Tell me your kidding 'Stros'.....

I just spent some time on the internet reading through some of the transactions this off-season in Major League Baseball and let me be the first to tell you that it was a busy off-season. For everyone but the Astros that is. I would love to think that this off-season was busy, however lacking the star power of some of the off-seasons in the past, and that the Astros arent busy because there is no one that could help our ball club out there. I mean we were the 2005 NL champions ya know. So I made a list, a short one mind you, of the players that will be changing teams next year, that just might of been benificial to the Astros. In no particular order they are;

Johnny Damon, Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Jim Thome,Corey Patterson, Lyle Overbay, Wade Miller, Juan Pierre, Jeremy Burnitz, J.T. Snow, Mike Piazza, Larry Walker, Brian Giles, Kyle Farnsworth, Paul La Duca, Sean Burroughs, Mike Cameron, Rafeal Furcal, Troy Glaus, Reggie Sanders, Sean Casey, Tony Womack, Edgar Renteria, Alsonso Soriano, Milton Bradley, Nomar Garciapara, Kenny Lofton, Steve Finley, Rondell White, Juan Eccarnacion, Mark Loretta, A.J Burnett, Kevin Millwood, Billy Wagner, Coco Crisp, Daryle Ward, Frank Thomas, Kevin Mench, Julian Tavarez and last but not least Alex Gonzalez.

This is just a short list of the many players that are switching teams this year and NOT coming to the Astros. And why not might you ask, is it that our team is already as good as we could be, is it that these players would ruin our team chemistry from a year ago. Would if I told you that is was none of the above, but instead or ownership is just too damn cheap to make this club any better. And for all of you chirping in with information on how we got Roger and Andy Pettite 2 years ago, just do me a fvor and shut up. If you think that we got anyone of the two of them because we offered the most money then you are crazy. If you think we got any one of the two of them because of anything other then the fact we are in Roger Clemes hometown, then please bend over and let me stick a tack hammer right were it counts. And if you are wondering what the Astros did this off-season to better the club, well let me tell you. Here is our list of transactions;

Signed Preston Wilson (not too bad, but it goes all down hill from here), re-signed Russ Springer (thank God, I thought we were were going to have to settle for Julian Tavarez or Kevin Millwood, or Josh Beckett) re-signed Brad Ausmus ( I know he is a vocal leader, but shit does that mean he is not blamed for being the hit-less wonder of our team) released Jose Visciano (led the Astros in batting Avg. in 2003, and possibly our best off the bench reliable hitter) released Orlando Palmero ( if not Visciano then this is the man) re-signed Lidge (this would be great however we really showed him how much we loved him and signed him long term...a 1 year deal) claimed the insurance on Jeff Bagwell sighting he is unfit to play, and last but not least declined arbitration for Roger Clemens (have no fear guys we did sign Russ Springer (pictured here)).

This is why were are the Astros and everyone else isnt.

scott

"Super" Bowl.....Who are we kidding

After wasting last nights game I came to a depressing feeling of waste and pure denial of what the Super Bowl really was this year. A game between the J.V. (NFC) Seattle Seahawks and the Varsity Practice Squad (AFC) Pittsburgh Steelers. Now don't get me wrong I am as happy for Pittsburgh and Jerome Bettis and Bill Cowher as the next guy is but come on, don't let that blind you from the fact that the game that millions of people watched last night was as anti-climatic as it comes. Does anyone really think that the Pittsburgh Steelers are a better team then the Indianapolis Colts, or that the Seattle Seahawks or the entire NFC for that matter had any body playing for them that could have run with any of the teams representing the AFC in the playoffs. And if you answer any of the above questions yes, your one of four things; a Steelers fan, a Seahawks fan, and idiot or an Irishman working at Gullo (I love you man). But seriously that game was a joke. What happened to the good old days where the REAL teams with the REAL players came to play and display their unbelievable talents to the world. Last night a saw a "young phenom" in Ben Rothlisberger throw 2 interceptions with no touchdowns, while only completing 9 passes. On the other side of the ball I was blessed to watch the reigning NFL MVP rack up a whopping 92 yards. What the hell has the "Super Bowl" turned into. And for those of you who know me you know where I am going with this, however, what happened to the good old days when Joe Montana and Jerry Rice and Marcus Allen and Max Magee played and truly showed why their teams where there, and more importantly why they helped their team get where they were. Joe Montana, the only man to win 3 Super Bowl MVP's, has a 72% completion rate in 4 games, averaging 287 yards and 9 total touchdowns and O interceptions. Jerry Rice has every record you could have for a receiver not just for a single super bowl but for a career in super bowls. He also has an MVP following the game against the Cincinnati Bengals where he racked up 12 catches for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns. Where are the Marcus Allen's of the world, who until a lucky run and bad defensive play last night, had the record for longest run in a Super Bowl, and still has the record for most yards in a game in a super bowl. And for you old schoolers, Max Magee, who played in the first 2 super bowls with the Green Bay Packer, who averaged 8 catches a game 118 yards, and had 3 touchdowns. Instead, last night we got an ex-Miami of Ohio quarterback (Rothlisberger), going 9-22 for a buck thirteen with two pics. Then on top of that we get an ex-Georgia quarterback, converted wide-receiver as Super Bowl MVP, with only 5 catches, now he did accumulate 123 yard, however 55 of them came on a trick play where the Seahawks really showed their defensive talent. And to top it off the man throwing the ball wasn't even the quarterback, but instead a ex-quarterback turned wide-receiver from a I-AA School. Christ!!! What has this game come too, I am not a fan of the Patriots by any means, but let me tell you something. At least when they show up to play they show up to play. You don't have to worry about if Brady will have a good game of not, you don't have to worry if Brusche will lead the defense to a near flawless game, stepping up most when it counts, and for Heaven's sake you will not see 2 missed field goals that could totally change the dynamic of a game from Adam Vineterri. You will also need to note that I am not a Cowboys fan, not by ANY stretch, infact I could honestly say I hate the cowboys, but there is a reason the have won 5 Super Bowls, and its not because they had the best team in the NFC with one star player who played great until...... But instead they had a great team who had many great players all worthy of MVP and a defense that was worthy of any acculades thrown at them. And guess what.....When it was time to play it was time to play. None of this, 'lets win this one for Bettis' bullshit. NO they were the best and knew that they could do nothing but win, not for anyone person but for their own pride and own hard work, and you know what else for the fans. Jerome I love you but that win was not for you it was for Pittsburgh.
Maybe next year we can get a matchup that will entertain the masses, and maybe and just maybe we can see some teams where their talent field isn't restrained to regular season games only. I'm not asking for the Niners to reincarnate their whole team and play again, although it would'nt be bad for the NFL, or me for that matter, but Christ Almighty, can we please get some teams next year with some players that don't mind making a name for themselves in a big game, is that too much to ask for.


-scott