And since everyone on Cold Pizza are idiots, does that spell doom for the Astros? I certainly hope not.
Are you claiming that the Astros will represent the NL again this year? While still 3 1/2 back of a playoff spot? Ack. ... Ahem .... Dear Mighty Baseball Gods, Please forgive Ric, for he knows not what he's doing. In the case that he has angered you, please accept him as our (Astros fans) sacrifice, so as to calm the rage no doubt burning within you. (By sacrifice, I mean beat him around a little, but that's it.) If you require further appeasement, I am open to biting the head off a live chicken. Yours truly, VesceySux P.S. I trust you enjoyed the cookies I sent last year.
Ric, I love the nicknames and optimism, but I don't see how you can just put the Astros pitching problems in the bullpen in the rearview mirror. I like the Astros chances because the other teams in our division blow goats, but the Astros are pretty flawed, too.
I'd rather have guys with track records of dominance who are either in a funk (or simply underacheiving)... like Lidge or Qualls... rather than guys that the Reds have (no talent), or the always inconsistent Isringhausen (who is likely past his prime).
What are you talking about? Skip picked us to win the wild card last yr and the Oakland A's for the AL, so he was 1/2 right
Listen, When we make the playoffs (i hope the baseball gods and their baby jesus' dont strike me down) we will be looking at either the mets or the dodgers. i would personally let the mets handle the cards and we go after the dodgers. LA doesnt have a viable pen and a young/unproven rotation with the exception of maddux, who by the way has pitched 2 good games (dont get ahead of yourselves). Then second round we are looking at the mets, who now that sanchez is down, have a so-so bullpen. Their rotation is tired with the exception of martinez. Their offence is morbidly obease and we have to fear the delgado/wright/reyes combo. They lost nady (good for us) and they didnt really get anything back (better for us). I would rather go after the mets than the cardinals here, but i rule and im always right (so thats cool) PS i hope the white sox dont make the playoffs. i seriously want to spite them somehow
Bottom line. Since no one in the division or for that matter in the NL has any kind of a killer instinct, all the Stros have to do is continue with the solid quality pitching starts and get 5 to 6 runs and IMO we can win 80-85% of the remainder of our games! There is no one in our league that I feel we have NO chance with. The Reds? They are starting to falter. Their starting pitching is all of the sudden not that good outside of maybe Harang. Yes, they can mash but their relief staff is also a work in progress at best. The cards? Unbelievable ! They were 20+ games above .500 with double digit divisional lead and now, they are literally fighting to just win a game ! Their pitching staff is a kerosene factory and oh yes, and Scott Rolen's back is acting up again. Things dont look good in STL all of the sudden. I'm telling you the 'Stros not only should be WC contenders but hey lets take the division and let the Reds, Cards, Pads, etc. sweat with 1st round matchup with the Mutts. I'm telling you no one wants to face the Stos in a potential WS matchup. Every year the progression has gone one up. The Stros get consistent production from Huff, Ensberg & Scott we WILL win it all ! If Hirsh is as advertised we may not only have the best 3 in baseball but the best starting 5 period !
Maybe we do win the NL Central. Maybe we are destined to play the Mets in the NLCS. Maybe we can get our revenge 20 years down the line. I was at the game earlier this year when they honored the 86 Astros.
hell, we're winning the division. we'll be 4.5 back after tonight; then the commies and the cards play a set while we sweep the cubs. before heading to al's to take down the richie cunninghams. by the time we blow into ohio on august 21, we'll be playing for the division. did you get all that, baseball gods? do you think i'm scared of you....? really? well, i'm not, and none of you should be, either. bad karma? (eye roll) look, the baseball gods owe the cardinals about 85 years of bad karma for housing that felon, mark mcgwire and cincinnati's in baseball bad karma for eternity for having hitler schotzie own the team. so if i were phil garner, i'd go ahead an announce my playoff rotation tonight. (and hope zambrano's arm falls off). but if i do have to be sacrificed, i'll be in section 114 tonight with my smokin' hot wife and her two nephews, walker and texas ranger. bring it.
