A Very Special First MLB Hit In Arlington

((HT: MLB.com))

A lot of folks get their first major league hit in circumstances a lot less lengthy than the Texas Rangers' Guilder Rodriguez...

It took the September call-up of the 31-year-old to get in the line-up after almost 1,100 minor league games- the equivalent of almost 7 seasons eventhough he has spent 14 actual seasons in the minors.

But he finally got it with his family in attendance...


The Rangers have seen Rodriguez be a mentor to two other infielders in the system- Rougned Odor and Luis Sardinas. Interim manager Tim Bogar wanted to throw Rodriguez a solid for all he has done.

His career looks like one of those roadmaps you would think with stops that included Helena, Beloit, Huntsville, West Virginia, Brevard County, the Arizona League, OKC, Frisco, and Round Rock. He's a career .256 hitter in the minors, so three cheers to the Rangers for seeing what the guy has done as a lifer.

ICYMI: Astros Fire Bo Porter

((ht: chron.com))

It's gotta be somebody's fault right?

Happy Labor Day Bo Porter, hope your resume is updated. The Houston Astros decided on Monday to fire you.

The Astros parted way with their 2nd year manager who with one of the youngest--and cheapest lineups in baseball, cobbled together a 110-190 record.

G.M Jeff Luhnow made the announcement in Houston this morning, tossing aside Porter and bench coach Dave Trembley and promoting Tom Lawless as interim team manager.

Yes, there were reports circulating in Houston that Porter and Luhnow did not exactly...um, get along and that was briefly touched upon during the impromptu press conference.

Lunhow said "When you think about the relationship between a manager and general manager, it's complicated. We are looking for a collaborative environment, a unified environment."

((Ed. Note--Feel free to interpret that as you will. The message isn't exactly subtle))

Read the entire story from the Houston Chronicle RIGHT HERE

Now, that being said, many baseball experts consider the Astros one of the most up-and-coming franchises in baseball. The team, under owner Jim Crane essentially has sold the present day with the hope the future will yield titles. It remains to be seen if that will happen, though the presence of future stars like George Springer haven't hurt.

MLB.com writer Richard Justice (former Astros beat writer) talks about what happened and where the team goes from here:

The New Worst Ever First Pitch This Month

((HT: MLB.com/CSNHouston))

Came from the Astros game last night and the HQ thinks that 50Cent and Miss Texas have some competition

Houston Astros Spoof Crappy Viral Ad for Missouri Mall

Haha!

This is one of the more inspired things done by the Houston Astros in recent memory.

Okay, so maybe the George Springer promotion to the majors might top this...

But follow along.

Check out the Astros spoofing a Viral Video done produced originally for the East Hills Mall in St. Joseph's, Missouri.

The original, which we'll post here, features some god-awful singing...and dancing...sort of.



Now check out the Astros version--and see who's is better:

Matthew McConaughey Discusses Fanny Packs

((HT: MLB.com))

CSN Houston's Julia Morales got one of those assignments...

She's at Fenway where the Astros are playing the Red Sox and guess who is watching his fellow Texans...


Right on, right on, right on...

But it is good to know about the position of the fanny pack since the HQ will NEVER WEAR ONE...

Don't Mess With JP Arencibia

((HT: MLB.com))

Mascots do what mascots do- including messing with the opposing team DURING THE GAME!

Evidence below with revenge included


See...???

We told you, Orbit...

George Springer Hit The Ball A Long Way

((HT: MLB.com/CSN Houston))

David Price was throwing pitch 50 of the night to the Astros Rookie of The Year candidate, George Springer, and he absolutely UNLOADED on it...

Evidence below...


Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart, via his Twitter, has the details on the bomb:

Springer's HR hit off the "d-ring" catwalk. It's 23rd time in ballpark history a ball hit off "d-ring." First time since May 30, 2011.

That's really far...

Astros Video Bomb Each Other With Bobbleheads

((HT: CSN Houston))

The Astros ratings are in the neighborhood of a Blutarski GPA these days...

But that doesn't mean that, when they win, they won't be having fun...

Jason Castro was part of the big 8th inning that gave the Astros a 7-6 win over Oakland on Saturday. All that meant was that Carlos Corporan drops in with a prop for the Castro interview...

Here's your evidence of jockularity


Ah, you wacky Astros...

Astrodome Holds Yard Sale

((HT: KTRK-TV/ABC13))

If you wanted to take a piece of the Astrodome home with you...ever... today would have been the day to capitalize on that idea...

And shock your other half with your purchase of an on-deck circle, a pair of seats, or a slab of turf...
The HQ doesn't know if any of the really, rancid bathroom stuff was on the market or behind yellow police tape...

There's a referendum on a Tuesday ballot on whether or not to keep the old, vacant building upright for renovation or tear the whole thing down to start over with something else...

Remember this really bad promotional idea on saying "Yes" on the ballot...???


But, today a lot of folks were camped out in line to get their piece of history...

Here's the live shot from outside...


A slab of turf may not have been a bad idea or any of the other stuff for a man cave...
The HQ wonders aloud what was that "odd" piece that went home with someone...

And Speaking Of Houston... The Worst Song Ever...

The HQ knows the Astrodome is an eye sore these days...

Sadly, it has outlived it's usefulness and has just been sitting around like an old fossil waiting to either be dug up or buried...

But, just as painfully, this is now being put into song as Prop 2 is on the ballot for November elections in an attempt to try and save the place...

If you want to call it "song..."
((HT: Jalapeno Pixels))


If this isn't a work, the HQ will be disappointed...
Severely...

Astros Failures Drive CSN Houston to Bankruptcy

((ht: blog.chron.com))

This is a complicated story that may be a bit difficult to explain, but at it's heart, the success...or lack of success on the field by the Houston Astros has driven their Sports network to the brink of going out of business.

We'll try and explain:

Essentially, the Astros, the Houston Rockets (NBA) and NBC/Comcast combined to create a regional sports network (CSN Houston). It's something NBC/Comcast has done in many other parts of the country.

The two sports teams are the primary shareholders, but responsibility for the network falls to all 3.

And the problem is pretty simple.

They can't get the network cleared. DirectTV, Dish, ATT U-Verse and others want no part of the extra fee that would be involved in picking the network up. It can be seen by less than 1 million people in the TV market.

And that makes getting a favorable TV deal difficult. At best.

It also may explain why the recent Astros/Indians baseball game drew hashmarks in the Nielsen ratings.

You can read more about this from the Houston Chronicle RIGHT HERE

Here's what this boils down to:

It's a quest for more TV money by the teams (Astros/Rockets). Everything in sports these days is dictated by the amount a cable network is paying to broadcast games. It's how the LA Dodgers can have a $200+ million payroll. Same for the New York Yankees.

The Astros and Rockets aren't getting that kind of money. Unless CSN gets into more houses, they won't get that kind of money.

No, the network isn't going away. They can work through their debt. But the bankruptcy filing allows them to reorganize and find a better way to get more eyeballs and make more money. Houston Sports fans probably aren't thrilled about all this. But just remember Houston resident, if they get the network on your provider, your bill is going up. Whether you like the Astros and/or Rockets....or not.

Sadly, this is probably the one Astros highlight this season you'll all remember:

If Things Couldn't Get Worse For The Astros

((HT: MLB/CSN Houston))

Max Stassi got hidden ball tricked, too in their game against the Texas Rangers...


Here's his post game...


He won't get fooled again...

Walk - Off Home Run DENIED!!!!!

Oakland's Chris Young thought he had won the game for the Athletics with a walk-off home run.  Robbie Grossman denied Young the mosh pit at home plate.






"He asked me to show him the ball when I got to second base,” Grossman said. “I just showed him the ball.”

Damn right Groosman did.

Here's more with Grossman and  Carlos Corporan whose RBI double in the 11th won it for the Houston Astros 2-1

Lavarnway In A Bad Way Handling Knucklers

((HT: NESN/MLB))

Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway had a rough first inning handling (or "trying to handle") Steven Wright's knuckleball against the Houston Astros...

Yeah... it was a long first inning...


Four passed balls later, Lavarnway would redeem himself...
He hit a two-run double in the fifth as the Sox would win 15-10

Busy Day For Rangers-Astros Includes A Drop And A Fire Truck

((HT: MLB.com))

It was a day that needed celebrating when the Rangers took on the Astros...

The Rangers made a point to honor the town of West, about 90 minutes south, as the town was obliterated when a grain plant exploded this spring. Lance Berkman even went as far as donating a fire truck that was purchased from the Arlington Fire Department. His name and number were placed on the side of the truck, but Berkman wanted no such recognition.

He just wanted to make sure the truck works for a town that really needs the help...
Here's the link to the ceremony...

And the story from WFAA-TV
And, during the game, one of the lighter moments when someone dropped a sure home run souvenir, and someone else wasn't too pleased...

Don't Get the Snow Cone at Astros Game: Vendor Busted

((ht: click2houston.com))

Ew!

Not that a lot of people are going to Houston's Minute Maid Park to watch the moribund Houston Astros play baseball, but apparently those that do, might want to check their food.

((Note-The Astros did win Wednesday vs. The Royals, taking the series, their 14th win of the season))

KPRC-TV in Houston has video and a story about a Snow Cone Vendor who apparently needed to go to the restroom and relieve himself.

The problem.

He took his serving rack of Snow Cones in the stall with him. And yeah, there's video. It's okay, it's shot from outside the closed stall.

Astros team president Reid Ryan (Nolan's son) when informed of this, immediately fired the vendor.

And yeah, here's the KPRC video:

The Astros Just Find Ways to Lose

((HT: ROOT Sports/MLB))

Let's face it... the Houston Astros are just a gawdawful baseball team...

The ownership change and the league change are showing a lack of resources either available to the franchise or a lack of resources the ownership group even want to spend in the process...

The team has a salary compilation of less than $30-million and rival the Marlins in only futility...

Last night was no different in the game against the Pirates...
The adjectives start to fail the HQ


Nothing like running a team at a profit...

Umps Boof Pitching Change In Astros-Angels Game

((HT: CSN Houston/MLB))

If things couldn't get any worse for the pee-ahr of umpires these days, we now have this...

In the Angels-Astros game, manager Bo Porter wanted the pitcher who came in to the game, Wesley Wright, to stop throwing warm up pitches after he entered the game. Porter wanted to bring in Hector Ambriz when the Angels switched pinch-hitters in the on-deck circle.

The rule that applies is that Wright had to face a batter since he entered...

Mike Scioscia was hot about the pitching change and thought the rule was applied incorrectly and played the rest of the game under protest. Fortunately, for the halos, they score three runs and came from behind to win 6-5...

Here's the fiasco...


Crew chief Fieldin Culbreth had the sum total of a sentence to address the situation...

"Well, the only thing I can tell you is that all matters concerning protests are handled through the league office," he said.

Nice dodge...

Man Grabs Foul Ball Without Endangering Baby

((HT: CSN Houston))

It's well known that it's easy to get seats at Houston Astros games these days...
And there are plenty of seats even more available in extra innings...

Evidence last night when the Tigers and Astros are in extras and a new dad gets to field the grounder with a babe-in-arms...

Here's the grab...


Looks like he got away with one... just watching the wife's reaction...

Mariners Baseball: If You Catch Ball in Beer, You Must Chug Beer

Yes, this is your funny video of the day. Sort of.

Wednesday night at the Astros/Mariners game in Seattle, a dude in the stands did what dude's are prone to do at sporting events.

Chug beer.

Only this guy did it after catch a foul ball in his beer cup.

If you aren't a fan of drinking, you probably will be appalled at this. If you are a dude or someone younger than 50, you'll get a good laugh out of it.

Oh, and for what it's worth, the Astros beat the Mariners.....