Before a player can play in the majors, he usually has to begin playing on his major league team's farm team (minor leagues); then he can move his way up to the majors.   The minor leagues are very exciting to follow, because you are able to track future stars.  Talking to the players/getting autographs is incredibly easy at minor league games (kind of like spring training).  This page is about my favorite minor league team, the Astros' AA affiliate, the Jackson Generals.   This is the last year for the Generals, however- next season they'll be in Round Rock, Texas, as the Round Rock Express.
 
My favorite Generals players are catcher Pedro Lopez and shortstop Julio Lugo.  I got to meet both of them at Astros spring training last march.  Mr. Lopez also plays on another one of my favorite teams- a winter Puerto Rican team called the  Santurce Crabbers.

I got to go to my very first Generals game this season.  The Generals were playing the Midland Rock Hounds (A's).  There was hardly anyone at the game, so my family and I got really good seats.  Before the game, I got pictures of/autographs from 3 Generals players, including pitcher Eric Ireland (he pitched a no-hitter a month ago for the Astros' Kissimmee Cobras).  The game was close- both Pedro Lopez and Chris Truby hit homers for the Generals- but the Hounds rallied in the 8th and ended up winning 8-6.  After the game I got to get a few more autographs, including one from Pedro Lopez.

Within a couple of weeks, I'll have pictures posted from our trip.