By Breedlove
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on August 8, 2001.

An excellent email came in about the Elarton discussion last time out that raised a question already slated for discussion:

Your piece on the demise of Elarton is interesting. Given the inherent unpredictability of most pitchers, it is always risky to give up on one such as Elarton who has shown great promise. Nevertheless, he has clearly stunk for the better part of a year now, so the trade for the pennant race rental of a workhorse such as Astacio is probably not unreasonable. Read the rest of this entry »

By Breedlove
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on August 2, 2001.

Before the 2001 season started it seemed the Astro Nation would not have parted with Scott Elarton for anything short of a superstar. Even then it would have to have been the perfect situation. But the organization and its fans soured on Elarton when he suffered through poor mechanics and poor health and turned in a poor performance, and the Astros’ situation was far from perfect. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

By Breedlove
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on June 15, 2001.

The Astros were on the receiving end of a terrible policy from Major League Baseball in their June 14 contest with the Minnesota Twins. After surrendering a leadoff double, Astros phenom Roy Oswalt hit Twinkie outfielder Torii Hunter with an inside fastball to put runners on first and second with a 2-1 lead. Hunter began an aggressive stare-down with Oswalt and advanced toward the Astro righty, resulting in a benches-clearing breathing match. Read the rest of this entry »

By Breedlove
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on May 24, 2001.

“Leading off for the Houston Astros… Number 7… Second-baseman… Craig… Biggio.”

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard those familiar words. They’re warm and fuzzy and they feel like home… and it will help the Astros win if we hear them again. Read the rest of this entry »

By Breedlove
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on May 17, 2001.

With a fifth of the schedule complete and no real production from third base since the early weeks of the season, the Astros began to examine ways to solidify the starting eight. Despite his maturity, great attitude, and a healthy homerun binge to start the year, at .217/.289/.450 with an error every five starts, Chris Truby just was not getting it done. Read the rest of this entry »