The Rangers have certainly been playing better... but I strongly believe in the run differential factor as determining which team is truly playing to their capabilities. If they end up dominating the Astros in the head-to-head, you can throw that out the window... but I just don't see the Astros collapsing as a likely scenario (unless you're a long-suffering Houstonian who just automatically expects the "worse" for your team).
Yeah, that doesn't make me feel much better. Especially since the rangers have won 8 of their last 11.
The Astros had won 8 out of 11 before this little 4-game stumble that has thrown everyone into a panic......
The Rangers are winning a ton of close games right now. They are 10-1 in their last 11 games decided by 2 runs or less. They have outscored opponents by 2 runs total since the All Star break, yet are 28-16, I'm confident they will cool off. As for the Astros, it's amazing how one freaking game seems to alter the feelings of so many. If the Astros would have won 1 of those games against Seattle, we would have been 13-7 in our 20, and won or split 7 straight series. We are also 24-19 (90 win pace) since the All Star break. But we lost 2 of 3, and people are panicking.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If Astros go 15-13 (9-3 at home, 6-10 on road) ... that's 88 wins ... Rangers would have to go 19-11 to win AL West.</p>— Reid Laymance (@ReidLaymance) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReidLaymance/status/639525113751207936">September 3, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Yeah... 19 of 30 is a 102-win pace. Teams are certainly capable of putting a stretch like that together, even teams that aren't great - but it's tough, man. Chasing is hard. The Astros get to reap the benefit of building the early lead. It'd be nice/easier if they played well down the stretch... but as long as they just play ever-so-slightly above average... it forces Texas and (especially) Anaheim to have to play near flawlessly. And, FYI, the Twins would also have to play .633 baseball or the Astros would still snag a Wild Card. I think 15 wins will do it; I think 16+ is a lock. No one should count the chickens yet, by any means - but of the four contenders (and we probably shouldn't discount the Yankees, as they're only up 2 games on the Astros), the Astros have the *least* to worry about.
Said it before and I'll say it again. Just playing meaningful September baseball makes me happy. Anything else that happens is gravy...
I'll quote these if we lose out on the playoffs after being swept by Arlington. It'll be gravy with crab-infested pubes.
I'm with Buck; sure, it'll be disappointing. But I've long thought this was a flawed team, and the idea of Luhnow having an opportunity to address those concerns and improve on a team with an obviously fantastic nucleus will be a terrific salve for any wound a collapse this season might leave behind. Not to mention, I've had 2017 drilled into my head for so long... this year and next year feel like found money. We're essentially getting two extra years of this rebuild paying off and that's awesome. (Also, I don't think they're going to blow it...) (Also also: I'm wrong a lot.....)
Again, I'll quote you if we lose out because of the Rangers. That would suck so hard no matter the expectations in March.
I'm not going to be whistling zippity-do-da if they blow it. But... it's not going to bring about the destruction of my soul. It's baseball. There's always a next year.....
No, it will. I literally meant that literally with literally no exaggeration whatsoever. Literally. I don't know, man... It's sports. I love watching October baseball maybe more than anything - as long as the Astros are playing. If they're not involved... I won't watch and I'll be free and clear of any residual hang over.
So, the rangers are playing great and quickly gaining ground on us.....but all of their wins have been very close! And the Astros have lost 4 of 6....but besides those 4 losses, we're 2-0! This place is pretty much the exact opposite of the Texans forum.
