With the start of the new season only 24 hours away, the Texans find themselves in uncharted territory. Just two years removed from a dismal 2-14 record, the Texans finished with a franchise best 8-8 last year. Most would agree that the Texans would have made it into the play-offs if injuries didn't play a key role in stopping them. They lead the league last year with 17 people on the injury list. Despite having so many people out last year, only 3 remain on the IR from last years team. Good news heading into the new season.

There are, however, a few key things the Texans are going to have to do if they want to improve from last years record and take the next step in becoming a play-off team. It's not going to be easy, but it can be done.

1. Division wins- The Texans finished 1-5 in divisional games last year. Granted the AFC South is probably the toughest division around, but you need to improve on your win/loss record within your own division. This is the overall breakdown since 2002. Colts 1/11, Jaguars 7/5, Titans 2/10

2. Stay Healthy- Schaub (QB) missed 5 games and part of two others last year. Johnson (WR) missed 7 games. Robinson (CB) missed 7 games. Green (RB) only 216 yards. Still, even with all the injuries the Texans had, they still managed to set franchise records in- points, average yards per play, touchdowns, passing touchdowns, total yards per game, kick-off returns, punt returns, and sacks. Not bad!

3. Protect the ball- We all know that turnovers kill a team, and the Texans have had problems in the past with turning the ball over.

4. Touchdowns not Field Goals- Not to take anything away from Kris Brown, who is probably the best Kicker out there, but the Texans need to score touchdowns in the red zone to compete with higher caliber offenses. 

Expectations could not be higher for this team and the fans. Coach Kubiak has made some good moves, but there are still a few pieces missing from the puzzle. Dunta Robinson will be a big help on the defensive side when he returns in six weeks. Steve Slaton (RB) has shown some skills in the preseason. I think he will be a difference maker and help the running game out tremendously. Mario Williams is coming off a season high 14 sacks and should only improve on that. The addition of some new key players are going to make this a team to watch. 2 months ago I said the Texans would finish 8-8 again this year. I hope they can prove me wrong.

Oh the drama! Yes, it's happening once again.  Another season in the books, but the question remains the same.........Is T-mac one and done......again?

One and done? Come on people, your not really buying into this #### are you? How could you honestly say that one person controls the destiny of an entire team? Is he a magician? I don't see T-Mac holding a crystal ball in his hand before each game! Think about it! That's like saying you will go ahead and play every game of the season 1 on 5. (T-mac vs. your team)  If you lose against our five players then you don't have what it takes to win in the playoffs! 

Give me a break! Anyone who says that one player is responsable for the outcome of an entire team is mad! If you have followed Basketball long enough, it goes without saying that it requires a team effort to win and to lose! If you do not have a supporting cast around you, chances are you are not going to get far in the playoffs.(umm.....first round exit) Plan and simple!

 The media should give T-Mac the credit he deserves. Not dwell on the fact that he has had some early exits. Do your homework, he has been close on several occasions. If the Rockets were healthy this season it would have been an entirely different question facing T-Mac right now!

The following is an alphabetical list of players mentioned in the Mitchell Report. It in no way suggests these players used performance-enhancing drugs.

 Chad Allen,  Rick Ankiel,  David Bell,  Mike Bell,  Marvin Benard,  Gary Bennett , Larry Bigbie, Barry Bonds,  Kevin Brown (pitcher),  Paul Byrd , Jose Canseco,  Mark Carreon,  Jason Christiansen,  Howie Clark , Roger Clemens,  Jack Cust,  Brendan Donnelly,  Chris Donnels,  Lenny Dysktra,  Bobby Estalella,  Matt Franco,  Ryan Franklin,  Eric Gagne,  Jason Giambi,  Jeremy Giambi,  Jay Gibbons,  Troy Glaus,  Jason Grimsley,  Jose Guillen,  Jerry Hairston Jr.,  Matt Herges,  Phil Hiatt,  Glenallen Hill,  Darren Holmes, Todd Hundley,  David Justice,  Chuck Knoblauch,  Tim Laker,  Mike Lansing,  Paul Lo Duca,  Nook Logan,  Josias Manzanillo,  Gary Matthews Jr. , Cody McKay , Kent Mercker,  Bart Miadich,  Hal Morris, Daniel Naulty,  Denny Neagle,  Jim Parque, A ndy Pettite,  Adam Piatt,  Todd Pratt , Stephen Randolph,  Adam Riggs,  Brian Roberts,  John Rocker,  F.P. Santangelo,  Benito Santiago,  Scott Schoeneweis,  David Segui , Gary Sheffield,  Mike Stanton, Miguel Tejada,  Ismael Valdez,  Mo Vaughn , Randy Velarde,  Ron Villone,  Fernando Vina,  Rondell White,  Jeff Williams,  Matt Williams,  Todd Williams,  Steve Woodard,  Kevin Young , Gregg Zaun

The Astro's new catch phrase "Win now, screw our future"

 Win now? (or try to) Trade all our top prospects! Worry about the future of this club later! Wow! Great idea Ed! This is the approach new Astro's GM Ed Wade seems to be taking. Three months as a GM for the Astros and he has somehow traded six players and gained two. Now I'm wondering if Tim Purpura (former GM) was such a bad guy after all? Two wrongs certainly can't make things right here. Don't worry Wade, I know all the blame doesn't fall solely on you. I'm sure Drayton Mclane (owner) has something to do with it as well. The Astro's went from making their first World Series appearance to finishing in fourth place in the division. Ticket sales, I'm sure, are the first and foremost thing on Draytons mind right now. With Biggio retired and only one ace in the starting rotation (Roy Oswalt) who is going to want to buy season tickets or even spend the ridiculous amount money it cost to see a game?

 So this has become the quick fix to Houston’s problems, trade who we can now to get players that will help us win games next year. I have no problem with Ed and Drayton signing, Kaz M. and Tejada. Both are great players. Just don’t sacrifice what little prospects we did have in the process. The Astro’s have always had a strong fan base. Minute Maid has sold out game after game after game since opening day in 2000. But what future does it hold when we are losing our future guys and gaining players with one, two, and three year contracts? You still haven't even addressed to biggest problem of all.......PITCHING! Maybe that will cost us our outfield? 

For all of the critics that said Roger Huerta only gained wins from fighting inexperienced fighters got proven wrong. Proven wrong in a big way! Roger "el matador" Huerta set out Saturday night to show the world he is the real deal and to gain the recognition that he deserves. Winning would mean a title shot. Something that Huerta has been in search of. Clay Guida was the only thing standing in his way. Guida on the other hand was looking for the same opportunity and would prove to be one of Huerta's toughest opponents by far.

Pound for pound this was a perfect match. The constant strikes, stamina, and relentless pressure that Huerta is used to applying was the exact same style that Guida is used to displaying. This was boiling up to be a great fight and one of the most anticipated fights for me in a long time.

 When the fight started I knew that Huerta was in for a tough fight. Guida came out like the crazed man he is. Landing shots, taking Huerta down, the constant pressure. Wow! It was great! This was the same for the second round as well, except Guida was getting the better of the exchanges. He actually hurt Huerta, in my opinion, in the second round but wasn't able to finish. That was all Huerta needed. A missed opportunity would be a costly mistake by Guida. The third round started and it didn't take long for Huerta to give Guida a blow to the head that proved to be the changing point. Guida went down and Huerta was able to jump on him, get some strikes to the head, and finally over the back for a submission hold. A rear naked choke to be exact. After a hard fight Guida had no choice but to tap out. It was over!

For Huerta this was a great win. A title shot win. I hope. Huerta has always been a great fighter in my eyes. With 20 wins and only 1 defeat he deserves the recognition o####reat fighter. And to the people who had doubts, you have your proof now.  Huerta deserves a title fight. Thats all he ever wanted to begin with.   

 

Good-bye Lidge! Good luck and good riddance Philly! Why did the Astro's wait so long to move him out? Everyone who follows the Astros knows that Lidge never fully recovered from his obvious mound meltdown. I think he still has nightmares of Pujols. (although he denies this over and over again) Pujols was the begining of the end for Lidge as an Astro's closer. Maybe.....just maybe, the new scenery will do him some good. As we all know time will tell. As for the Astro's new acquisitions, they can do nothing but help. Bourne (who is from Houston) will be making his hometown debut in centerfield. That will move Pence over to right, with Lee in left, a pretty solid outfield. Now the question is who will be the Astro's closer be now that Lidge is gone? Wheeler perhaps? But then, we lose a good quality set-up guy? Wait, wait, wait......I'm getting totally ahead of myself here. Don't we need some starting pitchers to help out our ace Roy O first and foremost? Of course we do! Without a good pitching rotation, who cares about a set-up guy, or closer? Right? With the way the Astro's fans have supported their hometown team the last 6 years+( including sell-outs) We better have a quality starting rotation this next year! Drayton needs to open up that piggy bank and start handing out some offers. Who knows maybe Clemens as a closer? Haha! But talking seriously now, from a World Series appearance, to finishing in fourth? Something BIG needs to happen for Houston to be a World Series contender again! Kaz M. is a good addition as well, but he is not the answer to Houston's problem. Houston we do have a problem, a serious problem.