The Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros are discussing a new joint spring-training complex with Osceola County officials, as a site near DisneyWorld is under consideration. The complex, we’re told, would be south of DisneyWord and in the very northwestern corner of Osceola County, an area served by I-4 and Florida Toll 429. Both teams […]
Tag Archives | houston astros
We’re shocked — shocked! — to see Astros on the market
We were amused to see the MLB.com headline this morning: “McLane reportedly puts Astros on market.” Well, duh: he’s been trying to sell the Houston Astros since 2008, and the only thing different is that he’s hired an investment firm to help out. By our reckoning McLane has had the team on the market for […]
Bob Watson retires
Bob Watson, Major League Baseball’s Vice President of Rules and On-Field Operations, has announced his retirement from baseball at the end of the current year after serving more than 45 years in the game as a player, coach and executive. Watson will continue to assist with MLB’s Urban Youth Academy program and be available for […]
The Week That Was: September 25
Here are the most popular stories on Ballpark Digest for the past week, as measured by page views. It was a week of hope for new ballparks in West Chester, Loudoun County, Birmingham and Escondido; it was also a week where teams made preparations for the 2011 season by finding new or renewed affiliates. Phillies, […]
RedHawks, Astros new partners
Fresh off an affiliation with Round Rock, the Houston Astros have struck an affiliation deal with the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), bringing back Astros players to the city where old Colt .45s had their original Triple-A affiliation in 1962. “We are very excited to have our Triple A affiliation coming home […]
ValleyCats, Astros extend PDC
The Houston Astros and the Tri-City ValleyCats extended their player-development contract (PDC) for two more years, the pair announced today, after the ValleyCats ended perhaps the most successful season in team history. “We are pleased to continue our close relationship with the Astros. It provides the ValleyCats a strong partner to continue our recent success,” […]
It’s now official: Rangers, Express sign four-year PDC
We reported it would happen a month ago, and today the Texas Rangers and Round Rock Express (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) made it official: the Express will be the Rangers’ top farm team for the next four years. No surprise: we reported a month ago the shift was likely to happen. The reason behind […]
Round Rock to announce affiliation shift to Rangers
We have the first big affiliate shift in Minor Legue Baseball, as the Round Rock Express will announce later this morning that the Pacific Coast League team is shifting parents from the Houston Astros to the Texas Rangers. No surprise: we reported a month ago the shift was likely to happen. The reason behind the […]
Astros, Hooks extend PDC; ‘Stos resigned to losing Express
The Houston Astros and Corpus Christi Hooks extended their player-development deal through 2016, but ‘Stros officials admit they don’t have much hope for retaining the Round Rock Express as a Triple-A affiliate. “This is a great day for Ryan-Sanders Baseball and the Corpus Christi Hooks,” CEO Reid Ryan said. “The extension further strengthens our great […]
Minute Maid Park / Houston Astros
The folks in Houston aren’t afraid to think big. The original home of the Houston Astros, the Astrodome, was hailed a modern wonder of the world. Curiously, Minute Maid Park doesn’t seem to be quite as impressive an undertaking as the Astrodome, at least when you approach it from downtown Houston. True, the plan is […]