2008 Houston Astros season
2008 Houston Astros | ||
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League | National League | |
Division | Central | |
Ballpark | Minute Maid Park | |
City | Houston, Texas | |
Record | 86–75 (.534) | |
Divisional place | 3rd | |
Owners | Drayton McLane Jr. | |
General managers | Ed Wade | |
Managers | Cecil Cooper | |
Television | FSN Houston KTXH (My 20) Bill Brown, Jim Deshaies | |
Radio | KTRH Milo Hamilton, Brett Dolan, Dave Raymond KLAT (Spanish) | |
Stats | ESPN.com Baseball Reference | |
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The 2008 Houston Astros season was the 47th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 44th as the Astros, 47th in the National League (NL), 15th in the NL Central division, and ninth at Minute Maid Park. The Astros entered the season with a 73–89 record, in fourth place in the NL Central division and 12 games out first place behind the Chicago Cubs, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Houston finished the 2008 season with a 86–75 record for third place in the NL West, and 11 games behind Chicago for first place. In the NL Wild Card race, Houston ranked second, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by 3+1⁄2 games, thus missing the playoffs. Since 1992, it had been the 15th of 17 seasons in which the Astros finished at .500 or above, the final in the National League, and last until their next postseason run in 2015.[1]
Off season
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Summary
[edit]March–April
[edit]After losing the first two games of the 2008 campaign, the Astros were trailing 6-5 in 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' 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. José Valverde then closed out the Astros first '08 win.
May
[edit]On May 27, Pence hit 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Cardinals. leading an 8–2 Astros win. This win moved the Astros into second-place tie with St. Louis to trail only the Chicago Cubs[4]
June
[edit]The Astros announced on June 25 an indefinite suspension of starting pitcher Shawn Chacón and eventually, voiding of his contract. Chacón had initiated an altercation with general manager Ed Wade in which he grabbed Wade's neck and threw him to the ground.[5]
Season standings
[edit]Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
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Chicago Cubs | 97 | 64 | .602 | — | 55–26 | 42–38 |
Milwaukee Brewers | 90 | 72 | .556 | 7½ | 49–32 | 41–40 |
Houston Astros | 86 | 75 | .534 | 11 | 47–33 | 39–42 |
St. Louis Cardinals | 86 | 76 | .531 | 11½ | 46–35 | 40–41 |
Cincinnati Reds | 74 | 88 | .457 | 23½ | 43–38 | 31–50 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 67 | 95 | .414 | 30½ | 39–42 | 28–53 |
Record vs. opponents
[edit]Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2008 |
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Team | AZ | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL | FLA | HOU | LAD | MIL | NYM | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | STL | WAS | 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
[edit]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
[edit]- Home Game
- Away Game
- † = Interleague Game
- All games, dates and times are subject to change
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April
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May
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June
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July
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August
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September
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*At Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Player stats
[edit]Batting
[edit]Starters by position
[edit]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
[edit]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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Geoff Blum | 114 | 325 | 78 | .240 | 14 | 53 |
Darin Erstad | 140 | 322 | 89 | .276 | 4 | 31 |
Mark Loretta | 101 | 261 | 73 | .280 | 4 | 38 |
Humberto Quintero | 59 | 168 | 38 | .226 | 2 | 12 |
J. R. Towles | 54 | 146 | 20 | .137 | 4 | 16 |
David Newhan | 64 | 104 | 27 | .260 | 2 | 12 |
Reggie Abercrombie | 34 | 55 | 17 | .309 | 2 | 5 |
José Cruz Jr. | 38 | 49 | 6 | .122 | 0 | 1 |
José Castillo | 15 | 32 | 9 | .281 | 0 | 2 |
Mark Saccomanno | 10 | 10 | 2 | .200 | 1 | 2 |
Tomás Pérez | 8 | 10 | 2 | .200 | 0 | 0 |
Edwin Maysonet | 7 | 7 | 1 | .143 | 0 | 0 |
J.R. House | 3 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 1 |
Pitching
[edit]Starting pitchers
[edit]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 | 150.0 | 11 | 8 | 4.56 | 82 |
Wandy Rodríguez | 25 | 137.1 | 9 | 7 | 3.54 | 131 |
Shawn Chacón | 15 | 85.2 | 2 | 3 | 5.04 | 53 |
Randy Wolf | 12 | 70.2 | 6 | 2 | 3.57 | 57 |
Runelvys Hernández | 4 | 19.1 | 0 | 3 | 8.38 | 15 |
Other pitchers
[edit]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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Chris Sampson | 54 | 117.1 | 6 | 4 | 4.22 | 61 |
Jack Cassel | 9 | 30.1 | 1 | 1 | 5.64 | 14 |
Alberto Árias | 3 | 8.0 | 1 | 1 | 6.75 | 8 |
Relief pitchers
[edit]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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José Valverde | 74 | 6 | 3 | 44 | 3.38 | 83 |
Doug Brocail | 72 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3.93 | 64 |
Wesley Wright | 71 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5.01 | 57 |
Tim Byrdak | 59 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.90 | 47 |
Geoff Geary | 55 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2.53 | 45 |
Óscar Villarreal | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5.02 | 21 |
Dave Borkowski | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7.50 | 24 |
LaTroy Hawkins | 24 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.43 | 25 |
Fernando Nieve | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8.44 | 12 |
Chad Paronto | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.35 | 4 |
Awards and achievements
[edit]Minor league system
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Houston Astros make playoffs for first time since 2005 - CBSSports.com". Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ^ "The Official Site of The Houston Astros: Official Info: Astros acquire Bourn, Costanzo, Geary from Philadelphia". Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
- ^ 9news.com Wolf, Jeffrey November 30, 2007
- ^ Schwartzberg, Seth (May 27, 2025). "Today in Astros history - May 27". The Crawfish Boxes. SB Nation. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ Schwartzberg, Seth (June 25, 2025). "Today in Astros history - June 25". The Crawfish Boxes. SB Nation. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ "Darryl Kile Award". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved July 21, 2025.