The music on the video is provided by Thin Lizzy and Chamillionaire. The cool motion graphics are extremely well done!

Post from: EveryJoe

Houston Astros 2008 Season Teaser

It feels good to finally be drawing near the season. Everyone in camp is starting to get to know each other, and the team even though it’s not set is having a lot of fun together. To me, it’s important to have a team that gets along in the clubhouse because your around each other so long and I honestly believe it effects the play on the field. Things change when the season starts, and we still dont know who all exactly is going to be on the team, so there’s a lot of questions as far as that’s concerned.

The talent on this team is tremendous and my expectations are high when the bell rings for the season to start.

As far as myself, I’ll be honest to say that my swing is just now starting to feel proper again. I haven’t felt like my normal self in the batters box and in batting practice early this spring. But I am getting a good feel now. Despite not feeling great, I have still managed to get hits. So that’s a good sign.
Now that I feel good I’m going to be able to have more of an approach at the plate and get myself properly prepared to go by the time the season starts.

Off the field, I regret to tell everyone that I lost a bet with Reggie Abercrombie. Because Duke lost to North Carolina in college basketball, Reggie will be suiting me up in some Hip-Hop gear on one of the upcoming road trips.

Had Duke won, you better believe Reggie was going to be wearing some Wrangler’s with a HUGE belt buckle, a cowboy hat and some nice cowboy boots. I figure it was worth a shot to see him in that gear!

We’ll see if I can post a picture, I’m not sure what he has in mind for me, but hopefully it’s appropriate. =)

-Hunter

Post from: EveryJoe

Hip Hop Hunter Pence

It features Hunter Pence, Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman and …

Well, that’s what the Astros are trying to decide and they need the fans to help out. Go to Astros.com and submit your vote for the 4th bobblehead. Your choices are Brad Ausmus, Brandon Backe, Michael Bourn, Kazuo Matsui, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee and Jose Valverde.

Here is the bobblehead schedule:

Friday, April 12 – Hunter Pence – 1st 10,000 Fans
Saturday, May 24 – Roy Oswalt – 1st 10,000 Fans
Friday, August 1 – Lance Berkman – 1st 10,000 Fans
Friday, August 29 – ? – 1st 10,000 Fans

Post from: EveryJoe

Vote for the Astros Bobblehead

In the contest versus the Braves, Brandon Backe pitched two scoreless innings for Houston. New second baseman Kaz Matsui went 1-2 with a steal, a run and an RBI.

In the other game, starter Shawn Chacon gave up two earned runs in two innings of work. Lance Berkman got one hit in four at bats. That lone hit was a double that scored a run.

While our own Hunter Pence went 0-3 against the Braves, he did recently have a very nice story published about him on MLB.com.

Check it out: Pence draws inspiration from brother.

Post from: EveryJoe

Houston Astros Drop Two on Sunday

Michael Bourn, who is slated to play centerfield and bat first in the lineup, also played well. He got a hit, stole a base and scored a run for the Astros.

“Michael looked like the guy we’re going to need at the top of the lineup,” said manager Cecil Cooper to the media. “He took a lot of pitches today. That’s what he’s got to do. He had some deep counts and then he got a base hit and stole a base.”

Our own Hunter Pence finished 0-2 on the day. However, despite going hitless, it was good to see him on the field after his recent accident.

The Astros play again on Friday, where Miguel Tejada will debut for Houston.

Post from: EveryJoe

Houston Astros Lose in Spring Opener

Mark McLemore, a lefthander, is scheduled to pitch in relief for Rodriguez. For the Indians, Jake Westbrook will get the starting nod. While neither team will play their regulars extensively, there will be some notable players on the field on Thursday.

On Friday, Houston’s ace Roy Oswalt is expected to get the start.

• Astros Spring Training Schedule

Post from: EveryJoe

Houston Astros Begin Games on Thursday

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Houston Astros Preview Video

Hunter is eager to field questions from Astros fans.

So if you have a question for Hunter, leave it here in the comments of this post and Hunter will do his best to answer it soon.

Do you want to know about his training regimen? His teammates? What it’s like to be a big leaguer? What he eats for dinner?

Do you want to improve your own hitting? Know about Hunter as a kid?

Whatever you want to know about Hunter or the Houston Astros, just ask Hunter here and he’ll do his best to answer your questions. He hopes to make this a very interactive community of Astros fans as the season gets underway.

People have been emailing about how often Hunter writes here on Inside the Ballpark …

He writes weekly (normally on Fridays). Then throughout the week, I fill in the blog with Astros news and other information.

Oh and remember … Hunter is looking for nickname suggestions for Erstad!

Thanks,

Kori Ellis

Post from: EveryJoe

Q & A: Ask Hunter

Berkman, the star outfielder for the Houston Astros, suffered a strained oblique muscle while batting during a workout. Although Berkman won’t be available for at least the first few spring training games, he isn’t worried.

“You don’t want to do anything to really hurt yourself,” Berkman told MLB.com. “Who cares about playing the first two weeks of spring training? It’s one of those deals, I want to try to be ready for the opener. I don’t care about being ready for the spring training opener.”

Backe suffered his injury after being hit by a liner off the bat of Carlos Lee. The pitcher was hit on the foot and has been diagnosed with a bone bruise. X-rays on the foot were negative.

“This is just a freak, innocent injury,” said Backe. “Thank gosh it’s not as bad as it feels. No fracture, no break. It just hurts.”

Although Backe was sporting crutches after being hurt, he doesn’t believe he will miss much time.

Said Backe: “I’m not going to miss much. It’s one of these things that happens.”

Post from: EveryJoe

Berkman, Backe Suffer Minor Injuries

Finally spring training is here and I have some baseball to talk about! Even though I haven’t been able to do much in spring training, other than watch, there’s still a lot going on. And for the record, I’m healing quickly and rather excited because I am supposed to be back at practice tomorrow!

It’s been a bummer that the accident had me sidelined, but I was very fortunate that my injuries were not serious and that my recovery has been quick. So back to spring training …

When I arrived, I was happy to see that my locker was right between Bourn and Erstad. It’s been nice getting to know Bourn. I was also excited to talk to Erstad and found it interesting to hear what his impression of me was last year. You see, Erstad is one of my favorite players to watch so it’s weird to think that he has seen me play. I found out that he initially I thought I was some know-it-all rookie!!

I asked him why he thought that and he said that when we played against the White Sox, last season, he saw me taking my 100 practice swings before the game. During my swings, he saw me walk over to the home plate where I started talking to the umpires. So it appeared to him as though I was acting like I ran the show. Keep in mind, he saw me doing this when I hadn’t been in the League for long. Little did he know that the umpires had called me over and I was just following their orders.

For whatever reason, last year, the umpires got a kick out of picking on me, in good nature. I remember the day Erstad referenced, the umpires had called me over to tell me that they heard I was a big trouble maker and to watch it because I was on a tight leash. I just laughed and said, “Yes sir.” Anyways, I got that all straightened out with D-stad and have gotten to know him pretty well now. As a matter of fact, I’m actually debating on what his nickname is going to be and I figured I could ask you guys for some help? Any suggestions would be good!

As a joke, I told Erstad I was going to call him by his first initial and the last two letters in his last name “Dad” or possibly even Fred Derstad. I don’t think either of those are going to stick, so help me out and send me some suggestions =) In baseball, you can’t call anyone by their regular name, everyone has to have a nickname.

Just to wrap things up, I wanted to share that there is a great feeling in the locker room this year because everyone has high expectations and a new attitude. On the field, I’ve mainly been standing behind the cage watching all of our pitchers and I’m excited because, as I’ve mentioned before, we are going to have a solid staff this year. In addition, with a little more help from the defense, things are looking good for the Astros this year.

The thing is we can’t just talk about it, we have to do it. I really liked how Tejada put it to me when I told him we were going to have a lot of fun with this team, I think I’ll stick with his plan. Next week I’ll gladly get to talk about PLAYING in spring training! haha, ’til next week.

Thanks.

Hunter

Post from: EveryJoe

From Hunter: Erstad Needs a Nickname