WELCOME BACK, CARLOS
Houston Astros celebrate former All Star's return with fun-filled homestand
Aug 23, 2022, 9:53 am
He's baaack! Photo by Getty Images
Astros get best of Bauer, Dodgers to split series
When Houston Astros All Star Carlos Correaleft his World Series-winning team in March and headed not for New York or Detroit, but Minnesota, some surprised fans — locally and nationally — wondered if it might signal the end of the Astros’ winning ways.
But that was March. Fast forward to August, and our men in orange and blue are atop the American League, while Correa’s aforementioned Twins sit second in their AL Central division.
Fans will get a chance to say thank you to Correa when the $105 million shortstop returns to Houston as part of a six-game homestand, starting Tuesday, August 23. The ‘Stros take on the Twins from August 23-25, then face off against the Baltimore Orioles for three additional games, August 26-28. Tickets for all games are available here.
Aside from a warm welcome for Correa, the homestand fun includes Peanuts Night, a chance to score Jose Altuve AL Champion Replica Ring and Lance McCullers Jr. Sunday Replica Jersey, and a furry fan fave, Dog Day. Here’s a breakdown of the action, courtesy of your Houston Astros.
Tuesday, August 23, Astros vs. Minnesota Twins: 7:10 pm
As the team opens the Twins series, fans can enjoy Peanuts Night at the ballpark, which celebrates one of the most iconic comic strips of all time. Fans can enjoy Peanuts-themed activations around the ballpark; look for some fun Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and other selfie opportunities. Game grub includes Dollar Dog Night (presented by Texas Chili Company) with unlimited $1 dogs all night.
A pregame ceremony will recognize Correa and his World Series win and his seven cherished seasons with the team. Also, the Astros and Correa’s nonprofit organization, the Correa Family Foundation, will host Mayah Nicole Zamora, a survivor of the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde, for Tuesday’s game. Zamora will throw out a ceremonial first pitch and will stay for the game.
Thursday, August 25 – Astros vs. Minnesota Twins, 7:10 pm
As the Astros close out the series with the Twins, fans will receive a Jose Altuve American League Champion Replica Ring, presented by Gallery Furniture. One lucky fan will score a personalized ALCS Elite Fan Ring, replete with real diamonds and 10k white gold. Get more information on Astros rings here.
In a nod to back to school, Thursday also marks Teacher Appreciation Night; teachers will toss a ceremonial first pitch and more.
Friday, August 26 – Astros vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7:10 pm
In what marks the first meeting of the two ball clubs in 2022, the Astros open the series against Baltimore; the first 10,000 fans will receive a Lance McCullers Jr. Sunday Replica Jersey, presented by StubHub. Standout kids get a shout as the Astros Foundation toast the Reliant Readers Slide into Summer Reading program. The event honors more than 1,000 kids who read more 140,000 minutes over the summer as a part of the program.
More Friday fun includes Pregame Happy Hour (5 pm-7 pm) and Friday Night Fireworks.
Contiune on CultureMap to see what the Astros have in store this weekend.
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I left for vacation on April 14. Came back home on April 24. Eleven days in England and Germany.
Astros first baseman Jose Abreu went 0 for my vacation.
The last time Abreu reached base via a real-life hit was April 13 when he got two hits (fully half of his season total) and his batting average soared to a robust .122.
Since then, while I was dining on shepherd’s pie and schnitzel, Abreu has gone hitless in 21 at bats and his batting average has plunged to a squinty .065.
There’s an expression in baseball when a player is having a horrible, dreadful season: “He ain’t hitting his weight.”
Abreu ain’t hitting his uniform number. If you’re keeping score at home, Abreu weighs 250 pounds and wears number 79.
Abreu is chasing history. The record for suckiest single-season batting average for a player with enough plate appearances (502) to qualify for the batting title is held by former Orioles slugger Chris Davis.
In 2018, Davis batted .168. Despite being in the middle of a wildly overpaid 7-year, $161 million contract, the Orioles essentially fired Davis and his career was over in 2020.
Abreu is in the middle year of a guaranteed 3-year, $58.5 million, money down the toilet contract. Will he be an Astro next year when owner Jim Crane chokes on signing yet another $19.5 million paycheck for Abreu? Unlikely.
Other modern era batters have turned in disastrous single-season averages. Dan Uggla batted an unattractive .179 for the Braves in 2013. Rob Deer was a deer in the headlights swatting .179 for the Tigers in 1991.
Abreu is turning futility into an art form. If he continues his .065 pace he will obliterate every record for crummiest season in baseball history.
He has appeared in 19 games and has 4 hits in 62 at bats, with no home runs and one measly RBI. He had his latest oh-fer Tuesday night against the Cubs.
Fans are clamoring for Astros manager Joe Espada to open his eyes, stop looking at the back of Abreu’s baseball and bench the flailing, failing first baseman.
I say the opposite. In fact move him back to fifth in the batting order. If Abreu stays focused on doing what he does best this season - striking out with runners in scoring position - fans can witness the worst batting stats anybody’s ever had.
Oh, by the way, Abreu is a horrible fielding first baseman. We don’t know if he’s a good base runner. He’d have to get on base for us to tell.
Abreu is on pace to get 502 plate appearances. So this counts.
There actually is a player who’s having worse time at the plate than Abreu., though.
Abreu’s meager stats look positively Ruthian compared to what former Astro catcher Martin Maldonado is putting up for the White Sox. Maldy has 2 hits in 42 at bats for a subterranean .048 batting average with no homers and no RBI in 15 games. Maldonado won’t get to 502 plate appearances, however.
Who will end 2024 with a lower batting average: Abreu or Maldonado? This epic battle could go down to the final game of the season.