GAMES 25-26: Roy Ain't Mad...?

GAME 25 - May 3: Diamondbacks 9, Astros 1
GAME 26 - May 4: Diamondbacks 1, Astros 0

"I ain't mad. It's part of the game, I guess." (Roy O, after being stuck with another loss)

It's really kind of an amazing accomplishment: Only 26 games into the season, the Astros have managed to pull off TWO eight-game losing streaks. But in between those two streaks, they won 8 of their 10 games and looked like winners. (It helped that they played the Pirates during that phase.) To keep that pattern going, the Astros should break into another winning phase, but it beats me how they plan to turn things around. They look so totally complacent about losing.

Take last night's 1-0 loss. Oswalt pitched yet another beautiful game: Seven innings, giving up 1 run (solo homer) on 5 hits, striking out 8. Vintage Wizard. He even got a hit, after a 13 pitch at bat (arguably the Astros best at-bat of the game). And vintage Astros too - squandering both Oswalt's pitching and his hit in another shutout. I guess if Oswalt ain't mad, I ain't either. But it's got to be pissing him off. He's started six games so far this year, all considered quality starts, with a 2.48 ERA to show for it - and a 2-4 record. Something is just not quite right there.

By the way, batting .222, Oswalt's got a higher BA than Lee, Berkman, Pence, Manzella, and Quintero. Okay, I think we might have figured out what that not-quite-right something might be. In yesterday's shutout, the Astros combined for 8 hits plus 2 walks, but left 7 runners stranded in scoring position. The missed opportunities started in the first inning: Carlos Lee came up to bat with Bourn on third and one out. Perfect time for that fly ball that he's perfected (in lieu of homers) this season. But he walked. Berkman struck out. Pence grounded out. Astros added 0 runs to their MLB last-place collection.

Somehow the Astros offense makes every opposing pitcher look like a Cy Young Award contender, even kids just pitching their first major league games. Take Game 1 of the series: The Dbacks put major league newbie Cesar Valdez on the mound. It was his big league debut - what a chance for a big game! But nope, the Astros didn't want to hurt the feelings of a bright young man. In his 5 innings (good for the win), they got only one run on 5 hits, 3 walks, and a hit batter. Plenty of chances. Astros left 8 runners stranded in scoring position. They are just too charitable. Meanwhile, Paulino, Byrdak, Gervacio, and Moehler had a real bad time - enough said. Brydak ended up on the DL and Gervacio was sent down to Round Rock.

A few more team changes: Quintero caught for Oswalt last night, the first time this year that JR Towles wasn't behind the plate for the Wiz. Turns out that JR's not just sitting out a game, after some reported communication issue - he's been sent down to Corpus Christi. He must be really upset at being sent to a Double A team, but if the goal is to give him a chance to play, Round Rock already has a catcher who's going to get most of the starts - Jason Castro. (Heir) apparently, Castro's not yet ready for the bigs -- the Astros brought up veteran Kevin  Cash to fill in.

Not sure if any of these changes will have a positive impact on the team. But the Astros aren't exactly in a position to just rest on their laurels, are they?