When I was a kid I used be a huge fan of the Houston Astros. They had a pitcher named J.R. Richard who could throw a baseball faster than the speed of light. I loved him because being that my name Richard Harris Jr., I always felt that his name was my name spelled backwards or creatively. His career was cut short because of injuries and he ended up homeless living under a bridge in Houston. Drugs got to him and he is a sad tale of the vices that can come about due to no guidance or hope. I bring him up and the Astros because they are in hell. This franchise is one of the few franchises left never to win a world series. They have maybe 1 or 2 hall of fame players. Craig Biggio will be the first Astro player to get in as a bonafide Astro next year. I know Nolan Ryan played for them and so did Joe Morgan but Ryan is more recognized as a Ranger and Met than he is as an Astro. Joe Morgan, do I really have to say what team he is more recognized as?
This current team has literally gutted its roster and got absolutely nothing in return. They have lost or traded away Roy Oswalt, Hunter Pence, Carlos Lee, Wandy Rodriguez, Micheal Bourn, just to name a few names and got prospects that could hit water if the fell out of a boat. The Astros have lost games this year that defy logic after they have made comebacks to actually win them. Last night against the Nationals, they fought hard to tie game at 2 and then blow the game in the 12th inning and then get a guy hit a ball 385 feet to the wall on a line and only to have it caught. They have played 11 extra inning games this year and have not scored in extra innings. They do not have a walkoff win this season. The Oakland A's have 13 walk off wins. They are 4-36 since June. What has happened to this team since they went to the World Series in 2005? That team had Carlos Beltran, Andy Petttitte, Roger Clemens, Roy Oswalt, Biggio, Brad Lidge. All of those players were All star quality. They picked up Kaz Matsui from the Mets and he fizzled. I could not tell you a single players name on this current roster. I don't even know who the manager is on this team.. They have literally drained the oil off of this Texas ranch and have left the fans of Houston wondering what the Hell is Going on? How could things have fallen off so badly? This team had Lance Berkman who is now a Cardinal? They had Randy Johnson, Mike Scott, Mike Hampton, Joe Niekro!! The Astros always put out a pretty positive product.
There are no injuries to vital players. There are no super studs coming up from the farm. This team needs a miracle. I look around baseball and I see Cleveland just ended an 11 game losing streak. They have had an excuse. They have injuries to their star players and they literally have not had the lineup that they envisioned staring the season in a while. They have talent to fix some of their problems. San Diego has a triple A club playing in the league right now and they fight hard on a nightly basis. They have given up a lot of its best players but I guess Bud Black really knows how to get the most out of what little he has. They have no player with more than 12 homeruns and they give every team fits. (ASK the METS). Even Minnesota who has players trying to regain some past form, have shown signs of ability and that they will be back next year. Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer are not playing at 100% yet and when they do, the Twins will be back. Houston has shown a fighting spirit and heart but they just dont have the tools to compete right now in the big leagues. They are on pace to win 51 games which would be the worst record since the 68 season. This is crazy to me. The Nationals, Pirates and Tampa Rays who were perennial cellar dwellers are contending for post season berths and the Houston Astros are contending for the number 1 pick in the draft. Oh have the mighty fallen....
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