Last year we made it to the NLCS. This year we made it to the World Series. Next year we will take the whole thing. Book it.
Astros Appreciation Thread I know a lot of us are depressed and pissed but lets give the Stros their due. Yes we got swept but we didn't get blown out of any games. The Stros fought and the Chisox got their breaks. This season though has been a great one for the Stros. To come back after the hometown paper has buried them and make it to the World Series. For that matter to bring the first World Series to Texas in 45 years of Texas MLB baseball is no mean accomplishment. Beating the Braves and dominating the best offensive team in baseball is no mean feat either. Lets give a hand to the 2005 Stros. They've gone farther than any Texas baseball team and come back from farther down than any MLB team than 1907 LETS GO STROS!
Great, great year 'Stros! We ran into a better team in the Series but they shouldn't have any shame. They played with these guys but just seemed to get jinxed with pitching injuries/slumps and bats going even colder than usual in key situations. I could say some things about Chicago fans (they are actually saying this team could beat any team from the past ), but I'll keep this thread clean. Congrats to the Sox. A good team with clearly no holes. Thanks for the great memories 'Stros! I'll never forget the ride dispite the end.
Thanks for the memories Astros! I still can't believe we actually made it here. After such a horrid start, and to be in the WS?! Amazing. Hell, our offense was gawd aweful when we played the Cardinals, and yet some how we man handled them to a 4-2 series win. Too bad we couldn't win a game in the WS, but atleast we got out first pennant. ~~ 2005 National League Champions Houston Astros!~~ Hope we get some real bats for next season to help out the pitching. We needed those badley this season, just like the Rockets needed a PF this past season of NBA playoffs. Well, time to switch sports. Back the the NBA I go and into the CF.net chat room to follow the Rockets. My fingers have had a long break. Time for me to go back and do NBA PBP for the Rockets games. Good night all. I'm out. Thanks Stros. Sleep tight Lidge, you can regain your composure in 5months. Once again. LATER DUDES! Been another fun year to chat with the True Astros fans in this forum. You know who you are, the guys who never really gave up on the team. Cheers to the optimists. ---Uprising
A great group of guys, no doubt. Nobody saw a World Series team in this group in the first 3 months of the season, yet they persevered. Tim Purpura should buy everyone on this team dinner. They made him look damn good, when it looked like he was due for a roasting. Now the challenge for him and Garner is to keep this team chemistry intact while improving the hitting, and keeping the pitching strong.
It was a great season. Can anybody more knowledgable in baseball tell me why the Astros will be better in the next few years? I need something to brighten my day.
Thank you Astros, from the slow start, to slowly kicking it in june then kicking ass in july. What a run in the post season, so many close games my heart will never be the same, I think it missed a few beats.
I think this was our best shot for years to come. Bagwell's shoulder isn't going to repair much in the offseason if at all. Biggio and him just got a year older. Also Roger may not be coming back. I don't know how our offseason is looking, but maybe there's room to be optimistic. If not though, we're really not looking too good next season. You can only ride the coattails of Biggio, Bagwell, and Clemens for so long.
Thank you Astros.. this was the 1st year I really followed them from day 1. Props to getting through all those problems and overcoming a tumultuous offseason. We lost to the better team and our holes really showed up this series. None of you expected this so don't complain about problems in the world series. As for next year, the onus is on Purpura to make some moves and upgrade our offense. And finally, props to Bud Selig who will go out of his way to make sure a roof is open but will drag his feet when it comes to getting umpires to ask for help on calls and stopping steroids. Baseball's a great sport in spite of Selig not because of him. (Although I'll give him credit for making the wild card)
They were the better team this series. The Astros got some things going, but were never able to execute when they needed it most. In fact, it was somewhat disappointing. However, this is still a great year. I won't be like a Braves fan and think it's WS Champs or bust. I won't be like the Cardinals fans and tell myself that the future is bright. I'm an Astros fan and that's THAT. I enjoyed this year. I went through hard times with the team, and went through great times. I've watched each player struggle at times from Biggio to Lidge. I've watched Ensberg become an All-Star and lost his swing when it counted. I watched Bagwell come back and swung like Caminiti in the WS. I saw Berkman become a feared icon of the Astros and Ausmus swinging with some consistency. I saw Lamb hit with tremendous power and Vizcaino run out of magic. I see our fans screaming their lungs out and that one fan who I thought should've set a road block on Uribe to give Burke another chance at bat. (That would've been ok because the ball was in the stands far enough). I've seen "fairweather fans" pump their hearts at terminal velocity and I've seen Drayton and Nolan watched like they were going to collapse. I've seen Pettitte healthy for a season and gave it what he's got and Clemens gutting out every last pitch from his 43 year old body. I've seen Backe pitch his heart out only to cheer even harder. This is a year I won't ever forget, and for that, THANK YOU ASTROS! I've always known that I'll be a fan for life, and I can not see myself ever deviate from a team as classy and gutsy as this. No matter WHAt kind of team we're going to field next year, expect me to attend games left and right and stare at the NL Champions banner proudly. I'll watch Phil Garner manage the All-Star game and hopefully bring the NL some home field next season, regardless of whether the Astros make it or not. I'll cheer for my team hoping that Roger comes back. I'll hope that Bagwell makes the most out of his final year of this big contract and Biggio chase for 3,000. Lidge, it's a collapse, but everyone goes through these things. Your fault or not, it's up to you to get it all back. You've been valuable and we would NEVER be there without you. Nolan Ryan lost 2 games in the '86 NLCS if I remember right. You can also bounce back. Roy, it's 1 game. Those hits are mostly bloopers. Take it from Biggio and Bagwell. You should be an Astro for life. We believed in you and we took you when no one else would. You gave our team some spazz and life. the team will go through some success and failures. Be an ASTRO, be there through it all. Us Fans have. Berkman, we'll get you some help Ensberg, you need to get back to basics. Patience is always important; and you can not go around changing your stance per outing. Stick to basics and get it back. Baseball is a team game, and it's definitely not all of one person's fault. Willy, come back strong, work on some bat control. If you can work hard, the sky's the limit for you. Roger, come back, stay healthy, thank you for coming back and allow us fans in Houston to personally witness what a legend that you truly are. Biggio, I know it's painful to be at the On-Deck Circle watching the final out. Your new quest begins here. 3,000 is yours to get and regardless of what they're paying you, I want to see you get it in MMP as an Astro. Come back strong. The rest of the Astro (this is getting too long to continue like this), some of you will come back, some will not. It's really a shame that we couldn't see you go all the way this season. Regardless, this is nothing short of magical. The White Sox outexecuted us this year, but a baseball's round. No one can tell which way it will roll next season. You might very well be back and I'll be here to support you every step of the way. For the extent of a season, we've seen each Astro for who they really am, an ASTRO that gives it all he got day in and day out. You've given me every reason to always cheer for the team, not that I wouldn't, and more importantly, you've given Milo Hamilton something that he'll never forget. This has been a ride that I'll never forget. So THANK YOU to you, the 2005 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS HOUSTON ASTROS!!!
there are a few things/persons i'm mad at but honestly, i'll admit i left them for dead after being 15 games under .500. But they pulled it together and made this season very memorable. Thank you, Astros, for making me eat crow! We still kicked the Cards asses!!!!!
Well, I'm not particularly knowledgeable, but I'll give you a three good reasons: 1. Youth - take away Roger, Bigg, and Bags, and the Astros are a pretty young team. Roger is a legend, no doubt, but we lost a lot of games with him pitching, so even if he retires and we replace him, it won't automatically equal more losses. Bags is done. I think his shoulder might be the final factor that makes him decide it's time to hang up the cleats. But, since he was a non-factor for much of the season, that's a wash, as well. I think Bigg still has a year or two left in him, and after that, if the 'Stros don't ask him to become a coach, they're morons. I think Bigg is an Astro til the day he dies. 2. Experience - you can't underestimate the value of playing in this level of game. I believe our experience playing in the NLCS last year was the determining factor in us winning the NLCS this year. These guys have gotten a taste of the WS. They'll want to come back for seconds. 3. Camaraderie - by all reports, this is a tight-knit group of guys. They like each other, like playing together, and like playing in Houston. That could translate into a situation like the Rockets have: a core group of amiable players who add just a few key pieces to take it to the next level. I think we're going to see a slight change in how the Astros are perceived for the next few years. This is a franchise people are going to WANT to play for, and that makes a HUGE difference (just ask the Rockets).
I just don't know what to say. I'm glad we got the World Series, but c'mon now... we can't win one game?
Great season given the drama and the low expectations at the beginning of the season. With that being said though, remember this team/this ride, because there is a damn good chance that we won't witness this again. IMO, let Clemens walk (don't beg him to come back, although I know Drayton will because it will line up his pockets) and give more young guys the chance to play and contribute for this team, afterall it was mainly the young guys who carried this team on their backs throughout the season/playoffs, along with of course Clemens and Pettite. Obviously, we need some serious offensive firepower, and just a couple of hits in this world series and it would've made for a completely different series (the mind-boggling manner and frequency in which Astros batters leave runners stranded is just pathetic to say the least, and absolutely did cost them this series). So, to sum it up: let the old guys go and give the fans something to be excited about as far as looking to the future for hope with so many promising young players (Oswalt and Backe as pitchers with Ensberg, Lane, Burke, and Willy T along with Berkman as our hitters, and we can look for veteran help in free agency). I would much rather go through a rebuilding season than keep squeezing the last ounce of life out of older players who break down/run out of gas towards the playoffs.
