EDIT: Also, the Astros are just 4-30 over their last 34 games! I find that just incredible. I would imagine that has got to be one of the absolute worst stretches of baseball any major league team has ever had in the history of the game.

As I said above, this is why I'm irrationally pessmistic. The Astros have to start winning SOMETIME, and why not against us? Meanwhile the damn Braves have a creampuff schedule.

Also, the Astros are just 4-30 over their last 34 games! I find that just incredible. I would imagine that has got to be one of the absolute worst stretches of baseball any major league team has ever had in the history of the game.

You really should check out the 1962 Mets game log. Their longest winning streak was 3 games, and they managed that just twice. Their longest losing streak was 17. I don't think they had a 4-30 stretch, but they did have stretch where they went 9-38. They broke that slide by winning two in a row (something they accomplished only 11 times all year, including double counting those 3 game streaks), then followed up with a 3-22 run. They did manage to go 11-7 between April 28 and May 20, but followed that stretch of respectability with the afore-mentioned 17 game losing streak.

EDIT: Also, the Astros are just 4-30 over their last 34 games! I find that just incredible. I would imagine that has got to be one of the absolute worst stretches of baseball any major league team has ever had in the history of the game.

The 1916 Philly A's and their tidy 2-41 stretch scoff at the Stros' little run of bad play.

And of course, the 1899 Cleveland Spiders finished the season on a rousing 1-40 streak.

they are better off getting a worse defender but a better bat, like Soto would have been, for that position

It's unclear that Soto would have been any better than Suzuki. Granted he's been a bit better this year, in that he's been replacement level rather than half a win below replacement level. On the other hand, they had identical WAR in 2011, Soto was about a win better in 2010, and Suzuki was about 3 wins better in 2008-9. So, I think the question stands: was there anyone available better than Suzuki?

The 1916 Philly A's and their tidy 2-41 stretch scoff at the Stros' little run of bad play.

Including being swept at Comiskey Park in a seven-game series (an earlier three-game series in Chicago had been rained out).

Soto would have been cheaper. The Nats will owe Suzuki a lot of dough next year, and there's a vesting option for 2014 that seems pretty unlikely, but you never know. Leon was having trouble just catching the ball sometimes, which did not instill confidence. That 100 at bat sample where Flores hit .300 is looking like a totally different guy now.

So, I think the question stands: was there anyone available better than Suzuki?

Yes, he goes by the name of Geo Soto. He's been clearly a better bat than Suzuki over the last three years and has been a better bat than Suzuki this year, even including pre-DL play. Since coming back from the DL Soto has hit .324/.396 in 102 PA. Kurt's has hit .232/.299 in his last 102 PA.

Concern trolls will undoubtedly continue to be concerned.

Why would you talk so mean about Esoteric?

Winning one-run games is usually a matter of luck and sometimes a sign of a better bullpen.

EDIT: Also, the Astros are just 4-30 over their last 34 games! I find that just incredible. I would imagine that has got to be one of the absolute worst stretches of baseball any major league team has ever had in the history of the game.

1-8 in one-run games, over that timeframe. The lone "one-run" win came in game 32 of that streak.

Harrell has pitched very well over the past month, so there's that for the Astros.

Soto would have been cheaper. The Nats will owe Suzuki a lot of dough next year, and there's a vesting option for 2014 that seems pretty unlikely, but you never know. Leon was having trouble just catching the ball sometimes, which did not instill confidence. That 100 at bat sample where Flores hit .300 is looking like a totally different guy now.

If Wilson Ramos is close to reasonably healthy in 2013, Suzuki and Flores will battle it out for the backup position in spring training.

Why would you talk so mean about Esoteric?

:-)

Can you really be a concern troll for your own team, Lassus? That would make half the Mets fans on Primer concern trolls as well.

Generally half of the fans of a team think the other half are trolls and vice versa.

Also, the Astros are just 4-30 over their last 34 games! I find that just incredible. I would imagine that has got to be one of the absolute worst stretches of baseball any major league team has ever had in the history of the game.

They will need to step it up a bit when they move to the American League next year.