MLB... I'm finally enjoying a season again

[WhyNotaSooner]

I'll admit it, I've laid down on the MLB that past few years. The Astros of old, sold the team and the rebuilding process began. But before they did, they cut payroll to nothing in preparation to sell the team. New ownership basically fired the past team's front office. They brought in Nolan Ryan as a consultant and hired Nolan's son to run the team. The rebuilding has been underway for a few years. After having set records for losing badly three years running, they are ahead of schedule and attempting to make a run. Keep in mind, SI projected the Astros as the 2017 World Champions. This makes it more interesting and worth watching. Of course watching one team, you see many of the teams they play. Personally, I'll sit back and enjoy the winning, but I'm not sold this year just yet. Although, they appear to be jelling and the front office continues to make good calls. A rookie pitcher since being called up is doing great and just completed his first game as a Major Leaguer with W. They're stocked in the minors with some great talent and also one of the top rated minor leaguers at only 20 yrs old. Any way, MLB is fun again for me. I need to get off my ass and go to Minute Maid and catch a game.

 

[sybarite]

I've been a Card fan since about 1952. But, I would never go to another game. Since StLouis is some distance, I have only been to the park once and watched the Cards lose to the Dodgers. While in the Army, I took a weekend off to go watch the Cards in Philadelphia for a three-game series. The Cards won the pennant by about ten games with the Phillies in last as I remember. But, the Philies swept the Cards. I have never seen a Cardinal win.

Curiously, I've never seen the home team lose when I was at a Ranger or Orioles game.

 

[K2C Sooner]

I've been a Card fan since about 1952. But, I would never go to another game. Since StLouis is some distance, I have only been to the park once and watched the Cards lose to the Dodgers. While in the Army, I took a weekend off to go watch the Cards in Philadelphia for a three-game series. The Cards won the pennant by about ten games with the Phillies in last as I remember. But, the Philies swept the Cards. I have never seen a Cardinal win.

Curiously, I've never seen the home team lose when I was at a Ranger or Orioles game.

A couple of stories when I followed the big leagues:

In approx. 1974 or 75 I drove to Busch Stadium to watch a classic duel between Tom Seaver vs. Bob Gibson. Gibson won 2-1 on I think a Tim McCarver homerun. The only reason I say I think was because the Cardinals had two great catchers in that time period and I can't remember the other one. I know the catcher had long flowing hair. I sit in the bleacher seats as that was all I could afford in those days. Classic game but I couldn't find the exact date on Google.

The interesting part...I got lost in downtown St. Louis or maybe it what Ferguson at 2AM in the morning trying to find my hotel in Universal City. It was a real eye opener. The slum apartments that LBJ had built in 1967 were boarded up already, so much for the war on poverty. I stopped at a gas station to ask directions to get the hell out that part of town. A black clerk told me to get back in my car, tell my wife to get into the floorboard and run red lights if I had to to go back the way I came. Do not stop for anyone.

The second game was in July of 1987. I was at the record setting game where Don Mattingly tied the record for hitting consecutive homeruns (actually 10 HR's in 8 games) in eight games at Arlington Park in Texas.

I got into a fight shortly after seeing the record because a Yankee transplant called my Mother a name. He was sitting next to me in box seats and didn't like me cheering for the Rangers. We were both kicked out. Alcohol was involved in those days. What I couldn't understand was why the little yankee shrimp wouldn't meet me in the parking lot after I gave him my parking space number............LOL

 

[hOUston...]

I'm still confused with the Astros. I continue to look in the National League standing for the wins and losses. I miss the Cards, Dodgers, Cubs etc. People just have to keep messin' with sports - pros and college. I want my old Big 12 back.

 

[Soonersincefitty]

Yeah, I used to like the White Sox when they didn't suck.

I don't mind change, as long as everything stays the same...

 

[nicenate66]

I've been a Card fan since about 1952. But, I would never go to another game. Since StLouis is some distance, I have only been to the park once and watched the Cards lose to the Dodgers. While in the Army, I took a weekend off to go watch the Cards in Philadelphia for a three-game series. The Cards won the pennant by about ten games with the Phillies in last as I remember. But, the Philies swept the Cards. I have never seen a Cardinal win.

Curiously, I've never seen the home team lose when I was at a Ranger or Orioles game.

You're old as shit.

Go Cubs.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

As a follow up to the Astros, it was announced yesterday that "Tal's Hill" in deep center field is being removed after this season. It appears that the new ownership wants to make sure that they get the stamp of approval on everything. Although I do like the twist on the new 'old' uniforms.

 

[Brentwood Sooner]

It sucks we moved from Houston, the manager is from Oklahoma and went to high school with him

 

[hOUston...]

As a follow up to the Astros, it was announced yesterday that "Tal's Hill" in deep center field is being removed after this season. It appears that the new ownership wants to make sure that they get the stamp of approval on everything. Although I do like the twist on the new 'old' uniforms.

The hill is an injury waiting to happen. On the uniforms -- I am not a fan of the colors orange or brick red. But especially orange. I do not like orange. Orange NO.

 

[humblesooner]

We have made a couple of Astro games this year. I have been saying for a month now that they can't possibly sustain. They have a team batting average of about .225 and the only ones batting over .300 are Altuve (sometimes) and a rookie who only has about 20 games under his belt.
But they keep winning. As for the great farm system, I understand that Correa is down to about .250 since being promoted to Triple A.
Jon Singleton has been a career .400 hitter at Triple A (and is doing well this year) but struggles to get over .200 every time they promote him to The Show.
McCullers looks to be the real deal on the mound. If they can get one of the premier pitchers available for trade, their .225 BA may sustain them at least to the playoffs.

 

[Plainosooner]

K2C, that was almost certainly 1974, because toward the end of that year, McCarver was traded to the Red Sox and spent the rest of 74 and all of 1975 in Boston.

The other catcher, with the long flowing hair, would have been Ted Simmons. Not great behind the plate, but a multi year all star because of his stick. Simmons was an eight time All Star and three times in the top ten of MVP voting with the Cardinals.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

The hill is an injury waiting to happen. On the uniforms -- I am not a fan of the colors orange or brick red. But especially orange. I do not like orange. Orange NO.

Interesting as you're sporting the Colt 45's original colors wgich is Orange & Navy

 

[hOUston...]

Interesting as you're sporting the Colt 45's original colors wgich is Orange & Navy

I am aware of the orange of the original Colt '45 logo. Hated it then and hate it now. But it is what it is. I do not like the name Astros but same thing - it is what it is. I always liked the Colt '45s (not Colts) but Judge Roy did not care about my opinion.

Oilers logo back up in Fall. But it's the baby powder blue color. Okay, Columbia Blue - still not a color for a football team.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

I am aware of the orange of the original Colt '45 logo. Hated it then and hate it now. But it is what it is. I do not like the name Astros but same thing - it is what it is. I always liked the Colt '45s (not Colts) but Judge Roy did not care about my opinion.

Oilers logo back up in Fall. But it's the baby powder blue color. Okay, Columbia Blue - still not a color for a football team.

Bears fans & Panthers fans won't like your comments, but I imagine you won't care. I thought the Colt 45s was appropriate and at the time of the introduction of the Dome, NASA & the Astronauts were a big thing in Houston. So it fits well. I also heard that the Colt 45's had to rename the team due to litigation from the gun company. I never followed up to research it though.