http://espn.go.com/mlb/notebook/_/page/bbtn100920/baseball-tonight-clubhouse Interesting article with finally some recognition. Read more in the link.
Good pitching, hides a lot of a team's weak spots. This years Padres and 05 Stros are great examples, neither with good "O" but their pitching was just so darn good. Lyles, Paulino or a FAgent pitcher will need to step up for the rotation to be complete and overcome the offense's issues. Saying that, Wallace, Castro and even Johnson should all become better hitters.
I wouldn't call us division champs just yet, but we'll certainly have some salary flexibility to fill some holes this off-season. Until I see what Ed Wade does during the winter, I won't make any declarations about the Astros. But I am comfortable saying we'll probably be over .500 next year... and heck, that might just win us the division.
I'm not sure I want Ed Wade on the free agent market giving stupid deals to washed up vets in the name of filling holes. He'll end up giving Julio Lugo a 3 yr, $18 million deal just to "fill the hole" at SS.
I smell some BS. You cannot judge a young team from one season to the next like that...just because we played well this second half. If it was a vet team like the Cards or Philly, then it's an easier call. While it's okay to have hope for next season, there is no reason to think the Cards and Reds are going to be bottom-dwellers (or below the Astros) next season. Granted, what we are doing now is working and the team is playing pretty well. Still, hard to say that will translate over into next season at this point.
I also think its way to early to say what this team will be by the end of next year. We dont know if the level they are playing at is sustainable, the pitching particularly. The Astros have a habit of starting slow and finishing much better. I think spring will tell alot.
i don't think the Cards and Reds are gonna be bottom-dwellers. the Reds are good...but they're not a juggernaut. the Cards have a ton to deal with with respect to signing Pujols...that will hurt their ability to do anything else, frankly. let's the who the 'stros pick up. but i feel a lot better about their chances next year than i did going into this season....and we're in the right division for it, frankly.
Wow, thats a lot of love ! And possibly well deserved, mostly due to pitching. For us to have a realistic shot though, we'd have to add an infield bat, hopefuly with some pop, and Lee will need to produce what he has in the past.
That is some prediction, but until we can win against the NL West and our AL games with at least winning records I doubt we'll win the division. NL West destroyed us this year and our cross league games next year are no easier than this year.
