Editor’s note - This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com.
In a single afternoon of telemarketing, Gerry Hunsicker went from none to Hun, acquiring Pedro Astacio and Mike Williams for Scott Elarton (and a PTBNL) and Tony “McKnight train to New Orleans” in separate deals. (more…)
What to expect from a former Rockies player is always an enigma since the mile-high air does strange things to the flight of a baseball. Taking a crack at the mystery, the Astros hope Tuesday’s acquisition of Pedro Astacio will replace a hole in the rotation left by ailing ex-ace-to-be Scott Elarton.
By Waldo
Editor’s note - This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on July 27, 2001.
Boneheaded calls by sports officials are nothing new. No one has to look further than the January 17, 1999, NFC Championship game between the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons to find a fantasic example. Going into overtime (and, hence, sudden death) at the HumpDome, the teams were tied at 21, and the Vikings had just missed a 38-yard field goal attempt at the end of regulation that would’ve sent them to Super Bowl XXXIII. After the team representatives and the referee had gathered for the coin toss, the Vikings called it in the air. “Tails.” The coin landed tails. (more…)
One of the few bright spots for the Astros last year was the second-half offense, which was the hottest in baseball. The Astros entered the first half of this season without skipping a beat. They rank at the top of the National League in the most important offensive categories and, as their road statistics demonstrate, are by no means a mere creation of Enron Field:
Split R/G Avg OBP Slg HR% ------------------------------------- Total 5.52 .276 .352 .474 4.50 NL Rank 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st ------------------------------------- Road 5.30 .272 .346 .463 4.45 NL Rank 3rd 2nd 2nd 1st 2nd
Editor’s note - This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com.
There’s nothing more important or popular than arbitrary grades picked by ill-informed yokels such as myself at the mid-point of a season. Especially when that midpoint happened 5 games ago. The Stros are 10 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 1999 season, and playing well enough to win games. I’ll be the first to admit that they are also playing about 10 games over my expectation level of this team, so as an Astros fan, I’m pleased. Here’s what I think about everyone in an Astros uniform this season: (more…)
By Breedlove
Editor’s note - This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on July 6, 2001.
On June 23rd the Astros parted company with one of the great characters in franchise history when they traded the troubled Jose Lima to the Detroit Tigers for righthander Dave Mlicki. Over his few short seasons in the Astros rotation Lima’s star rose to heights and fell to depths rarely witnessed in Houston sports. By the end even El Loco himself was ready to acknowledge he had to move on, but he will still be missed. For a time, watching the Astros without Jose Lima will be like reading the Sunday paper without the comics. (more…)
By Pepper28
Editor’s note - This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on July 6, 2001.
It’s All-Star time again. You know what that means: three days with no meaningful baseball, two of which are the only days in the year on which there are no professional sporting events in America; hype increasing at an exponential rate as the quality of the product decreases at an even faster speed; and, of course, idiot fans electing the wrong players. (more…)
Record and Standings
Record W L ----------------- April 12 12 May 14 13 June 15 12 ----------------- Total 41 37
Unlike the first two months of the season, in June the Astros played reasonably well the second half of the month. They stood at .500 on June 15 but subsequently won nine of 14 games.
2001
Where has the time gone? It seems like we just finished putting last year’s list together. Anyway, welcome to the Kev & Scott TalkZone Hall Of Fame Spectacular for the 2000-2001 program year. This compilation of memorable TZ moments immortalizes favorite posts and standout individual performances in the sole opinions of the fearless hosts themselves. Is every great post, embarrassing meltdown and above-average TZ-dweller represented here? Hell no. Unlike you, Kev & Scott only have so much time to spend reading this crap, and TZOL does not care about your human need for props and recognition. So save your hate-mail and Cliff Floyd references. Know that you are appreciated, and we sincerely thank all of you for your contributions and fierce loyalty to this ridiculous site.
OK, enough of that BS. It is time to roll the ugliness. Some of this stuff contains bad language, and just about all of it is inappropriate, so proceed at your own risk. Like years’ past, at the bottom of the page, we identify the 2001 TalkZone MVP, that rare individual that is allowed to hoist the coveted Golden Scott Award aloft in victorious fashion…
LEGEND INDUCTION
pravata
Let it be known that pravata becomes the latest TZ-dweller to achieve Legend status. This long overdue recognition of TalkZone’s quickest wit comes in perhaps his finest season, as the drooling mainstream finally began to grasp the complex, experimental nature of his work. Master of the one-liner. Creator of the ‘pravataism’. A Zippian penchant for sarcasm. An understated, biting style that has influenced tens. An accomplished student of the game. A Legend. (more…)
