Manager: Steve Beren

Notable: Begin play in 1998

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Biographical Information

Seattle, Wa., February 9, 2005 -- Biographical information on Steve Beren.... born September 9, 1951 in New York City.... First MLB game: July 29, 1961 at Yankee Stadium (Yankees beat Baltimore 5-4, Whitey Ford pitched for the Yankees, Yogi Berra homered, Brooks Robinson was Baltimore's lead-off batter).... Started playing Strat-O-Matic in 1963 (first game: 1962 Pirates at 1962 Cubs -- all I can remember is that Bill Virdon led off the game by bouncing back to the mound).... Family: Parents (Martin and Judy Beren) and my younger brother Ralph and his wife Susan live in Florida, my even younger brother David lives in Texas; my wife Sandie and I have no children but we do have several nieces and nephews.... Residence: Since 1987, I have lived in Seattle. Previously, I lived in New York City (1951-54, 1957-72, 1975-83); Richmond, Virginia (1954-57); Chicago (1972-73); Detroit (1973-75); and New Orleans (1983-87).... Occupation: Since 2003, have worked as the production manager for the Seattle office of an internet retail marketing company.... Favorite baseball players of all-time: Johnny Blanchard, Mickey Mantle, Joe Pepitone, Jim Bouton.... Favorite baseball team: New York Yankees.... Stadiums in which I have witnessed major league baseball: Yankee Stadium, Polo Grounds, Shea Stadium, Riverfront Stadium, Old Comiskey Park, Wrigley Field, Tiger Stadium, Candlestick Park, Kingdome, Oakland Coliseum, Pro Play Stadium, Louisiana Superdome (spring training exhibition).... Stadiums in which I have witnessed pro football: Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Kingdome, Mile High Stadium, Louisiana Superdome (USFL).... Favorite hockey team: New York Rangers.... Favorite beverage: Diet Dr Pepper.... Sports experience: in Little League, played as a backup centerfielder, never hit a fair ball, all plate appearances led to walks or strikeouts. But for several years in the late 1970's and early 1980's, I played on the South Bronx Stars in a competitive fastpitch softball league. My lifetime batting average was .160, but one year I did hit .280.... Websites: http://members.aol.com/sberen2000/ESSOM/links.htm is my SOM Baseball Links Website; www.steveberen.com is my political website.... Politics: patriotic citizen activist speaking and writing in support of the U.S.-led war against terrorism.... Religion: evangelical Christian.... Favorite Radio Personalities: Barry Farber, Jayne Carroll, Sean Hannity, Dr. Laura Schlessinger.... Other hobbies and interests: spicy food, country music....

1998 Recap

The Rockets went 49-113 in their expansion year, finishing last in batting average (.,247), ERA (5.70), errors (163), and numerous other categories....

Meanwhile, the other two expansion teams made the playoffs.... Number one draft pick Frank Thomas (1b/dh) was in a slump for half the season, and although he put up reasonably good numbers (for someone else), he was a disappointment at .295 and 27 homers with 86 rbis.... Greg Colbrunn (1b/ph) hit .301.... Rey Sanchez (.271, 29 doubles) at short teamed with Carlos Baerga (.266) to form the doubleplay combination.... Big disappointments were Russ Davis at third (.213), Chad Curtis in center (.225), and Sammy Sosa in right (31 homers but hit only .212)....

It was nice to see Curtis and reliever Graeme Lloyd make it to the MLB World Series, but Curtis didn't play and Graeme only pitched 1/3 of an inning.... Lloyd did, however, get national attention when he mistakenly ran in from the bullpen when Joe Torre had signaled for a different pitcher.... Draft picks Kevin Millwood and Bartolo Colon look promising, and in fact, the Rockets can be optimistic over their youth and pitching.... Catcher Darrin Fletcher was way too easy to run on, and the Rockets gave up way too many stolen bases.... Also, Fletcher behind the plate meant almost everyone had to be held on base, adding to the batting average of opposing teams....

Worth noting:

#1: The Rockets had a better slugging percentage than the Chicago Stubby Lions....

#2: The Rockets led the league in fewest wild pitches....

#3: The Rockets were second in the league in homers on the road....

#4: The Rockets out-homered their opponents, 196-188 (and Rocket pitchers hit four homers)....

#5: We were 7-6 in extra inning games, and split the season series with two clubs (Cobbtown, Flounders)....

The two best starting pitchers were Pedro Astacio (7-11, 4.61, 154 K's) and Esteban Loaiza (7-14, 4.99).... The two best relievers were Kent Bottenfield (2.30 in 47 ip, allowing only 1 of 13 inherited runners to score) and Marc Valdes (6-2, 3.34 in 70 innings, allowing only 22.7% of inherited runners to score).... The Rockets had 20 saves (in 41 opportunities), and Paul Quantrill led the club with 9 saves.... A sad moment during the season was the death of coach Elmer Valo.... There are rumors that GM Lance Smith (former pro football player with the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants) may be fired.... The coaching staff (Pete O'Brien, Tito Francona, Rick Manning, Steve Renko) and manager Luis Tiant will all be back (owner Steve Beren especially wants to see how Tiant and Renko work with the developing young pitching staff)....

The sales of Diet Dr Pepper soared throughout Florida - from Miami to Jacksonville, from Orlando to Tampa Bay....

1998 Roster

Biographical Information

Seattle, Wa., March 15 -- Biographical information on Steve Beren.... born September 9, 1951 in New York City.... First MLB game: July 29, 1961 at Yankee Stadium (Yankees beat Baltimore 5-4, Whitey Ford pitched for the Yankees, Yogi Berra homered, Brooks Robinson was Baltimore's lead-off batter).... Started playing Strat-O-Matic in 1963 (first game: 1962 Pirates at 1962 Cubs -- all I can remember is that Bill Virdon led off the game by bouncing back to the mound).... Family: Parents (Martin and Judy Beren) live in Hollywood, Florida; my younger brother Ralph and his wife Susan live in Miramar, Florida; my even younger brother David lives in Harris County, Texas; I'm not married and have no children but do have three nieces and one nephew.... Residence: Since 1987, I have lived in Seattle. Previously, I lived in New York City (1951-54, 1957-72, 1975-83); Richmond, Virginia (1954-57); Chicago (1972-73); Detroit (1973-75); and New Orleans (1983-87).... Education: John Adams High School, Ozone Park, New York (class of 1968); City College of New York (class of 1972 -- but dropped out October 1970).... Occupation: Since 1996, have worked in the administrative division of a Seattle law firm, Bullivant Houser Bailey. Other notable employment: Atlas Van Lines, Detroit (1973-75), Allied Van Lines, New York (1975-77), Social Security Administration, Bronx, New York (1977-83), Tulane University, New Orleans (1986-87), Boeing, Kent, Washington (1988-89); and Washington State Government (1989-95).... Favorite baseball players of all-time: Johnny Blanchard, Mickey Mantle, Joe Pepitone, Jim Bouton.... Favorite baseball team: New York Yankees.... Stadiums in which I have witnessed major league baseball: Yankee Stadium, Polo Grounds, Shea Stadium, Riverfront Stadium, Old Comiskey Park, Wrigley Field, Tiger Stadium, Candlestick Park, Kingdome, Oakland Coliseum, Louisiana Superdome (spring training exhibition).... Stadiums in which I have witnessed pro football: Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Kingdome, Mile High Stadium, Louisiana Superdome (USFL).... Favorite non- baseball teams: New York Knicks, New York Rangers.... Favorite beverage: Diet Dr Pepper.... Height: 5'7".... Weight: 140 lbs.... Hair: dark brown, turning gray and thinning.... Eyes: dark brown.... Sports experience: in Little League, played as a backup centerfielder, never hit a fair ball, all plate appearances led to walks or strikeouts. But for several years in the late 1970's and early 1980's, I played on the South Bronx Stars in a competitive fastpitch softball league. My lifetime batting average was .160, but one year I did hit .280.... Politics: Moderate Liberal Democrat.... Religion: Unaffiliated Christian leaning to Lutheran.... Favorite Radio Personality: Dr. Laura Schlessinger.... Other hobbies and interests: spicy food, country music....