Which kind of team would you rather root for? A consistent regular season winner, who consistently makes the playoffs but never wins the big one? Or a Florida Marlins esque organization that packs multiple championships close together but is downright terrible in other seasons?
I would much rather be a fan of a team that wins a lot during the regular season, year after year, and at least gives themselves a chance to win in the playoffs. Knowing what I know, that the playoffs is largely a crap shoot a lot of the time, makes this a little easier decision. Certainly, winning the championship is any team's goal, but is it always the fan's goal? If most fans are being realistic, they should know whether or not their club has a legitimate chance to win the big one. It is almost more rewarding to have your team come out of nowhere to win; to defy expectations. I always get more nervous when the pre season prognosticators have the Astros/Rockets/Packers as being championship contenders. If they do make a deep playoff run, it feels like this was just what they were expected to do. If they fall flat on their faces, they underachieved, a distinction no team wants to deal with.
To the links (cross over contributions from DQ and HLP):
Felipe Paulino threw a simulated game Tuesday at Minute Maid Park and is still a candidate to start in the next opening in the rotation Saturday....
Geoff Blum will likely go on a rehab assignment late this week and hopes to be ready for the finale of the homestand this weekend...
Abigail Primm Berkman, the couple’s fourth child — all girls — weighed 7 pounds and 9 ounces...
"I think what we’ve got to do is start playing small ball," said Tejada, who went 3-for-4 with three singles. "Today is a pitching day. You see how Greinke pitched, you see how (Russ) Ortiz pitched, and today is a day that we’ve got to play small ball because today is a day that we’re not going to hit the way we’re supposed to be. If we do that, I think we’re going to be a better team."
0 recs | 5 comments
as for small ball and last night's game...
Cooper’s tactics are mystifying. He called for a sac bunt twice prior to the 9th inning, when they were probably bad plays. The worst was bunting Bourn to 2d base in the 8th. But then he eschews the sac bunt in the one situation where it might be justified: runners on 2d, 3d with no outs in the 9th, trailing by one run.
I thought this quote from Greinke about bunting Bourn over in the 8th was interesting:
clack - June 24, 2009
I don't get the no squeeze play in the 9th either
The leverage could not have been higher. It’s just insanity.
I love the Greinke quote and someone needs to tape that on Coop’s office door.
Stephen Higdon - June 24, 2009
correction, I should have said “runners on 1st and 2d, no outs in the 9th”
clack - June 24, 2009
as for Justice's question...
why didn’t we hear more about Pudge’s “link” to steroid use when he broke the record?
Perhaps it is because most news reporters have a greater sense of fairness than him. At this point, whatever you want to say, the so called link is speculation. You could just as easily say that Bagwell is “linked” to steroid use, and that should be mentioned every time he is honored. But that wouldn’t be fair.
clack - June 24, 2009
as for that other blog
pretty funny
EveryHoustonTeamRox! - June 24, 2009
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