HARRIS COUNTY - HSA INSIDER
A weekly look at all things Houston sports from the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority
Patti Smith
Jan 26, 2018, 9:37 am
Matt Bullard (left) will join legendary broadcaster Bill Worrell. NBA.com
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How do you introduce Houston sports legends?
With the city’s legendary broadcasters, of course.
Call it a two-fer. Not only will the inaugural Houston Sports Awards bring together a Who’s Who of the city’s greatest sports legends Feb. 8 at the Hilton Americas, but they’ll be introduced by another Who’s Who list -- The Voices of Houston.
Houston native Bill Worrell tops the list of a dozen iconic Voices involved on the night and he will be up first to kick off the show.
In his 35th year as the Rockets’ play-by-play man, Worrell has been a part of the Houston sports scene for more than five decades, dating back to the 1960s when he graduated from Lamar High School. He played baseball at the University of Houston, then spent a decade at KPRC Ch. 2 as a reporter and sports director.
Worrell will be joined by his Rockets’ broadcast teammates Clyde Drexler, another Houston native, and Matt Bullard.
Drexler, nicknamed Clyde the Glide for his high-flying effortless swoops down the lane, is another Houston legend. He graduated from Sterling High School, played for UH during the Phi Slama Jama years, became a 10-time NBA All-Star and played on the Rockets 1995 NBA Championship team. Drexler, who played a dozen seasons with Portland before coming to Houston, was also named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History along with his UH/Rockets teammate and Houston Sports Awards honoree Hakeem Olajuwon.
Bullard played on the Rockets’ 1993-94 NBA Championship team and played two stints with the Rockets – first from 1990–94, then again from 1996–200.
Texans broadcasters Marc Vandermeer and Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware will also be on hand. Vandermeer just finished his 16th season as the Texans’ play-by-play announcer, while Ware, the Dickinson native who starred at UH and is in both the Texas and College Football Halls of Fame, handles color analysis.
The Astros broadcaster team of Todd Kalas and Geoff Blum, who teamed up at the start of the 2017 season and finished off their first year covering an amazing seven-game World Series and the World Champions, are also among the Voices.
The Houston Sports Awards has drawn a longtime Astros broadcast team out of retirement. Legendary Bill Brown, who retired in 2016 after 30 seasons as the Astros’ play-by-play voice will be joined by his long-time broadcast partner Jim Deshaies. Deshaies, the former Astros lefthander, spent 16 seasons as color analyst with Brown before retiring.
Soccer player-turned-broadcaster Glenn Davis is also on the list of hosts. Davis has covered Houston soccer since the early '90s.
Former Texans defensive tackle and current Sports Radio 610 host Seth Payne will handle duties as a roving reporter during the televised broadcast, while AT&T SportsNet’s Kevin Eschenfelder will host the on-site, pre-broadcast ceremonies.
In addition, there are still a few more iconic faces to be announced who will on hand to honor awards winners.
Stay tuned.
There are still tables and tickets available for the Houston Sports Awards, which kicks off at 4:30 p.m., with a dual red and blue carpet event. Dinner is at 6 p.m. and the awards program starts at 7 p.m.
In addition, there are still Golden Tickets available. The $100 ticket enters you in the Houston Sports Awards Golden Ticket Raffle and gives you a chance to win a pair of season tickets to all Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, Houston Dynamo, Rodeo Houston & Houston Open home games/events during the 2018-19 season. In addition, the winner receives tickets for two Houston Texans home games, the 2018 AdvoCare Texas Kickoff and the 2018 Texas Bowl.
Information on all tickets, tables and the Golden Ticket are available at www.houstonsportsawards.com
As the Houston Astros finalize their Opening Day roster, some notable names have been left off the team. Outfielder Ben Gamel and first baseman Jon Singleton were among the cuts, with both players struggling at the plate this spring. Singleton, despite coming into camp in excellent shape, hit just .171 with one extra-base hit in 41 at-bats. Gamel fared no better, batting .167 in 24 at-bats while dealing with injuries. Many expected the Astros to keep at least one of them for their left-handed bat, but the team opted for other options. Notably, Victor Caratini, a switch-hitter, provides valuable depth behind Christian Walker at first base and offers manager Joe Espada a quality pinch-hit option late in games.
Key storylines heading into the season
1. Jose Altuve’s transition to left field
One of the biggest storylines heading into the season is how long the Astros will stick with Jose Altuve in left field if he struggles defensively. The longtime second baseman is making the switch, but if he fails to adjust, Houston may have to explore alternative solutions.
2. Jeremy Peña’s next step
After a stellar spring, will this be the year Jeremy Peña takes his game to another level? While he's unlikely to develop into a high-walk hitter, a return to his rookie-year power numbers could be a major boost for the Astros. In 2023, he hit 22 homers and slugged .426, and Houston will need that production again.
3. Yordan Alvarez’s Health and MVP Potential
Alvarez remains the key piece of the Astros’ lineup, and if he can stay healthy, his 40-plus home run potential makes him a serious AL MVP candidate. He currently has the fourth-best MVP odds in the league.
4. Will Cam Smith and/or Zach Dezenzo make the final cut?
If manager Joe Esapa keeps his word, both Smith and Dezenzo are unlikely to make the team. Espada has been adamant that both players require every day at-bats. Which Houston can't accommodate with the current roster construction.
Bullpen outlook
Houston’s bullpen will be anchored by star closer Josh Hader and setup man Bryan Abreu. Other key arms include Tayler Scott, Bryan King, Rafael Montero, Luis Contreras, and Steven Okert.
Ryan Gusto (1.17 spring ERA) is a candidate to make the squad but could be a roster casualty when Forrest Whitley or Caleb Ort return from injury.
Whitley’s string of bad luck continues, as he’ll begin the season on the injured list despite an impressive spring. Montero, meanwhile, was a surprise roster inclusion given his struggles, especially since Logan VanWey outperformed him this spring. The Astros appear to be hoping for a bounce-back year from Montero, though he should be limited to mop-up duties early on.
Betting lines and projections via MyBookie
- Win total: Astros 87.5, Rangers 85.5, Mariners 84.5
- AL Pennant odds: Astros +760 (3rd-best), behind Yankees (+370) and Orioles (+590)
- AL West odds: Astros +163 (favorites), followed by Rangers, Mariners, Angels, and A’s
- World Series odds: Astros +1650 (7th-best), behind Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Mets, Phillies, and Orioles
- Astros win total through April over/under: 16.5 wins in 30 games
- Houston started slowly last season, going just 10-19 through April.
As the season begins, Houston has a strong roster with playoff aspirations, but key questions remain. Can Altuve adjust to left field? Will Peña and Alvarez step up? And can the bullpen hold firm? The answers will shape the Astros' 2025 campaign.
We have so much more to cover. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The countdown to Opening Day is on. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday live right after the game. Click here to catch!
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