Hunter Pence News

Houston Astros The Astros curiously selected a slew of high school prospects with their top picks in 2009, signaling an end to their win-now ways.

Are you ready to be a champion? You are? I hope you know that championships are expensive, and, uh, well, the local baseball team is in kind of a bind.

As Astros right fielder Hunter Pence cranked eight home runs off Clay Buchholz yesterday at the Reebok Baseball Summit, the righthanded hurler sported an ear-to-ear grin.

Astros first baseman Lance Berkman admitted Tuesday afternoon he didn't know very much about his new boss, but that was exactly what made the announcement that Brad Mills was the new Astros manager so exciting.

Manny Acta. Brad Mills. Phil Garner. Dave Clark. These four, uninspiring names are supposedly the Four.

Acquiring a new catcher is probably the top priority this off-season. Gregg Zaun may not return, Dioner Navarro turned back into a pumpkin, and the other 40-man options are reserves at best.

Ned Yost says he knows how to turn around the Houston Astros . The former Milwaukee Brewers manager met with the team on Thursday, the third candidate to interview to become Houston's skipper next season.

Dave Clark and Al Pedrique will make their pitches today in hopes of becoming the Astros' next manager.

I've gotten lots of mail about my column advocating the hiring of Jim Fregosi. I'd guess about 75 percent of it is negative.

Ryan Madson reacts after striking out Houston's Hunter Pence to secure the Phillies' victoryon Tuesday night.

If it were up to Astros veteran first baseman Lance Berkman, interim manager Dave Clark would be back in a full-time role next year.

Miguel Tejada is no saint. He never has proclaimed to be one. He just happens to have had his problems exposed more than others in an era when some stars have been lucky to have had their true personalities or demons hidden from public view.

Astros general manager Ed Wade will have plenty on his plate this offseason, with the No.

You have to love the way Ryan Madson finished off Hunter Pence last night. With Pence representing the tying run, Madson threw a fastball strategically close to his squash, then placed a perfectly painted fastball on the outside corner, just like the one he froze Mike Cameron with on Sunday.

Pedro Feliz hit it so hard that Houston leftfielder Carlos Lee took only a few steps back before realizing the ball's fate.

Happ allowed four runs - three earned - and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings, striking out six.

Humberto Quintero hit a solo homer and Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee each knocked in a run, as the Houston Astros edged the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2, in the finale of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.

Earlier Saturday, Astros interim manager Dave Clark credited starter Felipe Paulino with pitching with purpose in September, as opposed to just "throwing" and relying on his arsenal of power pitches.

It was the fourth straight win for Milwaukee, which hadn't won that many in a row since May 16-19. The Brewers broke open a close game with five runs in the seventh inning as they sent 10 batters to the plate.

As a player: Hit .264 in 13 major league seasons with seven teams. Finished his career as an Astro, hitting .206 in 131 at-bats in 1998.