2004 Houston Astros season

MLB yearly infobox
name = Houston Astros
season = 2004
misc = Hosted the All-Star Game
National League Wild Card Champions

current league = National League
y1 = 1962
division = Central Division
y2 = 1994
Uniform
ballpark = Minute Maid Park
y4 = 2000
city = Houston, Texas
y5 = 1962
owners = Drayton McLane, Jr.
managers = Jimy Williams and Phil Garner
television =
radio =
espntn = hou
brtn = HOU|

The Houston Astros' 2004 season was a season in which the Astros endured various changes. The biggest change was at the managerial level. Despite a 44-44 record, Jimy Williams was replaced by Phil Garner.

Offseason

*November 3, 2003: Billy Wagner was traded by the Houston Astros to the Philadelphia Phillies for Brandon Duckworth, Taylor Buchholz, and Ezequiel Astacio. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wagnebi02.shtml]
*December 16, 2003: Andy Pettite was Signed as a Free Agent with the Houston Astros. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/pettian01.shtml Andy Pettitte Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]
* January 19, 2004: Roger Clemens signed as a Free Agent with the Houston Astros. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/clemero02.shtml Roger Clemens Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]

Regular season

eason Standings

Transactions

*April 17, 2004: Kirk Saarloos was traded by the Houston Astros to the Oakland Athletics for Chad Harville. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/saarlki01.shtml]
*June 7, 2004: Hunter Pence was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2nd round of the 2004 amateur draft. Player signed July 14, 2004. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/pencehu01.shtml]
*June 7, 2004: J.R. Towles was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 20th round of the 2004 amateur draft. Player signed June 16, 2004. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/towlejr01.shtml]

All-Star Game

The by|2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 75th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL). The game was held on July 13, 2004 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, the home of the Houston Astros of the National League. The last All-Star Game held in Houston was in 1986. Three members of the Astros were in the starting lineup; Roger Clemens (who played in the 1986 All-Star Game) was the starting pitcher, Jeff Kent was at second base, and Lance Berkman was one of the three outfielders starting in the game. Carlos Beltran was added to the team as a reserve. The game had an attendance of 41,886 and boxing legend Muhammad Ali threw the ceremonial first pitch of the game. The final result was the American League defeating the National League 9-4, thus awarding an AL team (which would eventually be the Boston Red Sox) home-field advantage in the 2004 World Series.

National League Divisional Playoffs

Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros

Houston wins series, 3-2

National League Championship Series

t. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros

Awards and Honors

* Roger Clemens, National League Cy Young AwardAll-Star Game
* Roger Clemens, Pitcher, Starter
* Jeff Kent, Second Baseman, Starter
* Lance Berkman, Outfield, Starter

* Carlos Beltran, Outfield, Reserve

References

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2004.shtml 2004 Houston Astros season at Baseball Reference]
*Game Logs::1st Half: [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/schedule?team=hou&season=2004&seasonType=2&half=1 Houston Astros Game Log] on ESPN.com:2nd Half: [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/schedule?team=hou&season=2004&seasonType=2&half=2 Houston Astros Game Log] on ESPN.com
*Batting Statistics: [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/batting?team=hou&season=2004&seasonType=2 Houston Astros Batting Stats] on ESPN.com
*Pitching Statistics: [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/pitching?team=hou&season=2004&seasonType=2 Houston Astros Pitching Stats] on ESPN.com

succession box
title = NL Wild Card
years = 2004
before = Florida Marlins
2003
after = Houston Astros
2005