Hey, good for Ezequiel Astacio

Ezequiel Astacio got his old job back, playing for the San Angelo Colts in 2010.

Astacio was 9-1 with a 3.68 ERA for the Colts in 2009.

Astacio could be giving the Zeke Face at a park near you

We find from this article that the Chicago Cubs have purchased Ezequiel Astacio's contract. I don't know when it happened, but...huh.

Astros starting pitcher debuts

Bud Norris took a no-hitter into the 6th and threw 7IP, 2H/0ER, 5K:4BB in his rotation debut. How does that compare to some other notable debuts in the last 20 years (we're talking about first career starts, not first starts for the Astros after being traded or signed as a free agent):

Darryl Kile: April 24, 1991 vs Cincinnati: 6IP, 0H/0ER, 5K:2BB in a 1-0, 13-inning win

Butch Henry: April 9, 1992 vs Cincinnati: 4.1IP, 8H/4ER, 2K:2BB in a 6-5 win

Shane Reynolds: July 20, 1992 vs Pittsburgh: 3.2IP, 8H/6ER, 2K:2BB in an 11-8 win

Chris Holt: April 4, 1997 vs St. Louis: 6.1IP, 6H/2ER, 4K:2BB in a 3-2 win

Scott Elarton: June 20, 1998 vs Cincinnati: 6.1IP, 5H/4ER, 9K:1BB in a 9-8 win

Wade Miller: July 7, 1999 at Arizona: 3IP, 8H/7ER, 3K:1BB in a 13-7 loss

Roy Oswalt: June 2, 2001 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: 6IP, 2H/1ER, 4K:0BB in a 2-1 win

Carlos Hernandez: August 18, 2001 vs Pittsburgh: 7IP, 2H/0ER, 7K:1BB in a 3-2 win

Jeriome Robertson: September 2, 2002 at Texas: 2.2IP, 6H/2ER, 1K:1BB in a 7-2 loss

Ezequiel Astacio: May 3, 2005 vs Pittsburgh: 6IP, 7H/4ER, 6K:1BB in a 7-4 loss

Wandy Rodriguez: May 23, 2005 @ Chicago Cubs: 5.2IP, 6H/4ER, 6K:1BB in a 4-1 loss

So Bud's start ranks up there with the best, but the #1 spot has to go to Darryl Kile who threw 6 no-hit innings in his first career start. Agree, or disagree?

Wherefore art thou: Ezequiel Astacio

Everyone's least favorite starter in HD...

Ezequiel Astacio! Remember him? He of the 5-6 career mark with the Astros, including the 14-inning 2005 WS G3 loser, in which he allowed 4H/2ER, with 2BB in .2IP? Let's revisit that 14th inning, with the game tied 5-5 (all five White Sox runs coming in the 5th)...

Dye: Singles to right
Konerko: GIDP
Blum: Home Run
Rowand: Single to third
Crede: Single to third
Uribe: Walk
Widger: Walk (Rowand scores)

That's it. Wandy came in to close out the 14th with a strikeout.

So Ezequiel, wherefore art thou? He's in San Angelo, pitching for the San Angelo Colts of the United League.

After being waived by the Astros following the '06 season, the Rangers picked him up and sent him to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he pitched in 2007 and 2008. The Rangers released him after he had surgery on a bone spur, and now you can see him pitch about 90 miles south of Abilene.