Looking at the Astros remaining schedule, you have to like their chances to win 85 or 86 games, which could be enough to win the NL Central. Here is how the schedule breaks down, and a conservative estimate of the number of wins each series: CIN- 2/3 LA- 2/3 SD- 2/3 This homestand is important, the 'stros play one decent team and two bad teams. 6/9 at home against these teams is disappointing, but I will go with that since I'm being conservative. @ la- 1/3 @ sd- 2/3 @ mil- 2/4 I've got a bad feeling that the Astros will underperform on this road-trip, but hopefully I'll be wrong. 5/10 isn't bad for a road-trip, but these aren't the Braves and Giants either. STL- 2/3 Huge series, think the 'stros take 2/3. @col- 1/3 @stl- 1/3 This is the last road trip of the season, and a very dangerous one. Colorado has never been easy, and that series will probably be very high scoring, possibly wearing out our bullpen before the Cards and Giants. The Cards series figures to be very tough, whether they are in the race or not. I think we get 2/6. SF- 1/3 MIL-3/4 San Fransisco will hopefully be resting players for the playoffs, but I'm not counting on getting 2/3. Three wins against Milwaukee is a must, and I think we get it, winning 4/7 on the homestand. Overall the 'stros will have won 19/35. If we win 19 of the next 35, we'll finish 86-76, which hopefully can win the NL Central. If we could put together a good winning streak (maybe beginning with the Cubs last night) I think we're in. Is sweeping the next 9 games too much to ask?
I don't think that sweeping the next three series is a bad expectation at all. I'd like to have a 4 game lead over our competititon by the end of the home stand.
We have got to suck it up and win...I think the club house is not in the right frame of mind...yet... This needs to come quickly...I expect Bags, Biggio and Kent to focus everyone... Go Stros'...
Well, after playing the Reds and LA, we've won 3/6, pretty poor for a team trying to make the playoffs. That's one off the pace I think the stros need to take the Central. A sweep of the Padres is really needed right now to get a little breathing room. The Cubs play the Brewers (who've won 10 in a row), who usually give them trouble, and the Cubs could possibly drop 2 or all 3 games. The Cards have to go to Cincinatti, where they're 0-4 this season against the Reds. This is definitely a series the Astros can use to get a 1 or 2 game lead! After that we go to LA, and the Cards and Cubs play another 4 against each other. As soon as that series ends hopefully we will be up 2 or 3 games. It's getting down to the last turn and now it's a sprint, not a marathon. Can the stros do it? Guess we'll see, beginning the Padres this weekend....
Also, I am very glad to see the Brew crew having a hot run right now, hopefully they'll be cold by the time they get to us.
