Only the Astro Faithfull would have expected this

[TxCollegeguy]

Someone explain to me how houston has won 10 out of the last 13 games....Vinny Castillia(sp?) who would have thought he would come through as he has since they got him.

I'm starting to think The Astros have adjusted to the new Stadium...Anyone think They are going to make a serious run in the post season??

I dont care for the New stadiums location but I like the way it was built with the exception of the Outfield seats, I couldn't fit very well when I sat in them...ANyone else have a problem fitting in those seats?

 

[Natymike]

Players usually break out of slumps when you completely change their environment. I remembered when we first aquired Vinny, I definately thought he had a chance to explode like he did in 97, I just didn't expect it to happen so soon.

I don't want to say anything about the post season because we ALWAYS choke. Bagwell and Biggio have a playoff batting average of under 200. If we could once play like we are capable of, then I like our chances.

OFFENSE: This year we are STACKED at every position(except cather and SS) . Berkman and Alou are atop the majors in pretty much every hitting category. Berkman is batting .380 on the road. Alou is batting .368 best in the majors(he has post season experience, I expect him to show up if we make the playoffs) Bagwell is heating up, so is Vinny, shit so is Biggio, now all we need is Hidalgo to show up and we will be out of control.

PITCHING: If we are ahead by the 7th inning, forget about it. We picked up the Pittsburg closer to pitch the 6th or 7th -his ERA is STILL ZERO. I think he has pitched about 11 innings, then Ocatavio Dotel WHO IS A COMPLETE BAD ASS comes in a shuts everyone down. throws 98-99 consistantly. He hasn't given up a run in who knows how long. He is pitching better than Wagner right now, but Wagner is still the man.

The only question is our starting pitching. ASTACIO was a huge pickup because he's awesome. Wade Miller needs to get healthy, Miliki is on fire somehow, and Redding is doing ok. Oswalt is off and on, he needs to stay ON.

Moral of the story, the NL race is so close right now, I don't even want to get my hopes up, but the stros definately have a chance.

 

[Kakdiesel]

I guess I gotta pull for the stro's in the central since my Reds have sucked this year

I am a Craig Biggio fan..ever since he was a catcher...i like his style of play and he's a lil guy doin amazing things throughout his career..i respect that a lot..

gotta pull for the lil guy

 

[Natymike]

wow, how the hell could you stand having 2 grand frozen for 5 months, I would be going insane.

and yea tex, the seats are kinda small but I guess you're just too swoll for them , but the stadium is awesome, I'm in awe every time I go there.

 

[Natymike]

dgreenhill, he got cut by the Tampa Bay D-rays earlier this year, the stros picked him up for 250,000 grand. Pretty sweet deal.

 

[Natymike]

I have, how you say "credit". My book lets me make over/under bets at the beginning of the season and then we settle up when the season's over.

My book doesn't let you bet what you don't have, but you can pump in money with credit cards so its pretty much the same thing.

I made some season bets last year and I got pretty impatient cause half my account was bet for 5 months.

I'm thinking about betting against the ravens winning 11 games, but I can't stand the stress of season bets.

 

[TxCollegeguy]

250k thats a bargin if I've ever seen one....He will get a hefty pay increase if his level of play continues where it is now...

 

[Thick dog]

The Wild card races this year are great, some good teams aren't going to make the playoffs. The Astros have a hell of a lineup, they could use some more pitching, but it will be interesting to see if they can hold off the Cubs. I'd like to see the Giants get into the Playoffs and Barry Bonds finally break out in the postseason.

 

[thermo]

If there young pitching staff can keep rolling, they can go far in the playoffs.

 

[Natymike]

By the way, we play the cubs 9 more times this year. 7 of the games are at then end of September before the playoffs, this will decide everything and you can bet your ass I'll be at Enron.