HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 15, 2020) Major League Baseballowners made it official just after lunch on Monday making a proposal to the players’ union that could lead to a season beginning possibly as early as the Fourth of July weekend without fans. Included with the proposal comes a plan that envisions expanding the designated hitter to the National League for 2020.
Spring training would start in early to mid-June, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the plan were not announced.
According to the proposal, each team would play 82 regular-season games, primarily against opponents in its own division along with interleague matchups against their opposite league counterparts limited to AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central and AL West vs. NL West.
Postseason would be expanded to 14 teams instead of the normal 10 clubs. The All-Star Game planned for July 14, 2020 will be scrapped as well.
Teams would be scheduled to play in their own parks assuming all medical and government protocols give the thumbs up. If not, the back-up plan floated about a month ago would have the teams playing at their spring training sites.
The most contentious part of the proposal is all about the money. The owners proposal will ask players receive a percentage of their 2020 salaries based on revenues MLB receives during the regular-season and postseason.
(Video courtesy of National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum via YouTube)
HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 7, 2020) The greatest Tiger of them all passed away in Detroit, Michigan less then a day ago and no, I am not talking about Tony The Tiger. A man as revered in Detroit as Stan Musial was in St. Louis. Ballplayers of the same ilk and the same generation lived a life to emulate.
Could you get a better eulogy from an organization whose success was synonymous with your face as the Detroit Tigers remembered Mr. Tiger.
"One of the most distinguished and decorated players in the history of baseball, 'Mr. Tiger' was one of the greatest to ever wear the Olde English 'D',' " the Tigers said in a statement Monday. "The Hall of Famer has been a pillar of our organization for 67 years."
You can name on one hand just about the only players so revered by a city, an organization and a sport. Names like Kaline, Musial, Clemente, Brooks Robinson, and maybe Jolt'in Joe DiMaggio but not many more.
Al Kaline came to the Tigers the week after graduating from high school never spending a day in the minor leagues. For 22 seasons, he displayed the epitome of grace and professionalism on and off the field. His batting prowess second only to Ty Cobb. His games played and homers hit second to no one in Detroit.
Although a perennial star, fans may be surprised to hear that Al Kaline won just one batting title in his illustrious career. He finished second three times despite hitting over .300 none times and finishing with a career .297 average. In 1955, he won his only batting title becoming the youngest ever to achieve such a feat at 20 years 280 days. Sixty-five years later, the record still stands. He never won a home run title despite hitting 399 dingers or an RBI crown or an MVP trophy yet he was a first ballot Hall of Fame selectee garnering 88% of the vote.
Kaline played in just one world series largely in part because of the Yankees dynasty that won 10 pennants in his first 12 seasons. In 1968, just a year after missing the American League World Series berth, Kaline and the Tigers stunned the Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals adding the title of baseball champion to Number 6's resume. Mr. Tiger, who batted .379, with 11 hits and eight RBI delivered the biggest one of all in the home seventh of Game 5. With the bases loaded, his one out two run single turned a one run deficit into a one run lead and Detroit never trailed again winning Games 5, 6, and 7.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Kaline collected hit number 3,000 cracking an opposite field double off Dave McNally and the Orioles in late September. Ten days later at Tiger Stadium, he would take his final at bat against the same Orioles going 0 for 2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter name Ben Oglivie.
The ten-time Gold Glove winner and the first recipient of the Roberto Clement Humanitarian Award retired as an active player from baseball in 1974 but he would continue to don the uniform and serve his Tigers. Number 6 gone but not forgotten.
Flickr Photo Credit: Tom Hagerty 20110227-214_Kaline
Story and photo by James Larken Smith Special for TexSport Publications Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (March 12, 2020) Many times after the end of the NFL regular season, they call the following Monday 'Black Monday', because of all the coaching and front office firings. I think we can call today 'The Day Sports Died'. There have been strikes in individual sports, but there was at least a little something to fall back on. There is NO precedent for what happened today. Championships cancelled, not only NCAA basketball, but ALL winter and spring sports; meaning college baseball, I assume, is done for the year. The new spring football league, the XFL, is cancelled for the season. No playoffs or championship. It is to hard to finish the season because players want to try out for NFL practice squads and teams. A perfect 5-0 season for our Houston Roughnecks is done. Add the NBA, NHL, MLS, Pro Tennis, Pro Rugby, and Major league and Minor League Baseball to the list of sports on hold for at least close to a month. A sad day, the right call to do this, but a sad, sad day....
Story and photos by Lou Roesch Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 1, 2019) Take It Back!
From rally cry to near reality, the Houston Astros fell a game shy
dropping game seven 6-2 to the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals.
It was the first World Series championshipfor the nation’s capital since 1924.
In a win, the Nationals became the first team to win a World Series without
winning a home game. The long and winding journey that began in 1869 as the
Washington Nationals baseball franchise later to evolve into the Washington
Senators before morphing into the Minnesota Twins and then restarted in 2005 when
Major League Baseball forced the Montreal Expos to leave the empty confines of
Olympic Stadium and relocate to the District of Columbia, the D.C. “Boys of
Summer” are now the world champions of baseball. In the end it was Washington
and not Houston that took it back.
The title game though was not without its moments and
reminders of history. Yuli Gurriel took Nats starter Max Scherzer deep in the
opening frame sending a packed Minute Maid Park into a frenzy. Houston would
touch up right-hander for another run in the fifth on a two out hit by Carlos
Correa. In between those two tallies was what spelled the difference in the
series. Houston left eight runners on the basepaths through the first five
innings.Scherzer,who could not lift his
right arm above his head a week ago, gutted out five innings, scattering seven
hits and allowing just two runs.
Living by the mantra “Finish The Fight”, the 2019
Nationals resembled the 1924 Washington Senators storming back to win games six
and seven. Ninety five years ago, the Senators dropped game five by a score of
6-2. Fast forward and the next team from the District of Columbia to claim the
title baseball champion wins by a score of 6-2. In game seven, the Senators
came from behind in the eighthto tie
the game and on this night the Nationals came back and took the lead late.
This year’s Nationals could not solve Houston starter
Zach Greinke getting just two hits and a run through 6 1/3 innings. They did
however solve the Astros bullpen which mysteriously kept Gerrit Cole under
wraps. Trailing 2-1, enter Will Harris who promptly surrendered a Howie
Kendrick two run shot off the right field foul pole turning a one run deficit
into a one run lead. Washington never looked back tagging on two more in the
eighth and one more in the ninth.
Meanwhile Patrick Corbin on in relief of Scherzerr was
doing his best baseball Hall of Famer Walter Johnson imitation. Johnson, for
the Senators in the 1924 Game 7 pitched four scoreless innings as his team
rebounded for the win and the last DC title. Corbin hurled three innings of two
hit ball with three strikeouts shutting the door on Houston. Daniel Hudson
acquired at the trade deadline hurled a perfect ninth including strikeouts of
Jose Altuve and Michael Brantley.
It was the most unlikely of all unlikely’s happening
at Minute Maid Park against the team with most home wins in the major league
this season. The Nationals left for dead at 19-31 in late May fought back to
not only make the playoffs but win the wild card game, survive two NLDS
elimination games, sweep the NLCS, and lose three World Series home games by a
count of 19-3 and yet at the end of it were the veterans Max Scherzer (12yrs),
Ryan Zimmerman (15 yrs), Fernando Rodney (17yrs) released in May by the A’s
andseveral more with seven plus years including Houston native Anthony Rendon.
Together the veterans finished the fight for their owner Ted Lerner born nearly
one year to the day after the Senators won D.C.’s last World Series.
]
That's the reason
we're here – scouting and player development," Nationals general
manager Mike Rizzo told MLB Network Radio after the game. "They sign
'em, we develop 'em. They get to the big leagues and they win
championships."
HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 20, 2019) Long before the first pitch was thrown in spring
training, the Houston Astros had a mantra “Take It Back.” Those three words
came after the presumed 2019 regular season MVP Alex Bregman sat down with
Houston president Reid Ryan and the marketing staff. On Saturday night, October
19, 2019, the Astros seized back the American League pennant after being
knocked out last season by the Boston Red Sox. The 6-4 defeat of the New York Yankees
leaves Houston only four games from seizing back the title of world champions.
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, the ALCS MVP, saw to that with a walk-off
two run homerun at Minute Maid Park.
Houston jumped on Yankees starter Chad Green in the
opening frame. With two on, first baseman Yuli Gurriel launched a sinking liner
into the Crawford Boxes in left field and Minute Maid went into a frenzy. The
atmosphere began to intensify the closer New York drew. In the second, the
Bronx Bombers answered back plating Did Gregorious on a cutting the deficit to
two. Two innings later, the deficit was one as Gio Urshela, the Cartagena,
Columbia native, took Houston reliever Jose Urquidy deep to centerfield.
The game would stay that way utill Houston got the
insurance run back on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Bregman. The chess
match between Astros manager AJ Hinch and Yankees skipper Aaron Boone continued
unabated as each side squandered scoring opportunities till the ninth. Houston
brought in their closer Roberto Osuna to seal the victory instead he allowed New
York back in. Leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu dropped one over the outstretched
glove of George Springer into the seats in right setting the stage for Altuve.
Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman appeared to have the
Astros number throwing 12 straight strikes in retiring the first two Astros
hitters before the wheels fell off. Springer drew a walk on five pitches as
Altuve stepped to the plate.
'
“It’s going out to left,” ace Gerrit Cole,
as later recounted to Fox Sports, predicted on the Astros’ bench when Altuve came
to the plate in the ninth. “And it’s going deep.”
With what would be the last pitch of the
ALCS, Altuve crushed the 324th pitch of the game deep into the night
(407ft) sending Houston to its second World Series in three years sending the
more then 43,000 in attendance into not just a frenzy but a rabid frenzy.
“This is one of the best places to play,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “To reward [the fans] with that experience of the
walk-off homer, give them a chance to just go crazy at close to midnight and
know that we’ve got more baseball to be played. We still have home-field for
the World Series. It’s why we worked our tail off to get as many wins as we
could. It is for them. We want to hang another flag for them, and we’re four
wins away.”
In
its quest to “take it back,” Houston posted a record 107 win season. They went
a perfect 50-0 at home when leading by three in a game. The Houston ‘Boys of
Summer” were a league leading 60-21. Only the Washington Nationals stand in the
way of completing the quest.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis La Vita Loca Photography Copyrightr 2019 All Rights Reserved
By Robert H Kelly Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 3, 2019) Houston Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera (shown left) knows that having the starters back together on the pitch can make all the difference. On Wednesday, July 3, the eve of the Fourth of July, Houston scored three goals in the second half to down the New York Red Bulls, 4-0, in front of 19,531 fans at BBVA Stadium. When asked about the return of his starters, he stated:
“Yes, it’s good to be back with the team and as I said we went through difficulties, but it’s difficult when you don’t have your players. Now that the players came back – we are going to win, we are going to lose, and we are going to tie, but these are our players. This is the main roster and then this is the team that we have chosen at the beginning of the season, but we were affected. We knew that, but we didn’t make excuses. We didn’t pull the flag. We didn’t send messages to anybody. We didn’t cry, but the reality is if you don’t have eight starters, your team is going to be affected—that’s the reality. No matter which team—which national team, any team. Eight players out of the roster? That’s not good for any team and we have to deal with that but we’re back with the roster and today the team showed that they wanted to come back and we want to continue fighting for the points in front of us every day.”
Forward Mauro Manotas, who scored the first goal of the match in the 49th minute, also noted the difference in Houston's play.
"It was a tough stretch and now the team is back together. When the team is together, this is a different team. When we have the core of attacking trio plus Tomas (Martinez) – the team is just different. We have more variety in the final third.” We can play up top, below, with speed, off one-two combinations – we have everything we need to win a game and that is very important.”
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis La Vita Loca Photography Copyrightr 2019 All Rights Reserved
Alberth Elis (shown left) scored the final two Houston goals, raising his season total to seven. He stated in the post-game presser:
"It was a great result for us. Glory to God that we could secure the victory and we hope to maintain this momentum – and keep winning, this is what the team needed. As a forward, you always want to score goals and help the team. Today, thanks to God, I was able to do both.”
In between the Manotas and first Elis goal, Tomas Martinez scored the second Houston goal, his thrid of the season.
"Today we played a great game against a great opponent. We played well, we were consistent, and we scored goals when the opportunities presented themselves. We hope to carry this momentum and remain focused on the task at hand. We have to keep earning points and now we shift our focus to Saturday as we try to earn another three points. We want to return to the top of the table. We know that there is a lot in front of us, we will have challenges, long trips, this is a difficult league with a lot of teams who can compete for the top spots. We have to be ready and expect the best from every team we face.”
Next up for Houston is a Saturday, July 6 match up against Cincinnati FC.
SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (May 12, 2018) The Sugar Land Skeeters announced today that the New York Yankees have purchased the contract of infielder Rey Navarro. The Yankees have yet to announce what level Navarro will report to.
Navarro becomes the second member of the 2018 Skeeters team to have their contract purchased by an MLB organization. Left-hander Paco Rodriguez had his contract purchased by the Minnesota Twins on May 2.
Navarro, 28, signed with the Skeeters prior to Tuesday’s game against the Lancaster Barnstormers. He became the first player in Skeeters history to hit two home runs in his debut on May 8, with the two home runs also coming in his first two at-bats. In three games with the Skeeters, Navarro went 6-for-11 with two doubles, two home runs and three RBIs.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Navarro in the third round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. He made his Major League debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2015 and hit .276 with a home run and three RBIs in 10 games, which has accounted for all of his MLB service time. Navarro began the 2018 season with Triple-A Tacoma (Seattle Mariners) and was released by the organization on April 27.
In 1,152 career Minor League games, Navarro has a slash line of .265/.313/.374 with 61 home runs and 486 RBIs. He spent four seasons in the Diamondbacks organization (2007-10), four in the Kansas City Royals organization (2010-13), one in the Cincinnati Reds organization (2014), one in the Orioles organization (2015), two in the Los Angeles Angels organization (2016-17) and one in the Mariners organization (2018). Navarro was a Midwest League All-Star in 2009 with Single-A South Bend (Arizona), a Carolina League All-Star in 2011 with High-A Wilmington (Kansas City) and a Southern League All-Star in 2014 with Double-A Pensacola (Cincinnati).
By Robert H Kelly Copyright 2017 TexSport Publications HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 28, 2017) It is being reported by Major League Baseball that the upcoming series between the Houston Astros and Texans Rangers has be relocated to Tropican Field in St. Petersburg. The announcement, as posted on mlb.com, stated: "Major League Baseball announced on Monday that the Astros' upcoming home series vs. the Rangers has been relocated to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, home of the Rays. The Astros will be considered the home team and will bat last, and the games will have a first pitch slated for 7:10 p.m. ET/6:10 p.m. CT on Tuesday, 7:10 p.m./6:10 p.m. on Wednesday and 1:10 p.m./12:10 p.m. on Thursday." In a statement released by Astros President Reed Ryan, and posted on Twitter by Mark Berman, Fox 26 Sports, stated:
By Robert H Kelly Copyright 2013 TexSport Publications
HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 3, 2013) It is being reported at ESPN.com
that the Houston Astros will
kickoff its 2013 season in the American League playing the Texas
Rangers on ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball."
The three-game series, which will begin the season for both teams, will continue
on Tuesday and Wednesday after a day off on Monday.
The Astros were originally scheduled to have opening day on April 2.
The Astros and Rangers had played each other for many years during
inter-league play, but the 2013 kickoff series will be the first of 19 times
the two teams will face each other.
By Robert H KellyCopyright 2012 TexSport Publications
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 18, 2012) The University of
California Irvine upped its season record to 2-0 with a 5-1 drumming of
Southern University in a Saturday game at the 2012 Urban Invitational at
Houston’s Minute Maid Park.
The Anteaters capitalized on three fielding errors by the Jaguars
to score two runs in both the 4th and 6th innings and a
single run in the 8th.
Irvine third baseman Tommy Reyes led the Anteaters with one
runs on two hits, two RBI and two walks.
Left fielder Kris Paulino went 1-for-2, scoring two runs
with second baseman Dillon Moyer also scoring a run.
The Jaguars managed only three hits in the match to go with
the single run.
Kyle Hooper, pitching four innings in relief, gave up a
single hit, no runs while walking two. He was credited with the win.
On the other hand, starter Jose De Leon pitched 3.2 innings,
gave up two runs on five hits.
Daniel Garcia and Santos Saldivar pitched in a combined 5.1
innings of relief allowing three runs on four hits and walked three.
Fielding was definitely a problem for the 1-1 Jaguars with
third baseman Cameron McGriff, catcher Clint Ourso, and pitcher Daniel Garcia
all committing errors.
UC-Irvine will next face Texas Southern on Sunday with a revised
start time of 10:00am.
Southern will play Alabama State immediately after the
Irvine-Southern game.
All games on Sunday have been reassigned to Minute Maid Park
due to the inclement weather in the Houston area.
Four errors by Alabama State allowed Grambling State to score six runs in the top of the 12th inning. Photo by Robert H Kelly-TexSportPublications, Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.
By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 18, 2012) In a game that was tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, Grambling
State University (2-0) scored six runs in the top of the 12th to
down Alabama State University (0-2) 8-5 in the second game for both teams in
the MLB Urban Invitational at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Alabama State scored two runs in the seventh inning to take
a 2-1 lead and was headed for the win when Grambling tied the score in the top
of the ninth.
Alabama State connected for three runs in the bottom of the
12th but it was not enough to overcome the Tigers’ six-run inning.
The name of the game was errors and they were all off the
gloves of Alabama State.
The Hornets’ shortstop Emmanuel Marrero and pinch hitting
first baseman Lloyd Kelly each committed two errors for the four error total.
Tiger starting pitcher Richard Bautista hurled 7.1 inning,
giving up two earned runs off three hits while striking out three.
Relief pitcher Michael Martin as credited with the win;
pitching 1.1 innings while giving up three earned runs off three hits and
striking out two.
The Hornets’ Greg Matthews earned the loss after giving up
six runs, three of them earned, off five hits in the top of the 12th.He
also walked two while striking out four.
Grambling State will next face Prairie View A&M on
Sunday, Feb. 19 with a 6:00pm start time.
Alabama State will take on Southern University at 2:30pm on
Sunday.
Both games will be played at the Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth
Academy at Sylvester Turner Park in
Houston.
By Robert H Kelly Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 16, 2012) This coming weekend, the NCAA and Major League Baseball
combine to host the 2012 Urban Invitational in Houston.
Six colligate teams will face off in three days of baseball
action at two venues in the Bayou City.
The first day of the invitational on Friday, February 17
will be held at the Houston Astros Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner
Park.
The first game of the tripleheader will see the Southern
University face off against Prairie View A&M University wit the first pitch
at 11:00AM.
At 2:30PM, the University of California, Irvine takes on
Alabama State University with Grambling State University vs. Texas Southern
University in the nightcap at 6:00PM.
Saturday’s action will move to Minute Maid Park with three
games scheduled; Alabama State vs. Grambling State at 11:00AM, UC-Irving vs.
Southern at 3:00PM and Texas Southern vs. Prairie View at 7:00PM.
Grammy-nominated singer Ruben Studdard will perform the
National Anthem prior to the 3:00PM game, which will be televised live on MLB
Network and at mlb.com.
Sunday will see the games moved back to Sylvester Turner
Park with action at 11;00AM, 2:30PM and 5:30PM.
UC-Irving will take on Texas Southern in the first game
followed by Alabama State vs. Southern and Grambling State vs. Prairie View.
By Robert H. Kelly Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA (July 13, 2010) The first round of the State Farm Home Run Derby is complete and the results are listed below, in the order they batted.
1. Chris Young-Arizona Diamondbacks (RH): 1 Home Run: average: 410 feet; longest: 416feet.
2. Vernon Wells-Toronto Blue Jays (RH): 2 home runs; average: 395 feet; longest: 428 feet.
By Robert H. Kelly Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA (July 12, 2010) Here is the batting order for the State Farm Home Run Derby at the 2010 MLB All Star Game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.
1. Chris Young-Arizona Diamondbacks 2. Vernon Wells-Toronto Blue Jays 3. Corey Hart-Milwaukee Brewers 4. Nick Swisher-New York Yankees 5. Matt Holliday-St. Louis Cardinals 6. David Ortiz-Boston Red Sox 7. Haney Ramirez-Florida Marlins 8. Miguel Carbrera-Detroit Tigers
I am picking Nick Swisher to win it all.
Here are the rules for the contest:
Opening Round • Each player gets 10 outs to hit as many home runs as possible. • The four players with the most home runs hit in the Opening Round advance to the Semi-Final Round.
Semi-Final Round • Home runs totals from the first round will carry over to the second round. • Each player gets 10 outs to hit as many home runs as possible per at bat. • The two players with the most home runs in the Semi-Final Round advance to the Championship Round.
Championship Round • Home runs from the first two rounds do not carry over to the Championship Round; Opening and Semi-Final Round totals are cleared from the board. • Each player gets 10 outs to hit as many home runs as possible. • The player who hits the most home runs in the Championship Round is declared the Home Run Derby champion.
Rules • An out is registered when a player swings at a pitch and does not hit a home run. • A ball hit over the fence must be fair to count as a home run.
HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 9, 2010) Six University of Houston baseball players were selected during the three-day Major League Baseball Draft, ending Wednesday. With their selections in the draft it marked the ninth consecutive season and the 12th time in the last 13 years that at least one Cougar player was chosen in the annual draft.
The six selections in the draft also are the most in a single season since eight Cougars were taken in 2004.
Junior shortstop Blake Kelso was the Cougars’ top selection by being taking in the 10th round of the draft by the Washington Nationals. With his selection, Houston has now had three players taken in the first 10 rounds during the last two years.
Kelso, a stable in the Cougar infield at shortstop, has started 181 consecutive games in his three-year career at Houston. He holds a .319 batting average with 41 doubles, 11 triples and eight home runs. The Plugerville, Texas, native also is the school career record holder in assists with 588.
Sophomore pitcher Michael Goodnight followed in the 13th round when he was chosen by the Cleveland Indians. Goodnight was also chosen in the draft out of high school before coming to UH.
The Houston, Texas, native was a member of the weekend pitching rotation, earning 16 starts in his sophomore campaign. He holds a 4.96 ERA in two seasons at Houston with 148 strikeouts. Following his freshman season, Goodnight was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. Early in the 2010 season, he pitched the Cougars to a 1-0 shutout win over Texas and went on to be named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Player of the Week.
The Cougars’ third selection in the draft came in the 16th round when senior catcher Chris Wallace was selected by the Houston Astros. Wallace spent four seasons behind the plate for Houston, posting a .291 career batting average. He was selected to the All-C-USA Second Team in 2009 and led the Cougars in his final season with 10 home runs.
Houston closed out the second day of the draft with its fourth selection. Junior pitcher Ty Stuckey was taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the 26th round. The Spring, Texas, native made 16 starts in three seasons at UH. During his junior season, Stuckey made four starts with 31 strikeouts. Stuckey also saw action at first base as a sophomore, posting a .254 batting average in 15 starts.
Senior pitcher William Kankel was the first Cougar chosen on the final day of the draft. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 33rd round. The Brenham, Texas, native spent two years at Houston after transferring from Seminole State College in 2008. He made 10 starts as a senior and was a regular in the weekend rotation.
Also taken in the draft’s final day in the 38th round by the Minnesota Twins was junior pitcher Jared Ray. The Waco, Texas, native sat out the 2010 season following shoulder surgery. As a sophomore he finished with a 4-4 record. Ray pitched 31 scoreless innings during the season for the third longest streak in school history. He would go on to earn a spot on the All-C-USA Second Team.
In addition, Cougar signees Mitchell Taylor (seventh round, Toronto Blue Jays), Jacob Dahlstrand (10th round, Boston Red Sox), Ryan Broussard (18th round, Los Angeles Angles), Chad Rogers (28th round, Cincinnati Reds), Lucas Moran (45th round, Milwaukee Brewers) and Landon Appling (47th round, Colorado Rockies) were also selected in the draft.
(Photo courtsey of the University of Houston Athletics Communications Office) By Robert H Kelly Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications
HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 8, 2010) University of Houston shortstop Blake Kelso was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 10th round of the MLB Draft.
The junior business major played 57 games for the Cougars in 2010, hitting .338 with 10 doubles, 5 triples and 3 home runs.
He was named to the 2009 Conference USA All-Academic Team and the 2009 All-Conference USA Second Team. In 2008, he was selected to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Team.
Kelso has one year of college eligibility remaining.
By Robert H. Kelly Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications
PASADENA, TEXAS (March 17, 2010) Texas Rangers manager and former MLB infielder Ron Washington has admitted he used cocaine during the first half of last season.
Reports indicate he tested positive for the drug last July and has since completed a drug treatment program. He also stated he had notified Rangers and MLB officials about the usage and entered the treatment program.
The Texas Rangers, in a statement released on their website, that Washington claimed he only used the drug once.
Washington offered to resign, but club president Nolan Ryan, general manager Jon Daniels and other officials decided not to accept the offer after they were convinced that Washington had used cocaine just once.
Some questions come to mind when I heard this information.
1. What is a 57-year-old man doing using cocaine?
2. What kind of leadership are his actions showing to his players?
3. Why did he notify officials about his drug use after his drug test?
4. Why does someone enter a drug treatment program after only one-time usage?
5. Where does a 57-year-old man get cocaine?
Many more questions are going to arise from this story. I think there is much more to this story than has been reported.
By Robert H. Kelly Copyright 2009 TexSport Publications
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (July 13, 2009) The finals of the State Farm Home Run Derby found Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers facing off against Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The home run totals were reset and both batters had to accumulate the most home runs in the final to be crowned the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby Champion.
Cruz lead off and looked to be trying to muscle the ball a bit more than he did in the first two rounds. He hit five home runs.
Fielder batted second and looked, in his warmup swings, as if he meant business. On his seventh out, he hit his sixth home run to win the title.
Both players shook hands and congratulated each other on their performances.
As a results of the Home Run Derby, State Farm Insurance donated $665,000 to the Boy's and Girl's Clubs of America.
By Robert H. Kelly Copyright 2009 TexSport Publications
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (July 13, 2009) The second round of the State Farm Home Run Derby is complete and the results are listed below, in order that they batted. The results from both rounds, one and two, were combined to get a total with the two top batters advancing.
Each batter got ten outs in the second round.
1. Albert Pujois-St. Louis Cardinals (batting right handed) 1st Round: 5 home runs 2nd Round: 6 home runs Total: 11 home runs
Pujois came on strong in the second round and seemed to be hitting the ball better.
2. Ryan Howard-Philadelphia Philles (batting right handed) 1st Round: 7 home runs 2nd Round: 8 home runs Total: 15 home runs
Howard was hitting better this round.
3. Nelson Cruz-Texas Rangers (batting left handed) 1st Round: 11 home runs 2nd Round: 5 home runs Total: 16 home runs.
Cruz looked a bit tired as the second round progresses. He will need to dig deep down to keep hit hitting hard in the finals.
4. Prince Fielder-Milwaukee Brewers (batting left handed) 1st Round: 11 home runs 2nd Round: 6 home runs Total: 17 home runs
Fielder only needed one home run with five outs to go to advance to the finals.
The finals will see Fielder facing Cruz in a National League versus American league final.
By Robert H. Kelly Copyright 2009 TexSport Publications
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (July 13, 2009) The first round of the State Farm Home Run Derby is complete and the results are listed below, in order that they batted.
1. Nelson Cruz-Texas Rangers (LH): 11 home runs; average: 410 feet; longest: 416 feet.
2. Prince Fielder-Milwaukee Brewers (LH): 11 home runs; average: 422 feet; longest: 497 feet.
