J.R Towles News

I just kidnapped Ed Wade and Tal Smith and have the controls of the Astros. OK, guess I'll have to do something to Drayton McLane, too.

Brandon Backe got roughed up once again in his final start of the season Sunday, making me wonder how this season might have been different had Backe been able to pitch better.

The Astros will look back at 2008 as a disappointment because they didn't make the playoffs, but for one gloriously sunny day at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, everything that could have gone right did.

It's been a nice run. The Astros were in it until the final weekend and that's a lot more than most of us thought even a couple of months ago.

Florida Marlins' Cameron Maybin slides in safely at home plate as Houston Astros catcher J.R. Towles attempts the tag in front of umpire Chad Fairchild during the fourth inning.

It's Christmas! Oh ... maybe not. When you live in Arizona and it's 100-plus degrees and sunny year-round, it's easy to get the seasons confused.

In the Dominican, Tejada is known as " el pelotero de la Patria ," or the nation's ballplayer, in part because of his annual commitment to play winter ball during an era when most stars don't bother.

File May Avalanche manager Jim Pankovits participates in practice. Pankovits was in his third season in Salem.

The Houston Astros called up five players today from AAA Round Rock on the first day of roster expansion.

Astros general manager Ed Wade said he has pretty much decided who will get called up when rosters expand next week.

With rosters set to expand next Monday, Astros general manager Ed Wade, manager Cecil Cooper and assistant general managers, David Gottfried and Ricky Bennett, will continue discussions on potential September ...

The Astros seem to have a nice group of young catchers -- J.R. Towles, Jason Castro, and to some degree, Koby Clemens.

Brad Ausmus gets cheers from ladies who like the way he looks and jeers from men who hate the way he hits.

When Brad Ausmus signed a one-year deal with the Astros early in the offseason, he definitively stated that 2008 will be his final season in an Astros uniform.

Those were some of the names that many -- not all, just many -- people insisted the Astros needed to keep for this season.

Giving up six home runs in a game can be a great learning tool for pitchers. Josh Miller certainly learned from the experience.

The Astros are keeping their fingers crossed regarding the health status of right-hander Felipe Paulino, who flew to Houston from Portland, Ore., on Thursday and will see team medical director David Lintner ...

This list was originally published November 29, 2007. THIS IS NOT A NEW LIST!!!!! THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE OLD LIST!!! 1) Troy Patton, LHP, Grade B+ Traded to Baltimore.

Not considered one of the Astros' top 10 prospects entering the season, third baseman Chris Johnson has put himself in the mix with a strong season at Class AA Corpus Christi.

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