Happy Birthday -2/7

No future Astros, only former Astros and minor league coaches with birthdays today

RHP Burt Hooton (62)
Burt Hooton was never an Astro but has been a pitching coach with the team both at the major league level and minor league level for several years now.  As a player, he was a first round pick for the Cubs in 1971.  In 15 seasons for the Cubs, Dodgers and Rangers, he was 151-136 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.243 WHIP.  A one-time All-Star in 1981, he came in second in Cy Young voting in 1978 behind Gaylord Perry and ahead of Vida Blue and J.R. Richard.  That year he was 19-10 with a 2.71 ERA and a 1.089 WHIP.  Hooton had been the major league pitching coach under Jimy Williams and was fired along with Williams when Phil Garner took over as manager.  Thankfully he is still in the organization and serves as pitching coach in Oklahoma City.  In 2011, J.A. Happ had a 6.01 ERA and a 1.630 WHIP before Hooton worked with him; he had a 3.51 ERA and a 1.268 WHIP afterwards.  Just sayin'.

RHP Dave Borkowski (35)
Borkowski pitched in 130 games for Houston from 2006 to 2008 with a 5.44 ERA and a 1.517 WHIP before retiring to coach for the organization.  In 2012, he will again be the hitting coach for the Lexington team.  Aside from baseball, Dave and his wife Jill have a passion for helping animals.  They started the photo calendars featuring Astros players with pets to raise money for animal groups and encourage adoptions, and were featured in this USA today article back in October 2011 focusing on their charitable endeavors and hands-on work to help and protect animals.

LHP Juan Pizarro (75)
Pitched in 15 games for Houston in 1973