The Houston Astros' 2008 season was the 47th season for the Houston Astros. The Astros attempted to return to the postseason, after missing the past two postseasons. This was the last season where the Astros finished the season above the .500 mark prior to the post season run in 2015.[1]
2008 Houston Astros | ||
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League | National League | |
Division | Central | |
Ballpark | Minute Maid Park | |
City | Houston | |
Record | 86–75 (.534) | |
Divisional place | 3rd | |
Owners | Drayton McLane Jr. | |
General managers | Ed Wade | |
Managers | Cecil Cooper | |
Television | FSN Houston KTXH (My 20) Bill Brown, Jim Deshaies | |
Radio | KTRH Milo Hamilton, Brett Dolan, Dave Raymond KLAT (Spanish) | |
Stats | ESPN.com BB-reference | |
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Off Season
editOn October 29, all six eligible Astros players filed for free agency. The list includes catcher Brad Ausmus, infielder Mike Lamb, infielder Mark Loretta, outfielder Orlando Palmeiro, left-handed reliever Trever Miller and right-handed reliever Brian Moehler.
On October 30, the Astros signed catcher Brad Ausmus to a 1-year, $2 million contract.
On November 8, The Astros acquired outfielder Michael Bourn, third baseman Michael Costanzo, and right-handed reliever Geoff Geary from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Ed Wade.[2]
On November 16, the Astros acquired right-handed reliever Óscar Villarreal from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for center fielder Josh Anderson. On the same day, the Astros also signed outfielder Yordany Ramirez as a free agent.
On November 20, the Astros signed free agent utilityman Geoff Blum to a one-year deal including a club option for a second year.
On November 26, the Astros signed free agent relief pitcher Doug Brocail to a one-year deal.
On November 30, the Astros and free agent Kazuo Matsui agreed to a 3-year, $16.5 million deal. Matsui played second base for the NL Champion Colorado Rockies in the 2007 season.[3]
On December 12, the Astros acquired shortstop Miguel Tejada from the Orioles for five players. The Astros traded outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate and third baseman Mike Costanzo to Baltimore for Tejada. Adam Everett, the Astros shortstop at the time, had to deal with a double-whammy: not only did the Astros trade for Tejada, they also non-tendered Everett, leaving him without a team as of 11 p.m. CT.
On December 14, The Houston Astros' offseason of dealing continued on Friday when the club traded Chris Burke, Chad Qualls and Juan Gutiérrez to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for closer José Valverde.
In January, Brandon Backe, Ty Wigginton, and Dave Borkowski were signed to a one-year contract.
On February 20, Shawn Chacón signed a one-year deal.
On March 29, the Astros released Woody Williams.
On March 30, the contracts of OF José Cruz Jr. and RHP Brian Moehler were purchased from Triple-A Round Rock.
Spring training
editIn spring training the Astros posted a 13–18 record culminating with a 9–4 win in the final spring training game at Minute Maid Park.
Regular season
editMarch/April
editAfter losing the first two games of the 2008 campaign, the Astros were trailing 6-5 in the top of the 9th with 2 outs of game 3 against Trevor Hoffman, on April 2. The Astros put two on base when Hunter Pence hit a line drive off of Adrián González's glove into right to tie it up. Lance Berkman came up next and smashed a 3-run home run to deep center making it a 9–6 game. Valverde then closed out the Astros first '08 win.
Season standings
editTeam | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
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Chicago Cubs | 97 | 64 | .602 | — | 55–26 | 42–38 |
Milwaukee Brewers | 90 | 72 | .556 | 7½ | 49–32 | 41–40 |
Houston Astros | 86 | 75 | .534 | 11 | 47–33 | 39–42 |
St. Louis Cardinals | 86 | 76 | .531 | 11½ | 46–35 | 40–41 |
Cincinnati Reds | 74 | 88 | .457 | 23½ | 43–38 | 31–50 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 67 | 95 | .414 | 30½ | 39–42 | 28–53 |
Record vs. opponents
editSource: [1] | |||||||||||||||||
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Team | AZ | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL | FLA | HOU | LAD | MIL | NYM | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH | AL |
Arizona | – | 3–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 15–3 | 2–7 | 4–2 | 8–10 | 2–5 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 10–8 | 11–7 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 6–9 |
Atlanta | 5–3 | – | 0–6 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 10–8 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–6 | 11–7 | 4–14 | 2–5 | 5–1 | 2–5 | 2–5 | 6–12 | 8–7 |
Chicago | 4–2 | 6–0 | – | 8–7 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 8–9 | 5–2 | 9–7 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 14–4 | 5–2 | 4–3 | 9–6 | 3–3 | 6–9 |
Cincinnati | 4–2 | 3–3 | 7–8 | – | 1–5 | 6–2 | 3–12 | 1–7 | 10–8 | 3–4 | 3–5 | 6–9 | 4–3 | 5–1 | 5–10 | 4–3 | 9–6 |
Colorado | 3–15 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 5–1 | – | 5–3 | 3–3 | 8–10 | 4–3 | 3–6 | 0–5 | 5–2 | 9–9 | 11–7 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 7–8 |
Florida | 7–2 | 8–10 | 3–4 | 2–6 | 3–5 | – | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 8–10 | 10–8 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 14–3 | 5–10 |
Houston | 2–4 | 3–3 | 9–8 | 12–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | – | 4–3 | 7–8 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 8–8 | 3–3 | 7–1 | 7–8 | 4–2 | 7–11 |
Los Angeles | 10–8 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 7–1 | 10–8 | 4–3 | 3–4 | – | 4–2 | 3–4 | 4–4 | 5–2 | 11–7 | 9–9 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–10 |
Milwaukee | 5–2 | 6–3 | 7–9 | 8–10 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 8–7 | 2–4 | – | 2–4 | 1–5 | 14–1 | 4–3 | 6–0 | 10–5 | 6–2 | 7–8 |
New York | 3–3 | 7–11 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 6–3 | 10–8 | 2–5 | 4–3 | 4–2 | – | 11–7 | 4–3 | 2–5 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 12–6 | 9–6 |
Philadelphia | 4–3 | 14–4 | 4–3 | 5–3 | 5–0 | 8–10 | 4–3 | 4–4 | 5–1 | 7–11 | – | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–4 | 12–6 | 4–11 |
Pittsburgh | 3–4 | 5–2 | 4–14 | 9–6 | 2–5 | 2–3 | 8–8 | 2–5 | 1–14 | 3–4 | 2–4 | – | 3–4 | 4–2 | 10–7 | 3–4 | 6–9 |
San Diego | 8–10 | 1–5 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 9–9 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 7–11 | 3–4 | 5–2 | 2–4 | 4–3 | – | 5–13 | 1–6 | 5–1 | 3–15 |
San Francisco | 7–11 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 7–11 | 3–3 | 1–7 | 9–9 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 13–5 | – | 4–3 | 7–0 | 6–12 |
St. Louis | 4–3 | 5–2 | 6–9 | 10–5 | 4–3 | 5–2 | 8–7 | 4–2 | 5–10 | 3–4 | 4–5 | 7–10 | 6–1 | 3–4 | – | 5–1 | 7–8 |
Washington | 2–4 | 12–6 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 3–14 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–6 | 6–12 | 6–12 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 0–7 | 1–5 | – | 8–10 |
Roster
edit2008 Houston Astros | |||||||||
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Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
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Outfielders
Other batters
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Manager
Coaches
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Game log
edit- Home Game
- Away Game
- † = Interleague Game
- All games, dates and times are subject to change
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April
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May
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June
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July
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August
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September
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*At Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Player stats
editBatting
editStarters by position
editNote: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
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C | Brad Ausmus | 81 | 216 | 47 | .218 | 3 | 24 |
1B | Lance Berkman | 159 | 554 | 173 | .312 | 29 | 106 |
2B | Kazuo Matsui | 96 | 375 | 110 | .293 | 6 | 33 |
SS | Miguel Tejada | 158 | 632 | 179 | .283 | 13 | 66 |
3B | Ty Wigginton | 111 | 386 | 110 | .285 | 23 | 58 |
LF | Carlos Lee | 115 | 436 | 137 | .314 | 28 | 100 |
CF | Michael Bourn | 138 | 467 | 107 | .229 | 5 | 29 |
RF | Hunter Pence | 157 | 595 | 160 | .269 | 25 | 83 |
Other batters
editNote: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
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Geoff Blum | 114 | 325 | 78 | .240 | 14 | 53 |
Darin Erstad | 140 | 322 | 89 | .276 | 4 | 31 |
Mark Loretta | 101 | 261 | 73 | .280 | 4 | 38 |
Humberto Quintero | 59 | 168 | 38 | .226 | 2 | 12 |
J. R. Towles | 54 | 146 | 20 | .137 | 4 | 16 |
David Newhan | 64 | 104 | 27 | .260 | 2 | 12 |
Reggie Abercrombie | 34 | 55 | 17 | .309 | 2 | 5 |
José Cruz Jr. | 38 | 49 | 6 | .122 | 0 | 1 |
José Castillo | 15 | 32 | 9 | .281 | 0 | 2 |
Mark Saccomanno | 10 | 10 | 2 | .200 | 1 | 2 |
Tomás Pérez | 8 | 10 | 2 | .200 | 0 | 0 |
Edwin Maysonet | 7 | 7 | 1 | .143 | 0 | 0 |
J.R. House | 3 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 1 |
Pitching
editStarting pitchers
editNote: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Roy Oswalt | 32 | 208.2 | 17 | 10 | 3.54 | 165 |
Brandon Backe | 31 | 166.2 | 9 | 14 | 6.05 | 127 |
Brian Moehler | 31 | 150.0 | 11 | 8 | 4.56 | 82 |
Wandy Rodríguez | 25 | 137.1 | 9 | 7 | 3.54 | 131 |
Shawn Chacón | 15 | 85.2 | 2 | 3 | 5.04 | 53 |
Randy Wolf | 12 | 70.2 | 6 | 2 | 3.57 | 57 |
Runelvys Hernández | 4 | 19.1 | 0 | 3 | 8.38 | 15 |
Other pitchers
editNote: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Chris Sampson | 54 | 117.1 | 6 | 4 | 4.22 | 61 |
Jack Cassel | 9 | 30.1 | 1 | 1 | 5.64 | 14 |
Alberto Árias | 3 | 8.0 | 1 | 1 | 6.75 | 8 |
Relief pitchers
editNote: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
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José Valverde | 74 | 6 | 3 | 44 | 3.38 | 83 |
Doug Brocail | 72 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3.93 | 64 |
Wesley Wright | 71 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5.01 | 57 |
Tim Byrdak | 59 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.90 | 47 |
Geoff Geary | 55 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2.53 | 45 |
Óscar Villarreal | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5.02 | 21 |
Dave Borkowski | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7.50 | 24 |
LaTroy Hawkins | 24 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.43 | 25 |
Fernando Nieve | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8.44 | 12 |
Chad Paronto | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.35 | 4 |
Farm system
editReferences
edit- ^ "Houston Astros make playoffs for first time since 2005 - CBSSports.com". Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ^ "The Official Site of The Houston Astros: Official Info: Astros acquire Bourn, Costanzo, Geary from Philadelphia". Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
- ^ 9news.com Wolf, Jeffrey November 30, 2007