Astros close to signing another great pitcher.......

This is the most exciting offseason I've ever had as an Astros fan, and I've been cheering for this team for a long time. Management has been doing backflips to bring a more competative team to Houston and they've done AT LEAST that. What McClane has done for season ticket sales almost justifies both the Clemens and Pettitte signings.

more tix sold = more $$ = better players = more wins


Do I think this team is a lock to be good, great, playoff bound, or even Series bound?

Do I think this team will be crap, overrated, too old, too slow, and worse than the Cubs?

Well, truth is, I don't know and neither do any of us...
but I've never been this excited to find out!

 

This must have been finalized months ago. I noticed in one of the chronicle reports about clemens they noted that Ryan was currently an astro. I even questioned it on the bbs but nobody seemed to pick up on it. So I think this was done long time ago.

 

you're right...they've been talking about it for a while now, for sure.

 

What does this mean? What ilk am I. I'll tell you what ilk you are of, people who like to use label and then make stereotypes based on those labels.

 

You mean like "good ol' boy"?

 

Score.

 

I second that, I am so excited for this next season. I can't wait till it starts.

 

SWEET!

first pettitte and clemens, and now my favorite baseball player ever back in the fold with the stros. excellent.


honestly, i couldn't even tell you why nolan is my favorite player ever. i don't think i ever saw him pitch as an astro (i started tee ball before the '88 season so i would think i would've watched baseball but apparently not) but i do remember always checking the tv guide to see if the rangers were going to be on HSE and then if they were, checking the chronicle to see if nolan was pitching that day.

i can still remember his 5000K game. the fans with the panels that said 4994 to start the game that changed with every K, rickey's swing and miss, everyone going crazy and nolan simply tipping his cap. that game was so emblematic of his career. a ton of strikeouts (13), a complete game (nolan was an ironman), only giving up 2 runs (he was good), and then losing b/c his team scored 0.

i did finally get to see him pitch live when he pitched in some exhibition game in the dome. my mom filled out so many entries in these raffles they were having at kroger's stores for two tickets to that game. tons of entries at lots of stores and low and behold we won some tickets. i don't even remember how he pitched and it's not even important. just glad i finally got to see the Express live.

nice to have nolan back.

 

Ouch. I bet that stings.

 

Sorry, Nolan, while having you back is (will be) good, I'd rather have Billy Wags back.

 

Yeah, it seems like we're finally getting Nolan back... but it's 15 years too late, lol.

 

Monday, February 16, 2004
Report: Hall of Famer agrees to 5 year contract...

Associated Press
HOUSTON -- Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan has agreed to a personal services contract with the Houston Astros, according to a broadcast report Monday night.

Ryan, who pitched for the Astros from 1980-88, agreed to a five-year contract with the team after meeting with Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. in Temple on Monday, Houston television station KRIV reported, quoting Major League baseball sources.

A woman answering the phone in the team's media relations office, who declined to give her name, told The Associated Press she could not confirm the report.

Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said Feb. 10 that Ryan and McLane have had several conversations about a possible position with the organization.

Ryan ended his formal relationship with the Rangers a week ago by deciding not to sign a new personal services contract.

Ryan owns the Round Rock Express, which is the Astros' Double-A team and is expected to become a Triple-A team in 2005. He also is co-owner of a Corpus Christi minor league team, which will become the Astros' Double-A team in 2005.

Ryan's contract would allow the Astros to take advantage of his knowledge and experience.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1736919

 

Let the good times roll.