Not Quite Dead..

With 16 games to go, the Astros are just 2 games from elimination. Worse, they are 6 games under .500, and unless they turn things around, they stand a real chance of finishing the year with a losing record. They've spent most of the season in that situation, so it's nothing new. Still, it would be nice to surge a bit and come out as winners - statistically, at least.

Getting swept by the Reds was not a step in the right direction. After a long day in the proposal tank, I rushed home every night in time to catch at least half of the Cincinnati games, but was not well rewarded. I won't bother with the stats - just the bottom line: Swept away. The series ended with a game full of irony: The Astros hit 5 homers - and lost. Jeff Fulchino struck out 6 batters in the final two innings of Wednesday night's game - but threw a wild pitch that allowed the tie-breaking run to score. (It was Wright's runner, and he got the loss.)

Meanwhile, after breaking the franchise record for no-decision games in a season, Roy Oswalt hung up his glove and succumbed to the back injury that's plagued his last few starts. It was a lousy season for him - with just single digit wins, and a record book stat that he'd just as soon not have earned.

I have hoped to see a lot more of the minor leaguers, but Cooper's still playing his regulars for the most part, with occasional peeks at the new guys. The pitchers are getting some action, especially with some of the veterans out injured. Bud Norris is getting a regular start now, and is looking just fine. Yoman Bazardo got a start in Cincinnati too, and Sammy Gervacio is seeing a lot of action. The big dude Paronto came up to fill Oswalt's spot in the rotation. Towles is getting an occasional start, especially when his Round Rock teammate Norris is on the mound. But it would be nice to let the young position players into the game, especially against teams that are out of contention, like the Reds. There's a gang of infielders - Johnson, Manzella, and Maysonet - who'd all like a crack at a big league job next year. Maybe Tejada's?

I'm not going to get to see any more games until Sunday night, after Rosh Hashanah ends. I'll have to catch up on the series in Milwaukee after the holiday. By then, the Astros could very well be victims of the Big E.