It's Official - Astros to AL in 2013

[painekiller]

I must be the only one that likes the move to a division that plays the Rangers on a regular basis. Our rivals before the current line up of teams had us playing the Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Braves, and Reds. That was thrown out the window for the current format.

I had no ties to the Cubs and Cards, much less the Brewers, so this move means little to me.

I will grant you that the DH is a bad rule, other than that what is the difference in the two leagues? The big market teams in New York and Boston playing with the low income teams all over the country. Big deal.

I like the fact that we have a rivalry now with a city I hate. Only sad thing is the man I want to own our team is the owner of the rival city team.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I must be the only one that likes the move to a division that plays the Rangers on a regular basis.

I suspect there are a lot more fans like you than there are fans like Bob, Arky and me.

[NBT]

Originally Posted by chuck

I suspect there are a lot more fans like you than there are fans like Bob, Arky and me.

Count me in. I'm totally pissed. And I also agree with you on Drayton being a piece of shit.

[Nconroe]

Well, Astro's in news today as the owner announced a few upcoming changes, some good, one perhaps controversial, time will tell.

Good, and I like this, you can now bring in food and one liter water per person, in a clear bag.

Another good one is lowering top level seats from $7 to $5 for adults and $1 for kids under 14 is what I think I heard.

And the one getting some discussion is considering name change when to to AL. We had other names before like Colt-45s, but I like the Astro name.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I had no ties to the Cubs and Cards, much less the Brewers, so this move means little to me.

It's not about ties to any of those teams, it's about ties to the Astros and the NL. Those teams you mention are the enemy except during an All Star game or a World Series - then the AL is the enemy.

I will grant you that the DH is a bad rule, other than that what is the difference in the two leagues?

The old stereotypes are that the NL was all about pitching/defense/speed/bunting/sacrifices. The NL is old school, pitcher bats. The AL seemed to have all the sluggers (beer league baseball). Something still true is that an AL starting pitcher with a 4.50 ERA is considered "good". That usually wouldn't cut it in the NL...

Nowadays, with the advent of interleague play and free agency, the line between AL and NL has blurred a bit. I think I read somewhere today that the AL actually had more stolen bases than the NL this year...

I suppose it's more of a personal preference thing.... I prefer the NL - been rooting against the AL and those dastardly Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, etc. ever since I can remember.... I was an NL guy when I was a wee lad (liked the Pirates and Giants) and before my family moved to Houston in 1963. When we landed in Houston, I immediately adopted the Colt .45's as my favorite team. The Astrodome was just a skeleton (under construction) back then and my parents used to drop me off at old Colt .45 Stadium to watch a game. Somewhere I still have an old game program loaded with autographs of Jimmy Wynn, Joe Morgan, Don Nottebart and many more (and a bunch of the Cardinals, the team they were playing that day). Went to the first exhibition game in the new dome - saw Mickey Mantle hit the first home run in the dome. Saw Mays, McCovey, Aaron pass through.... I disliked the DH when it came out and I dislike aluminum bats (is that next for MLB?).

So, as a fan, I'm comfortable in the NL. Don't like it too much being pushed into the AL... :/

[HPF Bob]

I hate the lack of strategy when you take the pitcher out of the lineup. Having to account for that spot in the lineup colors so many decisions a manager makes and it is that chess match that I find the most attractive.

I used to have MLB Extra Innings at work and could view any game I wanted. I'd find myself watching even Pirates-Nationals instead of Yankees-Red Sox because there's no pleasure in just watching nine weightlifters mash, which is what the AL represents to me.

In the end, I only thought I was an Astros fan. In reality, I was a traditional baseball fan and any DH league is not traditional baseball.

[Nconroe]

I suppose I'm with PK on this. I think you can play good baseball whether pitcher hits or not.

And I love baseball, its in the blood as my grandad was a pitcher who could hit in the old Texas League and played against guys like Dizzy Dean.

Watched Astros first year they moved into Astrodome