what do you guys think about the stros? i really dont see a team we can lose to in the national league. Arizona Perhaps, but we seem to have it all this year, starting pitching, relief pitching and hitting. i just cant see us losing to anyone in the playoffs, if we keep playing the way we are right now. what do you think?
The Astros first round opponent (providing they continue to play well and have the best record in the league) will be the Phillies or Braves. I am assuming this based on the Cardinals winning the wild card. Regardless of how poorly the Braves are hitting, they still have Maddux and Glavine who will give any team trouble. The Phillies young pitchers have done well and Person has owned the Astros this year. If Oswalt doesn't return healthy, then the Astros will start Miller, Reynolds and Mlicki. As recently as 3 weeks ago, it was doubtful that Mlicki would even make the post season roster and now he is being asked to help get the Astros into the playoffs and may pitch an extremely important game. I felt much better about the 1998 team. They were clearly the best team in the NL. They had Randy Johnson. They had a great offense, yet they still had a melt down against the Padres. The 1999 team had Lima and Hampton (both over 20 wins) and Reynolds. All had very good years, yet only Caminiti could hit against the Braves. In other words, the Astros still have a lot to prove should they make the playoffs. Nothing will be a given. They SHOULD be favored, but they have to execute.
Maddux has been mediocre over the last month. Our hitters have done well against Maddux, as well. Some guys seem to have their #, but he's not one of them. The Phillies are atrocious. Yes, we could lose to them... but I'm not sure they'd even have a winning record if they played in the Central. Your final point does frighten me . Yeah, that was a huge upset. I thought RJ guaranteed two wins all by himself. Horrendous luck. But the Braves were supposed to win that series. That was before their offense completely went south, and Jones had an MVP season. I'm not as optimistic as I was in'98, but this seems to be a good chance as well. We've got an excellent first three pitchers, probably better than any other first-3 in the NL. We've got the best line-up in the league. Even if we get to the World Series, the DH isn't a problem as it is for some NL teams. That's what Daryle Ward was born for ! Yeah, and the Braves can tell us all about joke jobs...
i think its our year personally unless roy isnt healthy, which doesnt seem to be the case Let me explain these arent the typical astros we have dismantled each of the contenders this yr, including atlanta and st.louis and arizona, places where we usually have trouble ill throw miller,oswalt,reynolds up against any threesome in the league and offensively we are either 1st or 2nd in baseball(maybe cleveland is better, but i doubt it) as for clutch postseason hitting i think this team is different with a healthy alou and the emergence on Sweet Swinging Lance Berkman Overall, while yes their will be some doubts we have the most complete team in the nl and quite possibly major league baseball, but we will need to perform. My prediction A's-Astros WS(Oakland is playing like the top dog in the AL with good offense and outstanding pitching)
Hey Guys, I really hope the Astros make it to the World Series, but I don't think they'll win. It's going to be the Mariners this year... I know, before you start telling me that Oakland just swept them, keep in mind that Oakland was playing for a playoff spot, while the M's had just clinched the Division Pennant and were basically playing scrubs for 2/3 of those games. The Mariners win series and have been doing it all year. I think they've got what it takes to do it again this year. A lot of my friends have asked me who I would root for if it came down to the M's vs. the Astros (because I live in Seattle, but moved from Houston 10 years ago)... I'll always have a soft spot for the Stros, but the M's have been my favorite team for at least 6 years so I have to root for them. (If it had been a rockets vs. sonics question, there is no question I'd be rooting for my beloved Rocks!) Anyway, I really hope it's the Stros and M's because then I can't really lose....
I really would be surprised if the Mariners won the World Series. They could, but I think Oakland's more likely to get there. Why? Well, since the break, Oakland's outperformed Seattle. And I don't think Seattle's simply on cruise control. Seattle also isn't "built for the playoffs." Part of Seattle's success came from never having a "down" pitcher that would basically guarantee a loss. In the playoffs, teams go with 3 or 4 man rotations, anyway. Your better pitchers are what matter, and Seattle's stock of good but not great might not be enough. Garcia is very good, but after that, they're all decent. Even Garcia isn't, in my mind at least, up there in terms of talent with Hudson and Mulder. Ultimately, I'd give Oakland a 6/10 chance of upsetting Seattle.
oakland wasnt playing for a playoff spot, they had an 11 game lead in the wc going into the weekend and no wildcard team can have homefield in the 1st round so they are dialed in as the 4th seed
I'm pretty sure the Phillies would have a winning record in the NL Central when you get to play Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati 16 times a year.
I'm not predicting the Stros to go anywhere in the playoffs until its proven to me that Biggio and Bagwell can hit good pitchers in the postseason. That said, noone in the NL has more talent than Houston. Its just a matter of being able to hit the Glavines and Johnsons and Shillings and Madduxes of the world that I am concerned about. Maybe Alou and Berkman can lead them.
I see what you are saying.. I guess what I meant to say was that Oakland hadn't quite wrapped it up yet so they weren't going to play their scrubs (like Seattle did)... I keep hearing all year that Seattle is not built for the playoffs, but I don't agree. It seems like the playoffs are all about being able to win series.. Seattle has done that all year.. I don't know how you guys can say their pitching is average when they have three starters w/ over 15 wins and imo, the best bullpen in baseball.. That's ok though. Only time will tell. I definitely respect your opinions and look forward to some exciting playoff action!
Actually, the wild card seed is determined by the division winner. Since Oakland and Seattle are in the same division, the A's will more than likely get the Yankees, while the Indians and Mariners will play. I think the Yankees will prevail again in the AL, but I won't be rooting for them. As much as I want the Astros to make it, if I had to bet, I'd take the D'backs, solely because of Johnson and Schilling. They are the 2 most dominating pitchers in the NL from game to game. Hopefully, the number of innings pitched and pitches thrown will come back to haunt them. It is also good that they will probably go down to the wire with the Giants. The Astros will need a completely healthy Oswalt (who is tentatively scheduled to start Friday) to get to the second round. It goes without saying that they will need the hitters to step it up this postseason. They'll need Mlicki to continue to work his magic to get to the World Series. All that being said, I am a diehard Houston fan and I won't even imagine them in the playoffs until they qualify.
sammy, i agree, but thats what i was trying to indicate in my 1st post, in the past we didnt hit the great pitchers this yr its been different weve torched maddux and hit schilling and rj hard plus morris last night and lieber etc
i realize oakland gets ny first round bobrek, but they took them to 5 without mark mulder last yr and jermaine dye/damon, this yr i think they will succeed in winning the series setting up an oakland-seattle ALCS
Johnson I'll give you, and maybe even as a 1-2 punch. But are you implying that Schilling's been more dominating than Oswalt? There numbers aren't that close. But probably not as much as playing the Cardinals and Cubs hurts us. I was probably exxagerating a bit there. But Philly will be a very weak playoffs team, much like the '97 Astros. Except with less long-term potential.
haven My intent was Johnson/Schilling as a 1-2 punch throughout the entire year. Until I see that Oswalt is completely recovered from his groin injury, I'd take Schilling. If Roy is fully recovered, I'd take Roy. If each team starts their best pitcher in game 1, I'd give the edge to Johnson over Oswalt, I'd then give the edge to Schilling over Miller. Batista and Reynolds are a wash. Of course, I'm getting WAY ahead of myself here. The first step is to win the division.
1. Starting pitching has been good even with the injuries. 2. The argument can be made that our bullpen is the best in baseball. 3. Our hitters are starting to come around. 4. We've done well against good pitchers. I think our chances are good.
I think they can make it there. But if the Yankees happen to make it there as well, I don't see the Stros pulling that one out.
