2008 Houston Astros season
Encyclopedia
The Houston Astros
' 2008 season
is the 47th season for the Houston Astros. The Astros are attempting to return to the postseason, after missing the past two postseasons. They must do it without second baseman Craig Biggio
, who became a member of the coveted 3,000 hit club last year.
, 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.
On November 16, the Astros acquired right-handed reliever Oscar 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.
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 Jose Valverde
.
In January, Brandon Backe
, Ty Wigginton
, and Dave Borkowski
were signed to a one-year contract.
On February 20, Shawn Chacon
signed a one-year deal.
On March 29, the Astros released Woody Williams
.
On March 30, the contracts of OF Jose Cruz, Jr.
and RHP Brian Moehler
were purchased from Triple-A Round Rock
.
.
, on April 2. The Astros put two on base when Pence
hit a line drive off of Gonzalez's
glove into right to tie it up. 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.
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
' 2008 season
2008 Major League Baseball season
The 2008 Major League Baseball season began on March 25, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan with the 2007 World Series champion Boston Red Sox defeating the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome 6–5 in the first game of a two-game series, and ended on September 30 with the host Chicago White Sox defeating the...
is the 47th season for the Houston Astros. The Astros are attempting to return to the postseason, after missing the past two postseasons. They must do it without second baseman Craig Biggio
Craig Biggio
Craig Alan Biggio is a former Major League Baseball second baseman, catcher, and outfielder. He played his entire 20-year baseball career with the Houston Astros . He ranks 21st all-time with 3,060 career hits, and is the ninth player in the 3000 hit club to get all his hits with the same team. He...
, who became a member of the coveted 3,000 hit club last year.
Off Season
On October 29, all six eligible Astros players filed for free agency. The list includes catcher Brad AusmusBrad Ausmus
Bradley David "Brad" Ausmus is a former All Star catcher in Major League Baseball, and currently a special assistant for the San Diego Padres....
, infielder Mike Lamb
Mike Lamb
Michael Robert Lamb is an American professional baseball Utility Player for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He can play the infield but shortstop, corner outfield and catcher...
, infielder Mark Loretta
Mark Loretta
Mark David Loretta is a retired Major League Baseball infielder. Loretta played for the Milwaukee Brewers , Houston Astros , San Diego Padres , Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, outfielder Orlando Palmeiro
Orlando Palmeiro
Orlando Palmeiro is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He attended high school at Miami Southridge High School and played college baseball at the University of Miami....
, left-handed reliever Trever Miller
Trever Miller
Trever Douglas Miller is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-High school:...
and right-handed reliever Brian Moehler
Brian Moehler
Brian Merritt Moehler is a starting pitcher, who is currently a free agent.Moehler pitched for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the draft, who assigned him to the Niagara Falls Rapids...
.
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
Michael Bourn
Michael Ray Bourn is a professional baseball outfielder with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball. He serves as the Atlanta Braves leadoff hitter. He has also been a member of the United States national baseball team....
, third baseman Michael Costanzo, and right-handed reliever Geoff Geary
Geoff Geary
Geoffrey Michael Geary is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently a reliever for the York Revolution of the Atlantic League.-Biography:...
from the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge
Brad Lidge
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge is a reliever who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career...
and infielder Eric Bruntlett
Eric Bruntlett
Eric Kevin Bruntlett is a retired Major League Baseball utility player who last played in the New York Yankees organization. He was known for his defensive versatility; he usually played second base or shortstop, but has also played left field. Bruntlett played every position except for catcher...
. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Ed Wade.
On November 16, the Astros acquired right-handed reliever Oscar Villarreal
Óscar Villarreal
Óscar Eduardo Villarreal is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in the majors for the Arizona Diamondbacks , Atlanta Braves , and Houston Astros .-Arizona Diamondbacks:...
from the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in exchange for center fielder Josh Anderson
Josh Anderson (baseball)
Joshua Aaron Anderson is an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed...
. 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
Geoff Blum
Geoffrey Edward Blum is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks. During his major-league career, he has also played for the Montreal Expos, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox...
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
Kazuo Matsui
is a Japanese second baseman for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. Matsui is a switch-hitter...
agreed to a 3-year, $16.5 million deal. Matsui played second base for the NL Champion Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in the 2007 season.
On December 12, the Astros acquired shortstop Miguel Tejada
Miguel Tejada
Miguel Odalis Tejada was a Major League Baseball infielder who has played for the San Francisco Giants, the San Diego Padres, the Houston Astros, the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics...
from the Orioles for five players. The Astros traded outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers
Matt Albers
Matthew James Albers is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-High school:In 2001, Albers graduated William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas...
, Troy Patton
Troy Patton
Troy Jamieson Patton is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Patton attended Tomball High School in Tomball, Texas.-Baseball career:...
and Dennis Sarfate
Dennis Sarfate
Dennis Scott Sarfate is a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles organization.-High school career:...
and third baseman Mike Costanzo to Baltimore for Tejada. Adam Everett
Adam Everett
Jeffery Adam Everett , is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He played collegiate baseball at the University of South Carolina...
, 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
Chad Qualls
Chadford Michael Qualls is a relief pitcher.-Astros:Qualls was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros. He began his career as a starting pitcher with the Michigan Battle Cats in...
and Juan Gutiérrez
Juan Gutiérrez (baseball)
Juan Carlos Gutiérrez nicknamed the goot is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Baseball career:...
to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
in exchange for closer Jose Valverde
José Valverde
José Rafael Valverde is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. His nickname is Papa Grande...
.
In January, Brandon Backe
Brandon Backe
Brandon Allen Backe is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He joined the Houston Astros in , after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays....
, Ty Wigginton
Ty Wigginton
Ty Allen Wigginton is an American professional baseball infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. He is known as a utility player, having platooned as an infielder and an outfielder during his career. He bats and throws right-handed...
, and Dave Borkowski
Dave Borkowski
David Richard Borkowski is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher He began his major league career in with the Detroit Tigers, and briefly appeared with the Baltimore Orioles in . From -, he played for the Houston Astros...
were signed to a one-year contract.
On February 20, Shawn Chacon
Shawn Chacón
Shawn Anthony Chacón is a Major League pitcher, currently a free agent. He last played in the Majors for the Houston Astros...
signed a one-year deal.
On March 29, the Astros released Woody Williams
Woody Williams
Gregory Scott "Woody" Williams is a former right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He made his major league debut for the Toronto Blue Jays on May 14, 1993.-Baseball career:...
.
On March 30, the contracts of OF Jose Cruz, Jr.
José Cruz, Jr.
José Luis Cruz, Jr. is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Over his nine year playing career, Cruz played for eight different teams. Standing 6'0" tall and weighing 210 pounds, Cruz was a right-handed switch hitter...
and RHP Brian Moehler
Brian Moehler
Brian Merritt Moehler is a starting pitcher, who is currently a free agent.Moehler pitched for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the draft, who assigned him to the Niagara Falls Rapids...
were purchased from Triple-A Round Rock
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
.
Spring Training
In spring training the Astros posted a 13–18 record culminating with a 9–4 win in the final spring training game at Minute Maid ParkMinute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
.
March/April
After losing the first two games of the 2008 campaign, the Astros were trailing 5–6 the top of the 9th with 2 outs of game 3 against HoffmanTrevor Hoffman
Trevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
, on April 2. The Astros put two on base when Pence
Hunter Pence
Hunter Andrew Pence is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies. Pence stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life:...
hit a line drive off of Gonzalez's
Adrián González
Adrian Gonzalez is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.Gonzalez was the first overall pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. He was traded to the Texas Rangers, and later to the San Diego Padres, where he...
glove into right to tie it up. Berkman
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....
came up next and smashed a 3-run home run to deep center making it a 9–6 game. Valverde
José Valverde
José Rafael Valverde is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. His nickname is Papa Grande...
then closed out the Astros first '08 win.
Roster
| 2008 Houston Astros | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches(bullpen) (hitting) (bench) (first base) (pitching) (third base) |
||||||
Game log
- † = Interleague Game
- All games, dates and times are subject to change
| 2008 Game Log | |
|---|---|
Starters by position
Note: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other batters
Note: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|