*Heavy Sigh*

I was approached today in class by Texas Ranger fans who gave me a print out of the National League Central over all rankings. After leaving the class in handcuffs for assault on a innocent by-standard, I sat (in the back of the cop car)* and sighed looking at Houston's overall record.

Houston is currently 11-15 and in last place in the N.L. Central division. Their losses have resulted from two primary causes: great pitching, but terrible hitting and terrible pitching.

Its the painful truth, but on the bright side it's only May and tonight we get another chance to improve our at home record...against the Cubs.

On a different topic Astros owner Drayton McLane has gone off the deep end.

McLane thinks the solution to the team's finances is to get rid of expensive talent and bring in cheaper players. Wrong. That will only result in a lousier team and, in turn, smaller revenues since nobody's going to the games. Let's face it: McLane is no Billy Bean, a man whose acute ability to assess baseball talent allows him to sign players at cheap prices. "Drayton McMullen", please sell the team if you're not going to invest in it.

(To those who don't know Billy Bean was a homosexual outfielder for the San Diego Padres from 93-95.)

When Roy Oswalt left the game yesterday with a bruised finger, Houston's pitching went haywire leaving the game at a nail-biting 11 innings, until mother nature had other plans delaying the game at first then suspending the game untill July 9th. Basiclly the game was the battle of last placers. Two last-place teams with struggling bullpens and many other problems played till they were blue in the face, giving away leads as though neither wanted to win.

Im frusterated with the Astros, but by no means am I giving up! Just read the words of Yogi Berra "Slump? I ain’t in no slump… I just ain’t hitting."

Disabled list is looking like the pitching rotation.

First Jose Valverdie, then Doug Brocial, now Roy Oswalt. Is this the beginning of a curse? If you miss the games in the last couple weeks, Jose limped to first ending in a 15 day DL, Doug triped over the bag to get the out and strained his hamstring, and Roy burised his finger in todays game that is delayed due to rain. Who can we blame for this? Comment to colaborate.

It could be early but yahoo posted playoff standings that remind me of the exact same standings as April/May

The Brewers may have dropped two of three to Arizona, but they still had a strong 5-2 week which included a sweep of division rival, Pittsburgh. Like Toronto in the American League, when you sweep a division rival it has more of an impact on improving playoff chances than a sweep over a non-division rival.

Yea, the Brewers couldn't find there swing in the playoffs last season, but they did when they came to Houston.
My prediction for the NL Central Division (brace yourself, Its Bias) :
Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardnials, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Piartes, and the sad Reds.

Bourn Again

18-69 at the plate is barley something to brag about, but compared to last season, Michael Bourn has been baptized with a sophomore slump. When Jim Deshales asked Cecil Cooper who is player of the month was without any pause he stated Wandy Rodriguez as his pitcher. But when asked again about his 'player' of the month, he stated the Bourn Ultimatum! (How many puns am I going to use?).

on Saturday Houston played Tully Field like Minute Maid. First baseman Lance Berkman was awarded a hit on a play initially ruled an error on aging third baseman Chipper Jones . With two outs, Berkman hit a grounder that took a bad hop before Jones could field the ball. Then El Caballo popped out to third base to end the inning. the revised ruling left Berkman, who hit a first-inning homer, 2-for 5 in the game.

The Astros made history on Sunday by winning the series of the Braves for the First time in five years 7-5. Called me Michael Bourn had three hits with a go-ahead-run in the seventh. The bullpen gave up one run in eight innings and six relievers allowed two runs in four innings.

“The bullpen kind of bailed us out,” said manager Cecil Cooper. “What was it, 12 innings? That’s pretty good.”

Houston is still dead last in the NL Central with a record of 5-8 at home and 6-6 on the road. Starting Wednesday at Minute Maid Houston takes on arch rival Chicago Cubs. (I'll be watching on Thursday)


Tonight's concern is the Washington Nationals as Brian Moehler (0-2) takes on John Lannan (0-3) at Nationals Park at 6:05

Babe Ruth once said "Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." Don't doubt the Stros!

One hit is a good hit

Edinson Volquez ended the Astros' domination against Cincinnati at the Great American Ball Park. Volquez threw a one-hitter. Its games like that, that remind me of Carlos Zambrino's NO-Hitter, remember that? me too. He gave up nothing but Miguel Tejada's first-inning double off the wall, He sat down 17 straight. Although Houston has won 16 of its last 18 in Cincinnati, last nights game made fans change the channel to swine flu coverage on Fox News. My National Leauge suprise player comments on Paulino's preformance Wedesday night.

"I didn't think he was on the top of his game," Houston center fielder Michael Bourn said following the Astros' 3-0 loss on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park. "I think he was OK. He left some balls over the plate for us. Some people made some good swings. I didn't make any good swings, but on a regular [day], we'll get to him. He has good stuff, no doubt. But I'm not going to say he was at his best."

Chris Sampson and The Astros take on Derek Lowe and the braves tonight at Turner Field, 6:30. As much as I would hate to bring it up because I think I am a man of optimisim but the Stros are dead last in the National Leauge Central with 9 glorious wins and 13 good-try loses. Let us pray, Go Stros.

Stros beat Cincy, what else is new?

If the National League lost every team to the swine flu except the Stros and the Reds Houston would have another ring on their finger. The Houston Astros haven't lost a game against the Cincinnati Reds in 11 games and last night things did not change. Although the Reds made three errors, Wandy Roudriguez allowed one run in seven innings and Ivan Rodriguez homered and doubled last night. The 11-game streak started in 2007 and is the longest current run of dominance in the majors. I know what your thinking "Astros? dominace? win streak?"

Like I said yesterday, Wandy is on the first train to cy-young city, knock on wood. Wandy has given up only two runs in his last three starts in 20 innings. He shut-out the Reds 7-0 last April at miniute maid, allowing two hits in seven innings. He was nearly as good in the rematch, giving up seven hits. I see the pattern! do you?


In other news, the ecletic Jose Valverde is on a 15-day DL due to his swollen calf that FSN illistrated in slow motion at the end of Monday's gamecast. Michael Bourn was walked twice and stole a base but went hitless, ending his career-best hitting streak at eight games. Let me remind you, he still got on base.

Astros look for a sweep and a 4-game win streak tonight in the Great American Ballpark @ 6:10

How to put "Astros" and "playoffs" in the same sentence.

As the Astros can never break the two-game-win-streak seal, Richard Justice from the Houston Chronicle has found a word that Houston sports have never seen, optimism. When Drayton McClain traded Brad Lidge to win the World Series with the Philidelphia Phillies, in return the stros' revived 26-year-old Michael Bourn. Last season's plan fell apart when Bourn didn't hit. He ran, but didn't hit. He finished the season with a .229 batting average and 111 strikeouts. Quote me if you have to, but Michael Bourne is this years Dustin Padroia, Wandy Roudigouez is this years Cliff lee. and once again I expect the Houston Astros to wild enough to choose the card to put them in the the playoffs.