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.[1]
2008 Houston Astros | |
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Major League affiliations | |
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Location | |
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Results | |
Record | 86–75 (.534) |
Divisional place | 3rd |
Other information | |
Owner(s) | Drayton McLane, Jr. |
General manager(s) | Ed Wade |
Manager(s) | Cecil Cooper |
Local television | FSN Houston KTXH (My 20) Bill Brown, Jim Deshaies |
Local radio | KTRH Milo Hamilton, Brett Dolan, Dave Raymond KLAT (Spanish) |
Stats | ESPN.com BB-reference |
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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.[2]
On November 16, the Astros acquired right-handed reliever Óscar Villarreal from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for center fielder Josh Anderson. On the same day, the Astros also signed outfielder Yordany Ramirez as a free agent.
On November 20, the Astros signed free agent utilityman Geoff Blum to a one-year deal including a club option for a second year.
On November 26, the Astros signed free agent Relief Pitcher Doug Brocail to a one-year deal.
On November 30, the Astros and free agent Kazuo Matsui agreed to a 3-year, $16.5 million deal. Matsui played second base for the NL Champion Colorado Rockies in the 2007 season.[3]
On December 12, the Astros acquired shortstop Miguel Tejada from the Orioles for five players. The Astros traded outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate and third baseman Mike Costanzo to Baltimore for Tejada. Adam Everett, the Astros shortstop at the time, had to deal with a double-whammy: not only did the Astros trade for Tejada, they also non-tendered Everett, leaving him without a team as of 11 p.m. CT.
On December 14, The Houston Astros' offseason of dealing continued on Friday when the club traded Chris Burke, Chad Qualls and Juan Gutiérrez to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for closer José Valverde.
In January, Brandon Backe, Ty Wigginton, and Dave Borkowski were signed to a one-year contract.
On February 20, Shawn Chacón signed a one-year deal.
On March 29, the Astros released Woody Williams.
On March 30, the contracts of OF José Cruz, Jr. and RHP Brian Moehler were purchased from Triple-A Round Rock.
Spring training
In spring training the Astros posted a 13–18 record culminating with a 9–4 win in the final spring training game at Minute Maid Park.
Regular season
March/April
After losing the first two games of the 2008 campaign, the Astros were trailing 5–6 the top of the 9th with 2 outs of game 3 against Trevor Hoffman, on April 2. The Astros put two on base when Hunter Pence hit a line drive off of Adrián González's glove into right to tie it up. Lance Berkman came up next and smashed a 3-run home run to deep center making it a 9–6 game. Valverde then closed out the Astros first '08 win.
Season standings
NL Central | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
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Chicago Cubs | 97 | 64 | 0.602 | — | 55–26 | 42–38 |
Milwaukee Brewers | 90 | 72 | 0.556 | 7½ | 49–32 | 41–40 |
Houston Astros | 86 | 75 | 0.534 | 11 | 47–33 | 39–42 |
St. Louis Cardinals | 86 | 76 | 0.531 | 11½ | 46–35 | 40–41 |
Cincinnati Reds | 74 | 88 | 0.457 | 23½ | 43–38 | 31–50 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 67 | 95 | 0.414 | 30½ | 39–42 | 28–53 |
Record vs. opponents
2008 National League Records Source: | |||||||||||||||||
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Team | ARI | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL | FLA | HOU | LAD | MIL | NYM | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH | AL |
Arizona | – | 3–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 15–3 | 2–7 | 4–2 | 8–10 | 2–5 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 10–8 | 11–7 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 6–9 |
Atlanta | 5–3 | – | 0–6 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 10–8 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–6 | 11–7 | 4–14 | 2–5 | 5–1 | 2–5 | 2–5 | 6–12 | 8–7 |
Chicago | 4–2 | 6–0 | – | 8–7 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 8–9 | 5–2 | 9–7 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 14–4 | 5–2 | 4–3 | 9–6 | 3–3 | 6–9 |
Cincinnati | 4–2 | 3–3 | 7–8 | – | 1–5 | 6–2 | 3–12 | 1–7 | 10–8 | 3–4 | 3–5 | 6–9 | 4–3 | 5–1 | 5–10 | 4–3 | 9–6 |
Colorado | 3–15 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 5–1 | – | 5–3 | 3–3 | 8–10 | 4–3 | 3–6 | 0–5 | 5–2 | 9–9 | 11–7 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 7–8 |
Florida | 7–2 | 8–10 | 3–4 | 2–6 | 3–5 | – | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 8–10 | 10–8 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 14–3 | 5–10 |
Houston | 2–4 | 3–3 | 9–8 | 12–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | – | 4–3 | 7–8 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 8–8 | 3–3 | 7–1 | 7–8 | 4–2 | 7–11 |
Los Angeles | 10–8 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 7–1 | 10–8 | 4–3 | 3–4 | – | 4–2 | 3–4 | 4–4 | 5–2 | 11–7 | 9–9 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–10 |
Milwaukee | 5–2 | 6–3 | 7–9 | 8–10 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 8–7 | 2–4 | – | 2–4 | 1–5 | 14–1 | 4–3 | 6–0 | 10–5 | 6–2 | 7–8 |
New York | 3–3 | 7–11 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 6–3 | 10–8 | 2–5 | 4–3 | 4–2 | – | 11–7 | 4–3 | 2–5 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 12–6 | 9–6 |
Philadelphia | 4–3 | 14–4 | 4–3 | 5–3 | 5–0 | 8–10 | 4–3 | 4–4 | 5–1 | 7–11 | – | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–4 | 12–6 | 4–11 |
Pittsburgh | 3–4 | 5–2 | 4–14 | 9–6 | 2–5 | 2–3 | 8–8 | 2–5 | 1–14 | 3–4 | 2–4 | – | 3–4 | 4–2 | 10–7 | 3–4 | 6–9 |
San Diego | 8–10 | 1–5 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 9–9 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 7–11 | 3–4 | 5–2 | 2–4 | 4–3 | – | 5–13 | 1–6 | 5–1 | 3–15 |
San Francisco | 7–11 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 7–11 | 3–3 | 1–7 | 9–9 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 13–5 | – | 4–3 | 7–0 | 6–12 |
St. Louis | 4–3 | 5–2 | 6–9 | 10–5 | 4–3 | 5–2 | 8–7 | 4–2 | 5–10 | 3–4 | 4–5 | 7–10 | 6–1 | 3–4 | – | 5–1 | 7–8 |
Washington | 2–4 | 12–6 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 3–14 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–6 | 6–12 | 6–12 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 0–7 | 1–5 | – | 8–10 |
Roster
2008 Houston Astros | |||||||||
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Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
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Outfielders
Other batters
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Manager
Coaches
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Game log
- Home Game
- Away Game
- † = Interleague Game
- All games, dates and times are subject to change
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March
April
May
June
July
August
September
*At Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
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C | Brad Ausmus | 81 | 216 | 47 | .218 | 3 | 24 |
1B | Lance Berkman | 159 | 554 | 173 | .312 | 29 | 106 |
2B | Kazuo Matsui | 96 | 375 | 110 | .293 | 6 | 33 |
SS | Miguel Tejada | 158 | 632 | 179 | .283 | 13 | 66 |
3B | Ty Wigginton | 111 | 386 | 110 | .285 | 23 | 58 |
LF | Carlos Lee | 115 | 436 | 137 | .314 | 28 | 100 |
CF | Michael Bourn | 138 | 467 | 107 | .229 | 5 | 29 |
RF | Hunter Pence | 157 | 595 | 160 | .269 | 25 | 83 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI | |
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3B | Geoff Blum | 114 | 325 | 78 | .240 | 14 | 53 |
OF | Darin Erstad | 140 | 322 | 89 | .276 | 4 | 31 |
2B | Mark Loretta | 101 | 261 | 73 | .280 | 4 | 38 |
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Roy Oswalt | 32 | 208.2 | 17 | 10 | 3.54 | 165 |
Brandon Backe | 31 | 166.2 | 9 | 14 | 6.05 | 127 |
Brian Moehler | 31 | 150 | 11 | 8 | 4.56 | 82 |
Wandy Rodriguez | 25 | 137.1 | 9 | 7 | 3.54 | 131 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
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Farm system
Level | Team | League | Manager |
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AAA | Round Rock Express | Pacific Coast League | Dave Clark |
AA | Corpus Christi Hooks | Texas League | Luis Pujols |
A | Salem Avalanche | Carolina League | Jim Pankovits |
A | Lexington Legends | South Atlantic League | Gregg Langbehn |
A-Short Season | Tri-City ValleyCats | New York–Penn League | Pete Rancont |
Rookie | Greeneville Astros | Appalachian League | Rodney Linares |