Ask JASTRO

Jastro has agreed to entertain questions from loyal re= aders and fellow fans. Submit your questions about the Astros to: ja= stro@jastroworld.com

On December 29, 2007 joec from Portland writes:<= o:p>

I would love to know what you have against "the Network". It's a network dedicated to the NFL every hour of every day = of the year. How can that be a bad thing? If there is anyone to be pissed at, = it should be Comcast. They won't even give you the fuckin= ' channel without you paying for it separately. There was no better commercial than the one talking about "4 women's networks, shopping channels, cage fighting and reality shows". Perfect.

I don't really have a good= answer, except to venture that maybe it's political; union vs<= /span> management, blue vs white color, cable vs satellite....

All of their content is re= adily available film, their announcers; Collinsworth, Dieon, Faulk and some other loser--Esiason?; suck, and I envy the congressional exemption.<= /o:p>

On March 26, 2007 Burkygal from Kemah writes:<= /o:p>

Chris Burke has proven tha= t he is a major-leaguer and deserves to be the Astros center fielder, but you keep ragging him. Give Burke a break. Do you worry that your= half-dozen readers will see though your front and recognize that green-eyed monster fo= r what it really is – just jealousy?

Wow Burkygal, you make it feel like I’m at home! I grew up in the Astrodome, don= 217;t even like the AL<= /st1:State>, and will be a ‘Stros fan when I go to that great stadium in the sky; = but, I would like to see the ‘Stros win a World Series first. Let me summarize Burke’s MLB credentials in a way you may understand.&n= bsp; He has played 1565 innings as major-leaguer, which equates to 11 more games than a full season of 9-inning games, and has amassed these lofty num= bers in offense: Hitting at a .258= clip he has 66 RBIs, 14 dingers and a net 15 stolen bases (caught 7 times). Defensively, he brings twice a much experience in the outfield as the infield, and 8 errors. I doubt the Rockies would tr= ade Taveras and Hirsh back for Burke and Jennings. I like Burke, his Spring has made = him an easy target and I just think that keeping Biggio at second base and Burke in centerfield is too much handicap for a successful run at the playoffs that could very well come down to one game.

Burkygal, you are correct about the jealousy though – have you seen his wife? I could use a good proofreader that knows baseball and loves the Astros. If your middle school had a qualified student and an intern program,= I feel it safe to say you wouldn’t know her.—jastro--

On March 26, 2007 Ronball from Georgetown, TX writes:

Jastro, I agree with you about = Hidalgo. An everyday lineup of Berkman, Lee, Hi= dalgo, Scott and Ensberg batting third through eighth should send shivers down the spine of any starting pitcher in the majors. Why do you think Burke is still be= ing considered as the Astros starting center fielder?

Who keeps score when you p= lay softball, Ronball? The lineup= you discuss covers the third through seventh hitters; does your golf pencil hav= e an eraser, too? Good quest= ion about Burke. Since he did not= marry a McClain, I am investigating ties to the MLB players union. Guys like Frank Thomas could pinch= -run way into their fifties with players like Burke in center field. –jastro—

**There is absolutely no guarantee that Jastro will pu= blish your question, much less answer it, so submit as often as you like!