{"id":639650,"date":"2026-03-23T22:06:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T22:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/639650\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T22:06:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T22:06:34","slug":"astros-countdown-to-a-new-opening-day-with-high-expectations-geoff-blum-joins-randy-mcilvoy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/639650\/","title":{"rendered":"Astros countdown to a new opening day with high expectations; Geoff Blum joins Randy McIlvoy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Astros open season Thursday vs. AL West-rival Angels at Daikin Park<\/p>\n<p>No description found<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">HOUSTON \u2013 This past offseason was a long one for the Houston Astros organization and it didn\u2019t sit well with the team or the fan base. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Fresh off of a decade long ride to the postseason including ALCS\u2019s and World Series runs, the club was done when the season ended in early October.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The setback served as motivation for the team to return to the playoffs and made several moves to bolster the team, especially the starting pitching rotation, throughout the busy winter. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">New arms are in place now and with that comes high expectations not only with the pitching staff but also the lineup many believe can be productive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">KPRC 2 Sports Director Randy McIlvoy caught up with longtime Astros TV Analyst Geoff Blum Sunday night on Sports Sunday to break down the team and new additions as they return home to open the season against the Angels on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 nALdY copyright\">Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<p>About the AuthorRandy McIlvoy headshot<a class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__LinkBase-sc-1fnzlkn-9 eUojqd gMnWPT\" href=\"https:\/\/www.click2houston.com\/team\/LBEINGM7IJAI5PVLPLDMKRPQOY\/\" title=\"View Randy McIlvoy&#039;s full profile\" itemprop=\"url\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Randy McIlvoy<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 gnunoy bOlrXa\">KPRC 2 Sports Director since 2004. Covers the Astros, Texans, Rockets, Dynamo, Dash and a few hundred local high schools across the Greater Houston Area<\/p>\n<p>Rising fuel prices also increasing cost of flights<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 1:01<\/p>\n<p>Rising fuel prices also increasing cost of flightsSubscribe to Houston Life Deals!<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:33<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe to Houston Life Deals!Health inspectors found thawed seafood, food stored in buckets at Mama Tina\u2019s Gumbo<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 1:05<\/p>\n<p>Health inspectors found thawed seafood, food stored in buckets at Mama Tina\u2019s GumboSurviving the Spring allergy season in Houston!<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 1:31<\/p>\n<p>Surviving the Spring allergy season in Houston!ICE agents helping TSA as Houston airports face long lines<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:33<\/p>\n<p>ICE agents helping TSA as Houston airports face long linesLegendary rodeo clown Leon Coffee transitions after retirement in Houston<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:35<\/p>\n<p>Legendary rodeo clown Leon Coffee transitions after retirement in HoustonCRAZY lines seen at Houston&#8217;s Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 1:10<\/p>\n<p>CRAZY lines seen at Houston&#8217;s Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)You heard that boom\u2026 \ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 2:45<\/p>\n<p>You heard that boom\u2026 \ud83d\udca5\u2604\ufe0fMeteor Fireball Shakes Houston<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 1:29<\/p>\n<p>\u2604\ufe0fMeteor Fireball Shakes HoustonA meteoroid hit a Houston home. Yes, you read that correctly! \u2604\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:59<\/p>\n<p>A meteoroid hit a Houston home. Yes, you read that correctly! \u2604\ufe0f\u2604\ufe0f Meteor over Texas!! <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:10<\/p>\n<p>\u2604\ufe0f Meteor over Texas!! Meteor over Houston!<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:49<\/p>\n<p>Meteor over Houston!The Legendary Leon Coffee at RodeoHouston<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:36<\/p>\n<p>The Legendary Leon Coffee at RodeoHouston\ud83d\udea8 North Freeway shut down \ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:42<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udea8 North Freeway shut down \ud83d\udea8Coogs dominate first two rounds<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 1:13<\/p>\n<p>Coogs dominate first two roundsSingle family has supplied bucking horses and bulls for RodeoHouston for decades<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:53<\/p>\n<p>Single family has supplied bucking horses and bulls for RodeoHouston for decadesRecord-Breaking Temps: \ud83e\udd75<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 1:50<\/p>\n<p>Record-Breaking Temps: \ud83e\udd75UH vs TAMU Saturday night \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 1:10<\/p>\n<p>UH vs TAMU Saturday night \ud83c\udfc0Long TSA lines expected at Houston airports again as government shutdown causes staffing shortages<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 2:16<\/p>\n<p>Long TSA lines expected at Houston airports again as government shutdown causes staffing shortagesPremium vs. regular gas: Should you switch?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:49<\/p>\n<p>Premium vs. regular gas: Should you switch?Fort Bend County Judge KP George taken into custody after guilty verdict<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:50<\/p>\n<p>Fort Bend County Judge KP George taken into custody after guilty verdictWhy is the energy capital of the world paying more for gas?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:33<\/p>\n<p>Why is the energy capital of the world paying more for gas?I&#8217;s March Madness<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 0:25<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;s March MadnessUH wins over Idaho in March Madness <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 1:00<\/p>\n<p>UH wins over Idaho in March Madness Today is the day of the Jr Market Show at the Houston Rodeo <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kSMyDq jdBbpv\">\u25b6 1:10<\/p>\n<p>Today is the day of the Jr Market Show at the Houston Rodeo Previous photoNext photo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Astros open season Thursday vs. AL West-rival Angels at Daikin Park No description found HOUSTON \u2013 This past&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":639651,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2389],"tags":[42,5,139,54,3211,19,4,1406],"class_list":{"0":"post-639650","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston-astros","8":"tag-astros","9":"tag-baseball","10":"tag-houston","11":"tag-houston-astros","12":"tag-houstonastros","13":"tag-major-league-baseball","14":"tag-mlb","15":"tag-opening-day"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116280766301617089","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=639650"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639650\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/639651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=639650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=639650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=639650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}