Women Who Hate The Cowboys

I think she was going to burn Texas Stadium down if I didn't get this posted. Her hatred dates back to the Danny White days. The ultimate back up quarterback forces incumbent quarterback into retirement. Ahh, the good ole days.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Things looked bleak back at the beginning of April 1995 too, but the worm turned then.

Astros, come on people. We are three whole games in. Psst. Pence and Nieve are ready and waiting down in Round Rock.

Biggio FYI

Craig Biggio begins the 2007 season with 2930 career hits. Biggio stands to become the FIRST member of the 3000 hit club ever to have played a game (427) at Catcher. The present leader in hits holding that distinction is Hall of Famer Adrian Constantine "Cap" Anson, whose career spanned 1876-1897. Anson appeared in 83 games at Catcher, and he finished with 2995 career hits...

***This is a Paulsen post.***

Earth to Houston

This just in from the Round Rock Express and Houston Astro game Thursday night in Round Rock. Hunter Pence hits a 2-run shot off Brad Lidge. Watch it Lane, it's a short leash.

Word on the streets in Atlanta from Blodge (aka Dan Marino)

I talked to Blodge in Atlanta to get his take on Schaub. He was taken by surprise when first hearing the news. He offers us his insight. Check it out.

Welcome Matt Schaub; Farewell To Carr

6'5" 237lbs; two professional starts at quarterback; hottest back-up prospect in the NFL; I don't know what any of that translates to but I bet I can safely say that we will be able to throw past the line of scrimmage. I like the physical attributes, but only time will tell if this turns out to be a good deal. Kubiak is really putting his neck out there on this one. Not only does he admit that he was wrong in passing on Vince in favor of Carr (don't tell me the new head coach had no input whatsoever in who his quarterback would be) but he also is trading two potential starters for this quarterback. For a team needing help in many areas this kind of mistake could set us back considerably. Quarterback guru Koobs obviously is not the most astute evaluator of quarterback talent (Gives Plummer and Carr the OK and passes on VY). Don't get me completely wrong. I am dancing a jig today. There is a reason now to be optimistic about the 2007 season, and how this effects the draft is considerable. The early word is to go after the fastest man in the draft, Ted Ginn Jr to pair with Dr. Dre and Schaubie. Stay tuned.

"Rain Man" -ager Must Have Lidge, Rodriguez

Why was it news that Brad Lidge threw Batting Practice the other day? Lidge spent most of 2006 throwing Batting Practice (when he wasn't perfecting his "walk" pitch. the dirt-seeking slider.) The Astros' paid paragon of mental inflexibility, Phil Garner, insists that Lidge isn't available for trade. Why not? Trade him now while he still has significant value and get something in return. Lidge was unhittable in 2004, but he's never recovered from the 2005 Post Season. Keep Lidge and risk testing Brad Ausmus' reflexes and the fans' patience.

Wandy Rodriguez has a 5.19 ERA this spring, so he's already in mid-season form. What is Phil's fascination with this "Big Inning waiting to happen" AAA lifer?

**This post submitted by Paulsen**

Spring is here!

Just back from Spring Break. Don't think there is some shortage of women who hate the cowboys. I just wasn't here to post. Spring brings us NFL draft talk, Baseball and Hoops. Good hoops. The NBA starts the stretch run to the playoffs, and the NCAA tourney is in full swing. Can Bonzi & Jeff kiss and make up, so he can get into condition and develop some chemistry during the last month of the season. We need all the weapons we can get. He may not have shown much thus far, but this is a guy who put up 20pts and 10 boards just last year in the first round of the playoffs. Too bad for Texas. Durant just couldn't get any help. Danny Ainge (putz) and he will be laughing about that $30,000 fine someday down the road. Go with Durant Danny because you won't have to wait as long for him to develop like Oden. You'll be fired before Oden is dominant. Not that he won't be, but Durant comes in averaging 20-25 a night. Team him with Jefferson and Pierce and it's a whole new look Celtics. They just need to find a point. How about Ohio State coming from 9 behind with 3 minutes to go? Fantastic finish. My boy Nieve appears to be gaining a foothold on one of the open spots in the rotation, and what is the magic batting average for Pence to force the Astros hand? .400+ I think it's .500+ and he is at .590 now. With only a week or so to go, he should end up over .500. Let's hope the Astros put our centerfielder of the future out there like they did Taveras after just AA. Here's my Tourney bracket for those that want a peek into the mind of a freakin' genius. (I filled it out in 7 minutes)

"Depenceless" Point To Ponder

The Jason Jennings deal has left the Astros with a projected outfield of Lee, Burke and Scott. One converted second baseman and two left fielders. This defensively suspect trio COMBINED for 9 outfield assists last season - the same number (9) single-handedly achieved by the departed Willy Taveras. In the event one might wonder... Apparently Round Rock bound Hunter Pence had 13 outfield assists at Corpus Christi in 2006. For anyone not paying attention, Pence is hitting *.636 this Spring.

*as of 3/13/07

**This post submitted by Paulsen.**

Carr Redux?

Okay, the latest on the rumor mill is that we will make a trade with Washington to move up to # 6 if Brady is still there. I don't know about you, but I am ready for a break from the so-called franchise quarterback. I mean do we give this guy 5 years to develop too? I want to see a winner before I start drawing social security checks. The guy could be the be all end all. He is fairly well credentialed, been coached by a former top NFL assistant, blah, blah, blah. Could we stop going with the first and only option? Ala, Ahman Green. Let's build a hellacious defense to go along with a scrappy veteran quarterback. David, do not bother applying. Guys who throw their O-line under the bus at every turn do not command nor deserve their teammates respect, and they especially would not be deemed "scrappy leaders". Back to Brady Quinn. I posted two photos for a reason. The one on the left represents all of the potential in a top prospect quarterback who played at a big time college. The one on the right is if Quinn turns out to be Carr.

Women Who Hate The Cowboys

Our new installment, 'Women Who Hate The Cowboys', will appear on Fridays. Believe me when I tell you, there are plenty of them out there. Jessica is our leadoff hitter, and she said her disgust with the Cowboys goes back to the Leon Lett "it go" days.

Texans Foolproof Mediocrity Plot

Unload a lot of "Green" on a 30 year old Running Back with a history of injury. Draft a quarterback in the second or third round. The "dream" backfield of Drew Stanton and Ahman Green has opposing coaches huddled in their respective film rooms (deciding whether to watch HBO, Showtime or Cinemax.) Remember, that "new team smell" becomes another aroma after five years...

**This post submitted by Paulsen**

The Logical Choice

It may end up being a bit of an understatement to simply call LaRon Landry the "logical" choice. He could end up being the "playmaker" Kubiak seeks. 4.35, hard hitting, looks like he was shot of a cannon difference maker is what he is. Is he another Roy Williams? Hard hitting reputation but can't cover. Roy has never been associated with anything like 4.35 speed. In our continuing effort to match up defensively with the head of the class Colts, a dominant presence at Strong Safety will be the much needed compliment to Demeco, Dunta & Williams.

Texan Draft Prospects

Well, everyone's clamoring for some draft information. I will start with my # 1 to click, but I need a little help from the Browns. Who said Reuben Droughns was not a franchise player? I think he is a damn fine player......Uh, Oh getting sidetracked with my fondest Brown memory. Let me take you back to a Sunday Night football game in 1991 when Bubba McDowell was patrolling the secondary for the Oilers. Anybody remember the hit when he laid out the Browns receiver. House of Pain baby!

Pitchers & Catchers Report

What will the 2007 season hold for our Astros? No doubt questions remain to be answered with the pitching rotation. The lineup should produce more runs with the addition of Lee and Ensberg returning back to form. Biggio may be forced to the 6th hole by Luke 'Skywalker'. There is not much we can do about the 7,8 spots unless Loretta can play Short. We should be able to fill the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation with one of the kids. If we can do that and have a respectable and contending record, then mark my words Clemens will return for another run. Before you start with the "Why don't we just move in another direction" banter, I will just say 2.30 ERA. You would have to be an absolute fool not to let the guy come play for your team. I would feel much better with Oswalt, Clemens, Jennings, Williams and fill in the blank (Nieve, Sampson, Albers). I really don't want to endure another Wandyful season. And by the way, all Cardinals are on notice. Don't enter my backyard after tomorrow. My BB Gun is loaded and I have all the permits. Play Ball!

VY NFL ROY

He may play in Tennessee, but he laid the foundation in Texas. Don't want to hear about the stats. Come talk to me about the stats in 2 more years when he has more experience. Quarterbacks are judged by really only one stat - W's. And in this particular category, he stands out as the best of the 2006 rookie class.

Disrespect Shown On This Blog? Earn it. The rant I have been holding back.

You may notice one Houston team's omission from this blog, but this blog is dedicated to noteworthy Houston sports accomplishments. #1 There is nothing in the Texans brief history that merits posting on the left as a classic moment in Houston sports. If you tell me the 1st game win over the Cowboys, albeit sweet, was historic and classic enough to put up alongside these other moments, then I'll tell you that your not from around these parts. #2 I will choose how I root for the Texans, and no other Houstonian or carpetbagger from the north can tell me what is and isn't appropriate. My team was stripped from me. You know the team this eight year old boy waited in the Astrodome for hours and hours to return from Pittsburgh after losing in the AFC Championship. You know the team this 9 year old boy waited in the Astrodome for hours and hours to return again from Pittsburgh after losing again in the AFC Championship. Nobody knows my sports pain, so nobody gets to talk to me as an authority on being a Houston football fan. I am a Texan fan, but it is more of a default status right now. They are my hometown team, but they have done nothing to win my heart with the exception of Andre and Demeco. We shall see what the future holds. One thing is for sure. The future has to be brighter without Casserly and Carr running this team into the ground any longer.

Durant Dominance

Well, let the jockeying for the #1 NBA draft pick begin between Kevin Durant and Greg Oden. Durant turned in a huge 37 points and 23 rebounds performance as Texas rolled Texas Tech Wednesday night. Inside, outside he can do it all.

Hometown Boy Addai

I really dislike the Colts, but I do wish Addai well this Sunday. I had the good fortune to take in a Klein Forest vs. Sharpstown game, 2001-2002 timeframe, where Addai, the quarterback, was in complete control. Although quarterbacking consisted of Addai runs to the left, right and up the middle. He was Mr. everything offensively for Sharpstown that night, but in the end it was a defensive play that won the game. Klein Forest had one last chance to win the game from around the fifty with less than a minute to go and trailing by less than seven. Addai was put in defensively to rush the passer for Sharpstown. He met the quarterback about ten yards deep from the line of scrimmage, and he slung him around like a rag doll for a huge game winning, morale deflating sack. I had no particular rooting interest that night, but I did walk away believing the hype about this kid.

Brad Lidge - Will he? or Won't he?

It isn't a stretch to say the Astros season depends on whether or not Brad Lidge re-establishes himself as the dominant closer he once was. If he can come through with a consistently good season, then the Astros have one of the best bullpens in baseball, which will be necessary with the questions that remain at the back end of the rotation. If not, then Dan Wheeler is the only one you can take to the bank, and that does not bode well for a team with high aspirations. He says he is ready, that he learned allot from last year, and he even has added a 2 seamer fastball to go along with the slider and 4 seamer fastball. Tell you the truth, I don't care about the new pitch. I just want to see the slider go for strikes again. If it does, then all the rest will take care of itself.