I remember when the Astros were basically forced to move to the American League for Crane to purchase the team, I thought they would be irrelevant for a long time. Because of the way ESPN covers baseball, I’d always thought the American League was the “real” league with the most storied franchises, specifically the Red Sox and Yankees. It’s crazy that a major part of the Astros’ Golden Age has been them walloping the Red Sox frequently and dominating the Yankees for nearly a decade.
Astros have been swept 5x this season. NYY (4-game) = 1.5 KC = 1 ATL = 1 Cubs = 1 SEA (gentleman's sweep) = 0.5 If the Astros could have avoided 3 of those (because nobody is perfect) = 62-55 ---> 65-52 But the biggest factor (sans injuries) is the putrid 11-19 record in 1-run games. Win 5 more of those games: 62-55 ---> 67-50 Some of those sweeps happened with multiple 1-run losses within the same series. Astros are 0-3 in 1-run games vs Seattle. Jabreu is the single biggest disappointment (as far as one particular player) this season. His OPS (.361) was so bad, it will literally drag the entire team's OPS a full 12 points this entire season -- that's enough to make a 10th place team ranked either 5th or 15th. Haven't mentioned his defense.. Regardless, through it all, Astros are in good position and even better if Tucker and JV return. .
Thanks Lindor. You already lolly-gagged on your double that could've been a triple, which would've had you at 3rd with one out. Then, scoring on the long fly you advanced to 3rd on. Game should be a 1-run difference, instead it's 4.
Next AB: Rice Stadium has man on 3B and 2 out, so naturally he hits a routine GB to the SS who bobbles it, everybody safe (him at 1B and the run scores) Next guy hits a 2 run HR on the first ****ing pitch. 4-0 Seattle God I hate the Mets so, so much
Mariners get to face both the Phillies and Mets when they're both on their worse skids of the season. A ton of 1 run game wins barely squeaking by. Annoying.