Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo
You are here > Home > Baseball Newsstand > Baseball Primer Newsblog > Discussion
Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Houston Chronicle/Justice: Masters of? improbable? at it again

Something amazing has happened to the Astros over the last few weeks, and we may never figure out what it was.

Teams evolve during a six-month season that eventually exposes every weakness. What has happened to the Astros is more dramatic than that.

For 47 games, they were one of baseball’s worst teams. For 30 games since, they had played .633 ball entering Friday‘s game. That’s a 103-victory clip over the course of an entire season.

Is 30 games a small sample? Sure it is. But to go from 19-28 to 19-11 is an indication something significant changed.

We know some of the story. The starting rotation went from being one of baseball’s worst to one of its real solid ones. The bullpen has gone from shaky to steady.

As for the offense, it remains a work in progress. What the Astros have done to make up for the lack of scoring is have great timing.

They haven’t gotten a lot of hits, but they’ve gotten hits at the right time. They’ve come from behind to win 11 of those 19 games.

This is a solid baseball team at the moment. A few weeks ago, it didn’t seem possible someone would be typing those words.

Baseball-Birthdays.com Posted: July 04, 2009 at 12:09 PM | 6 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: astros

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

   1. Tricky Dick Posted: July 04, 2009 at 02:54 PM (#3242044)
Justice is nothing if not consistent...in his flip flopping.
   2. The elusive Robert Denby Posted: July 04, 2009 at 05:18 PM (#3242098)
The Royals were 18-11 to start the season. Just saying.
   3. Stately, Plump Buck Mulligan Posted: July 04, 2009 at 05:46 PM (#3242125)
Is 30 games a small sample?


NO!

They're like the team equivalent of David Ortiz!
   4. Walt Davis Posted: July 04, 2009 at 09:05 PM (#3242272)
Eh. The Astros always do this. They hire idiot GMs who hire idiot managers and put together crappy rosters which always feature guys like Ausmus, Blum, Erstad and some starter certain to post an ERA of 6.63 ...

and manage to finish above 500 pretty much every season.
   5. Bhaakon Posted: July 04, 2009 at 11:16 PM (#3242323)
He must have written this on Thurday. Now that they've been crushed 22 runs to 0 in the last two games by the Giants, Justice will have to print a retraction on Monday.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

 

 

<< Back to main

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
Darren
for his generous support.

Bookmarks

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Hot Topics

NewsblogBud Selig -- No need for more MLB replay for now - ESPN
(87 - 3:55am, May 26)
Last: Athletic Supporter leads the nation in drifters

NewsblogHP: Baseball is leaving the human factor behind
(57 - 3:16am, May 26)
Last: bjhanke

NewsblogOT: NBA Monthly Thread, May 2012
(1834 - 3:06am, May 26)
Last: Spivey

NewsblogHimrich’s Top Ten Target Field Foods
(8 - 2:43am, May 26)
Last: Long John McCaine Mutiny on the Bounty (scott)

NewsblogBoston.com: Curt Schilling’s 38 Studios lays off all staff
(119 - 1:28am, May 26)
Last: Swedish Chef

NewsblogT.R. Sullivan: Of Frank Robinson, Milt Pappas and Jim Palmer
(8 - 12:40am, May 26)
Last: The Gurus DO NOT BourbonSamurai

NewsblogWilmoth: Nate McLouth Designated For Assignment
(12 - 12:25am, May 26)
Last: Tripon

Hall of MeritMost Meritorious Player: 1973 Discussion
(15 - 12:13am, May 26)
Last: DanG

NewsblogThe Hall of Very Good: Former Cards Slugger Critical of "LaRussa's Regime"
(4 - 11:26pm, May 25)
Last: cardsfanboy

NewsblogCSN to host ‘Phillies at the Beach’ on Memorial Day
(18 - 11:25pm, May 25)
Last: Fielder's the first baseman, Felder is the fielder

Hall of MeritMost Meritorious Player: 1972 Ballot
(28 - 11:25pm, May 25)
Last: lieiam

Sox TherapyA Winning Ballclub?
(20 - 11:24pm, May 25)
Last: Dan

NewsblogMatschulat: Did I Miss The "Paul Konerko Is So Overrated OMG" Bandwagon?
(27 - 11:16pm, May 25)
Last: baudib

NewsblogTBO: Nerdy Rays head north
(17 - 10:07pm, May 25)
Last: PreservedFish

NewsblogDodgers want to host NHL's Winter Classic
(22 - 9:38pm, May 25)
Last: Cris E

Buy MLB playoff tickets, plus 2011 World Series, 2011 ALCS tickets and NLCS game tickets. We also have Texas Rangers playoff schedule, tickets to Red Sox games and Yankees game tickets. Plus, buy Phillies baseball tickets, Tigers playoff tickets and the biggies like ALDS baseball tickets and 2011 NLDS tickets.

Demarini, Easton and TPX Baseball Bats

 

 

 

AllianceTickets.com has cheap MLB Tickets. Get all your Colorado Rockies Tickets, Seattle Mariners Tickets, San Francisco Giants Tickets and all your favorite baseball tickets here. We also carry cheap Denver Broncos Tickets, Seattle Seahawks Tickets and Denver Nuggets Tickets.

Page rendered in 0.1591 seconds
55 querie(s) executed