HOUSTON – Ronel Blanco awoke on Monday anonymous, another big right-hander blending into the Houston Astros’ heralded pitching pipeline. He worked at a car wash in the Dominican Republic before receiving a $5,000 signing bonus from an organization that cornered the market on inexpensive improbabilities. Blanco did not pitch until he turned 18. Houston signed … Read more
HOUSTON — The Yankees acquired Juan Soto predominantly for his bat and his eye. But it was his arm that saved them in his Yankees debut. Soto threw out a runner at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning to help preserve a 5-4 comeback win over the Astros in Thursday’s Opening Day … Read more
The Houston Astros are at it again. In January, they signed closer Josh Hader, the best closer on the free-agent market. Now, according to sources briefed on their discussions, they are engaged in a serious pursuit of left-hander Blake Snell, the best starter on the market. Snell, 31, is believed to be seeking the same … Read more
Welcome to spring training, one of the great inventions in history. You may think we’re kidding. But ask anyone who had to pick up a snow shovel in the last week if they think we’re kidding. It may be tempting to say: What about the wheel? What about the microwave? What about the iPhone? What … Read more
The Hall of Fame is made for players like Adrián Beltré. As a pure hitter, reliable slugger and slick third baseman, Beltré had few peers: No other infielder in the history of baseball has 3,000 hits, 400 homers and five Gold Glove awards. Beltré, now 44, was a lock for the Hall of Fame. As … Read more
HOUSTON — Jim Crane approached the crossroads and went to a place he never had. His tendencies for fiscal restraint and avoiding free agency are gone in favor of another World Series pursuit with a core that may not be intact much longer. A team that finished one win away from the American League pennant … Read more
HOUSTON — Doubt had crept into the Astros’ clubhouse. A World Series hung in the balance. And then Michael Brantley spoke. Shoulder surgery sidelined him from the active roster, but many within the organization insisted he remain around the team during its 2022 postseason journey. Brantley brought the team together after a Game 3 loss … Read more
HOUSTON – Dusty Baker has expressed to multiple people inside and outside of the Houston Astros organization that 2023 will be his final season as manager, sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic over the past week. Baker, who managed this season on a one-year contract that has expired, declined comment when asked by … Read more
HOUSTON (CBSNewsTexas.com) – How fitting it is! The first ever Lone Star Series for the American League pennant comes down to one final Game 7 showdown Monday night in Houston. The game is at Minute Maid Park, but as it turns out, the Rangers have “road field advantage” over an Astros team that has lost … Read more
HOUSTON – Game 7 of the American League Championship Series should be a celebration, everything we love about the sport. It will have it all, from Bruce Bochy vs. Dusty Baker to Max Scherzer vs. Cristian Javier. But what it almost certainly won’t have is Bryan Abreu pitching in relief for the Astros. Abreu’s absence … Read more