Bourn is Hot... but the Stove is Not

The World Series is over. Some team from the West Coast won, I hear. Meanwhile, there's supposed to be a lot of action going on in the free agent market, but the Astros don't seem to be in the running for any big names. All part of the rebuilding that started after the World Series - let's take a look at those kids, maybe fill a hole here and there. But don't hold your breath thinking that we're going to be signing away the big bucks this winter.

It's a new world for the Astros, a team which was one of the most geriatric in the league not long ago. Now our veterans are guys like Michael Bourn, who at 27 has just snagged his second Gold Glove. Given that there's not much news on Astros.com, I'll dedicate the rest of this blog to some of my pix of Bourn, taken at Spring Training and Astros @ Nats games here in Exile.

It's no wonder that Bourn has led the league in steals - he can really fly. Speaking of flying, this flying shortstop picture is one of my favorite Spring Training shots ever.

The stereotypical picture of Bourn on first base... don't blink - he'll be on second!

Bourn doesn't stop at second - here he is stealing third too.

Here's one that he didn't quite pull off - Bourn in a rundown...

Here's an early look at Bourn as an Astro - taken at Spring Training in 2008 after we got him in trade from the Phillies.

Speed accounts for lots of Bourn's singles on bunt and infield hits.

Unfortunately, I don't have much in the way of the leaping and rolling catches that won Bourn his Golden Glove.

To end, here are Bourn and Pence celebrating a win over the Nationals in July 2008. I was able to get this great field-level angle due to fantastic birthday-present tickets from my son Josh, who came down from NY just for the day to take me to see the Astros.

Sadly, Bourn was injured when the Astros played the Nats here in Washington in September. I'm looking forward to seeing Bourn, Pence, and Wandy (our veterans!) and all the new guys in Spring Training - just a few months away!