(Insert Joke Here About The Astros)

[Nconroe]

okay, since Astros have had a mini turnaround, should give them their profs now, ie. gone from like 12 games below .500 to 2 games over .500 since acquiring two more or less unknown pitchers, actually Roy Oswalk being back seems to be a big boost, and hitters are hitting right now. What are they, now 8 games out of wild card? still possible for them to make playoffs this year if they continue current streak of 16-20 over last 20 games. okay, can be hopeful can't we?

[Mike]

They beat the Reds and Giants, two terrible teams and games they should have won. Am I glad they won, sure, but they are not a wildcard contender.

I think they will have a reality check playing the Brewers. Let's not be like Astros Management and think this is a team that can contend. They are closer to being like the Pirates, Giants and Reds than the Cubs, D-Backs and Brewers.

[KJ3]

the dodgers picked up manny ramirez to put them over the top. c.c. sabathia went to the brewers....TEXIERA WENT TO THE ANGELS....like they needed it....

....the astros? oh yea, the stud pickup of journeyman lefty randy wolf. what is their rotation now? oswalt, wandy, backe, moehler, wolf?

so a guy that is pitching his way out of his "stud" title, half a pitcher, a decent AAA guy, a journeyman on a career year, and a journeyman who is doing pretty bad since we traded for him? i guess at least sampson is back in the pen....

ty wiggonton decides to show up for a week and everybody is acting like they knew who he was all along. maybe the free trips around the bases got enough blood into his legs that he'll play defense for a week or two too....

miguel tejada, bumdum pssssshh. i actually feel bad for him...now that carlos lee is hurt no hispanics are showing up for the game. he thought he was part of the racial marketing schemes drayton employs...how cute. speaking of carlos lee, hopefully his time off will be put toward losing that 30 pounds he seemed to gain since he's been here. he was fat before the +30.

brad ausmus is still our catcher. by choice.

go astros. "contend"

[TexicanMexican]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

okay, since Astros have had a mini turnaround, should give them their profs now, ie. gone from like 12 games below .500 to 2 games over .500 since acquiring two more or less unknown pitchers, actually Roy Oswalk being back seems to be a big boost, and hitters are hitting right now. What are they, now 8 games out of wild card? still possible for them to make playoffs this year if they continue current streak of 16-20 over last 20 games. okay, can be hopeful can't we?

Actually I think a strong finish for the Astros is probably one of the worse things that can happen for the team. If they come close to the wild card I don't see McClain making any changes other than adding another high priced vet and a bunch of middle of the road players. The Astros will continue to slowly circle the drain until all you will hera is crickets chirping in Minute Maid.

[Nconroe]

Well, all fair enough points. Probably adding one stud player wouldn't help put us over the top, maybe it would. Manny is okay, but we had Carlos in that position, of course he's hurt now. Texeiria is good but we got Berkman in that spot. And Sabathia, that would be a boost for a couple months, but he's a free agent, likely off to NYC for next year.

Pitching is for sure our weakest link this year, we knew that in April, too bad this hasn't had someone really step up, but it has been okay to be around .500, which is better than some expected for the year, likely not good enough over the year to get us into playoffs.

Might be a fun off season of changes coming, I hope so. I think changes will happen whether we make playoffs( not likely this year) or not. I always like to see teams try to win and do best they can. Maybe even surprize a few people.

[KJ3]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

Well, all fair enough points. Probably adding one stud player wouldn't help put us over the top, maybe it would. Manny is okay, but we had Carlos in that position, of course he's hurt now. Texeiria is good but we got Berkman in that spot. And Sabathia, that would be a boost for a couple months, but he's a free agent, likely off to NYC for next year.

that was more or less to point out that teams who are really contending (acquisitions that make a difference) and teams who are blowing smoke up their fans' butts....like the astros. randy wolf isn't going to be the "over-the-top" guy on any team, let alone this one that is struggling to be 7 games out of the wild card race.

[Nconroe]

well, I think they have been entertaining this past month and maybe the first month of the season, the middle was pretty bad. like 27-10 over last month or so is pretty good. Tye Wigginton and Jeff Blum are hot at the plate now. Just swept Cardinals followed by Cubbys who have best record in majors. And pitchers ERAs doing a little better over last couple of weeks including the complete game shutout by Randy Wolf and Valverde is being unhittable as a closer right now.

I think Tejada was an upgrade at shortstop.

if we go say 14-8 over last 22 games we could end up at respectable 88 wins, but still likely out of wildcard.

I think we'll go after a few good pitchers in offseason no matter how this ends up. perhaps a catcher and center fielder . maybe a big trade or two. I hope we for sure hold onto Pence, Berkman, Oswalt.

[KJ3]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

I think Tejada was an upgrade at shortstop.

dude, most people would be an upgrade at shortstop over adam everett, much less a former mvp.

if we go say 14-8 over last 22 games we could end up at respectable 88 wins, but still likely out of wildcard.

I think we'll go after a few good pitchers in offseason no matter how this ends up. perhaps a catcher and center fielder . maybe a big trade or two. I hope we for sure hold onto Pence, Berkman, Oswalt.

drayton is not going after that many guys. he'll go get ben sheets or one other decent pitcher and call it an offseason. just enough to keep people coming back. and given the astros history of terrible trades, i don't think i would be calling for one.

[Nconroe]

Oswalt had a nice 1 hit complete game shutout last night against Rockies in Denver. Nice to see Roy getting his old form back.