Anyone else think all this trade talk is hurting the Astros?

There is no reason to expect them to do any different than they've been doing all year. At best, they don't blow as many games as they have been, but that still only puts them at a .500 record or so.

Why would you expect the team to all of a sudden get better?

 

So after all this crap about hitting a home run in the trade market, we end up doing more of the same....


Nothing...

 

Astros just plain suck at everything this year

 

You never know. I would understand this attitude if there wasn't the history behind this team the last two years. I wouldn't be surprised if they completely sucked ass the rest of the year. Nor would I be surprised if the bullpen got more consistent, Ensberg returned to April form and/or Pettitte pitching like last year.

Chances are, they won't. But I can certainly see why people would still believe. I will until they are mathematically eliminated.

 

I sort of agree but, and this is a big BUT, even if someway, somehow the sun rises in the west and sets in the east and pigs fly over the blue moon and the moon is in line with uranus-meaning we win the WC, guess what I hold little faith that we can go deep and even bother to make a WS run! The Mets (unfortunately) will probably punk us. So, I really dont hold out much hope that anything will accidentally get done.

I just dont think even with Clemens, Oswalt and Berkman that we are good enough to contend. Some boys in that clubhouse are going to have to step up big time.

BUT ... we thought the last two years we were dead. I say bring out the tombstone. R.I.P. on this season. This team has zero pulse.

 

It'll be interesting to see how they react tomorrow night. No doubt, even though these guys are professional, that all the talk took somewhat of a toll on them. Maybe they'll forget all the trade talk beforehand and play without that pressure.

Is Ensberg due back?

Hey, that's what they said about the Cards the last two seasons. One we took them within one or two innings, the other we beat them.

 

sometimes it works the other way. remember robert horry coming back from detroit?

 

Yep, playing in RR today & flying to San Diego for the opener. OP's back on Wednesday, I believe.

We know Lane's headed back to RR, will be interesting to see what the other roster move is.

 

To be even more blunt...last years team did NOT win. They got to the WS - great. You know who remembers that? Us and White Sox fans. Everyone else, in 10 years will just remember that the White Sox won (maybe not everyone, but more and more people over the years).

This year's team is worse - the results are on the field. Moreover, as mentioned, the competition seems to be more intense - not just in the NL.

The Astros goal as an organization has to be to win the World Series. Goal number 2 can be to play good every year.

This trade talk may negatively impact that secondary goal, but not the main goal of winning it all. Players know when they or the team as a whole sucks, management may consider trading them.

 

justice's desperate cry to create a story out of this forces him to incorrectly paint oswalt as a thin-skinned ninny. truth is, the guy has the biggest pair of ice-cold balls on the planet; i guarantee this **** rolls off his back. he couldn't care less. lidge, too, seems to have the intestinal fortitude to absorb this and move on. it's a non-story.

 

that's awesome and the truth. part of the greatness that is roy oswalt.

 

Oh, I really don't think any of them (Roy O. being the last one) are upset about the trade talk. I feel that those who were mentioned the most are definitely professional about things. That doesn't mean that they weren't worried about being traded. One of the things I love most about this team is that they all seem to really love it here. I'm interested to see if they are more relaxed tomorrow night. I think they will be.

As far as the Lidge thing goes, it's a little different to understand that you're being shopped by an organization because they want to improve their team. I think it's different if someone reports that an owner demanded you be traded.

 

Look at the bright side. We still have the best defensive shortstop (Everett) and one of the most respected signal callers (Ausmus) in our lineup ready to do battle the rest of the season!