The Houston Astros had a respectable 2008 season, finishing 3rd in the NL Central, an improvement from their 4th place finish in 2007. The Astros are counting on newly added pitcher Mike Hampton to take them to the playoffs in 2009, but the real question of the season is who’ll back up Brad Ausmus’s replacement Ivan Rodriguez - Humberto Quintero, J.R. Towles, Toby Hall and Lou Palmisano are all hoping for the spot, with Quintero as the frontrunner. The Astros are an aging team, but though older players may be more accident prone, they also have a lot more experience, which can easily outweigh the energy of youth to win a game. As always the stands of Minute Maid Park are sure to be packed to the gills with loyal fans, so don’t wait, get your 2009 Houston Astros tickets today!

From the Colt .45’s to the Astros

When the National League expanded prior to the 1962 season they placed the Mets in New York and the Colt .45’s in Houston. After 3 seasons the team moved into the Astrodome, the first indoor baseball stadium ever built and dubbed the “8th Wonder of the World”, and were renamed the Astros. The Colt .45’s/Astros developed some stars in their early days, notably Joe Morgan and Jim Wynn, but were never able to compete until 1980.