http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080801&content_id=3235469&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

Everything I've heard about this kid has been good.  He sounded to me like first-round talent with signability issues, but since he's local and purportedly and Astros fan, we were able to reel him in.  With all the discussion of things that the front office is doing wrong, we've signed most (only Davidson, who we'd get a compensatory pick for if we can't sign him, is a top pick yet unsigned).

Didn't see a main page post, so figured I'd try this FanPost thing out.

Bit of a JV lineup on this roadtrip.  I'll post the lineups in the comments.

there are eight fewer guys on the roster now.

for those keeping score, that's 35 total now:

18 Pitchers (2 NRI), only one lefty candidate for the bullpen left

3 Catchers (0 NRI)

8 IF (2 NRI... I'm including Newhan here)

6 OF (1 NRI)

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link

Wade appears to be leaving no stone unturned.  I've said before I like the idea of gunning for Linebrink.  I'm not so sure about Lieber.  He's only had one fully healthy season out of the last five.  I wonder what kind of contract he'll be demanding.  Something one-year and incentive-laden seems appropriate, being old and coming off of a surgery.

I do like that Wade seems to be beating the streets like he said he would.  Although maybe that's his strategy, to prove to everybody that he's working hard.  I'll choose to wait and judge him by the decisions that he actually makes.

Apparently he was injured for a portion of this year, so he doesn't actually have the service time required to be eligible for free agency and would require a posting fee (link).

Read: not gonna happen.

I don't know how cynical people are around here towards our departed hometown hero that went to pitch one last (until next year) season for the bombers, but apparently he thinks his pin-striped comrades are going to bomb in the playoffs, cause he's got plans for next week.

http://www.administaffclassic.com/tournament/Tournament-Schedule

Scroll down to Saturday and Sunday, where apparently he's confirmed as a celebrity in the pro-am tournament here in Houston.

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I'll be attending my first Longhorn football game since 2003 on September 1st, and I'll have a bachelor party (not mine) full of non-longhorn fans (some FSU, but otherwise none of them went to a D1A football school), but avid college football fans, in tow.  Coming from Houston and Austin hasn't been my stomping ground for some time.  Any gameday dos and don'ts, tips on hitting the tailgate scene (have 12-pack will travel?), etc. that might maximize the enjoyment of the whole experience?

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Forgive me if this has already been noted on this site, but it was news to me and I check here pretty regularly.

http://www.universitycoop.com/ePOS?f...

Now all us Houstonians have a local store devoted entirely to UT.  Will the book be available there?

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070708&content_id=271940&vkey=news _milb&fext=.jsp

thought i read some discussion on this guy, but i couldn't find it (maybe it was on another board).  is he a legit prospect?  i guess his first year in the org was last year and he didn't do so hot in a short season in Tri-City.  he's a mid-season all-star in the South Atlantic League this year (.300/.356/.464) and got a jack in the Futures game.  the article says he plays 4 positions in Lexington, but he's listed as an OF.  he's 22 and is probably at least 2 years from any consideration for an MLB roster spot.  checked to see if he attended the elite hitters camp, and he didn't, but teammates Max Sapp, Koby Clemens, and Ralph Henriquez did (none of which seem to be impressing this year).

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