Astros notes: Boone and Erstad take batting practice

There is this fantasy that baseball fans cling to, that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts because humbleness beats greatness ("Bad News Bears" and all kabillion of the remakes of this theme using other teams, other sports, etc). Yes, lightning strikes happen, teams get hot and go on a run (us in 04, Rox in 07) but teams with better players and adept managers win more...

Medic! Sustaining their impressive second-half surge just got a lot tougher for the Astros, considering injuries have taken a huge chunk from their pitching staff.Staff ace Roy Oswalt, along with relievers LaTroy Hawkins and Wesley Wright, all came down with ailments Tuesday, with the full extent of any yet to be announced.Oswalt strained his lower back in the second inning of Houston...

'Tis the economy to be creative with your sales strategies and the Houston Astros seem to be taking that to heart when it comes to moving seats at Minute Maid Park.Check out this deal the team is pushing.  From the Houston Business Journal:  "For every run that the team scores during its July 27 to 30 series on the road against the Chicago Cubs, the team will drop the price on...

Astros reliever Wesley Wright was diagnosed with dehydration after being rushed to the hospital following Houston's 11-6 win over the Chicago Cubs.

With the injury of pitcher Roy Oswalt, it looks as though the Houston Astros will call up their top pitching prospect Bud Norris. I get this strange feeling that Bud's nickname is Chuck. Or perhaps Walker, Texas Ranger. Norris (who may or may not be related to Chuck Norris) is 4-9 with a 2.63 ERA in 19 starts at Triple-A Round Rock (a town north of Austin). Bud was rated as having...

The Houston Astros put reliever LaTroy Hawkins on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of shingles.

Just shy of finishing the second inning, Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt exited last night's game against the Chicago Baby Bears with a strained lower back. One has to wonder if his big bulldozer had anything to do with it. Not to worry: despite a shaky bullpen performance, the Astros bats accounted for five latter-inning runs to defeat the Cubs 11-6. It would've been embarrassing...

The Houston Astros put reliever LaTroy Hawkins on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of shingles.

The offensively challenged NY Mets(45-51) banged out 12 hits and homered 3 times to support promising youngster Jonathan Niese, who threw 7 strong innings, leading them to a 10-3 win over the Houston Astros(50-47) Saturday night at Minute Maid Park in Texas.  RF Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in 4 runs,  while C Omir Santos [...]