MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/1F6BCAB9/therealstory.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" ‘Stros faithful should take notice of the great baseball the Pirates displayed in their come from behind win in extra innings last night; outstanding fielding, adequate pitching and exceptional situational hitting=

NOTE:  You may need to refresh this link = next visit, I WILL figure this out, or find help.  Thank you.

From under the benches at JuicyFruit Field:        =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =       

The Real = Story by Jastro

Seco= nd Thoughts   September 14, 2007

Jastro would be in trouble immediately with the players and their union with his Uniform Policy.  There is a re= ason teams wear uniforms and it’s called uniformity.  Jastro prefers stirrups and three-quarter length pants, but the team uniform will be the same.  The players or Manager can decide = what and how, just as long as they are uniform; down to the shoe color and shin-guard.  If Scottie needs a Kevlar Jersey and hanky, the team wears Kevlar and a hanky.  Endorsement contracts and the like= are not on Astros’ time, lest they be ownership endorsed.

Astr= os’ Management   September 13, 2007

Drayton McLane owns, and runs the Astros.  The GM position is a figurehead, a Captain without a ship.  As such, Bob Watson should be an excellent choice for the 2008 Season.  Bob Watson was Assistant GM on November 1, 1989, when he sent Jastro= a five-sentence, four-paragraph letter in response to Jastro’s letter of interest in employment opportunities.  Paragraph two is the following sentence, “As you may know, a b= all club has a relatively small number of employees.  We have only limited turnover.R= 21;

Mayor Potter of Portland,= Oregon recently announced that he woul= d not seek re-election.  Jastro brie= fly thought about running; yesterday.  Today, Jastro wants to toss his name in the hat for GM of the Astros, but only if my friend Watson is not the favorite.  I have no doubt that if Jastro had entered the trucking business years ago, he would be running McLane Truckin= g.

Baseball is exciting, fun and competition.  The Astros have lost the excitement and following the team is not enjoyable anymore.  Jastro wou= ld bring that excitement back to Houston with an all-star Astro cast for the 2= 008 Season, starting with Brad Ausmus as Player/Manager.  Ausmus should surround himself with Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Jim Deshaies as Bench, Hitting and Pitching Coaches, respectively.

Jastro will score every Astros game, live and at the ballparks.  He will evaluate the farm system a= nd work to steadily improve its effectiveness.  Jastro will have died and gone to Heaven.  Maybe, the team will over-achieve for a while; imagine the possibilities!<= /p>

Who = wants to see “the kids play”?  September 11, 2007

Jastro would like to see the veterans play like major-league contenders.  Berkman, Lee, Scott, Pence, Burke, Wigginton, Loretta and Munson ARE potential opening day players in 2008 for= the Stros.  Jastro wants to see th= e 2008 nucleus prove they can achieve a modest .500 winning percentage in Septembe= r, now!

The = Middle Infield Tango  September 5, 2007

There is no good answer to the situation at second base.  Three players that, hopefully, wil= l not play for the Stros next year—Biggio, Loretta and Burkypoo—are available to Coop.  Biggio, re= tiring at the end of this season, will play when he wants.  Loretta, acquired last winter to r= elieve Biggio at second, will try to find a starting role again next year.  Poor Burkypoo, heir-apparent to se= cond base for half of the decade, was slated to play centerfield and has seen li= mited playing time.  Unfortunately f= or Burkypoo and the Stros, very little insight into Burkypoo’s abilities= has been gained thus far; and the window of opportunity is closing swiftly.

Adding injury to futility, Everett and The Horse collided in shallow left last June; resulting in a black-hole for the middle-infield, as no good alternative existed for the Stros.  Appare= ntly Cody Ransom, a 31 year-old shortstop with just over 100 major league at-bats (all pre-2005 with the Giants before yesterday), was considered too old to bring up.  Obviously the Stros, burdened with infielders crying for playing time already on the active rost= er, used the loss at shortstop to impress fans with the team’s diversity = with sweeping lineup shuffles during the second half of games; which resulted in more than one extra-inning loss with an empty bench.<= /p>

The Stros have better outfielders available than Burkypoo.  Biggio will play about half of the remaining games, so there goes steady time at second for poor Burkypoo.  Most everybody that can spell base= ball, and many that can’t, now firmly realize the value Everett brought to the team.  Though winning the division is not= out of grasp, this season may still hold promise for the Stros and Burkypoo.

Let Biggio play when he wants, batting seventh, and play Loretta in Biggio̵= 7;s place when Biggio does not start.  Play Burkypoo, consistently, at shortstop and bat him in the second = spot in the batting order to play out the season.  Unfortunately for Burkypoo, this w= ill be his last shot as the Stros should look strongly for the second baseman for = 2008 and beyond this off-season, with strong consideration given to Burkypoo and Loretta for 2008 if the fit is not found.&= nbsp; What other everyday option exists at this point?

 

The = Good, The Bad, and The Ugly&= nbsp; September 3, 2007

Nine runs on nine hits for the Stros, with nine walks (one intentional), a pick-= off, an outfield assist, a double-play (where Lee would have reached first if he= had attempted, again), no errors committed, two doubles, two triples and seven runners stranded makes a strange box score; this win was a gift from the Brewers that they can afford to lose--apparently. 

If you scored this game, you must be proud of your page!  Jastro uses one side of a sheet in= a spiral notebook, entries with blue and red pens, and it is a masterpiece; l= egible to few.  Now for the good, dad= and ugly

Thank the Baseball Gods that Burkypoo made the last out after the Stros had clear= ed the bases and scored four runs in the eighth, or Cooper may not have moved Loretta to second just in time to make a two-run-saving-stab on a sharp grounder by the minor league call up Rottino, ending the Brewer’s eig= hth inning; saving us all the eight additional innings it would have taken for = the Brewers to win.

Greg Aquino, the losing Brewers’ righty that came in to pitch to Pence in = the eighth, last pitched in the Biggs on April 2, 2007 against the Stros in Milwaukee, and he surrendered the game-winning grand slam to Biggio.

Lee plays an above-average defense for the offense he provides.  Lee is often crafty on the base-pa= ths, too, stealing eight bases (though caught five times).  For the second game in a row, Lee = failed to run out routine grounders when he most likely would have reached base wi= th modest effort.  Today, Berkman’s hard slide into second was wasted because Lee did not run o= ut the double-play.  Unacceptable.

Will= iams Shows Grit Every Appearance September 3, 2007<= /span>

The first inning at Wrigley yesterday reminded me how much I like Woody.  Soriano smacks the first pitch for= a ground double to left that should have been nabbed at third and thrown out = at first.  Theriot moves Soriano = to third on a hard grounder fielded nicely by Berkman for the first out.  On Woody’s fourth pitch of t= he game, Lee whacks a long-foul-homer to right.  Woody plunks Lee on the next pitch= , Cubbies on first and third, one out.  = Woody whiffs Ramirez and Floyd, on swinging third strikes.  No runs, no hits, two Cubbies stra= nded.

The Astros have always had decent pitching and defense.  Defense is to pitching as baserunners are to offense.  The Astros’ defense is much = worse than the official stats indicate, and I dare say the pitching is much better than 12th in the National League.  Both losses to the Cubbies this we= ekend were games that the Stros beat themselves, as has usually been the case; th= is year and last.

Jastro detests the te= rm “rebuilding”, especially when the NLC is up for grabs.  How can a player/team play the gam= e to win when management does not field their best team?

 

 

Be Prepared to Pull Patton in a Pinch  September 1, 2007

The Stros will win the NLC if they keep winning.  The= Stros must be ready to pinch-hit for Patton if the team is losing by more than a = run, even if it is the first time the pitcher- spot comes up.  Scoring will be the top priority.<= o:p>

In the fifth inning y= esterday, with two outs and Loretta on third, Scott should have replaced Burkypoo and taken over in rightfield.  The= Stros were up 4-0, the lefty had been replaced by a righty, and the opportunity to score more while improving the defense makes too much sense; playing the Cubbies, at Wrigley.  Ditto in= the sixth, Lee walked after Berkman’s two-out double and Loretta at the plate.

 

Star= ry-Krisp May 10, 2007

I mean, “Sorry Chris”.  MLB has not been very good for you= in H-town; and, if it makes you feel any better, it ain’t been good for = me lately, either.  I hope you don’t share agents with Loretta.&nbs= p; We share the lack of clarity.  Peace on.

 

Deci= sion Time May 9, 2007

Now that Rick White has completed hi= s rehab assignment the Astros are due to make a roster move, but what move should t= hey make?  Recall that Hunter Penc= e was promoted to the majors when Stephen Randolph was designated for assignment, leaving eleven pitchers and fourteen position players on the Astros’ 25-man roster; postponing the decision to demote a position player. Garner admits that it is a struggle to find playing time for Burke, Lane, Lamb, Loretta and Palmeiro.  The tea= m will go with a twelve-man pitching staff, so either Burke or Palmeiro are the li= kely players to come home tomorrow and pack.

Palmeiro should draw the short straw since Burke has more total value, but I would send them both packing and br= ing up Brooks Conrad from Round Rock.  The primary factor is that the second-best shortstop on the current roster may be Chris Sampson.  = While I firmly believe Everett will hit over .250 with one simple modification:  STOP CHEWING GUM WHEN YOU SWING the bat!  Spit it out on the on-de= ck circle, you make enough to buy more gum to pop in your mouth when you get on base, and even tip the poor batboy.  Conrad further adds to the depth of the ‘Stros because he is a switch-batter.  The priority i= s to make a decision, rather than delay and be indecisive.

= No amount of roster changes will bring a playoff chance to the Astros as long = as the expectations of the Skipper are to be around .500 at the All-star break.  The Skipper is acting = more like Gilligan when he says we should be in the post-season hunt if we can be around .500 at the break, and he forgot to tell the Brewers.  These lofty expectations may expla= in the last few years of underachievement for our Astros. 

 

Oh, = what a beautiful Morning April 29, 2007

Jastro slept well last night, even finding his own way home.  To = retire 24 batters last night, the Brew-crew tossed 151 pitches, 97 for strikes.  Folks, that is 6.3 pitches per out; Brewer pitchers were worked for 54 balls.&= nbsp; Of the 97 strikes, 37, or 38%, were fouled off and Astros worked 7 f= ull counts.  Pence did not homer i= n his first MLB at-bat, or his first MLB game.&n= bsp; Actually more exciting than a homer, striking out on the twelfth pit= ch in his first at-bat created an energy of its own.  Pence, so young and innocent looki= ng, reminded me of a youthful Biggio.  Who can blame Bush for beaning Pence after he fouled off the first p= itch in his second at-bat?  Ask sec= ond baseman Weeks!

Williams always brings that gamer attitude, so I will enjoy his first win as an Astro today.

Toni= ght’s Lineup? Of course, shortstop Adam Everett le= ads off, but we all know who will lead off; so Everett bats second.  Pence should hit third, followed by Lance, Lee, Luke, Ensberg, Ausmus and Sampson.  When Loretta/Burke plays (only in = place of Biggio), substitute Ausmus second and Whichever bats eighth.  Lamb and Lane, or just lame?<= /o:p>

Pence Begins Rookie of the Year March in April April 28, 2007

Purpura either is already circling t= he wagons or has been instructed to by a higher power as Hunter Pence becomes a major leaguer and will be in centerfield tonight when the Weeks leads off f= or the Brewers at 6:05 tonight.  = I wish there was more clarity in the decision, rather than stating that Burke will= now be some super-utility infielder. 

Burke is not THE reason for Purpura’s drastic attempt to avoid redefining futility, but he has ma= de himself the target, and he so admits in printed media.  Fact is, it was stupid to think this team could power its way thru the defensive short comings.  I was concerned abou= t a comment on Astros radio (740 AM) by Raymond (maybe) that I heard at the clo= se of the Grapefruit League:  That Berkman and Burke were very close friends.

Published comments by Berkman regard= ing the move are totally unprofessional, I am sorry to say.  Right or wrong, personal differenc= es of opinion with management should not be aired.  I can’t help thinking that B= erkman has let his friendship with Burke transcend his baseball prowess; and it is reflected in his performance this season.

I am 100% in agreement with Pence pl= aying with the big boys, which should have started on April 2nd.  Anything can happen in baseball an= d I am glad Pence gets his shot earlier than later.  I also think he will need the like= s of Lance to guide and encourage him.  I feel certain that Lee and Scott will assist.  This may be too bold, but I am sti= ll sizzling over Berkman’s comments:&nb= sp; Jason Lane is a good first base= man.

I also believe that Purpura is treat= ing symptoms while the infection strengthens.&= nbsp; Cecil Cooper may be a skipper sooner than later!  Regardless, expect a mad rush for tickets to tonight’s game, so weasel the Company seats before your coworkers catch on…..

Rodr= iguez Gets No Respect April 22, 2007

The emergency AB trucks are restocki= ng the local Bud distributor after the impromptu pool party all afternoon yesterday – you really should have been there; I would post pictures = but the Daddies are still asleep and can’t sign the consent forms. 

So, I was at the mercy of Dave Johns= on and Brett Nolan on KPRC-740 AM radio to get the baseball action (?) in Milwaukee last nig= ht, since I would not have had help carrying the big screen back up three fligh= ts of stairs:  Of course, watchin= g the rerun in the wee-hours this morning was not an option.

I haven’t found a replay of the double to center by Fielder in the big three-run fifth for the Brewcrew.  Further, the speedy Fielder scored from second on a ground ball hit = to center by Hall, the next hitter.  I haven’t read the sports-scribbling boobs at the Chronicle in a week or so, but I doubt they would help because it is much easier for them to spell “hit”.  The Brewer= s gave away free passes to first with the skill of a surgeon and six hits will lose most every game for this team.

I carry two Morgan silver dollars wherever I go (well, one since the 1884-s fell through the new pool-deck at= the start of the season) and spent at least half the time I sat on the pot look= ing for the darn coin this morning.  Imagine my relief when Paul, a new poolbum I met yesterday, knocked = at my door with the buck!; though I felt like he may have been looking for his eldest daughter the way he looked around Jastroville.  He must not remember that I took h= er for a surprise swim before she left for work at Academy.  She was a good sport – kind = of like a little sister – and I was hoping for a little more.=

It’s good for a guy like me to meet someone that works at Academy; or not.  Nancy is a gorgeous redhead and I owe her an apology.  Go ‘Stros!

 

Will= iams Pitches Taxing 5.1 Innings in Astros 8-5 Loss to Philly

Basically the Phillies made good use= of five additional hits and walks to score three more runs.  I’ll take a .750 winning percentage on the road all season long.

I had forgotten how easy it was to E-file a compliant federal tax return using taxactonline.com.  I already knew how I was going to = file numbers-wise and when I located the 2005 return I had to turn on the computer.  Simply answer the questions and avoid the sales pitches to upgrade to file the return.  The electronic filing screwed up by using Schedule C instead of Schedule C-EZ, but the result is the same and I= may file an amended return later.  

 

Whee= ler Should Rest Tomorrow April 10, 2007

Garner must have known something whe= n he put Wheeler in to pitch the ninth when it was not a save situation because = the Cubbies spoiled the shutout scoring two runs in the ninth.  If our ‘Stros need a closer tomorrow, Garner might consider using Lidge – especially because the Cubbies will not be expecting him.  They will be prepared, though; for Miller, Qualls and Borkowski.

Surprisingly, Garner let Everett bat= in the fifth inning when the Astros had all the froggies on base, Bud-Wei-Ser;= so Everett sends them drinking by popping out foul to Lee at first:  He extended his hitting streak to = every game he’s played this season in the eighth, but the nappy-skinned froggies were off hosing down the bud by then.  Houston left the froggies loaded twice and in three innings they left Bud at third, twice in the fourth inning by Sampson and Biggio.

Biggio scored a run after leading of= f the fifth, reaching base on Izturis’ third error of the game and scoring = on Scott’s RBI ground-out to second that should have been a double-play.  Our guys were officially charged with their major league-leading ninth error and only the Nationals and Yankees have a fielding percentage lower than the Astros .972; and we all know about official scoring.

 

Weak Fielding, Scoring Waste Solid Pitching in Home Stand; Sending ‘Stros = on the Cold Road to Heal April 8, 2007

Everyone knew the Astros would begin the season missing a few = of Milo’s Blue Star performances on the field, b= ut we expected the hitting to overcompensate for the fielding miscues.  Everyone even figured that the off= ense could support a starting pitching rotation anchored by (perhaps) the best pitcher in the major leagues and a couple of unproven starting pitchers at = the end of the rotation.  Everyone= was right about David Carr, too; and many want Carr to hold the moving van for = Brad Lidge to join him on the way out of Houston.  Will everyone next want Morgan Ens= berg to shoulder the responsibility for the disappointing offensive start by the Astros?

For those of you not familiar with Milo Hamilton, he is the Ha= ll of Fame radio broadcaster for the Astros on KPRC 740 am radio.  Milo has been the voice of the Astros since 1984 and fans that listen to Astro g= ames over the radio still enjoy his “Blue Star” awards for superb fielding plays and “Holy Toledo” exclamations when the Astros rally.  Unfortunately, Milo on= ly calls home games for the Astros these days and, if you haven’t had the opportunity to listen to an Astros game with Milo on the radio, I encourage you to try it out.  My television is always tuned to t= he Astros televised games, two TVs when the game is also televised by a network from the visiting team’s market (WGN, TBS), but my radio is always on= the Astros broadcast -- and a portable plays on the balcony in case the power supply or cable acts up.  Milo’s view is about 10 seconds faster than the video, so I can focus on the tube before the pitcher chunks the pitch for a play Milo has already alerted me about.

The Astros lost all three games to the Pittsburgh Pirates and = won only one of the three games with the St. Louis Cardinals, both NL central division opponents, in the first two series of the new season at the friend= ly confines of Minute Maid Park.  The Astros finished two games abov= e .500 last season because of their record at home (44-37), against the division (45-32), against the Pirates (13-3 overall, 6-0 at home) and against the Cardinals (10-6 overall and 7-3 at home).&= nbsp; Six games represent 3.7% of the 162-game season, but in a division w= here the winner is expected to lose around 78 games, five losses represent 6.4% = of the allowable losses for the season!  I projected the ‘Stros to win 16 of their 25 games scheduled in April, so at this writing the good guys must finish April winning 15 of the= ir remaining 19 games – and 14 of those will be on the road in Chicago, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.  So what happened during these firs= t six games?

The Astros were outscored 12-8 by the Pirates, who won games by one run twice and won by two runs in the opener.  Officially, the Astros were charge= d with four errors and two errors were recorded for the Bucs during the series.  Errors effected the scoring only i= n game three, where the Bucs were afforded two runs to the Astros one.  Anyone viewing that game would be = safe saying that the Astros lost primarily due to poor fielding.  In the first Pirates game, the Ast= ros only scored two runs, both on a fifth inning Luke Scott homer.

Of the 11 Astros baserunners (nine hits, one batter beaned by a pitch and one walk), only one reached base after the sixth inning, and he w= as left on second base in the ninth inning.&n= bsp; Half of the other 10 Astros baserunners were erased on the base path= s, three on double plays, one attempting to stretch a single into a double and= one thrown out at the plate trying to score on a one-out single by the pitcher.=

The Astros just didn’t get it done at the plate in the second game of the series.  We= had seven hits and a walk for a total of eight baserunners; two scored, five we= re left on base (four on second base) and one was caught stealing.  The first game was our best chance= to win in a series played very well by the visiting Pirates.  The Pirates looked better prepared= and came to Houston with a sense of urgency that is missing from the Astros.<= /p>

Wandy Rodriguez pitched well enough to keep the Astros in the first game of the Cardinal series.  We had two more baserunners, with one more hit and one more base on balls than the Cards, but we grounded into an inning-ending double play and= had another baserunner tagged out at the plate on the squeeze bunt attempt, whi= ch the Cards played very well.  I= will never understand even considering the deliberate sacrifice of an out when t= he team has started the inning better than all but one of the previous 25 inni= ngs of the season.

Roy Oswalt pitched the gem that put the team on a winning track Saturday.  The Astros only had= nine hits and five runs scored, but the homers by Lee and Berkman made it feel like t= he offense was picking up.  I was excited about our chances to win the Sunday afternoon game and salvage a se= ries win, until I heard the starting lineup.&nb= sp; Loretta was acquired last winter by GM Tim Purpura to provide a prov= en back-up second baseman to spell Biggio, while Burke holds down center field.  I see no reason for bo= th Biggio and Loretta to start in the same game for the Astros.  Hopefully we learned that lesson.<= o:p>

I am still upset about keeping Everett out of the lineup.  I am thankful he did not make a la= te inning pinch-hitting appearance to kill his hitting streak.  Forget that = Everett at the plate has been a bright = spot for the team in the first five games.  The shortstop has hit safely in each of the five Astros games prior = to Sunday.  I don’t really believe a ballplayer will hit safely in each game of a 162-game season, or = even reach base safely in every game of a season; but you have to keep Everett in the st= arting lineup at least until he cools off at the plate!  I would have bet the farm if Pete = Rose had told me there wasn’t some superstitious, unwritten rule about sit= ting an everyday player that has a hitting streak in progress.=

Maybe Garner didn’t realize that E= verett had hit safely in each game, or that Everett is the only starting position player for the Astros without a strikeout this season.  Everett is a contact hitter that belong= s atop the lineup card and given encouragement; undoubtedly he will hit the part a= bove expectations, similar to the way he rules shortstop.  By the way, did it seem like the t= eam was a bit weaker up the middle Sunday afternoon?  That’s ok; the Cards were ov= erdue for some offense anyway.  Besi= des, we are only six games into the season and we can afford to lose 70 more gam= es, or so.

  

The = Astros Lost, Not the Bullpen April 3, 2007

The true Astros faithful should take notice of the great baseb= all the Pirates displayed in their come from behind win in the tenth inning last night; earned by outstanding fielding, adequate pitching and exceptional situational hitting.  We beat = the Astros last night, the Pirates just played baseball; it was our offense that failed to score any runs.  Four hitters delivered homers, one hit for the home team.  Both starters pitched well, hit a = single and served up a homer.  The ho= me team batters grounded into two double plays and two hitters were thrown out= on the base paths, one at home plate.  Pirate batters struck out six times, four swinging, and grounded int= o a double play.  Pirate fielders = were flawless and the home team committed two errors in the field (only one reco= rded by the official scorer).  Pira= te hitters scored on homers in each of the last three innings.  The home team did not score in the= last five innings.  The Pirates pla= yed to win and the home team came to play.

The Pirate hitters scored two more times and had five more opportunities by sending 41 batters to the plate; the home team sent only 36 batters.  The home team wasted= four opportunities and the Pirates swiped one more.  Please tell me where the performan= ce by Lidge caused the loss, or has anything to do with Oswalt’s win-loss record.  Oswalt would have lost (rather than a no decision) if Scott did not homer in the fifth.  Oswalt would have won if our hitte= r on second would have scored on the Oswalt single in the fifth inning.

Not only do the Pirates go into tonight’s contest with a= one game advantage, the visiting Pirates have been given one more advantage when the crowd booed its own team last night.&n= bsp; Jastro is embarrassed by the ignorant and inappropriate behavior of those Astros fans.  The home t= eam pitchers gave credit to the Pirate hitters, the home team batters took no responsibility for not hitting in the post game interviews, and some of the home team fans gave Lidge the blame.  How embarrassing.

Trib= e has Bus Driver Pitch 10th Inning Astros Comeback? March 27, 2007

After the Indians tied the= game in the ninth inning and added three runs to go ahead in the tenth, it didn’t matter much to me anymore because I still had to go to the Po= st Office to mail three packages that should have gone postal yesterday.  When Milo finally came up with the name of the new Indian pitcher (there were no available players on the bench) I looked on the Spring player stats page on= the internet for his name – Gomez.  No Gomez was listed on any of the rosters, even the non-roster-invites-roster, and I figured either Milo= goofed on the name or, more likely, I did.

When the excitement in Milo’s voice diverted my attention from the n= asty packaging task because Lee had come to the plate representing the tying run after two hits and no outs, I resumed my internet search for Gomez.  Lee then grounds into a double-pla= y and I went back to again attempt my packaging.&n= bsp; When the count was 3-1 to Lamb after Burke singled, I went back to t= he internet.  Milo must have brou= ght his crystal balls to the game because, after Lamb walked, Milo was laughing about the prospect of Lamb scoring from first (in light of the article in the Chronicle today) if Quintero were to hit his second double of the game.  Quintero lined the = next Gomez offering over the center fielder to clear the bases end the game.

Finally and very inefficie= ntly, I found Gomez on the roster of a Class A, Carolina League affiliate of the Indians.  Now I could raise the eyebrow the nice lady that works at the Post Office, who is quite the baseb= all statistician, with some trivia!  After returning home from closing the Post Office down, I popped the top of a cold Bud and hopped on the internet to verify that Gomez pitched to six Astros, allowing three runs on four hits, a walk and a double-play in the blown-save-loss.  Gomez was now listed on the Spring Training stats for the Indians, though he probably wis= hes he wasn’t.  I got the no= tion to search the internet and make a few calls in hopes of actually contacting this poor guy for a phone interview.  I found a number, but the phone was disconnected, so I replaced my n= ow warm Bud with a cold one and tuned into AstroLaunch with Milo and Burke, which was already in progress on KTRH 740AM radio.

I managed one good cold sw= ig from the new Bud before some previous customers called me from their beauti= ful motor home in Kissimmee.  They are die-hard Astros fans and = my truck still sports the AstroJack they gave me in 2004 when signing the pape= rs on the now 3-yea old diesel.  = Dave knowingly asked if I had heard about the game and proceeded to tell me about some very unusual commotion going on around the bus that transported the Indians to Kissimmee for the game, which apparently was parked in close proximity to their coach.  He said the bus driver= , who had the bus running after packing the team gear during the ninth inning, was summoned to pitch because the managers decided to play another inning and t= he Indians had used all of their players.&nbs= p; Mary was driving, as usual this late in the day, but I heard her try= ing to ad that the bus driver was a player in the tribe’s farm system that had the misfortune of drawing the short straw!

I think Dave an Mary are f= rom the small group of baseball fans that mourn each year when Spring Training comes to a close, because for the last five years --since we watched a few grapefruit league games together back in 2002 --they call me as they leave Kissimmee with some crazy baseball story; except this year Mary forgot to remind me to spring-forward my clocks.&nbs= p; As always, Dave, long retired from Anheuser-Busch, and I toasted to = the Astros finally winning it all this season; and my Bud was warm!  Now you know the real story about = the game, from JastroWorld, and I never said “no wonder Burke= got a hit”!