So I just watched the malfunctioning MLB Game Day tell me that Daryl Ward struck out against Seth McLung to seal the Astros fate in the NL Wild Card: elimination. The prior five or ten minutes were spent reveling in the glory of Darin Erstad's walk-off HR. Even though I knew that Milwaukee had the lead, in those last five or ten minutes, it still felt like we were going to do it and it felt good. Although we fell short of our intended destination, I can't say that we failed.
The last six weeks of baseball have been genuinely enjoyable and throughly captivating. It's been a good season, hollistically, and it's left me with a lot of hope for what 2009 can bring our way. I want to thank you for accepting me here at the CFB and I hope to continue to contribute to the awesome community that it has fostered. It's going to be an exciting off-season and it should provide the same level of excitement and drama that the last month of baseball have. Does anyone doubt that with a little tinkering here, and a little improvement there, that this team isn't capable of contending in 2009? I, for one, do not.
Well, it didn't end like we all wanted it to. The Astros just couldn't escape their numerous stretches of bad play. It seems like HighLeveragePerformer and I came on to the blog here just as things were at their worst. In a way, the both of us took advantage of the momentum of the team, and slowly became more acclimated. Great baseball makes it easier to write. It was exciting, to say the least. This may be my last post while the team was in contention, but ya'll will be hearing a great deal from me this off season.
0 recs | 9 comments
hear, hear
It’s been fun following the team this year with everybody on here.
I’m not really sure how to respond to this question:
except to say that I agree with what I think you’re saying, that the Astros should be contenders next season.
Xan - September 26, 2008
possible future Astro, Ben Sheets on Fox 3 o'clock central
I hope he’s not pushing himself when he shouldn’t.
ol Pete - September 27, 2008
With the Astros eliminated...
Go Brewers!!!
Stros Bro - September 27, 2008
I second that
I have this almost inexplicable distaste for Ryan Braun (sort of like I used to have for Chad Qualls), so I’d love for the Brewers to win the Series but for Braun to suck, so that those whispers of not being able to play in October follow him the rest of his career.
How’s that for a wish?
Danyah - September 27, 2008
I'll 2nd that with the revisions you made
Stros Bro - September 27, 2008
I hate dislike Braun's attitude,
but why did you not like Qualls?
Only_A_Lad - September 27, 2008
Same fundamental reason, I guess
Attitude. Every interview I ever saw with the guy, he rubbed me the wrong way. And I always seemed to be watching, or at the game itself, on the days when he would give up a big one and blow the game. Despite the fact that statistically overall he was good while he played for us, it was like somebody making a bad first impression and having to work twice as hard to get over that impression. And he just never got there with me, not that it matters.
I always contrasted Qualls with Lidge, who was always very gracious with the media, even when he sucked. Because of the difference in their apparent attitudes, I always pulled for Lidge to do well and could “forgive” him (for lack of a better word), whereas when Qualls screwed up—well, that’s what I expected from him. Even though rationally, I knew I was being unfair. . . meh. Too bad. Just didn’t like him.
Danyah - September 28, 2008
What a roller coaster of a season.
I think most fans’ emotions and feelings about this team have wildly fluctuated over the course of the season. We’ve had everything from a bizarre player-GM fight to Ed Wade making mid-season trades which were ridiculed far and wide, but in the end turned out to be exactly the changes he wanted. Then you top it off with Hurricane Ike and the Selig ordered games in Milwaukee stopping what seemed like inevitable momentum to the playoffs. When it’s all over, I am proud of this team. Down the stretch, they fought hard. Personally, I think the team over-performed its talent level somewhat (maybe by 3 or 4 games); and that’s a good thing from a team character standpoint.
I just hope that McLane doesn’t look at this and say, “we were contending with this group, so I don’t need to do much more.” Because I think the Astros will need to add some pieces next season, hopefully on the starting pitching side. This team will be a year older next season, and for the most part that isn’t a trend in favor of improvement, particularly when some other teams in the division (like the Brewers) will improve with age. So, McLane and Wade still have some work to do, and it will involve some cash.
As for the playoffs, all I can say is, I hope the Cubs choke. Again.
clack - September 27, 2008
"As for the playoffs, all I can say is, I hope the Cubs choke. Again."
I’m having a tough time choosing whom to cheer for in the NL playoffs. I hate the Cubs, don’t really want the Brewers to win, and think that Phillies fans are as dickish as Cubs fans, though in an entirely different way. And I’m not particularly fond of the Dodgers.
Tough decision. The Phillies have got Brad Lidge, though, so there’s that.
Only_A_Lad - September 27, 2008
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