Yep... https://www.chron.com/sports/astros...groin-injury-of-2001-is-forgotten-2059040.php Oswalt knows his groin muscle wouldn't be much of an issue if he had not strained it during the most crucial part of last season, essentially ending his season Sept. 18. Facing the Giants with a comfortable 4 1/2-game lead over the Cardinals in the National League Central race, Oswalt was forced to leave after two innings and only 40 pitches. He had been on a tremendous 24-inning streak without allowing a run until Andres Galarraga hit a monster home run against him in the second inning of that Sept. 18 game at Pac Bell Park. [...] Oswalt missed his next scheduled start Sept. 23 and he returned 10 days later Sept. 28 as the Astros tried to maintain a four-game lead over the Cardinals. As it turns out, he rushed back too soon.
Wagner also got shellacked. The roof was open. Got the awful ESPN 1pm time slot. Game wasn’t sold out despite both being a new ballpark and having a 2 year hiatus from the playoffs. Every playoff game at MMP since then (2004-onwards) has had a stark different feel… but that 2001 series was basically a carry-over of the late 90’s day playoff games from the Astrodome. Thankfully a lot of demons were exercised starting in 2004. MMP is an electric playoff venue. I’my sure LaRussa still gets nightmares that he has to drink heavily for from the 2004-2005 games. Perhaps time to renew some of that if the standings hold steady and the Astros host the CWS in the first round.
Those late 90's teams won 2 playoff games. The Altuve group has played in 12 series (and a play in game), and our opponent has lost or faced elimination in all but one of them. Truly a special time right now. Assembling talent is one thing, having a group that handles the big stage as well as these guys have is what's truly impressive.
I remember complaining about the Jackson move on this very forum. I remember being done with Dierk after that series; then we hired oneM ♂️
