Climbing Tal's Hill » Padres

N.L. West Division Preview

Greg Thurston — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 09:53:28 +0000

With less than a week to go until the Astros open the regular season, it’s time to size up the competition. I’ve already dedicated a post to each of the teams that reside in the N.L. Central thanks to some much needed help from a few of our FanSided writers. Today I’ll be going it [...]

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Astros Anniversary: The trade that tested my allegiance

Greg Thurston — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:42:44 +0000

Seventeen years ago today the Astros pulled the trigger on one of the biggest trades in MLB history. Astros G.M. Bob Watson sent Ken Caminiti, Steve Finley, Andujar Cedeno, Roberto Petagine, Brian Williams, and minor leaguer Sean Fesh to the San Diego Padres. In return Houston received Derek Bell, Ricky Gutierrez, Doug Brocail, Phil Plantier, Craig Shipley, and Pedro Martinez. No, not that Pedro Martinez. This Martinez appeared in 122 games over five seasons with four big league clubs.

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Could an “International Opener” be in the Astros’ future?

Greg Thurston — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:33:22 +0000

Every four years, since the turn of the millennium, MLB has staged it’s season opener at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. That’s where the Mariners and Athletics will get the 2012 season started on March 28. Oakland will be making their second straight appearance in the “International Opener.” The Athletics split a two-game series with the Red Sox in 2008 at the Tokyo Dome. Surprisingly, this will be the first time the Mariners will play a regular season game in Ichiro’s homeland. The Mariners seem like a perfect fit for Japan, and I think the Astros would be an equally ideal candidate for an “International Opener” in a different locale.

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