It is difficult to remember this, but just like Carlos Gomez is not that far removed from great performances in 2014, the Astros are not that far removed from playing well against the Texas Rangers.
In 2014, the Astros were a solid 11-8 against the nemesis from the north. Even in 2015, they began the season with a decent 4-5 against the Rangers. But then the wheels came off and the Astros have been 2-14 against them ever since, including 0-6 to date in 2016.
It is simple, in the next four days the Astros could undo a ton of the good work they have put in during their recent 11 wins in 13 games streak. With four games against a team that not only has their number, but has a lot of team’s numbers this season, the Astros could run the gamut from hurting themselves badly to continuing their fine recent performance.
On Friday, they could wake up anywhere from three games behind the Texas Rangers to 11 games behind in the division. They have struggled mightily to get within two games of .500 and within four games of the second wild card. They have to get this King Kong sized monkey off their back in relation to their Arlington rival or kiss 2016 goodbye.
How do you think they will do in these four games?
How do you think they need to perform in these four games in order to not kill their momentum and ability to contend?
CHIPALATTA 
Leaving 11 on base when you had so many chances to cash in runs, is totally unacceptable. I’ve lost count of how many one run losses these guys have had, but it’s too many. JEEZE.
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You have to get the bat on the ball with guys on 3rd and 1 out. You can’t swing like you swing in the first inning and no one on.
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Dan, maybe you could take a part time job coaching the hitting coach.
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A Bregman throwing error with the bases loaded in the 10th has given Midland a 7-5 lead.
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Tanielu solo HR leading off the 10th.
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I’m thinking this season went south when Colby accepted the qualifying offer. Led to Lowrie trade to reduce cost and may have prevented other moves. Just our luck to have the first player ever to accept a QO. But, everybody knew how happy he was in Houston. And was it likely that he would have gotten a multi-year contract elsewhere? I don’t know. Should the Intel have shown he might accept? I don’t know. But Right now, I would rather have Lowrie in the lineup and at 1B.
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I don’t think Lunhow would’ve kept Lowrie even if Rasmus had moved on. He had his mind made up that Singleton would finally get his act together and play a decent first base. Unfortunately, things don’t always work out as planned.
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If I had to pick two stats that explains why the Astros have been such a bad team this year it would be these:
The Astros are the worst team in baseball at pitching in the first inning. Their 6.57 ERA in that inning is #30.
Their batting average is 14th out of 15 AL teams at .237
The Astros get behind early and can’t hit well enough to get back in the game.
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I’ve said the same thing more than once. The guys were lucky the last time McCullers pitched, they ended up winning that start but it wasn’t easy. The first 1-2 innings are killing these pitchers….ESPECIALLY Lance McCullers.
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According to MLB stats the Astros are dead last in hitting from the seventh inning on in all of baseball at exactly .200.
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It seems like last year they would win games often toward the end. This year the opposite.
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Diane – you are very right – heard a stat on the radio that they are 0-26 when trailing after 6 innings and 0-30 when trailing after 8 innings.
First of all they are trailing a lot more than they were last year with their superior pitching. Second they are not making the exciting comebacks like they did last late in games. They didn’t do it every time but even some times is better than none.
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Dan,
I may be wrong, but didn’t they trail the Angels 5-4 in the 7th inning in the Sunday game where Correa HR’d in the 13th inning to win the game.
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I looked it up. They actually weren’t trailing after the 6th, but we’re trailing after the 7th, but scored in the top of the 8th to tie it up.
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Tim
In that game they were not trailing after 6 – they were winning after 6 – but they were trailing after 7. So they are 0-26 when trailing after 6 and 1-29 when trailing after 7.
Tricky.
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Becky, I didn’t come back on here last night but saw your note this morning. Nance is right; this is smart and proactive. What’s hard is going through the grit again. But
every gutbuster is going toward keeping you here with your family and friends. And I truly believe it will.
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Diane……I know you’re right, but knowing how dang sick those treatments make me just puts me over the edge. Pretty much ruins any plans I have made for the summer.
It is what it is…..cancer is like growing another arm, just can’t get away from it.
Let’s get a win today…..that will cheer me up for SURE!!!
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Did I miss something Becky?
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Becky said she has 6 polyps turning to cancer so she is having more chemo in July and August
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OK, I went back and found your post. It sucks, I know, but being proactive hopefully, will save even more misery later on.
You have our prayers to back you up and our pitiful little team to help keep your mind occupied.
You’re a winner. I truly believe you will come out on top.
Glad you decided to stay with us. Wouldn’t be the same without you. And yes, your thoughts are appreciated.
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Becky, I will be thinking and praying for you every day.
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Dittios
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Draft day 3 starts off as predicted. College pitching. Three college pitchers and then the A&M second baseman.
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If you ever want to read a feel good story, look up Chris Archer’S childhood.
This young man had a run away father and a mother who went to prison. His maternal grandparents reared him, and gave him the warm loving home he wuld have never had, if not for them. He’s a DANG good pitcher, as most of us can attest to, he’s not had the best year so far, but believe me…..he can turn on you in a New York minute!! I love the kid, just wish we had him in our rotation! A really neat kid.
Let’s beat him today!!
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Wouldn’t it be nice if we developed some contact hitters instead of the all or nothing guys. They are getting better but still needs improvement.
Becky, hang in there. Prayers from us all for you.
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Thru round 20 we have drafted the HS pitcher and 19 college players.
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After watching Dallas Jesuit playing in the state championship game on TV – I’d like to draft the DJ kid who dropped a perfect bunt for a base hit with a guy on 3rd and one out.
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Rds 21-23, 2 more college catchers and a college pitcher.
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Finally, in rd 26 the Astros picked a top prep CF, Avery Tuck, who is committed to San Diego State. Very highly thought of with a big power bat. Was rated a late first round selection.
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We’ve got three good bats in our line up. We need seven or eight.
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EXACTLY……I’m wondering when Reed will make it up. If you’re not gonna play Kemp send him back home and bring Reed up.
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Why can’t Fiers pitch like this when they are scoring runs for him?
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Yeah, but then he grooves an 0-2 pitch to their best hitter. That’s just plain old dumb.
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Keeping my fingers crossed……((gulp)).
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VALBUENA!!!!
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Harris is scaring me today
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Tough….the guys really tried to win it today.
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Astros won on a huge, beautiful double play
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Egg on my face….I turned my radio off when they loaded the bases with no body out!
They finally win a one run game! Let me run this by you….10th inning show today the guy was talking about trading for Ryan Braun. You know they are gonna ask for Reed, Bregman, or Musgrove……If Luhnow would trade any of these three, it would be the last straw. He’s not worth a bucket of spit. I never liked him when we were in the NL, besides we are on his no trade list. If we trade with the Brewers it had better be for Lacroix. He used PED’S…lied about it, had the guy that collects the specimen FIRED.
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That trade would finish me with Crane and Luhnow. Period.
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Let’s see – Altuve, Springer and Musgrove for Braun and his “Doctor”.
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Braun did…..not Lacroix.
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We all know Gomez has been horrible this year. However, he’s not as bad as he’s been and it would be a shame if we missed out on his regression closer to his mean. I still think he’s a better option than Jake and will be better going forward. His final numbers won’t look good, but they’ll be better than where he is now. We can’t redo the past so let’s, at least, benefit from his improvement. I don’t think we should give up on Gomez yet.
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I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Short leash though.
I will say I’d rather have Gomez at his worst over Braun.
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Braun is Bud Selig Jr in my book. I don’t ever want to see him here.
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Alex Bregman made up for his costly error last night with an RBI single in the 8th inning tonight and a walkoff homer in the tenth.
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The Astros won a game in which their #5 pitcher started against the other team’s ace.
It’s hard to figure out how they did it, but suffice to say a home run by Gomez off of Archer, a home run off a lefty by Valbuena and a run off a wild pitch indicate a lot of good luck was involved. The Astros will need a lot more of that in the next few months.
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The Astros drafted three players from Seminole State College in Oklahoma.
BUT! The pitcher from South Alabama they drafted in round 25, Kevin Hill, also came from Seminole State.
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The Astros selected Tony D’s son Anthony in Round 37. Anthony will be heading off to college.
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The Astros have already agreed to terms with their 8th, 9th and 10th round picks.
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Do you know if any signed below slot?
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