maid Park. Opportunities to run the bases will also be available. Tours of Minute Maid Park will also be offered.
Signature Nacho Sampling
Minute Maid Park’s culinary team has spent the offseason developing some new recipes. The Astros and ARAMARK, the team’s exclusive food and beverage partner, invite fans to help decide which signature nacho finalist will be featured on Minute Maid Park’s menu. Fans attending Astros FanFest will have the chance to sample and vote for their favorite nachos, which will be placed on the permanent menu in 2012. Signature nacho sampling and voting will be located at section 208 on the Club Level.
Free Kids Activities
Several inflatable games on the field, face painters, balloon artists and a “Talkin’ Youth Baseball” session with Bourgeois are also a part of this year’s FanFest. “Story Time With Milo Hamilton” will feature the Astros radio voice reading a popular children’s story.
This year’s event will also include a Special Valentine’s Day Buffet in the FiveSeven Grille and several entertaining video features throughout the ballpark and on the El Grande video board.
Additional information, including autograph signing times for current and former players, will be released the week of the event.
ASTROS TICKETS ON SALE
In conjunction with FanFest, the Astros will make their individual-game tickets for the 2012 regular season available for purchase beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11. Those tickets can be purchased online at Astros.com, at the Minute Maid Park Box Office or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-877-9ASTROS. Tickets may also be purchased at all Astros regular Houston-area Ticketmaster outlets. The Astros have plenty of special ticket offers available and will not be raising a single ticket price in 2012, as compared to prices at the end of the 2011 season.
Follow Alyson Footer on Twitter
Jim Crane: “We will not change the name Astros.”
The idea of changing the Astros name was brought up last week, and that same idea put to rest on Monday.
A name change, owner Jim Crane said in a taped video message to season ticket holders, is not happening.
“You asked for change and we added several fan friendly initiatives last week and we hope you like them,” Crane said. “We will continue to listen, and to look for additional ways to improve on and off the field.
“One thing that we are not going to change is the name. We received strong feedback and consensus among season ticket holders and many fans, and we will not change the name Astros. The Houston Astros are here to stay.”
The 1986 Astros reunion: celebrating good times and great baseball memories.
Mike Scott, Nolan Ryan
Who doesn’t love a good “Where Are They Now” story?
Under normal circumstances, finding out Where They Are Now takes quite a bit of digging. But for a few hours over the weekend, there was no need to search far and wide for such information on the 1986 National League West champion Houston Astros.
Where Are They Now? On Saturday, many of the ’86 Astros were all together, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel near the old Astrodome.
The annual TRISTAR Houston Collectors Show brought together 18 members of that ’86 team, a group that lives in Houston baseball history as one of the most beloved, ever. The characters of that team are as well-remembered as the heart-stopping moments that defined that season. TRISTAR hosted an ’86 Astros reunion as part of their two-day show at Reliant Arena, and also on the agenda was a reception that brought the team back together for a 90-minute question and answer session between paying patrons and the former Astros players.
The lot of 18 included manager Hal Lanier, Jose Cruz, Bill Doran, Jim Pankovits, Billy Hatcher, Nolan Ryan, Dickie Thon, Alan Ashby, Kevin Bass, Phil Garner, Bob Knepper, Glenn Davis, Danny Darwin, Jim Deshaies, Terry Puhl, Mike Scott, Jeff Calhoun and Craig Reynolds.
The group gathered in the lobby of the hotel before the formal program began, and like any class reunion, it was a happy scene. Many of the players from that team are still in baseball, and still more live in Houston. But in terms of getting together and catching up on old times, such occasions rarely, if ever, take place. That makes events like this special, and fun to watch from the sidelines. It also served as a nice precursor for the season-long celebration the Astros are planning to commemorate their 50th anniversary in 2012.
Emceed by SportsRadio 610′s Rich Lord, the Q&A session sparked laughter and reflection. Lanier was grilled on why he lifted Knepper from Game 6 of the NLCS, and Ryan, asked what his favorite moment was in his 27-year career, cited the 1969 World Series with the Mets, “Because it was the only time I played for a World Series title.”
The Astrodome, unsurprisingly, came up in conversation more than once. “I drove by the Dome today and thought, “Man. I wish there was something we could do to preserve it,” Doran said. “It’s a special place.”
The whereabouts of a few of the ’86 Astros are more well-known than others. Following a long run as a radio announcer for the Astros, Ashby moved on to work in the same capacity for the Blue Jays. Garner is mostly retired, but is working on a part-time basis with his original team, the Oakland A’s, and will be with them during Spring Training. Cruz is still with the Astros as a special assistant.
Hatcher and Doran are both with the Cincinnati Reds, Hatcher as a coach and Doran as a special assistant. Pankovits managed the Astros’ Short Season A TriCity team to a New York-Penn League championship in 2010 and is now a coach in the Mariners’ system. Davis is active in the hotel business and children’s ministries in Georgia, and Puhl is a local businessman and baseball coach for the University of Houston-Victoria. Bass is also locally based, working in real estate. Thon coaches in Puerto Rico; Lanier does the same in the Independent Leagues. Reynolds is a pastor at Second Baptist Church in Houston.
And Ryan? “I’m just out signing Japanese ballplayers,” the Rangers owner said to a chorus of laughs.
Scott? “I travel, golf, and babysit my granddaughter.”
Deshaies: “I say clever things like, ‘That’s right, Brownie,’ and dream of being like Mike Scott.”
Simply put, this was a great night.
Group shot (and special thanks to Chronicle photographer Karen Warren for allowing us to piggy back on her photo session).
TRISTAR show: Alan Ashby.
TRISTAR show: Kevin Bass.
TRISTAR show: Jose Cruuuuuuuz and fans.
TRISTAR show: Phil Garner.
Reception: Kevin Bass, Terry Puhl, Jim Pankovits, Jose Cruz.
Reception: Bill Doran, Jose Cruz, Terry Puhl, Dickie Thon.
Reception: Bill Doran, Dickie Thon, Phil Garner.
Reception: Jim Deshaies, Danny Darwin, Bob Knepper, Billy Hatcher.
Reception: Bob Knepper, Billy Hatcher.
Reception: Alan Ashby, Nolan Ryan, Terry Puhl, Phil Garner, Mike Scott.
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