Fixed yer post. Yeah, I think the TEXANS' Championship would be sweeter, but the Astros a lot sweeter... since I've already experienced the Rockets' and the Dynamo's.
Well the Texans are five years old and while CC and Dom set them back with poor moves the organization has the owner and structure needed to be an elite organization. There is no reason for the Astros not to win, they are in a sport which being in a large market really helps when it comes to fielding a competative team. The Astros after 35 years of being crap (minus 80 and 86) have gone on a nice run the last 10. With there unbalanced roster and a GM that has not proven he can pull off a good deal to push the club over the top I just don't see them wining soon. They had their shot and blew it. Now with that being said Oswalt is the best pitcher in MLB and Berkman is one of the best hiters so if you add some pieces they can anchor your staff and lineup. Houston teams and championships. Rockets=very close Astros=competative Texans=far away The reason I say the Rockets will be the next team is because I really think we are gonna win it all this year. The reason I say the Texans will win before the Astros has nothing to do where the teams are at right now but everything to do with the fact the Astros are not good enough at this point and IMO the Texans organization has better structure from the owner on down for long term success. I love all the teams and live and die with all of them but this is my objective opinion. I really don't see how some of ya'll consider the Astros a world series contender but I hope your right.
This is why school children in Houston should recite the words "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion" after the Pledge of Allegiance.
i remember somewhat, but i wasnt a die hard rockets fan, i was just like yeah ok cool, i was around 7 years old that time, i do remember cars passing down my street honking all night tho
my goodness. i could not disagree with this more. i think many of you really don't appreciate just how a good an organization the Houston Astros have become. there is reason for optimism with the Texans, to be sure. but to suggest that the Texans have somehow shown more in that regard is laughable to me.
If the Rockets win another title, I will smile and celebrate. If the Astros win a World Series, I will laugh, celebrate, and might shed a tear of joy. If the Texans win a Super Bowl, I will drop dead of a heart attack with a bewildered look on my face.
I don't know, it's pretty easy to compare the worst NFL expansion franchise in history to one of the most successful MLB teams in the last decade-plus. That's not a bash at the Texans either as I think they're on the right track. But it is laughable to say they have better management than the Astros.
I remember watching the first Chanpionship celebration on Channel 2. They had a camera on Richmond scanning through the crowd and there were one girl with big boobs that looked like she was dared by her friend to flash the crowd. She lifted up her shirt and bounced those things around, proud Rocket moment.
I remember them! Its all about people piling in the Astrodome to see a Mattress Mack sponsored party!
They "had their shot"? So you'd rather have Andy Pettitte than Carlos Lee, Jason Jennings and Mark Loretta? Wow. The Astros have different ownership and different management in recent years. It's clear they have solutions and the kind of forward thinking that previous teams did not, and it can be seen by their track record in this last decade. Also, unbalanced roster? To most objective observers, the Astros' lineup/rotation looks incredibly similar, if not slightly better, than the Cardinals' roster that won the World Series a season ago.
The Astros have made it to one world series (2005) and they did it on the back of a great rotation (best in Astro history). This years team has the best lineup since 2004 (year of first series win) but does not have a "great" lineup just an average one. Our Rotation is average (great 1 good 2 average 3 bad 4-5) of course if* Clemens comes back it is back to being above average. Pen I think will be above average but the outfield defensivly and the team speed is horrible and Phil Garner is not gonna be mistaken for Joe Torre either. As far as Astros managment, I think the owner is too involved and I think that the general manager is in over his head. Have things improved since I was a kid, heck yeah we are competative and I have hope but I also know what I see infront of me is not a world series champion. The Astros were 82-80 I don't see how they improved. I could see things breaking right and them getting close to 90 wins but I could also see them in the 70s
So if you make it through three great starting pitchers, that's the only way you can do it? Average? Eh, I disagree. Berkman, Lee, and Ensberg are well above average for their positions, and Scott shows the potential to be that. Burke is slightly above average, with Biggio right around the norm. However, given that the Astros have a reliable option this year (Loretta) to platoon with Biggio and give him rest, the 2B position might be slightly above average. Ausmus and Everett are still Ausmus and Everett, but the rest of the lineup should make it better than the average. Average 3? Hey - take a look at Woody Williams' ERA last season and compare it to most three starters in the NL. I'm not sure in what universe a 3.65 ERA is average. Bad 4-5? Take a look at Fernando Nieve and Chris Sampson's numbers and compare them to most 4-5 starters in the NL. Outfield defensively is horrible? Try again. Both Burke and Lee are average to slightly above average defensively at their positions, and Scott has a reputation in the minors for being a solid fielder. It won't be great, but it won't be terrible, either. As for team speed, Burke will likely steal 20-25 bases, with Lee coming in close to 20 and Everett in the 10-20 range. If that is so horrible, name me some NL teams likely to top that. You won't get all that many. Yeah, damn that owner... he's only had them in the playoffs more than all but a couple other teams the last decade. He's only run one of the most successful franchises in the league without a huge budget. The general manager only directed the only World Series team in history and in his first offseason finally got the big bat that has eluded the team for years. You don't see how they improved? The one loss, Andy Pettitte, was injury-prone with a 4.20 ERA. They replaced him with a more durable, younger pitcher with a 3.78 ERA. In addition to that, they added an elite slugger (Carlos Lee), another reliable sub-4 ERA starter (Woody Williams), and a middle infielder with excellent OBP (Mark Loretta) to help Biggio. How in the world is Andy freaking Pettitte and his 4.20 ERA equivalent or even better than all of those guys combined?
Cat, FYI-those were not Purpura's players he took over "Gerry's team" and made ZERO moves. How is Ensberg considered above average? He hit what like 235 last year. The outfield is not as bad as the Berkman, Lane Hidalgo combo but they are not good. Lineup Biggio-below average leadoff at this stage Burke-I'll say he does well and is above average Berkman-Great third hitter one of the best! Lee-above average for sure! Scott-Wild Card we will see how he does with a full season Ensberg-average Everrett-below Ausmus-well below 1-2 = average 3-5 = above average 6-8 = below average bench = average to above average speed = below all and all very average and just about everyone outside Astro homers would agree. The Astros on most lists are ranked around the 20th best team in baseball now I think they are better than that and I also think this lineup can be better than average but things need to break right. For the Astros to make some noise they need everyone to play to potential plus have Clemens come back plus make a move for a quality impact player at the trade deadline.
he was hurt doooooooooooooood, remember how he started the year??? he also had an above average year in 05'
