i just checked the stats on this team and its pretty crazy that 5 of the top 10 rbi guys in the national league are astros. another series like this and it will be around 8 out of 10 guys.
Sad that they have us as only #7 on the power rankings by ESPN.....I think we are a hell of a hot team. ALl this offense, and great pitching...... I know rankings don't mean jack, but still. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1781982 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Angels Vladimir Guerrero (three homers) is off to a fine start, and getting Garret Anderson's contract extension done means one less distraction. Now let's see if they can pitch. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Marlins The Marlins might be the least-respected defending champs in recent history. Sure, they absorbed some offseason losses, but their pitching is young and deep. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Yankees Questions about pitching depth seem well-founded, but they won't need a fifth starter often in the first month. They haven't hit much, but you know they will. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Red Sox Seven players on the DL and two extra-inning games in the span of four days have been a challenge. On the plus side, the starting pitching has been consistently excellent. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Athletics Arthur Rhodes already looks like an adventure as the closer, but there's no denying the strength of the rotation now that the Big Three are back and healthy. Offense remains a long-term question. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Cubs With Mark Prior sidelined and Greg Maddux off to a slow start, the pitching isn't as good as it eventually will be. Offensively, they're in a rut, but chalk that up mostly to cold weather. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Astros Roger Clemens has been dominant in his two starts, though Octavio Dotel has stumbled some in adapting to the closer's role. Loss of Andy Pettitte is significant, but the Astros have pitching depth to cover for a while. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. Royals A quick start and a couple of dramatic comeback wins make it seem like last season all over again. But with this rotation, can Pena Magic last all season? No wins from the starting pitchers through the first six games raises a question. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta was worried about the rotation, but the pitching has again been a strong point. The pleasant surprise has been the offense, led by Paul Lo Duca and Adrian Beltre. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Tigers There's no telling what winning their first four will mean to a team starving for something positive. If nothing else, the Tigers now resemble a major league team, something that couldn't be said of them a year ago. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. Giants Riding Barry Bonds offensively, the pitching injuries haven't hurt them -- yet. In a thin division, they just need to tread water in the early going -- like those kayakers in McCovey Cove waiting for home run keepsakes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. Braves Inconsistent so far, their pitching isn't nearly as strong as it's been in the last decade. They suffered offensive losses in the offseason, too, but runs haven't been an issue. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. Mets Off to a good start, which was imperative with all the new faces. Raise your hand if you were surprised by Cliff Floyd going on the DL. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. Padres Starters have been better than adverstised, but the bullpen has sprung early-season leaks. If the relievers pitch better, the Padres could contend. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15. White Sox Magglio Ordonez looks primed for a monstrous season. If nothing else, the attitude under new manager Ozzie Guillen has to count for something. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16. Twins Injuries have taken their toll in the first 10 days, and the Twins don't have the kind of resources to withstand them in the long-term. Signing 41-year-old Terry Mulholland is a sure sign things aren't off to a good start. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17. Orioles The young pitching is going through the expected growing pains, though the beefed-up batting order has provided good support. In this division, progress may be hard to measure but the O's will be more competitive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18. Cardinals No surprises here to date -- plenty of offense (five runs or more in each of their first seven games) and not enough pitching. The Cards may have one of the best starting nine in either league, but they're doomed for the middle of the NL Central unless they find more arms. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19. Rangers They've been in nearly every game -- all against AL West opponents -- which should help the confidence of a mostly young team. The most encouraging sign, however, has been the pitching of Chan Ho Park. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20. Phillies Welcome to Larry Bowa's worst nightmare: huge expectations plus slow start equals early-season whispers. How long before panic sets in at brand new Citizens Bank Park. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21. Devil Rays They survived their odyssesy to Japan and split four games with the Yankees. That's accomplishment enough. But winning an early-season series with Baltimore -- a team they'll have to leapfrog to finally get out of the AL East basement -- may be just as significant. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22. Reds Thought to have the worst rotation in the game, the Reds have actually pitched well out of the gate. Just don't expect it to last. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23. Pirates Offense was the concern here, but they've mashed in the first week and a half. Just don't expect it to last. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24. Diamondbacks They beefed up the batting order in the offseason, but Randy Johnson's command has them a little nervous. A slow start last year doomed them; they can't afford another one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25. Brewers Just biding their time until the late-season callups and the reconstruction really begins. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26. Mariners Injuries and advancing age were concerns here, and the first 10 days have done nothing to allay those fears. Suddenly, Jamie Moyer looks every one of his 40 years. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27. Blue Jays Getting swept by the Tigers -- at home, no less -- is no way to kick off the season. In the competitive AL East, the Jays can't afford to bury themselves early. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28. Rockies Knee problems for Preston Wilson is an ominous sign this early in the season. With pitching questions aplenty, the Rockies will need his run production just to be respectable. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29. Indians Shipping out Milton Bradley was the right thing to do, but they'll feel his absence in the batting order. On the plus side, C.C. Sabathis has looked sharp. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30. Expos Living out of suitcases for the first month isn't going to help this bunch. What did Frank Robinson do to deserve this?
Check this Quote out from Jim Edmonds From http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240414124 ..... <b> Jim Edmonds wasn't that impressed with the Astros. "I think they're the same team they had last year, I really do," Edmonds said. "I really don't think there's any difference. They've got decent pitching, they've got good defense and they've got good offense." </b> Sounds like someone is real scared of the Astros .. How can you call them the same as last year like they havn't improved at all? "Decent Pitching"? Come on! Edmond's is obviously scared or he wouldn't have to say things like that to psych himself up otherwise. I LOVE IT!
When I read that quote again, I can't BELIEVE he's trying to say it in the context as, "the astros aren't that good... they're the same team as last year." Instead, what I think he meant was, "They were a good team last year too... they haven't changed much." Or maybe, he's just saying that we're just okay, and the Cardinals are just that bad now.... who knows. Jim gets too much sun in California...
edmonds is right for the most part, partly trying to downplay their asses handed to them in the series, but also partly fact. we've made significant additions to our adequate now good pitching and we've typically had a good offense the past few years combined with pretty good defense still though, a great series sweep. poor redding lol, matched up against sheets again. here's to a breakthrough against sheets and co. tom
Jim Edmonds sees the Cardinals going down the toilet because of budget constraints. He's just frustrated because he knows that they'll be playing meaningless games come August and September. He's just frustrated
The thing about Adam, and this is something our team hasn't had since the late great Bill Spiers left, is that even in going 0-6 he still accomplished something with the bat. Two of those o'fer ABs were situations where he moved a runner over, once in the 1st inning when he moved Biggio to 3rd with 1 out, putting the Stros in great position to score an early run (even though it didn't happen) and once more later on. He is performing his role as a number 2 hitter very well right now, laying down the bunts and generally moving runners around into scoring position for our big time hitters (hell, sometimes he doesn't even wait for them to score the runners as he has driven in several runs so far himself). And to think that he is doing all that while playing stellar defense...I'm so glad the club never gave up on this guy.
Hey, take it easy on Edmonds Very impressive series for the Astros. Your guys really kicked the crap out of my Cards and their suspect pitching.
