Author Topic: Countdown to History (Read 7882 times)

If you want to pretend this team isn't terrible, that is your prerogative. Being a fan doesn't mean pretending this isn't the worse put together Astros team at least since I have followed them (I fear even hoping the 2000 team is worse is a Polyanna approach), and potentially one of the worst of all time.

I have never been a Drayton hater, but having an owner who is completely checked out is apparently not a recipe for success. My main hopes for the season are 1) not to lose 100 games, and 2) see progress towards the future from the younger players who might be able to contribute to a winning team.

Mike S. · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2011, 02:47:30 am »

Mate, we're not even ten games into the season.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2011, 08:38:43 am »

I certainly haven't heard any more repetitions of that 'What have you done today to be a champion' mantra.

This year is going to be baby steps. We're going to have to get comfortable with the small gains as they relate to the bigger picture or else everyone here will burn out from anger and frustration by mid-June.

Yeah, this team's not so good. The small victories are the ones we're going to have to celebrate, and build from that. Brief win streaks will come. Guys will get hot. We'll see good performances, and sometimes the cadences will converge and we'll see multiple good performances at the same time. Until then, we're going to have to watch Wallace and see if backing off the plate enables him to get to the inside heat and still hit the pitches on the outside corner. Will Wilton Lopez turn into a guy you can trust a tight spot to, or is Melancon up to that task? What does the Keppinger vs. Hall competition bring? Can Barmes be a plus? Will CJ be a steady hitter?

The little stuff. It's baseball. Enjoy it while it's here, because in a few months it won't be and we'll be wishing it was.

Alkie · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2011, 09:16:58 am »

Quote from: Ron Brand on April 10, 2011, 08:38:43 am

The small victories are the ones we're going to have to celebrate, and build from that.

None of us have actually gotten Astro cancer yet this year. VICTORY!

Quote

The little stuff. It's baseball. Enjoy it while it's here, because in a few months it won't be and we'll be wishing it was.

Bah, by July, we'll all be dying for college football.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2011, 09:29:24 am »

Quote from: Alkie on April 10, 2011, 09:16:58 am

None of us have actually gotten Astro cancer yet this year. VICTORY!

See? Baby steps.

BizidyDizidy · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2011, 10:37:43 am »

Spent yesterday afternoon watching the Stanford spring game on ESPN3 - I am already ready for college football to start.

BudGirl · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2011, 10:53:57 am »

You guys sound like a bunch of bandwagonners. If you can't stand to watch them, don't.

Rebel Jew · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2011, 12:01:35 pm »

Quote from: BizidyDizidy on April 10, 2011, 10:37:43 am

Spent yesterday afternoon watching the Stanford spring game on ESPN3 - I am already ready for college football to start.

Oh indubitably ol' chap! Such men of fine breeding and winning spirit those Stanford boys. Not like this lowly, nacho-eating baseball club in Houston. Indeed, I predict the only thing they're going to win at is losing!

GreatBagwellsBeard · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2011, 01:12:44 pm »

Quote from: Joey Trum on April 10, 2011, 12:01:35 pm

Oh indubitably ol' chap! Such men of fine breeding and winning spirit those Stanford boys. Not like this lowly, nacho-eating baseball club in Houston. Indeed, I predict the only thing they're going to win at is losing!

Haw haw! Well put, old boy!

Mike · « **Reply #15 on:** April 10, 2011, 04:21:50 pm »

I don't expect them to win the division, but it is a little early to count them as the worse team ever. They should have won the first game against the Phillies they didn't get it done. So they got swept by Philadelphia and went 1-2 against the Reds. Those teams were good last year and have higher expectations. The Astros went 1-2 against the Marlins but they won big today. If they win a few series or get a good winning streak going they could be back in the middle.

D.WARD · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2011, 04:33:58 pm »

Quote from: BizidyDizidy on April 09, 2011, 08:50:51 pm

No Astros team has ever lost more than 97 games - 7 down, 91 to go.

U FOO!

This same exact team was 40-33 in the second half last year. I can't believe people would count anyone out this early.

Mr. Happy · « **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2011, 04:46:59 pm »

Even though I predicted 97 losses this season, I think that I overshot the number of losses. The latest starts by Myers, Wandy and Happ give me hope that I was wrong. Go Astros!

BizidyDizidy · « **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2011, 08:15:50 pm »

Quote from: D.WARD on April 10, 2011, 04:33:58 pm

U FOO!

This same exact team was 40-33 in the second half last year. I can't believe people would count anyone out this early.

I take no pleasure in them being bad, so I hope you are right. In their last 25 games they are 8-17 (110 game losing pace), so I guess pick the stat as you would like.

What I really hope is that Happ and Wallace look good - looks like Happ did today at least (I was watching the Masters).

NeilT · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2011, 10:38:00 am »

The Marlin series was 1-2, but had the bullpen held together they could have won either of the two they lost. Starting pitching was at least good, and for Wandy very good (not that that I'd blurt that out during the game). The hitting was better than I expected. Defense was better than I expected. The bullpen is a problem, but the team's come reasonably close to having three more wins than they've got. I think it's too early to dismiss them.

Lurch · « **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2011, 10:46:41 am »

Quote from: NeilT on April 11, 2011, 10:38:00 am

The Marlin series was 1-2, but had the bullpen held together they could have won either of the two they lost. Starting pitching was at least good, and for Wandy very good (not that that I'd blurt that out during the game). The hitting was better than I expected. Defense was better than I expected. The bullpen is a problem, but the team's come reasonably close to having three more wins than they've got. I think it's too early to dismiss them.

Agree. It would have been reasonable before the season started to predict for ANY "average" team a 3-6 record with the schedule the Astros faced. I imagine most would have assumed a 0-3 @ Philly, 1-2 @ Reds, 2-1 v Fish start for any likely .500 team.

Yes, they're not great, and good is debatable. We get it. Calling this team a historic failure 9 games into the season, though, is beyond stupid.

Ebby Calvin · « **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2011, 10:47:46 am »

Even if it isn't too early to dismiss them and some of these projections bear fruit, it's sure as hell not time to stop watching them. Yeah, they're going to lose quite a few games this year - most likely more than they win. I'd rather watch losing baseball than no baseball.

S.P. Rodriguez · « **Reply #22 on:** April 11, 2011, 11:01:46 am »

Quote from: NeilT on April 11, 2011, 10:38:00 am

The Marlin series was 1-2, but had the bullpen held together they could have won either of the two they lost. Starting pitching was at least good, and for Wandy very good (not that that I'd blurt that out during the game). The hitting was better than I expected. Defense was better than I expected. The bullpen is a problem, but the team's come reasonably close to having three more wins than they've got. I think it's too early to dismiss them.

+1.

I think we'll see them continue the next 6 weeks with the bullpen roster, no changes other than assignment. If they continue to lose games late, I wouldn't be surprised to see some swapping out with the AAA options. Where I grow skeptical is whether Wade/Smith will make a trade to lock up that 7-8-9 relief. JD said it the other night, IIRC, they have relievers who pitch to contact. When you do that, you will give up hits from time time.

In the meantime, I'm watching to see if Fulchino and Melancon take on more prominent roles out of the 'pen.

MusicMan · « **Reply #23 on:** April 11, 2011, 11:04:25 am »

Quote from: S.P. Rodriguez on April 11, 2011, 11:01:46 am

In the meantime, I'm watching to see if Fulchino and Melancon take on more prominent roles out of the 'pen.

If Fulchino is taking on a more prominent role, we're fucked. Melancon, OTOH, I'd like to see more of.

GreatBagwellsBeard · « **Reply #24 on:** April 11, 2011, 11:07:29 am »

Quote from: S.P. Rodriguez on April 11, 2011, 11:01:46 am

+1.

I think we'll see them continue the next 6 weeks with the bullpen roster, no changes other than assignment. If they continue to lose games late, I wouldn't be surprised to see some swapping out with the AAA options. Where I grow skeptical is whether Wade/Smith will make a trade to lock up that 7-8-9 relief. JD said it the other night, IIRC, they have relievers who pitch to contact. When you do that, you will give up hits from time time.

In the meantime, I'm watching to see if Fulchino and Melancon take on more prominent roles out of the 'pen.

Part of what made that opening road trip so brutal was that combination of pitching to contact and the lousy defense. It's fine to pitch to contact provided the guys behind you know how to catch and throw.

S.P. Rodriguez · « **Reply #25 on:** April 11, 2011, 11:15:11 am »

Quote from: MusicMan on April 11, 2011, 11:04:25 am

If Fulchino is taking on a more prominent role, we're fucked. Melancon, OTOH, I'd like to see more of.

He looked effective yesterday.

MusicMan · « **Reply #26 on:** April 11, 2011, 11:20:46 am »

Quote from: S.P. Rodriguez on April 11, 2011, 11:15:11 am

He looked effective yesterday.

My view is that he's a mediocre reliever, at best. If he's in a prominent role, in means that all of the young guys have fallen on their faces.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #27 on:** April 11, 2011, 11:52:32 am »

Quote from: MusicMan on April 11, 2011, 11:20:46 am

My view is that he's a mediocre reliever, at best. If he's in a prominent role, in means that all of the young guys have fallen on their faces.

I thought he was talking about Melancon's one-pitch appearance. Effective indeed.

Reuben · « **Reply #28 on:** April 11, 2011, 02:20:09 pm »

Quote from: Ebby Calvin on April 11, 2011, 10:47:46 am

Even if it isn't too early to dismiss them and some of these projections bear fruit, it's sure as hell not time to stop watching them. Yeah, they're going to lose quite a few games this year - most likely more than they win. I'd rather watch losing baseball than no baseball.

Amen. I sure as fuck don't care about college football, but the bottom line is, do you like baseball, and do you like the Astros? Then, like me, you are glad there's 153 games left. Even if they'll probably lose at least 77 of those.

MusicMan · « **Reply #29 on:** April 11, 2011, 02:36:16 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on April 11, 2011, 02:20:09 pm

Amen. I sure as fuck don't care about college football

Communist.

JimR · « **Reply #30 on:** April 11, 2011, 02:44:16 pm »

Quote from: MusicMan on April 11, 2011, 02:36:16 pm

Communist.

oops!

he should be banned. immediately.

BudGirl · « **Reply #31 on:** April 11, 2011, 02:49:39 pm »

Quote from: JimR on April 11, 2011, 02:44:16 pm

she should be banned. immediately.

I always thought Reuben was a guy.

Mr. Happy · « **Reply #32 on:** April 11, 2011, 02:51:30 pm »

Quote from: MusicMan on April 11, 2011, 11:20:46 am

My view is that he's a mediocre reliever, at best. If he's in a prominent role, in means that all of the young guys have fallen on their faces.

This. This right here.

MusicMan · « **Reply #33 on:** April 11, 2011, 02:59:51 pm »

Quote from: BudGirl on April 11, 2011, 02:49:39 pm

I always thought Reuben was a guy.

That's the joke

Gizzmonic · « **Reply #34 on:** April 11, 2011, 03:42:44 pm »

Quote from: BudGirl on April 11, 2011, 02:49:39 pm

I always thought Reuben was a guy.

Do sandwiches have a gender?

NeilT · « **Reply #35 on:** April 11, 2011, 03:47:46 pm »

Quote from: Gizzmonic on April 11, 2011, 03:42:44 pm

Do sandwiches have a gender?

French sandwiches do.

Bench · « **Reply #36 on:** April 11, 2011, 03:48:31 pm »

Quote from: NeilT on April 11, 2011, 03:47:46 pm

French sandwiches do.

What a croque.

JimR · « **Reply #37 on:** April 11, 2011, 03:56:32 pm »

Quote from: BudGirl on April 11, 2011, 02:49:39 pm

I always thought Reuben was a guy.

fixed it.

Reuben · « **Reply #38 on:** April 11, 2011, 04:03:47 pm »

May as well come clean; you guys had me pegged: I am a feminine French Communist sandwich.

But, I did go to a UNC football game once, years ago. Can I stay?

EasTexAstro · « **Reply #39 on:** April 11, 2011, 04:07:44 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on April 11, 2011, 04:03:47 pm

May as well come clean; you guys had me pegged: I am a feminine French Communist sandwich.

But, I did go to a UNC football game once, years ago. Can I stay?

Only if you take your hat off at the table.

MRaup · « **Reply #40 on:** April 11, 2011, 05:52:44 pm »

Quote from: EasTexAstro on April 11, 2011, 04:07:44 pm

Only if you take your hat off at the table.

And sit in HH's lap to take his order at lunch.

subnuclear · « **Reply #41 on:** September 28, 2011, 08:28:32 pm »

I really thought BizDiz was being kind of an asshole by making this thread, but he turned out to be an optimist.

BizidyDizidy · « **Reply #42 on:** September 28, 2011, 08:31:22 pm »

Both - and a bit drunk I believe as well.