What a throw by Hidalgo...Definitely, my good surprise of the year for the Astros...I could tell he was intent on nailing the runner!
I hope that this offense we've seen the last couple games is for real. On the field, it certainly looks like this team is ripe for a streak. The guys are playing with the most confidence I've seen all season. If Oswalt comes back healthy with the rest of the guys playing like they've been, playoffs is a near certainty.
Another good win, and we have a slim lead again. Are you suggesting that it might be time to turn the lights back on and get the party started again?
I was at tonight's game. That was a lot of fun. I'd say Bagwell was definitely the star with the 3 run dong, the slick stab on that late inning line drive, and the nifty trick slide over the tag on his double (forget the error early in the game). Good game. Wade didn't look great, but he did what he did all of the second half last season, which is to battle and get through, even if you aren't at your best.
Speaking of Bagwell, Why can't he get his shoulder sorted out? I mean pitchers get shoulder surgery and come back and they don't throw like a girl. Can't Bags get it back to a level where he can at least chunk it to home without a bounce? DD
Another thing people may be forgetting is that the N.L. Wildcard race is very very very tight. It is definitely not out of the question that, after sucking as a division for so long, it is the Central that fields two teams in the playoffs. In my opinion, this would be ideal, assuming the Astros were the division winners, as it would mean playing the Giants instead of the Braves. Still likely to lose, no doubt, but coming of the N.L. Championship run and with a new manager, the Giants may be prime for a first-round letdown in the playoffs - and playing the Braves would be a guaranteed lose in the first round.
I know that MLB was looking to change the format such that the best division winner played the wild card even if they were from their own division. I thought this was to take affect this year, but I can't find anything saying so. If that is the case, then the Braves would end up playing an Eastern team and the Central would play the Giants anyway providing that things stay the way they are. The best part of the Central being in the wild card hunt is that if the Astros get hot but the Cardinals or Cubs get hotter, then the Astros could stil make the playoffs. In other words, if the Astros go 12-4 over their next 16 games and the Cubs go 14-2 then Houston,more than likely, leads the wild card.
Hmmm...if so that'd be great. I really feel, as I'm sure all of us do right now, that we'd get smoked by the Braves, but have a shot against the Giants. The Astros play the Cardinals 6 times in the last two weeks of the season.
EXACTLY right!!! How classic would it be if after all the ribbing the Central takes, it ends up giving us the Wild Card??? Then would the division crown still be worthless?? Methinks not...
It's good to see Bags bat come alive... We should sweep today, but those are usually famous last words... Go Stros'...
Looking forward to tonights game. Astros and Texans..... Gotta go get off my lazy a** and work out for a bit.... be back for the game.
