September 24, 2015

[HudsonHawk]

So here we are in late September, having led the division most of the season, the Astros are effectively four games back of the division and no longer control their own destiny to win it, even with three to play against the leader.  They are effectively tied for the final wild card spot, and need to win out to control their own destiny for it.  There are a lot of reasons for the collapse, and lots of areas of which to be critical.  Lots of emotion on our part too.  We're all invested, and we hate to see our team lose. 

When the season started, I was just glad they appeared to have a big league roster again, not to mention they'd be on television.  But from that first Opening Day win, there was a special excitement about this team, and it carried on for the next five months. 

I don't know what's going to happen in the next two weeks.  The Astros have put themselves in a bad situation with poor play in the last month of the season, and I'm not optimistic they can fend off the challenges.  Regardless, this team has been more fun to watch all season than any team I can remember in a long time, including several playoff teams.  This is my team.  And I am proud of them.  I am an Astros fan.

[Jacksonian]

So here we are in late September, having led the division most of the season, the Astros are effectively four games back of the division and no longer control their own destiny to win it, even with three to play against the leader.  They are effectively tied for the final wild card spot, and need to win out to control their own destiny for it.  There are a lot of reasons for the collapse, and lots of areas of which to be critical.  Lots of emotion on our part too.  We're all invested, and we hate to see our team lose. 

When the season started, I was just glad they appeared to have a big league roster again, not to mention they'd be on television.  But from that first Opening Day win, there was a special excitement about this team, and it carried on for the next five months. 

I don't know what's going to happen in the next two weeks.  The Astros have put themselves in a bad situation with poor play in the last month of the season, and I'm not optimistic they can fend off the challenges.  Regardless, this team has been more fun to watch all season than any team I can remember in a long time, including several playoff teams.  This is my team.  And I am proud of them.  I am an Astros fan.

I can't think of an expectation they haven't exceeded not just the players but the coaches and front office as well.

[Reuben]

Well fuckin said, HH.

[juliogotay]

Well fuckin said, HH.

+1. My hopes going into the season were to be at or close to .500. The rest has been bonus. I am disappointed they weren't able to build on or hold onto their great start. If you had told me that they would add, after mid-May, Correa, Kazmir, Tucker and Gomez to this team I would not have believed they would play sub-.500 the rest of the way. I'm sure it has been a great learning experience for the young players and will make them better. And there is a spirit, a character, on this team that I like and makes me root for them even more.

[roadrunner]

I know this season is not over and I'm certainly not ready for it to be over, but I am really excited for next year.

[believin]

I'm with you, HH. They are an exciting team to watch.

[das]

I said it half way through the season when they were +14 above .500 and in first place by 4 or 5 games that even if they failed to make the playoffs, it was a great season and I still adamantly believe that.  I have had so much fun watching the team play, participating here in the TZ, tracking individual performances and watching team/coaching machinations at the deadline and throughout the year that this is easily one of my top 5 favorite years to be an Astros fan since I started following them in 1979.

I also understand that a contributing part of this feeling is that the success this year is not likely a flash-in-the-pan and that the near-term future of the team is very bright. 

All that said, 9 games left.  We got this.

[David in Jackson]

Maybe I don't have the perspective I will have in the offseason, but my expectations for the year (82 wins) changed in May (McCullers and Correa called up) and August when we gave up prospects to get Kazmir, Gomez, and Fiers.  Maybe we played over our heads in April (sure looks like it), but the August-September roster isn't the same as the April roster and expectations rose accordingly. 

[Waldo]

So here we are in late September, having led the division most of the season, the Astros are effectively four games back of the division and no longer control their own destiny to win it, even with three to play against the leader.

A Ranger loss today would put the Astros in control of their own destiny, if only by a very razor thin margin.  They need to sweep the Rangers to have any shot of winning the West, and they really needed yesterday's game too.

[NeilT]

My hope was .500.   I have never been as excited about a season, or more invested, or had as much fun.  9 more games, and they only need 1 win to get there.  And I still have plans on some post-season.

[HudsonHawk]

A Ranger loss today would put the Astros in control of their own destiny, if only by a very razor thin margin.  They need to sweep the Rangers to have any shot of winning the West, and they really needed yesterday's game too.

Yes, if the Rangers lose some games, then this may change.  But for now, they can win out and still not win the division.  They have to have help.

[Noe]

When the season started, I was just glad they appeared to have a big league roster again, not to mention they'd be on television.  But from that first Opening Day win, there was a special excitement about this team, and it carried on for the next five months. 

I think I'm paraphrasing Whitey Herzog here, but he said "Gimme some luck and a good bullpen and I'll win you a pennant." I'm too lazy to google it, but the point is so true. Every year, you can speculate on bullpen makeup. Certainly I subscribe to veteran presence in a bullpen and also subscribe to power arms when you just need that one special matchup to get that one out. Oh for the days of cutting down a game to six innings because you had Lidge-Dotel-Wagner for the 7th, 8th, and 9th. That may never happen again, but the point is till valid... bullpens will make a team a contender as much as defense and solid starters (you're only as good as the next day's starter). Hitting is needed for the "just enough offense" but seems a big emphasis is often made on having a great offense and a "just enough" bullpen some times.

All that being said, they did turn some heads this year and many looked at the young hitters as the reason it has been exciting... and it has been. But the little appreciated fact is that Houston has a good bullpen that helped tremendously this year. The starters also made themselves known and kept the team from extended losing streaks. Offense comes and goes sometimes, but you can't afford inconsistent starting pitching and bullpens. Houston's future when it comes to both is bright, as bright as it's offense capabilities. Where will Luhnow and company go next to build on this year (regardless of the outcome, it has been a success)? I dunno. There are many facets to consider... power arms, veteran presence, one more solid starter, more veteran run producers... you name it, all good directions to go.

Makes for that much more to look forward to for next season and beyond because the nucleus looks great and will be even better with this experience to build on.

[Mr. Happy]

So here we are in late September, having led the division most of the season, the Astros are effectively four games back of the division and no longer control their own destiny to win it, even with three to play against the leader.  They are effectively tied for the final wild card spot, and need to win out to control their own destiny for it.  There are a lot of reasons for the collapse, and lots of areas of which to be critical.  Lots of emotion on our part too.  We're all invested, and we hate to see our team lose. 

When the season started, I was just glad they appeared to have a big league roster again, not to mention they'd be on television.  But from that first Opening Day win, there was a special excitement about this team, and it carried on for the next five months. 

I don't know what's going to happen in the next two weeks.  The Astros have put themselves in a bad situation with poor play in the last month of the season, and I'm not optimistic they can fend off the challenges.  Regardless, this team has been more fun to watch all season than any team I can remember in a long time, including several playoff teams.  This is my team.  And I am proud of them.  I am an Astros fan.

+1,000,000. I'm an Astros fan and don't have any time or patience for folks on the fence or late jumping on the bandwagon.

[JimR]

So here we are in late September, having led the division most of the season, the Astros are effectively four games back of the division and no longer control their own destiny to win it, even with three to play against the leader.  They are effectively tied for the final wild card spot, and need to win out to control their own destiny for it.  There are a lot of reasons for the collapse, and lots of areas of which to be critical.  Lots of emotion on our part too.  We're all invested, and we hate to see our team lose. 

When the season started, I was just glad they appeared to have a big league roster again, not to mention they'd be on television.  But from that first Opening Day win, there was a special excitement about this team, and it carried on for the next five months. 

I don't know what's going to happen in the next two weeks.  The Astros have put themselves in a bad situation with poor play in the last month of the season, and I'm not optimistic they can fend off the challenges.  Regardless, this team has been more fun to watch all season than any team I can remember in a long time, including several playoff teams.  This is my team.  And I am proud of them.  I am an Astros fan.

Afuckingmen! Preach, Preacher!