Hunter Brown threw the ball very well today against the Marlins. He didn't allow a hit and struck out three across three scoreless innings. Threw 26 of his 34 pitches for strikes and sat 93-96 mph, according to the stadium gun. Brown is throwing more in the bullpen right now.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 12, 2023

With the season starting I have been hit up for some stuff. I may be doing another run of plaques for last year and 2017. If you wanted something and missed out, now is the time to get it. This may be the last run of them all.

I can do tumblers/plaques/coasters again in this run. Also does not have to be the before mentioned things, can also do stuff for anniversaries and such. Shoot me a pm if you are wanting some of the stuff from last year.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Lance McCullers Jr. resumed playing catch yesterday. Threw 30 times.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 12, 2023

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Let's try to put a timeline to this.

McCullers started throwing mid April on flat ground last year. He made his first rehab start in mid July. He threw 5 (I believe) rehab starts before coming up and finish the season and postseason.

If everything is the same he should be ready to go at the end of July. However, everything isn't the same. This is not a tendon strain like 2022. LMJ talked about still pitching 150-160. That would mean 25-30 starts.

My GUESS would be he's about 6 weeks behind. Assuming no new setbacks, he'll be ready to start games for the Astros in mid June. That means he could probably give us close to 100 innings plus the postseason.

Part 14 of the 16 part series recapping the 2022 season. Next week will be games 150-162, and the week after that will be the playoffs! This stretch really saw the bullpen figure it out and put up a lot of dominating efforts that carried throughout the month into the playoffs.



August 31 - September 11
Record: 7-3
Overall Record: 90-50
AL West Position: 1st place by 11 games
AL Overall Position: Best record by 5.5 games



Game 131: August 31, 2022, Astros 5, Rangers 3
@ Home Depot
Attendance: 19,607
Record: 84-47


The Astros stung the Rangers for 5 runs in the first four innings to take a 5-3 victory, improving Cristian Javier to 8-9 on the year. Jose Altuve continued his late-season push at the plate, going 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 2 RBI, and 2 walks. Kyle Tucker added 2 RBI to reach 84 for the season. Javier went the minimum, plagued by the longball, but the Astros' bullpen of Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, Will Smith, and Rafael Montero combined for four innings of 2-hit, shutout relief to keep the Rangers down.



Game 132: September 2, 2022, Astros 4, Angels 2
@ Splash Mountain
Attendance: 22,464
Record: 85-47


Lance McCullers Jr. won for the second time since returning to the team, allowing 2 earned runs in 5- innings. The Astros' bullpen was brilliant for a second straight game, as Maton, Neris, Aberu, and Montero pitched 3- innings, allowing 1 hit, 1 walk, and striking out six.The Astro offense got one RBI apiece from Jeremy Pena, Alex Bregman, Yuli Gurriel and Yainer Diaz. It was Bregman's 78th and Diaz's 1st of the year.


Game 133: September 3, 2022: Angels 2, Astros 1, 12 innings
@ Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Attendance: 38,244
Record: 85-48


A classic matchup between Luis Garcia and Shohei Ohtani ended hours later in extra innings with a walk-off single by Matt Duffy off Seth Martinez in the last of the 12th. Ohtani pitched 8 innings of 1 run ball for the Angels and Garcia pitched 7 innings of 3-hit, 1-run baseball for the Astros. The Astros were just 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position.Only Jose Altuve had more than one hit. Kyle Tucker did steal his 20th base to guarantee a 20-20 season.


Game 134: September 4, 2022: Astros 9, Angels 1
@ It's a Small World
Attendance: 28,179
Record: 86-48


Jose Urquidy was bloody brilliant in picking up his 13th win of the year, and the Astros hit the Angels with 5 runs in the top of the second en route to an easy win and a series win. Urquidy pitched 7 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk and striking out eight, lowering his season ERA to 3.51. The Astros pounced on Angel starter Tucker Davidson in the second with a two-run homer by Kyle Tucker, a two-run double by David Hensley, and an RBi double by Jose Altuve. Altuve added a two-run homer in the 7th, and Yordan Alvarez added a two-run single in the ninth. Mike Trout homered in the eighth, it is the 257th time Trout has homered late in a game that his team has no chance of winning. Altuve was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI, getting his average to .292. He and Tucker each hit their 23rd home runs of the year. Tucker improved his team-leading RBI count to 86, Alvarez right behind him at 82, and Hensley had the first two RBI of his career.


Game 135: September 5, 2022: Astros 1, Rangers 0
@ MInute Maid Park
Attendance: 35,162
Record: 87-48


The Rangers did what they do best, failing to score runs; which was a good thing because the Astros only got one. Rookie Hunter Brown made his first career start and was sensational, throwing six innings, allowing three hits, one walk, and striking out five batters. "He was great, " Dusty Baker said. "But let's remember, it was against the Rangers." Three relievers combined for 3 no-hit innings with a combined five strikeouts. The Astros scored their lone run in the bottom of the second on a two-out rally that culminated in an RBi single by Mr. Clutch, Martin Maldonado.


Game 136: September 6, 2022: Rangers 4, Astros 3
@ MInute Maid Park
Attendance: 26,803
Record: 87-49


Framber Valdez was automatically disqualified from the Cy Young race, giving up three runs in an inning to the Rangers in a 4-3 loss. The Astros made two errors and failed to get a run after the fourth inning. Jose Altuve smacked his 24th homer of the year, Kyle Tucker was 2 for 4, and the Astros stole 5 bases off Sam Huff, two each by Tucker and Jeremy Pena. Framber struck out 11 in defeat.



Game 137: September 7, 2022: Astros 4, Rangers 3, 10 innings
@ MInute Maid Park
Attendance: 26,239
Record: 88-49


The Rangers lost in true Ragers fashion, on a wild pitch that scored Jose Altuve with two outs in the bottom of the 10th and the bases loaded as the Astros took another series win. Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer in the 6th and Yuli Gurriel singled in the fourth to account for the rest of the runs as the Astros overcame a 3-0 deficit. Hector Neris scored the win in relief. The Astros gave up two unearned runs in the top of the third on an error by Jeremy Pena. Pena was also 0 for 5 at the plate with three strikeouts as his average dropped to .247. He wasn't the only Astro mired in a slump. Yordan Alvarez was 0 for 4 as his average dropped to .289.


Game 138: September 9, 2022: Astros 4, Angels 3
@ Minute Maid Park
Attendance: 33,509
Record: 89-49


The Astros reached 40 games above .500 with another quality effort by Lance McCullers Jr., who pitched 7 innings, allowed 2 runs on 4 hits, and struck out 6 to improve to 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA. Down 2-0 through the top of the sixth, the Astros rallied thanks to the young guys as Jeremy Pena and Chazzy Fizzy combined to go 4-for-7 with 3 runs scored and all 4 RBI. Pena hit a solo home in the bottom of the sixth, and McCormick hit a 2-run shot in the seventh then drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Pena in the 8th.
Game 139: September 10, 2022: Angels 6, Astros 1
@ Minute Maid Park
Attendance: 38,533
Record: 89-50


Shohei Ohtani continued to own the Astros like Sigfried owns Roy, allowing 1 run and striking out 7 in five innings in a 6-1 win. Jose Urquidy had one of his roughest outings of the year, giving up 6 earned runs and 10 hits in 5 innings, The Astros scored a run in the first and that was it. A bright spot came from Yordan Alvarez's defense as he threw out Taylor Ward at second and David Fletcher at the plate.


Game 140: September 11, 2022: Astros 12, Angels 4
@ Minute Maid Park
Attendance: 32,901
Record: 90-50


Down 3-0 after two innings, the Astros' offense exploded for 5 in the third, 4 in the 5th and 6th, and 3 more in the eighth to take another series win and record the team's 90th win of the season. Barring the COVID season of 2020, it was the Astros' fifth straight year reaching the 90-win plateau. They reached that win total 6 times in the first 54 seasons of the franchise. Down 3-0, the Astros got a leadoff homer by Mauricio Dubon to start the bottom of the third. Alex Bregman hit a grand slam off reliever Mike Mayers to make it 5-3. Trey Mancini added a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth, Jose Altuve scored on a wild pitch in the sixth, and Alvarez and Tucker added home runs in the eighth. It was Alvarez's 32nd home run, Tuckers' 25th, and Bregman's 21st. Tucker reached 90 RBIs, Alvarez 83 and Bregman 82.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Man Justin Dirden can run.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 12, 2023

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*for a fat guy

Tuck doing Tuck things. Triple to RF off an Angels pitcher, Patrick Sandoval.

Mike Trout was supposed to recruit for team USA but he must of thought he was recruiting for the Angels & forgot all the pitching

— Adam Samuels (@SamuelAdams_12) March 13, 2023

A little more than two weeks away from final roster decisions. Time is running out to make a statement. Looking at a few "battles":

Backup C - Lee has a couple dingers and OPS close to 1.200 during camp. Diaz hasn't performed badly at .944. To the extent this was an open competition entering spring, it appears Lee is the leader atm. Could still see this one going either way.

CF - Even though this was a "competition", I think it was one of those things where Jake had to clearly steal the job from Chas. Otherwise Chas keeps his starter spot. So far, Jake has not done anything to earn the job and Chas has been solid. Chas is our CF.

Utility (3 + Brantley IL spot + aforementioned backup C) - Hensley is balling out this spring. I think his spot is locked up and we need to find ways to get him on the field early often. Could be wrong, but I think Jake's spot is secure too, despite a meh performance this spring. I don't think his leash will be very long though. Like we talked about a few days ago, Dubon's spot is also likely secure, despite a super-stinky spring even by his standards. If Brantley is out, that means we get one more. Right now I'd lean toward JJ. He's already on the 40 and having a nice spring (1.000+ OPS).

Bligh Madris and Rylan Bannon seem destined for AAA. Bannon has had a solid spring but seems like Hensley insurance at this point. INF organizational depth.

Sixth starter - TBD on when we will need a 6th starter but Blanco seems to be running away with it rn (assuming we're comfortable we can stretch him 5-6 innings). 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 9 K, 2 BB so far. Whitley was rightfully optioned. If he wants a shot, he needs to prove it over a long sample size at AAA. Doesn't seem like Dubin, France or Bielak has made any sort of move.

Ace #4 - LuAce the clear winner here.

Deluxe said:

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A little more than two weeks away from final roster decisions. Time is running out to make a statement. Looking at a few "battles":

Backup C - Lee has a couple dingers and OPS close to 1.200 during camp. Diaz hasn't performed badly at .944. To the extent this was an open competition entering spring, it appears Lee is the leader atm. Could still see this one going either way.

CF - Even though this was a "competition", I think it was one of those things where Jake had to clearly steal the job from Chas. Otherwise Chas keeps his starter spot. So far, Jake has not done anything to earn the job and Chas has been solid. Chas is our CF.

Utility (3 + Brantley IL spot + aforementioned backup C) - Hensley is balling out this spring. I think his spot is locked up and we need to find ways to get him on the field early often. Could be wrong, but I think Jake's spot is secure too, despite a meh performance this spring. I don't think his leash will be very long though. Like we talked about a few days ago, Dubon's spot is also likely secure, despite a super-stinky spring even by his standards. If Brantley is out, that means we get one more. Right now I'd lean toward JJ. He's already on the 40 and having a nice spring (1.000+ OPS).

Bligh Madris and Rylan Bannon seem destined for AAA. Bannon has had a solid spring but seems like Hensley insurance at this point. INF organizational depth.

Sixth starter - TBD on when we will need a 6th starter but Blanco seems to be running away with it rn (assuming we're comfortable we can stretch him 5-6 innings). 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 9 K, 2 BB so far. Whitley was rightfully optioned. If he wants a shot, he needs to prove it over a long sample size at AAA. Doesn't seem like Dubin, France or Bielak has made any sort of move.

Ace #4 - LuAce the clear winner here.

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Backup C - I am still not 100% Diaz can win this job because I don't think they fully trust his defensive and potentially pitch-calling skills. But I am very happy both are swinging it well. I hope they both make the 26 man. Lighten Maldy's load. Develop these guys. Have them both ready to share the full time role in 2024.

CF - Doesn't help that Jake has a potential issue with his hammy now. He's supposed to play thru it, but I don't love that. Speed is part of his game.

Utility - Only addition is to not sleep on Diaz here if Lee is the backup catcher.

Ace #4 - LuAce was so good in the WBC. Team USA needs guys like him. And yet he's our "#4".

My god, we're only 17 days from Opening Day and #17 on the countdown of jerseys brings us to two of the most likeable Astros of all time - Kevin Bass and Lance Berkman.



Bass came to the Astros in one heck of a great trade. They got him, Frank Dipino and Mike Madden for a 37-year-old Don Sutton at the trade deadline in 1982 as Milwaukee pushed for the AL crown, ultimately losing a classic World Series to the Cardinals in seven. Sutton was good for the Brewers down the stretch (4-1) but would go just 26-26 with them over three years. He ultimately pitched another 35 seasons and retired when he was 83 years old.

Bass hit .042 his first year, but picked it up and by 1985 was our starting centerfielder, hitting 16 homers, stealing 29 bases and hitting .269. He was sensational in the 1986 division winning year, moving to right field, batting .311 with 20 HR, 33 2B, 184 hits, 22 steals, 79 RBI and a .486 slugging %. He was an All-Star and finished 7th in the MVP voting. He hit .292 vs the Mets and it breaks my heart to this day that he made the last out. He was a candid player who was 100% hilarious, would sometimes do a dead-on Sammy Davis Jr. impression, and just fit in perfectly.



KB was pretty damn good in '87 as well, 19 homers, 85 RBI, 21 steals and a .284 average. He got hurt in 1989 but still hit .300 in half a season before the Astros opted not to sign him in free agency. He bounced around to the Giants and Mets, then returned to the Stros in 1993-1994, hitting .284 and .310 in part-time duty. All-in-all he played 10 years for the Astros and hit .278.



I had the great pleasure of watching Lance Berkman on an almost daily basis during his last year at RIce, while working in the SID department fresh out of A&M. Berkman hit 41 HR and drove in 134 runs during that year. That's 134 RBI in a 63-game season. He hit .431, had a OBP of .538, a slugging percentage of 1.031, 109 runs scored, 110 hits, 22 doubles, and only struck out 34 times. We could see the scoreboard at old Cameron Field outside our window in our office, and one day we looked out to see that Rice was beating Cincinnati 37-9. Berkman hit 4 home runs and drove in 13 in that game.

Looking back at his BR page, I think you could make the case that the Astros' conservative view point about bringing guys up from the minors might have actually cost Lance a shot at the HOF. He hit .294 at Kissimmee at age 21, .306 at Jackson in AA in 1998, and still wasted 64 games at New Orleans in 1999 and 34 more in 2000 before he got the callup. He hit .323 and .330 in those two minor league stints. He was clearly ready to play in the big leagues by 1998. The problem was that there was nowhere to play him because the team was in love with Richard Hidalgo in left

Lance hit .297 in 2000 to finish 6th for Rookie of the Year and then was a monster for the team every year going forward. He led the league with 55 doubles and hit 34 HR, drove in 126 runs, and batted .3331 at age 26. In 2006 he hit 45 homers and drove in 136 runs. In 12 years as an Astro he hit .296 with 326 HR, 1,090 RBI and 1,648 hits. He was our best hitter in the post-season in the mid-2000s. He has a ..317 career post-season average with 9 HR and 41 RBI in 52 games.

I cannot comprehend him getting 1.2% of the HOF vote. He clearly wasn't taking steroids. He had the same slightly pear shape his entire career. What a joke.

Cristian Javier through 4 innings in the #WorldBaseballClassic 

4 K, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 52 Pitches pic.twitter.com/fLvqq6LOLG

— APOLLO @ SPRING TRAINING 🌴 (@ApolloHOU) March 13, 2023

Berkman got royally screwed over in HOF voting. It's disgraceful. Literally identical numbers as Edgar Martinez, who couldn't field a position. What a joke

linkdude said:

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Cristian Javier through 4 innings in the #WorldBaseballClassic 

4 K, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 52 Pitches pic.twitter.com/fLvqq6LOLG

— APOLLO @ SPRING TRAINING 🌴 (@ApolloHOU) March 13, 2023

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Sounds like he's pitching against the Phillies again!

#GoldRush is coming... pic.twitter.com/5V8EsoSCLg

— Houston Astros (@astros) March 13, 2023