As much as the world seems to forget this, the Astros have not had a losing season since 2001. That's 5 straight winning seasons, and even before 2001, I believe we were a pretty good team... The most remarkable thing about the teams that we've seen in the last several years is the ability of the Astros to pretty much scare the crap out of their fans. I'm certain that no one reading in this forum will forget when we started 15-30 in 2004, and our 36-10 run in 2004. So can you ever really count the Astros out for the rest of the season? That being said, this is a team without Beltran-Berkman-Bagwell-Kent like 2004, or Clemens-Pettite-Oswalt like 2005. Most of the players on this team are players we Astros fans really don't know all that much about (with a few obvious exceptions) which begs the question, can we do it again? Can we pull ourselves up off the ground or is the season first season since 2001 when the Astros endure a final record below 500?
The last losing season was 2000. The Astros went 72-90. In 2001 they went 93-69. With the division being as bad as it is, the Astros will definately be in it for awhile. Rhat being said, nothing about this team gives you hope.
That's kind of how I feel. With the other teams, you looked at them and said "they shouldn't be this bad". With this one, I wouldn't say they should be this bad, but there's no part that's so dominant that you think "they should be much better". Talent-wise, they are pretty much around average in all aspects. Average pitching, average hitting.
If the Phil Garner Astros have proven anything over the past 3 years, it's don't give up. They might not have made the playoffs last year, but they sure made it interesting and took it to the final weekend before it was over. This division is weak and anyone who gets hot at the right time can win it. Luckily for us, the Astros have the knack for getting hot at the right time. All they need to do is stay within reach. As bad as they're playing, the rest of the division has been as bad or worse.
I kinda figured I'd wait before putting my opinion in the prompt. Sorry about the 2001 (2000) typo. I look at the Astros and see a team that I feel should be above-average, but at the moment simply isn't. Oswalt and Jennings, may not be the best, but are a good 1-2 combo, and I believe Sampson is for real. Wandy is playing like a legitimate No. 4, and if his leading the team in strikeouts tells us anything, it's that this transformation from terrible to decent is here to stay. The big problems during this slide in my opinion have been bullpen, Woody Williams and lack of offense. If you ask me, Wheeler was not meant to be a closer and Qualls is just an ok setup man, so moving Lidge to the closer's role should restore alot of order to the bullpen, which honestly has very little after those three... My brain tells me that a combo of Pence-Berkman-Lee should generate offense almost like the Berkman-Bagwell-Kent we used to have, but somehow that just doesn't seem to be the case. I think it's all just a matter of Berkman snapping out of this funk, and inserting Loretta in before those three more often and praying that either Burke or Biggio will start playing like a decent player, so those three will have someone on-base when they come up. However, even if all these ingredients come back, we'll be good, but not dominant. I feel like the rational thing to assume is that with the rest of our season we should be able to wrestle our way back up to .500 and finish with a record alot like last year's, but if there's anything I've learned from watching the Astros, it's to take whatever you think is rational, throw it out the window, cross your fingers and turn on the television...
Whether or not it's over for this season, one thing is certain. There is only 1 reason you should care at all about the Astros right now. And that's the Biggio 3,000 hit chase - a great accomplishment and a great thing to watch for, even if you think his playing is hurting the team (as if replacing him with BUrke everyday makes this team a World Series contender). If they do start to turn it around later in the year, then you should start caring. Or maybe that's me...I'm a bandwagon Stros fan!
hey, like i said, it might just be me. i get excited when they win. don't care about them when they lose. and for some reason, this season in particular, i care even less. its the first season (so far) in a long long time where I don't think I've even watched more than 4 consecutive innings of them playing. i'm pumped about upcoming football season, though. My order is: 1. Rockets 2. Texans 3. Astros even though the Stros have given us the most success of late...it's just that inherent nature of the game of baseball that makes me such a bandwagon fan of that sport.
correction: the cardinals made it interesting by very nearly imploding in the final two months of the season. had they maintained even a .500 record over that stretch, they would have won the division by 5 or 6 games.
that's fair. that speaks more to you as a fan of each team and sport than anything else. baseball is my favorite. it's a huge part of the time i spend with my sons. it was a big part of my relationship with my father and grandparents, so it runs pretty deep with me.
and to also get above .500. if berkman can get on track, and he, lee, pence, oswalt, jennings and lidge can all stay healthy, then yes: they can win this division. but i don't think '04, '05 or even '06 has any bearing on what the '07 team does.
Major, the other thing that we all forget is that we all overvalue our own guys as fans. We do this not only in baseball, but with the Rockets and Texans as well. I too am optimistic, but for the first time in the last couple of years I really sometimes have no hope for certain players. I mean think about it, how blessed have we been with a great time that has been in it every year since 2000. Dont forget that for the three preceding years of 2000 they were division winners. 1995- lost wildcard on last day 1996- finished 82-80 or 81-81 1997- NL Central champs 1998- NL Central champs 1999- NL Central champs 2000- 72-90 2001- NL Central champs (clinched on the last day) 2002- 84-78 2003- Lost NL Central on second to last day 2004- 36-10 2005- World Series 2006- Lost NL Central on final day. I just feel that this team gives you no reason to believe that they are better than they are. But, knowing their history I would not be surprised that they will be in it until the end.
Dead or not, I'll still be there on Friday night to show my support for the team and BOOOO Garner every chance I get. Damn Pud. Game #10 for me this year, and even though we sucketh, I still love sitting in the stands watching the 'Stros. Nothing beats a night at the ballpark. 'Cept tang.
i pretty much agree with this. i don't feel we can all of a sudden put on a massive win streak or a bunch 8 out of 10's or something like that but we'll see. the "beauty" of this division is that we can be very mediocre and still pull it out. the division will keep us in almost in spite of what we may do. "everytime i think i'm out, they pull me back in" astros theme 2007.
