When the Houston Astros hosted the Texas Rangers on opening day, this fan found a way to demonstrate his obviously mixed emotions.
His confusion is understandable – there just may not be much to get excited about this year.
- The ‘stros have a new owner and a new league.
- They now find themselves in the American League after spending their entire history as a National League team. Fans who grew up with the Astros know that the designated hitter is an abomination that destroys the purity of the game.
- Pre-game activity on opening day showed that Texans Defensive Star J. J. Watt hits better, or at least for more power, than anyone on the Astros. Messing around in the batting cage, Watt put three in a row over the left field fence and into the Crawford Boxes.
- Yankees Star Alex Rodriguez started the season on injured reserve, and may not play at all this year. Whether he plays or not, his salary is more – a lot more – that the payroll for the entire Astros roster. The Astros payroll will be $19 million. Even adding in the 4.5 million owed to Pittsburg from last year’s trade that sent Wandy Rodriguez to the Pirates, that still falls far short of A-Rod’s $29 million paycheck.
The hometown heroes won the opener 8 – 2, defeating the Dallas bunch, and actually leading the American League for a few hours.
Odds are that is the only lead they’ll see this year. Last night, they got clobbered 7 – 0 as the Ranger’s new Japanese pitching star, Yu Darvish, made his debut by pitching 8 2/3 perfect innings.
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