Having problems with message search?
Well considering the consistent SP injuries (including Oswalt's nagging one), this team's record is not overall surprising albeit though disappointing. The Cubs have had what I'd consider more serious injury problems with Prior and Woods and nonetheless done well so the Astros don't have this excuse to fudge on. If these 2 Cubbies come back strong in 2nd half, Cards better keep a look over their shoulder!
Astros, on other hand, seem to have some endemic weaknesses having some glaring offense weaknesses at important offense positions - I.e. 1B, 3B, and RF (aka during Hidalgo era). (BTW, I understand trading Hidalgo BUUUUUUT Weathers was a terrible pickup for him! They surely could have done better!!) If, respectively, Bags, Ensberg, and Hidalgo had done moderately closer to their historically proven capabilities, the 'Stros likely would be a lot closer - even with the SP trouble.
However, fact is, these first half troubles DID happen. SAME snakebites could conceivably now happen to the Cards but one should not bet on this and the Cubs have weathered theirs. Looks to me the 'Stros are in deeeeeep caca. It will take the team to play some incredibly inspired baseball to have any chance of getting into the NL Central and I don't know if this old team can do it. On the other hand, if they could sneak into wildcard, keep Beltran, and get a healthy Pettite and Miller, and not do anything else dumb or endure any more bad luck) they might be able to surprise then. On the 3rd hand, if they don't make up decent ground before end of July, (I.e. TWO WEEKS!) they MUST throw in the towel and trade Beltran for the future. If they don't consider the future appropriately at that point, next season (sans Roger, Kent, Bigs, possibly Bags, and lord knows if we'll have healthy Pettite or Miller) I don;t think it a stretch to imagine this team end up 74-88 at best.
-----Original Message-----
From: ksmmoore3@... [mailto:ksmmoore3@...]
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 7:15 PM
To: Astros@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Astros] carlos beltran
The Beltran selection is a good thing, to be sure, but it in no way makes up for the disappointing first half the boys from Houston have endured. I am not suggesting that there is no hope, since there are still a lot of games to be played. I have been following them for 25 years, and they have had some less-than-stellar teams during that time. There were years when not much was expected. But that's not the case this year with this team. Looking at their roster, there was just no way they could be pushing the Pirates for last place at the break. Biggio has been about the only one who has been consistently good. I've seen Bags go through slumps before, but I don't know that I've seen him look so bad for such an extended period. I don't know how he's kept his average as high as it is, since it seems that he's swinging and missing most of the time. Which leads me to wonder what Jimy is thinking having Bags bat second. Y! ou just can't have someone in that spot who comes up empty so much of the time. We're going to have to hold out hope that things improve drastically in the second half, or it's not going to be much fun being an Astros fan. They can do it; let's see if they do do it. Ken From: ksmmoore3@... [mailto:ksmmoore3@...]
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 7:15 PM
To: Astros@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Astros] carlos beltran
Offline 
Send Email