The 2008 Houston Astros season was the 47th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 44th as the Astros, 47th in the National League (NL), 15th in the NL Central division, and ninth at Minute Maid Park. The Astros entered the season with a 73–89 record, in fourth place in the NL Central division and 12 games behind the division-champion Chicago Cubs.
On March 31, pitcher Roy Oswalt made his sixth consecutive Opening Day start for the Astros, hosted by the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, but were defeated, 4–0. In the amateur draft, the Astros' first round selections included catcher Jason Castro (10th overall) and pitcher Jordan Lyles (38th).
First baseman Lance Berkman and shortstop Miguel Tejada were selected to the MLB All-Star Game, representing the Astros and playing for the National League, It was the fourth career selection for Berkman, and fifth for Tejada. Closer José Valverde led the NL in saves with 44, the third pitcher to do so for Houston. On August 17, the jersey number of former second baseman Craig Biggio (7) was retired during a pre-game ceremony. On September 23, former Astros outfielder Jesús Alou was honored with the Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame's Pioneer Award.
Houston finished the 2008 season with a 86–75 record for third place in the NL West, and 11 games behind Chicago for first place. In the NL Wild Card race, Houston ranked second, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by games, thus missing the playoffs. This was the 15th season in a span of 17 that Houston had finished with a record . of .500 or better, since 1992, and their final while still competing in the National League.
Off season Summary The Houston Astros concluded the 2007 epoch with a record of , ranking in fourth place in the NL Central division, and 12 games behind the division-champion Chicago Cubs. During an era of unprecedented consistency for Houston, since 1992, the 2007 season was just their second losing campaign, with the other being 2000. On June 28, Craig Biggio attained the 3,000th hit of his career, becoming the 27th player in Major League history. Biggio played his final Major League game on September 30, 2007, retiring after 20 seasons, all as a member of the Astros. Moreover, Biggio became the first Astro to be recognized with the Roberto Clemente Award, and was bestowed a second consecutive Heart & Hustle Award. Former Colt .45s/Astros second baseman Joe Morgan was included on the 50th anniversary All-time Gold Glove Team. Carlos Lee won the Silver Slugger, joining José Cruz (1983 and 1984) and Moisés Alou (1998) as the third Astros outfielder to win the award.
On October 29, all six eligible Astros players filed for free agency. The list included catcher Brad Ausmus, infielder Mike Lamb, infielder Mark Loretta, outfielder Orlando Palmeiro, left-handed reliever Trever Miller and right-handed reliever Brian Moehler.
On October 30, the Astros signed catcher Brad Ausmus to a 1-year, $2 million contract.
On November 8, The Astros acquired outfielder Michael Bourn, third baseman Michael Costanzo, and right-handed reliever Geoff Geary from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Ed Wade.
On November 16, the Astros acquired right-handed reliever Óscar Villarreal from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for center fielder Josh Anderson. On the same day, the Astros also signed outfielder Yordany Ramirez as a free agent.
On November 20, the Astros signed free agent utilityman Geoff Blum to a one-year deal including a club option for a second year.
On November 26, the Astros signed free agent relief pitcher Doug Brocail to a one-year deal.
On November 30, the Astros and free agent Kazuo Matsui agreed to a 3-year, $16.5 million deal. Matsui played second base for the NL Champion Colorado Rockies in the 2007 season.
On December 12, the Astros acquired shortstop Miguel Tejada from the Orioles for five players. The Astros traded outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate and third baseman Mike Costanzo to Baltimore for Tejada. Adam Everett, the Astros shortstop at the time, had to deal with a double-whammy: not only did the Astros trade for Tejada, they also non-tendered Everett, leaving him without a team as of 11 p.m. CT.
On December 14, The Houston Astros' offseason of dealing continued on Friday when the club traded Chris Burke, Chad Qualls and Juan Gutiérrez to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for closer José Valverde.
In January, Brandon Backe, Ty Wigginton, and Dave Borkowski were signed to a one-year contract.
On February 20, Shawn Chacón signed a one-year deal.
On March 29, the Astros released Woody Williams.
On March 30, the contracts of OF José Cruz Jr. and RHP Brian Moehler were purchased from Triple-A Round Rock.
Spring training
In spring training the Astros posted a 13–18 record culminating with a 9–4 win in the final spring training game at Minute Maid Park.
Regular season Summary March–April
+ Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 14 Michael Bourn Center fielder 9 Hunter Pence Right fielder 17 Lance Berkman First baseman 45 Carlos Lee Left fielder 10 Miguel Tejada Shortstop 21 Ty Wigginton Third baseman 8 Mark Loretta Second baseman 11 Brad Ausmus Catcher 44 Roy Oswalt Pitcher Venue: Petco Park • Final: San Diego 4, Houston 0 Sources:
The Astros commenced their 2008 season on March 31 at Petco Park for Opening Day. Right-hander Roy Oswalt, making his sixth Opening Day start for the Astros, took over the club record for pitchers, surpassing five each by J. R. Richard (1980), Mike Scott (1991), and Shane Reynolds (2000). Oswalt started opposite the reigning Cy Young Award winner, Jake Peavy. Behind Peavy's dominant, scoreless seven innings, the Padres defeated the Astros, 4 to 0. At the plate, Peavy delivered San Diego's first two tallies of the season with a sacrifice fly and a run batted in (RBI) single. Oswalt, meanwhile, was charged with three runs over innings to take the defeat.
After having lost the first two games of the 2008 campaign to the San Diego Padres, the Astros trailed 6–5 on April 2 in the top of the ninth with two outs. With Padres closer Trevor Hoffman on the mound, the Astros put two runners on base. Hunter Pence then scalded a line drive that deflected off Adrián González' glove, which skipped into right field, allowing Houston to tie the score. Next, Lance Berkman smashed a three-run home run to deep center field, positioning the Astros in front for a 9–6 score. Astros reliever José Valverde then closed out the Astros' first 2008 win. Geoff Blum, Ty Wigginton, and Carlos Lee all went deep for their first home runs of the year. Berkman also purloined a base.
During consecutive games on April 21 and 22, Miguel Tejada became the sixth hitter in team history to record four hits each over consecutive games, succeeding Jeff Bagwell on July 14 and 15, 1995. Tejada doubled twice, homered, and drove in five runners.
Lance Berkman won the NL Player of the Week Award for April 21 to 27: The Astros went 5–2, while Berkman batted .455 / .517 on-base percentage (OBP) / 1.136 slugging percentage, four home runs, 12 runs batted in (RBI), and 25 total bases. This was the first of five Player of the Week Awards for the Astros on the season, two of which were claimed by Berkman.
Starting April 29, Berkman recorded his season-best 17-game hitting streak, during which he slashed .545 / .610 / 1.015 / 1.626 (36-for-66), 23 runs scored, 8 home runs and 21 RBI. The Astros went 12–5 during this span. This was tied for sixth-longest in the major leagues and Berkman's slash line represented the highest of any 17 games or longer.
The following day, Hunter Pence commenced his season-long hitting streak of 16 games, during which he slashed .359 / .425 / .547 / .972.
May
From May 3 to 10, Lance Berkman piloted a 7-game multi-hit hitting streak that tied for second-longest in the major leagues this season, trailing only Cristian Guzmán (8). During this interval, Berkman slashed .741 / .788 / 1.296 / 2.084, (20-for-27), six doubles, three home runs, nine RBI, six walks, and no strikeouts. On May 4 and 6, Lance Berkman became the seventh hitter to attain consecutive four-hit games for Houston. Berkman had three doubles and a home run. Miguel Tejada attained consecutive four-hit games just weeks earlier on April 22, and April 23. Berkman again won the NL Player of the Week for the week ended May 11, his second such award within three weeks.
After being shut down for six innings via a no-hit bid from Hiroki Kuroda on May 11, Hunter Pence rifled a two-out single in the seventh. Houston later responded with six runs in the eighth inning. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, two Dodgers runs already in and baserunner on first, Valverde relieved Doug Brocail. He retired Andre Ethier on a popup to preserve Houston's 8–5 comeback win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Lance Berkman belted a two-run home on May 14 at AT&T Park to lead an Astros 6–3 win over the San Francisco Giants. Already on an offensive tear to start the season off, the home run put Berkman at the top of the NL leaderboard (14) and also for each of runs scored (43), runs batted in (40 RBI), on-base plus slugging percentage (1.264 OPS), to go along with a robust .388 batting average.
The following day, on May 15, Berkman connected for a McCovey Cove splash landing, just the 16th by an opposing player, off Vinnie Chulk.
Though Pence had homered twice on May 23 to put the Astros ahead, 4–3, all eyes were on Valverde, who took a line drive off his face. However, he stayed in retire the Philadelphia Phillies and close out his 15th save.
On May 27, Pence hit 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Cardinals, leading an 8–2 Astros win. This win moved the Astros into second-place tie with St. Louis to trail only the Chicago Cubs.
Carlos Lee became the sixth player in club history to register 30 or more RBI over a calendar month, with the most recent having been Jeff Bagwell in July 2001.
Over 28 contests during the month of May, Lance Berkman batted .387 / .521 on-base percentage (OBP) / .785 slugging percentage (SLG) / 1.306 on-base plus slugging (OPS), 10 doubles, nine home runs, and 24 RBI in 93 at bats. He also aggregated 73 total bases, scored 20 runs, drew 24 bases on balls, and struck out 11 times. Hence, Berkman was recognized as NL Player of the Month, his second instance winning the award, while also having been the most recent Astro so named, in May 2004.
June The Astros announced on June 25 an indefinite suspension of starting pitcher Shawn Chacón and eventually, voiding of his contract. Chacón had initiated an altercation with general manager Ed Wade in which he grabbed Wade's neck and threw him to the ground.
July On July 27, Geoff Blum homered twice for his fifth career multi-home run game and ninth with four or more RBI. Meanwhile, Brad Ausmus produced his 10th career four-hit game, scored twice and drove in two runs. Blum connected both times off Jeff Suppan, while the efforts led an 11–6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Miguel Tejeda collected two hits and three RBI, Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence, and Darin Erstad all added two-hit games.
On July 29, Carlos Lee connected for his third grand slam as a Houston Astro. The blast occurred during the bottom of the fifth inning to deep left field, capping a 6–2 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds. Brian Moehler (6–4) cruised for the victory, pitching into the ninth and until the penultimate out. With two baserunners on, Wesley Wright entered in relief and whiffed Joey Votto for the final out and save, the first of his major league career.
August