Astros owner Jim Crane says Triple-A ball could be in the Houston area by 2016, and announced that planning a new spring-training home to be shared with the Toronto Blue Jays is in the final stages. The Astros have been working with an area developer on a plan that would include a new Triple-A ballpark; […]
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Multiple teams on tap for Houston?
With the possible move of a Triple-A team to The Woodlands and several other cities in the area seeking independent Atlantic League franchises, Houston could be a baseball mecca in coming years. Houston is now the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest city in the United States. Baseball options in the city are limited: […]
With Milo retiring, Astros restructure broadcast booth
With Milo Hamilton retiring and a new front-office regime firmly in place, the Houston Astros are clearing the deck and advertising for a new three-person radio team, according to a job posting. The contracts of Brett Dolan and Dave Raymond are not being renewed, according to the job posting on a broadcaster job site. It sounds […]
Astros to unveil new uniforms Nov. 2
Bring back the orange and blue! The Houston Astros will reveal the club’s new uniforms, logos, color scheme and mascot for the 2013 season on Friday, Nov. 2 at Minute Maid Park. On hand for the party, the Astros will bring in current players Jose Altuve, Lucas Harrell, Jordan Lyles and Justin Maxwell, and future players Carlos Correa, Jarred Cosart, Jon Singleton and George Springer for […]
New fences a success for Mets; other teams may follow
Despite the team’s 65-74 record, the decision by the New York Mets to move in the fences this season at Citi Field is being deemed a success — and other teams may follow suit. For Mets GM Sandy Alderson, moving in the fences was a matter of making the ballpark play fairer, not to give […]
Crane: We’re still evaluating ballpark changes for 2013
It’s been a pretty miserable year for the Houston Astros, but owner Jim Crane says fans should appreciate changes for 2013, including new uniforms and possible ballpark changes. Some of the changes are final; some are not. Uniform changes have been submitted to Major League Baseball for approval — which, barring something extraordinary, should appear […]
Skeeters sell naming rights to club level
The Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League) announced today a new five-year agreement with Insperity for naming rights sponsorship of the Sky Box and Club Level at Constellation Field. Effective immediately, the Sky Box and Club Level will be known as the Insperity Club Level, and the former Legends Club has now become the Insperity […]
Tal’s Hill, Astros train leaving the station?
The Houston Astros are looking at removing both Tal’s Hill in center field and the train running above it as part of branding changes for the 2013 season, when the team enters the American League. The raised center-field hill at Minute Maid Park, never popular with players, was named for former Astros executive Tal Smith in […]
Astros to bring backs Colt .45s jersey this season
To mark the team’s 50th anniversary, the ever-colorful Houston Astros will be bringing back Houston Colt .45 jerseys for two April games and sport other retro unis throughout the year. The team will don the jerseys at their April 10 and April 20 games at Minute Maid Park. The jersey, worn when the team was […]
Luhnow new GM in Houston
Spurned by first choice Andrew Friedman, the Houston Astros pivoted quickly and named Jeff Luhnow, VP of scouting and player development for the St. Louis Cardinals, as the team’s new general manager. Friedman, the successful GM of the Tampa Bay Rays and a Houston native, passed on the chance to take the reins under the […]
Crane cleans Astros house; Wade, Smith let go
New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane didn’t waste any time in launching his makeover of the struggling franchise, firing team president Tal Smith and GM Ed Wade. The moves were far from unexpected: the team has struggled in recent years and Crane signalled an intent to rebuild things via the draft and a youth movement, […]
Crane group lands Astros
Jim Crane, who lost out to Nolan Ryan in a bid for the Texas Rangers, has perhaps the next best thing for someone in the Lone Star State: he’s heading a local group buying the Houston Astros from Drayton McLane in a deal announced today. No word yet on the purchase price, though we expect […]
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 […]