How Many Astros Can You Name?
No cheating here.
I’ll start you off with the easy ones.
Starting Pitchers:
Wandy Rodriguez
Bud Norris
J.A. Happ
Bullpen:
Brett Myers
Starting Lineup:
Carlos Lee (1B)
That leaves, uh, 20 more players. Let’s do it this way. Remember, no cheating. Leave one name in the comments, a name no one above you has mentioned. And we’ll see how long it takes to get to all 25. And who’s the last one named. (My guess as to the last one named is the guy in the photo.)
Jeremy Blachman is the author of Anonymous Lawyer, a satirical novel that should make people who didn't go to law school feel good about their life choices. Read more at McSweeney's or elsewhere. He likes e-mail.
J.D. Martinez!
Double bonus points if anyone can correctly predict their All Star representative!
J.D. Martinez
That short middle-infield prospect who people are high on. Brett Wallace somewhere in the organization. The ghost of Morgan Ensberg.
Oh and Jason Castro and J.R. Towles (i.e., the most feared catching duo).
I think the catchers are Castro and Chris Snyder, actually.
Towles is a Twin, looks like.
This is truly a dark day in Houston.
Towles is on a minor league deal with Minnesota. Reassigned yesterday. Rochester is nice in the summer.
Jed Lowrie, right? Jordan Schafer?
Jose Altuve
Jose Altuve
Jimmy Paredes
Brian Bogusevic, The dog from Jetsons, _____glide, The lab assistant on Fringe…
Jordan Lyles
Jose Altuve
Chris Johnson.
That’s all I’ve got
a phillies prospect to be named later
Jordan Lyles
The OF Brian something, starts with a B
Wilton Lopez
Fern-Rod – my sleeper RP pick for 2012.
Wilton Lopez!
There’s a Rule 5 guy named Wilkin — or something like Wilkin.
@VRP it’s Brian Bogusevic.
Jordan Schafer
David Carpenter and Angel Sanchez!
Aneury Rodriguez
Matt Downs
Brandon Lyons
Kyle “Stone Temple Pilots sucks” Wieland
Livan Hernand– Oh, wait.
Brett Wallace!
Clint barmes
Isn’t he Pirates now?
He was playing for Pittsburgh yesterday, so I’m gonna go with ‘Yes”.
Kyle Weiland
Brian Bogusevic
Jason Michaels?
Nope, he’s with the Nats.
Jed Lowrie
Humberto Quintero? Is he still there?
Nope – Royals
Bourgeois
Petty Bourgeoisie is a Kansas City Royal now.
Matt Downs, Jason Bourgeois on the list as well!
Also Chris Johnson to be added (if not said above already). I can think of some more if I spend a few minutes on it. We need to use that website where you can make fill in the blank challenges and reward the member who can complete it the most.
I thought of another one. Couldn’t put my finger on his name earlier.
He’s a relief pitcher – Sammy (Samuel) Gervacio
This would be a sad little Sporacle quiz indeed.
Fernando Martinez
Altuve 2B
I think a strong testament to the difficulty of this task is the fact that everyone keeps commenting with like the same 5 names or just providing answers in the form of questions.
And no one has yet named the guy in the photo!
JB Shuck. But to be fair, Jeff Sullivan had a similar exercise on twitter two weeks ago.
Marwin Gonzalez. You know I cheated for that one.
Seems we forgot Hunter Pence and Lance Berkman.
Is it Rule 5 Draft first pick Rhiner Cruz?
winner
Starting roster? Yeesh… um…
Brett Walla-… Oh, he’s in the minors?
Zach Du-… wait, nope, traded.
I believe there’s something called a J.B. “Aww” Schucks. I assume the J.B. stands for Jim Beam.
Zach Duke was released, and signed by the Nationals within a day or two.
Albert Pujols?
Ones not mentioned off the top: Wesley Wright, Enerio Del Rosario, Lucas Harrell…and one or two more I’m forgetting I’m sure.
carlos… mar…ti.. nez?
Is CC Sabathia still in Houston?
Rodger Clemens will be by June
Oh! Justin Ruggiano!
My fiancee and I sat behind first at an Astros spring training game, and she ranked the attractiveness of the players’ hindquarters. Her rankings were thusly: 1. Jordan Schafer 2. Justin Ruggiano 3. J.D. Martinez n. (where n=highest possible number) Carlos Lee
Clint Barmes?
The writer needs to compile our contributions until we either get them all (not bloody likely) or surrender.
The rest of the rotation (Weiland and Harrell) has been named.
Four members of the bullpen (David Carpenter, Brandon Lyon, Wilton Lopez, Rhiner Cruz) have been named.
The remainder of the starting lineup (Schaefer, Lowrie or Sanchez, JD Martinez, Chris Johnson, Bogusevic, Altuve, and Castro) has been covered.
Four members of the bench (Marwin Gonzalez, Matt Downs, Justin Ruggiano, Chris Snyder) have been named.
According to my source (don’t click the link unless you want to be spoiled), that still leaves 2 bullpen guys and a bench player.
Hints:
1. One of the bullpen guys has the same last name as someone else mentioned in this comment thread.
2. The other bullpen guy is first on the team in alphabetical order.
3. The bench guy used to be on the A’s.
Oh! Fernando Abad. I saw him twice this spring and forgot him already.
Did henry sosa make the team?
The other bench guy is Travis Buck.
I am crying.
yes, indeed
did oberholtzer make the team?
F. Abad as the bullpen guy?
yes. one more guy to go.
BobbyMac said him at 12:36 pm!
Indeed. I was searching with ctrl-f, so I missed nicknames. Thus, this exercise is complete, and Fernando Abad wins the award for least remembered Astro. Or least known Astro, I suppose. Least Astro. Congratulations.
The Lastro?
I live in Houston and I’m an Astros fan (yes, cry for me Argentina), and all I can come up with for the last bullpen spot is either a rodriguez, a fernandez, or something like that. There have been a lot of Latin pitchers passing through here lately.
Can I look ahead and say Mark Appel?
Man, I can’t believe they cut Justin Upton.
Roy Oswalt?
He will also be their ASG rep.
:D
(5 SP) Wandy, Lucas Harrell, Kyle Weiland, J.A. Happ, Bud Norris
(2 C) Jason Castro & Chris Snyder
(4 IF) Carlos Lee, Jose Altuve, Jed Lowrie, Chris Johnson
(2 b/up IF) Matt Downs & Marwin Gonzalez
(3 OF) J.D. Martinez, Jordan Schafer, Brian Bougesevic (hasn’t been announced yet)
(2 b/u OF) J.B. Shuck, Travis Buck, or Justin Ruggiano
Brett Myers, Wilton Lopez, Brandon Lyon, Rhiner Cruz & either David Carpenter, Wesley Wright or Fernando Abad.
How many is that?
I vote Castro for All-Star rep
I’m gonna say Chris Johnson was their All-Star rep last year
Terry Puhl. Craig Baggio.
The last one (swear I didn’t cheat) is Brian Bixler.
Rhiner Cruz. Fernando abad Scott Moore Matt downs