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2008 Houston Astros Season
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. Off Season On 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. On November 16, the Astros acquired right-h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National League Central
The National League Central is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was created in 1994, by moving two teams from the National League West (the Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros) and three teams from the National League East (the Chicago Cubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the St. Louis Cardinals). When the division was created in 1994, the Pirates were originally supposed to stay in the East while the Atlanta Braves were to be moved to the Central from the West. However, the Braves, wanting to form a natural rivalry with the expansion Florida Marlins, requested to remain in the East. Despite the Marlins offering to go to the Central, the Pirates instead gave up their spot in the East to the Braves. Since then, the Pirates have tried several times unsuccessfully to be placed back in the East. In 1998, the NL Central became the largest division in Major League Baseball when the Milwaukee Brewers were moved in from the American League Central. In 2013, the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brad Ausmus
Bradley David Ausmus (; born April 14, 1969) is an American former professional baseball manager and catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). In his 18-year MLB playing career, Ausmus played for the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was also the manager of the Tigers and Los Angeles Angels, and of the Israel national baseball team. A 1987 draft pick of the New York Yankees, he chose to alternate between attending Dartmouth College and playing minor league baseball. Ausmus then had an 18-year major league playing career with the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers. During his playing days he was an All Star in 1999, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner (2001, '02, and '06), and won the 2007 Darryl Kile Award "for integrity and courage". [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves were founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1871, as the Boston Red Stockings. After various name changes, the team eventually began operating as the Boston Braves in 1912, which lasted for most of the first half of the 20th century. Then, in 1953, the team relocation of professional sports teams, moved to Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and became the Milwaukee Braves, followed by their move to Atlanta in 1966. The name "Braves" originates from Braves (Native Americans), a term for a Native American warrior. They are List of baseball nicknames, nicknamed "the Bravos", and often referred to as "America's Team#Other uses, America's Team" in reference to the team's games being broadcast nationally on Braves TBS Baseball, TBS from the 1970s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ă“scar Villarreal (baseball)
Óscar Eduardo Villarreal (; born November 22, 1981) is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, and Houston Astros. Professional career Arizona Diamondbacks Villarreal was signed by the Diamondbacks as an amateur free agent in . The next year, he made his professional debut with the Rookie League team the AZL Diamondbacks of the Arizona League. In , Villarreal placed second on the team in innings pitched (64.1), games started (11), and strikeouts (51). Villarreal began the season with the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders. After being demoted to the Single-A South Bend Silver Hawks, Villarreal went 1–0 with a 1.66 earned run average. He was sent back down to Tucson in the Rookie League shortly before being sent up to Single-A High Desert, where he finished the season. In High Desert, he went 0–1 with a 2.70 ERA. Villarreal played the entire season with the Double-A El Paso Diablos, whe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eric Bruntlett
Eric Kevin Bruntlett (born March 29, 1978), was an American former professional baseball utility player, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies. Bruntlett is perhaps best remembered for executing an unassisted triple play in . Bruntlett won a World Series title with the Philadelphia Phillies, in . That October, he was one of the unexpected heroes of the club's World Championship victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In Game 5, after Pat Burrell doubled, Bruntlett pinch ran for him, with the score tied in the seventh inning; he moved to third, as Shane Victorino grounded out, then scored the winning run, on an RBI-single by Pedro Feliz. Bruntlett also played on the Phillies’ 2009 National League (NL) pennant-winning team, as he had previously done, for the Houston Astros’ NL pennant-winner. In , after becoming a free agent, he spent the season playing for the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Triple-A affiliates of the Washing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brad Lidge
Bradley Thomas Lidge (born December 23, 1976) nicknamed "Lights Out" is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Lidge played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 2002–2012. He played for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Nationals. As a relief pitcher Lidge saved 225 games during his career. He was a two-time All-Star, and in 2008 won the Delivery Man of the Year Award and the National League (NL) Rolaids Relief Man Award. Lidge is currently a host on SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio. Lidge threw a four-seam fastball that consistently reached 95–97 miles per hour, as well as a hard, sharp breaking slider that ranged from 85 to 87 mph. He also had a cutter of the variation. He sealed the Phillies' 2008 World Series championship with the final out, a strikeout of Eric Hinske in Game 5. Early life Lidge was born in Sacramento, California on December 23, 1976. His family moved to Englewood, Colorado when Lidge was very young. Grow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has been Citizens Bank Park, located in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. Founded in 1883, the Philadelphia Phillies are the oldest continuous same-name, same-city franchise in all of American professional sports. The Phillies have won two World Series championships (against the Kansas City Royals in and the Tampa Bay Rays in ), eight National League pennants (the first of which came in 1915), and made 15 playoff appearances. As of November 6, 2022, the team has played 21,209 games, winning 10,022 games and losing 11,187. Since the first modern World Series was played in , the Phillies have played 120 consecutive seasons and 140 seasons since the team's 1883 establishment. Before the Phillies won their first World Series in 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geoff Geary
Geoffrey Michael Geary (born August 26, 1976) is an American former professional baseball right-handed relief pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros. Biography Geary graduated from Grossmont High School in 1994 in El Cajon, CA. He attended San Diego Mesa College and the University of Oklahoma. While at Oklahoma Geary went 4–3 with a 2.20 ERA at Oklahoma and led Big 12 in ERA in 1997. Professional career Philadelphia Phillies Geoff Geary was drafted by Philadelphia Phillies in the 15th round (434th overall) of the amateur entry draft. He was awarded Red Barons Pitcher of the Year in after a stellar year in AAA. That year, he primarily filled three roles: as a starter, set-up man and closer, where he reached career-highs in games (46) and saves (5) and fell one win shy of tying his career high (10). He was awarded Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June 2003. He also was awarded the Greg Legg Tenth ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Costanzo
Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions * Michael (bishop elect), English 13th-century Bishop of Hereford elect * Michael (Khoroshy) (1885–1977), cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada * Michael Donnellan (1915–1985), Irish-born London fashion designer, often referred to simply as "Michael" * Michael (footballer, born 1982), Brazilian footballer * Michael (footballer, born 1983), Brazilian footballer * Michael (footballer, born 1993), Brazilian footballer * Michael (footballer, born February 1996), Brazilian footballer * Michael (footballer, born March 1996), Brazilian footballer * Michael (footballer, born 1999), Brazilian footballer Rulers =Byzantine emperors= *Michael I Rangabe (d. 844), married the daughter of Emperor Nikephoros I *Mic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Bourn
Michael Ray Bourn (born December 27, 1982) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Baltimore Orioles between 2006 and 2016. He also played internationally for the United States national baseball team. Bourn was raised in Houston, Texas, where he attended Nimitz High School and the University of Houston, playing baseball. He was named to the NL All-Star team in both 2010 and 2012 and won consecutive Gold Glove Awards in 2009 and 2010. Bourn also led the MLB in stolen bases in 2011, and led the National League in stolen bases from 2009–2011. He was as of 2018 in 119th place on the all-time Major League Baseball stolen base list, with 341. Amateur career Michael Ray Bourn was born in Houston, Texas on December 27, 1982, the first of two sons to parents Carrie and Raymond. As a child, Michael played three sports, baseball, basketba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brian Moehler
Brian Merritt Moehler (born December 31, 1971) is a former starting pitcher. Moehler pitched for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the 1993 draft, and assigned to the Niagara Falls Rapids. After the 1993 season, Moehler moved on to the Jacksonville Suns, where he pitched until late 1996, when he was called up by the Tigers. Moehler made his major league debut in 1996, pitching in 2 games for the Tigers. In 1997, Moehler went 11–12 in 31 starts, the following year he would have his best season of his career, going 14–13 with a 3.90 ERA and 4 complete games, including 3 shutouts. In 1999, he led the American league in losses with 16. In 1999, during his stint with Detroit, he was caught scuffing the baseball against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and was suspended for 10 games. He would rebound in the year 2000, going 12–9 for Detroit. 2001 and 2002 Moehler pitched just a combined 4 starts due to injury, he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trever Miller
Trever Douglas Miller (born May 29, 1973) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. High school Miller graduated from Trinity High School, where he was a pitcher and outfielder, in 1991 and was named Kentucky's Mr. Baseball and the Gatorade High School Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1st round (41st overall) of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft straight out of high school. Professional career Detroit Tigers Miller began his professional career in 1991 with the rookie level Bristol Tigers, where in 13 starts, he went 2–7 with a 5.67 ERA. In 1992, still with Bristol, Miller lowered his ERA to 4.93 and was promoted to Single-A Fayetteville to begin 1993. With Fayetteville, he again lowered his ERA this time to 4.19 in 28 starts. He was promoted to Double-A Trenton in 1994. 1995 was a breakout year for Miller. Pitching for Double-A Jacksonville, the Tigers' new Double-A affiliate, he went 8–2 with a 2.72 ERA in 31 appearances. M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
