Who We'll Be Rooting For Tonight

[Alkie]

Right now, 7 teams stand between the Houston Astros and the Wild Card.

If the following teams win their games tonight:
Washington
New York Mets
Cincinnati
St Louis
Colorado
and of course, Houston

there will only be 3 teams between the Astros and the Wild Card (Cinci, Arizona - who we play this weekend, and Colorado).

[jaklewein]

I think I'd rather see CIN lose.

[Alkie]

Why?  You have to jump each team individually anyway.  Why not get the low-hanging fruit out of the way?  If Cinci loses, but all the teams in front of us keep winning, we're just chasing a NEW wild card leader.  Who cares what team is in front, if it's not us?

[Lefty]

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Why?  You have to jump each team individually anyway.  Why not get the low-hanging fruit out of the way?  If Cinci loses, but all the teams in front of us keep winning, we're just chasing a NEW wild card leader.  Who cares what team is in front, if it's not us?

I'd say that the 4 teams tied/directly ahead of the Stros - Brewers, SF, Philly, Florida - are weaker than the 4 frontrunners - Cincy, LA, Arizona & Colorado(!).  Let the weaker 4 play themselves out of it, hope that the top 4 lose.

But it boils down to the Stros taking care of their business.

[jasonact]

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Why?  You have to jump each team individually anyway.  Why not get the low-hanging fruit out of the way?  If Cinci loses, but all the teams in front of us keep winning, we're just chasing a NEW wild card leader.  Who cares what team is in front, if it's not us?

If your team is not in first, you should always root for the team in first to lose. If/When they fall out of first, then the new team is the target. So, I'm going to continuously root for Cincy to lose until they aren't the wild card leaders anymore. When Arizona, or whoever, overtakes them, I'll root against that team. It doesn't matter who's in front of the Astros or how many teams are in front of them. If the Astros aren't in the lead, I want the team that is in the lead to go down, regardless of which team that may be on a given day.

There was a series earlier in the year played by I think Mil and Cin, who at the time were separated by 1/2 game in the standings. I rooted for one team one night and the other team the next night, only because they flip-flopped in the standings. If teams do that, and the Astros find ways to win some games, it's a lot easier to move to the top.

[Froback]

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If your team is not in first, you should always root for the team in first to lose. If/When they fall out of first, then the new team is the target. So, I'm going to continuously root for Cincy to lose until they aren't the wild card leaders anymore. When Arizona, or whoever, overtakes them, I'll root against that team. It doesn't matter who's in front of the Astros or how many teams are in front of them. If the Astros aren't in the lead, I want the team that is in the lead to go down, regardless of which team that may be on a given day.

Well said.

[Russ99]

Actually, .500 ball should be the target.

Then we can discuss whoever is in the wild card lead at that time. I'd love to see the 'Stros string together 6 wins right now.

[drew corleone]

I'm cheering for the Astros tonight.

[No? in Austin]

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I'm cheering for the Astros tonight.

As we all are, but I find what Alkie is saying beneficial, not to mention inspiring.  Two years ago, Baio made his grand entrance into our community of freaks and about that same time, Foggy took the remainder of the season's schedule and broke it down scientifically.

He called for a radical run of 42 wins, maybe 9 to 10 loses if I remember correctly.  Foggy just being Foggy we said, but he wouldn't let up... there was a plan there and he wanted all of us to see it.  I told him jumping over six teams (at the time) was nearly impossible to do... he told me to shut the fuck up, he was on a roll (thank you Foggy)!

The convergence of Foggy's delusions, the BBGs getting a huge chuckle out of it, *AND* Scott Baio making his grand appearance was akin to planets aligning themselves... not to mention Carlos Beltran coming over in a trade.  I've always said that the two TZers the BBGs won't punish for braggart ways are Foggy and Alkie.  They entertain the BBGs in ways you and I cannot... and shall not try either!

So Alkie is laying out a plan, semi-short term, yes... but it's a plan.  Bagwell shows up last night and assumes the roll of Baio for the club.  The BBG's must be pleased that the man who honors all the sacred trust of baseball's mystical ways re-emerged and said he'll be there most of the time from here on out.  And Aubrey Huff is at least hitting like Beltran did for the first month on the club!  See me working here?

So everyone, go with the flow and let Alkie lead us in his unique ways breaking it down scientifically.  Don't discuss, don't argue, don't... well... just don't!  The powers that be are lurking and watching us.  They want to know today, this moment, this very second.

Do you believe?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I'm gonna root for the teams to lose if they're ahead of the Astros in the standings. Unless two of them might be playing each other then I'm rooting for the road team to win in a 39 inning 17 to 18 nail biter.

[EasTexAstro]

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Actually, .500 ball should be the target.

Then we can discuss whoever is in the wild card lead at that time. I'd love to see the 'Stros string together 6 wins right now.

Amen.

.500 is my target. I would then like to see if the Astros can get back to that all time winning record. Once they are there, I want to see where the rest of the league is at. Right now, winning is the key. Forget the other teams and see what each game brings.

[drew corleone]

I know... I'm just being a smart ass.

But the last time I played "who has to lose" was in 2001, and fate's sick sense of humor let every team that needed to lose, lose. Then, so did Texas.

I'll let those of you with better sports karma play that game.

ETA: I've been around here long enough to know that Alkie is one of the few TZers with the clout to tempt the BBGs.

[EasTexAstro]

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ETA: I've been around here long enough to know that Alkie is one of the few TZers with the clout to tempt the BBGs.

Yhat isn't any of my business. Alkie has what Alkie has, but I got to go with ETA. (going with the 3rd person thingee there...)

All I am saying is the Astros need to win and get back to where they can get a little respect in themselves. If they do, then you look at what it takes to move on. If they lose, I will still get to watch them play.I'll try to pull some kind of positive out of the whole situation like "Well, I learn more about what is good and what isn't by seeing them struggle a little and trying to find good/bad stuff."

I'm not controling a dern thing, even though I really have a terrible streak still going with the whole watch-them-they-lose, ignore-them-they-win thing...

I'm goimg to watch when I can. I don't really care what the other teams do until the Astros actually look like they are playing some winning baseball. Actually, they looked fantastic in that loss to the Dbacks Sunday until the meltdown. They CAN play some very good baseball, but it doesn't seem to be quite consistent enough. It is like they panic when they get on a roll.

They are right therte to where they could bust it open and put on a winning streak, but they just stumble enough to prevent it. I'm waiting for it to click...then see where they are in the standings.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

.500 is great. It is the difference between being a winner and a loser. Maybe I'm being a bit simplistic but I prefer any scenario that includes the Astros making the playoffs.

[drew corleone]

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ETA: I've been around here long enough to know that Alkie is one of the few TZers with the clout to tempt the BBGs.

Yhat isn't any of my business. Alkie has what Alkie has, but I got to go with ETA. (going with the 3rd person thingee there...)

haha... ETA = "edited to add." Sorry for the confusion, bro.

[EasTexAstro]

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ETA: I've been around here long enough to know that Alkie is one of the few TZers with the clout to tempt the BBGs.

Yhat isn't any of my business. Alkie has what Alkie has, but I got to go with ETA. (going with the 3rd person thingee there...)

haha... ETA = "edited to add." Sorry for the confusion, bro.

Damn....second time I fell for the ETA thingee....


Still, gave me reason to think someone actually answers the voices in my head.

[EasTexAstro]

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.500 is great. It is the difference between being a winner and a loser. Maybe I'm being a bit simplistic but I prefer any scenario that includes the Astros making the playoffs.

Step 1: .500 this season.
Step 2: .500 all time.
Step 3: see if anyone has kept up and work on step 4 accordingly.

[jasonact]

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Actually, .500 ball should be the target.

Then we can discuss whoever is in the wild card lead at that time. I'd love to see the 'Stros string together 6 wins right now.

Amen.

.500 is my target. I would then like to see if the Astros can get back to that all time winning record. Once they are there, I want to see where the rest of the league is at. Right now, winning is the key. Forget the other teams and see what each game brings.

The Astros won. Both the 3rdnals and Reds lost. The Astros are now 7.5 out of the division and 4 out of the WC. That's all that matters.

That said, the Astros have done this all season. They'll play like shit for a few weeks, and then they have a few games where they play good ball, even with some dramatic wins at times. They give us all reason to believe that they'll turn it around. We all come into the TZ and say, "This could be the turning point of the season." Then the Astros go on another pathetic run. Ugh. Until they put together a better run and climb closer to the leaders, I'm not ready to jump back on the wagon, but I will be listening to the game this afternoon.

[No? in Austin]

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Actually, .500 ball should be the target.

Then we can discuss whoever is in the wild card lead at that time. I'd love to see the 'Stros string together 6 wins right now.

Amen.

.500 is my target. I would then like to see if the Astros can get back to that all time winning record. Once they are there, I want to see where the rest of the league is at. Right now, winning is the key. Forget the other teams and see what each game brings.

The Astros won. Both the 3rdnals and Reds lost. The Astros are now 7.5 out of the division and 4 out of the WC. That's all that matters.

That said, the Astros have done this all season. They'll play like shit for a few weeks, and then they have a few games where they play good ball, even with some dramatic wins at times. They give us all reason to believe that they'll turn it around. We all come into the TZ and say, "This could be the turning point of the season." Then the Astros go on another pathetic run. Ugh. Until they put together a better run and climb closer to the leaders, I'm not ready to jump back on the wagon, but I will be listening to the game this afternoon.

You gotta know what you're looking at here and I'm telling ya the fact that it was Pettitte and Backe who set the pace for the two wins bodes well for the run they can make.

It's not Wandy and Taylor, it's Andy and Brandon and it could be huge tell for what's to come.

Do you believe?  Jeff Baiowell wants to know!

[Zan]

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Why?  You have to jump each team individually anyway.  Why not get the low-hanging fruit out of the way?  If Cinci loses, but all the teams in front of us keep winning, we're just chasing a NEW wild card leader.  Who cares what team is in front, if it's not us?

I think a lot depends on who the teams are. By the 2005 AS break 2005, I never cared how far ahead the Nats or Braves were, because I believed both would be irrelevant as the WC goes. I considered the Fish, Mets, and Phils as the teams to be concerned with.

It seems the Reds are legit as far as the WC goes, and I'd rather them not be any further ahead than I would have one less team in the Astros way. Maybe I'm ignorant, but I'm not really concerned with the Stros standing as compared with the Giants and Rockies right now.

[WulawHorn]

Drew-

I still remember the shock of that early december leaving Texas stadium.  That day was surreal as every break we needed to catch happened, and all we had to do was beat that scrub colorado team to play for it all.  I think this was the low point of my longhorn fandom, worse than 4-7 in 97 even.

Ben was so blitzed he stole some Colorado guy's pom pom's and I almost got in a fist fight with the guy b/c he was pushing and yelling at Ben (I didn't realize what he had done or anything, but still would have had his back I'm sure).

The treatment of Simms that day by the fan base left me sick to my stomach.  The fact that he still loves his time at UT makes me respect him all the more.  What a beat down that was.  Thanks for making me relive that in my mind- ahole.

[Arky Vaughan]

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Until they put together a better run and climb closer to the leaders, I'm not ready to jump back on the wagon, but I will be listening to the game this afternoon.

Either you're on the wagon, or you're not.

[No? in Austin]

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Until they put together a better run and climb closer to the leaders, I'm not ready to jump back on the wagon, but I will be listening to the game this afternoon.

Either you're on the wagon, or you're not.

The team that has taken the field with the Blood and Mud uni's the last few days is not the team I've been watching muddle their way through the schedule the last few months.

Take it or leave it, but this is a verrah gud sign, maign!  The planets are aligned and the heavens have opened up and smiled on the Houston nine again.

Now is not the time to be a cynic... now is the time to bring your offering to the altar of the BBGs.  They're listening!

Do you believe?

[jasonact]

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Until they put together a better run and climb closer to the leaders, I'm not ready to jump back on the wagon, but I will be listening to the game this afternoon.

Either you're on the wagon, or you're not.

I'm on the Astros wagon. Always have been and always will be. I'm not rady to jump on the wagon, however, that says that they will now make a historic turnaound and make the playoffs.

[No? in Austin]

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Until they put together a better run and climb closer to the leaders, I'm not ready to jump back on the wagon, but I will be listening to the game this afternoon.

Either you're on the wagon, or you're not.

I'm on the Astros wagon. Always have been and always will be. I'm not rady to jump on the wagon, however, that says that they will now make a historic turnaound and make the playoffs.

"Always with the bad vibes Moriarity!" - Jeff Kent

[Astroholic]

stros will not be wearing mud and blood today.  They will be sporting the 76 rainbow guts.  If that is not a sign, I don't know what is.