This is a great post, and it’s not surprising to me at all because you always come off as super smart and reasonable. To be insanely clear, I’m pissed off when we leave runners on base….or can’t manage a run over 16 innings vs the (checks notes) Giants (I texted my son to vent about that)…but my big picture includes the fact we’re on a historic run for a franchise that is like family to me and that for most of my life has been historically not so great. I was at both Rockets championships…I mean in the building for both of them, and the first was a massive weight lifted off the city. I’ll argue forever that you can assemble whoever you want, but the 95 playoff Rockets will figure out how to beat them, because that’s EXACTLY what they did. I was at Oiler playoff games and was absolutely in love with run and shoot Oiler era. Cris Dishman is among my favorite athletes in any sport (real Bill Doran energy). But good lord, Houston football fans deserve way better than what we’ve been given by two franchises now….also, I was voted most optimistic in high school (no, seriously I was), and I’m pumped about where I think the Texans might be going, but would feel way better about it if they had just named them Apollos from the start to lean into the whole space theme but it’s whatever. The Astros have been my favorite professional sports team since I was about 10 years old, and OMG we were not great in 1984. 1986 was just heartbreaking. Loved the 90’s and I can’t listen to Everlong without thinking about the 1998 team, that, to that point, was the best Astros team ever. A WS appearance in 2005 was amazing, even though…. So yeah, I’m a huge forest guy. My parents had a pool in our backyard (I’m insanely privileged and I know it) and I remember bringing the radio out to listen to the ‘stros and eat Ding Dongs in the pool…and going to my grandparents house in Huntsville where the only thing I had to look forward to was watching the game that night with them because they both believed Houston actually became a city when we got a baseball team….and then going to Baylor and wearing Astros gear across campus all the time right around the time the Rangers (a bunch of my friends were from South Oklahoma) got a new ballpark…then staying up most of the night hitting refresh on a computer in (I think 96 right before I graduated in December) the Baylor library and it won by less than 1%…..I was coming home to Houston after graduation and already knew my football team was leaving, and I was so terrified I was about to lose my Astros. But that ****ing downtown ballpark was on the way. My granddad was dead by then but his Irish ass had two great loves: the Astros and trains. He was a railroad guy and when he retired he leaned hard into model trains. When i walked into MMP the first time right through Union Station I got chills thinking about him, and I’m convinced he has been there for all these games…including the first game I took my older son to in 2001..and then was there in that ballpark with that same kid for Chris Burke’s HR (he was 5 and we stayed for all of it) and Lance throwing nothing but curveballs to clinch a pennant and Springer clutching that last out. This team connects me to my kids and to my grandparents. So yeah, I’m a ****ing forest guy… our Astros are incredible and insanely relevant in ways I could never imagine. Yankees fans hate us…the NY Yankees with all their history and wealth hate us!!!! God I hope my grandparents are aware of that! So yeah, we lost to the Giants today, and it was a shitty series. Let’s get it turned around. Go ‘stros!
@ Mariners (13-16) @ Angels (16-14) @ White Sox (9-21) Cubs (15-14) A’s (6-24) @ Brewers (18-11) @ A’s (6-24) Twins (17-13) Spoiler Split with White Sox (9-21) L 2/3 to Tigers (11-17) L 2/3 to Twins (17-13) W 2/3 Pirates (20-10) L 2/3 to Rangers (18-12) W 2/3 to Blue Jays (18-12) Swept the Braves (20-10) W 2/3 to Rays (24-6) L 2/3 to Phillies (15-17) L 2/3 to Giants (13-17)
Yea man, my dad took me to the Astrodome in 74' my first game as a 4 year old. My old man loved Dierker. My pops died in July 2016 so never got to see either chip so man I'll tell you I feel blessed and grateful. I'm not going anywhere, ever. It aint easy being a Houston sports fan but that's all it is, sports.
The stat that epitomizes our season perfectly. Valdez has given up 3 or fewer ER in all 7 of his starts. The Astros are 2-5 in his starts.
Hey man, (I sound like Dusty) you didn't come off as a jerk, just a passionate fan. I like your takes and you're respectful. I agree, some of the fan base is spoiled and rightfully so. I mean if we win just one more in 19' or 21' we're up there with all time great runs. I mean we still are but yea, anyway, had a few shots so uh yea.......BTW my real name is Vernon so I dig the pic, Max is one of my all time favorites
I would say TLDR but I did. You have a lot in common with a lot of fans of this franchise and the other pro teams. Glad to see it.
Astros continue their home struggles (8-9) They're .667 (8-4) on the road though This bodes well for the future because usually it's opposite for most teams The outcome is set to transpire well
If you are an older Houston sports fan like me, the default emotions following our teams was a mixture of pride, sadness, dread and anxiety. The immense success of the Astros over the last 6 years has been like going to therapy and taking antidepressants. I just enjoy and appreciate the good times and laugh, when possible, when my teams suck. If the Astros miss the playoffs for the next 10 years, it's going to be ok.
Right there with you. Back in the Olajuwon glory days I would turn the TV down and turn up a 50 year old radio and enjoy the game Gene Petersen style. In fact for game four of the 95 sweep I recorded the game on vhs and used gene’s audio for the recording so I have that game with Gene calling overlaid. Best game I got to attend was game 5 against Phoenix in 94. You know. The one where we went down 0-2 at home only to come back and tie it on their floor. The energy in The Summit that night for game 5 was electric. For the Astros. I was taking my driving test the day Scott nono’d these giants to win the NL west. Surprised I passed because I wanted to be home watching that. I remember begging for a run in that marathon game 6 that knepper started thinking if we could just score 1 damn run we would have Scott in game 7 and that was lights out for the Mets. But Alas. Did not happen. 2005 was cool but getting broomed was a douse of cold water. Finally broke through in 2017 and finally I was at game 6 last year with my son for title number 2. It has been a great forest in Houston. Not going to freak out about this series. But would be lying if I said I am not concerned. Abreu looks washed. Three starters down. Bregman a shell (so far). Energy not there yet, but I think they will go on one of those May/June put distance between them and the Next best. Hopefully that is the way it goes.
Same age, took my test in 86 also. If I recall correctly back then you still had a hwy patrolmen or cop grade you.
Sounds like we’re about the same age and grew up with the same Houston sports memories as painful as “most” of them were. I think your point is that these last (6) years of Astros baseball are the closest thing this most unfortunate professional sports town has ever seen to a dynasty and deserves to be appreciated for what it is because it certainly hasn’t been this way often if EVER in H-town
