Back to discussing the Astros and today's game: Should not have let this game go. Sure the Astros are a flawed team, deeply flawed in some areas, but I still stand by this. This is the same group of guys that made it to series last year. Obviously, the pitching is not as good as it was last year (even the most die hard homers could not have expected it to), but the offense is better. Last year when the Astros were losing in the early part of the season, they just looked over matched. This year, they seem to get down, but always manage to put some runs on the board. Something last year's team was unable to do. They also have had their share of bad luck. Griffey robbed them today with a great catch that would have scored at least two runs. Freel made an unreal catch last night. The hitters have also hit the ball hard but it has been right at people. (with the exception of Everett). I just believe that this is going to even out out and the Stros will get it going again. They have to. Plus, after the Texans debacle of a season, and the Rockets, I dont know if I can take another bad season.
Two things to consider: 1) The Astros are traditionally a second half team. 2) We were further behind last year.
1. oh, yeah...and they're adding this guy named roger clemens; 2. oh, and backe, according to purpura today on milo's pre-game show, should be back in July; 3. and it can't get any worse than it was in may; 5. and fat albert is sidelined for about 6 weeks. last year at this time, idiots like me and RM95 were talking about, "if we could just up to around .500 at the all star break, then we'd be poised to make a move for the wild card." we were idiots. but it sure was fun.
The importance of this cannot be understimated. Not to mention that Edmonds is playing very banged up. By the way, what happened to reason number 4?
If we're lucky, Clemens will throw a bunch of 9 inning shutouts, get pulled, and then we'll lose in the tenth. If the Astros do that to him three outtings in a row again, I might cry.
This team has lost it's identity. At the beginning of the season, they came in with a swagger, with a ton of confidence. They were riding high as the NLCS Champs; they were the same players that went to war together last October and they knew they can win. But now, it just seems that they're confidence is completely shot and they're unsure of themselves. At least I'm unsure of them. In April, every game, whether they were up or down, I believed they had a shot of winning. Now, I HOPE they win. I swear they're doing their best impersonation of '05. And damn if its not one thing its another; when their starting pitching is good they don't get the clutch hits, when they pour on the runs its too late cause the starting pitching gave up a 5-6 spot in the first 2 frames, if they get the clutch hits the bullpen blows it. How can a team be this snakebit? They're better get this turned around or this'll be some s****y year for Houston sports.
Is there a no trade clause in Roger's new contract? At this rate he might retire again before June 22nd comes around.
Well I already counted this past disastrous season for the Texans. In any case, it's still too early but shoot I would love some consistancy here, not one awesome month and then the polar opposite the next.
Man, you guys are turning on each other like a bunch of bitter Cubs fans. Hasn't the last two years taught you anything about this team? The Astros are flawed, but so is every team in the National League. Lidge seems to be getting back to his old self and starting (and since Nieve will be put in the pen) and middle relief pitching help is on the way. Let's hope Lane and Taveres can heat up in the second half.
Look, you can look at 2 years with amazing comebacks or 20+ years where they started slow, and continued to play that way throughout the whole year. DD
This current Astros team has started slow in 01, 02, 03, 04, and 05... in 3 of those 5 years, they came back to qualify for the playoffs. In 02, they got within 1 game of the division lead in August, before the Cardinals turned it on in September. In 03, they lost the division by one game... a division that they had in control up until the last weekend. Its okay to be a pessimest... but how many of these guys were on those other Astros teams of the "past 20+ years"? Looking at the current nucleus, which really began to take shape in 01 (when Oswalt was called up), they've been a second-half team. I don't see why its any different this year, except for the fact that they raced out to one of their best starts ever, and have followed it up with an even worse stretch.... but the sum total of those two stretches has them playing mediocre (not great, not horrible) baseball... but they're still not in so big of a hole that its inconcievable that they come back from. If they were to "come-back" from this "hole", it wouldn't even be that big of a comeback (in comparing this year to the last two years)... thus, you really aren't hoping for lightning to strike three times. Of course, if this bad stretch of baseball continues into mid-June, and after Clemens comes back, I'll start questioning whether or not this team has "it" as well.
' Fair points Nick, however this team is different than all those others, and it looks like it is worse in all areas. Last year lots of people had career years, and this year they are all falling back down to earth. And, the pitching has been downright awful....both starters and bullpen. I don't know why Roger came back, I am glad he did, but man.....this team needs help all over. DD
I love how you say this year is different than all those others. I bet a lot of people were saying that last year, considering the team was worse on paper than the previous year (when they had Kent and Beltran and a healthy Bags). The reality is this team is actually the same if not a little bit better on paper than last year. And who really had a career year? Willy T played played pretty damn good, but it was only his first year, so it's hard to see if we've seen the best from him (hope not). Berkman and Ensberg played to their abilities. Lane played to his potential. Ausmus and Everett were their normal selves. The only thing I agree with is that all our pitchers have been inconsistent at best; and I honestly think it boils down to that: the pitching. We get than taken care of and everything else will fall in line. A lot of these games they're losing they're putting up the runs but the pitching blows it. Last year they'd be lucky to score 2 or 3 at this point.
at this time last year, those guys weren't having career years. the team was about 10-15 games under .500.
Give it time, we are well on our way there again. What I am saying is that EVERY year is different, and chemistry in the clubhouse is different. Right now, Lane is benched, AE is benched, and a lot of others are struggling. It may be time to call up Luke Scott who has 15 dingers at AAA RR now. DD
OR.....it could turn again. this team that's sooooo bad was als0 19-9 over its first 28 games. baseball is USUALLY up and down. few teams go wire to wire. it could go either way. i have hope it will get better. honestly, i don't believe it can get much worse.
