GAMES 96-98: Has Oswalt Played His Last?

GAME 96 - July 23: Reds 6, Astros 4
GAME 97 - July 24: Reds 7, Astros 0
GAME 98 - July 25: Astros 4, Reds 0

The chatter gets louder as we get closer to the end-of-July trade deadline, wondering when and where things will be happening for Roy Oswalt. By now, we're all used to the idea that he might be pitching against us soon, and at this point, I'm not even particularly sorry about it. Time to move on to a new phase in our Astro fan lives - it's not as if he asked to be traded in a year in which he's leading the league in wins. But I'd sort of hoped that he'd do something remarkable on his way out. Take over the Astros all-time wins record from Joe Niekro, for sure -- he's only one win away from tying it. Pitch a perfect game - or at least a no-hitter! Unfortunately, if yesterday's loss to the Reds was the last time we'll see the Wiz in an Astros uni, he didn't achieve any of these. He threw a quite unimpressive game, losing it on a  first inning homer. He should know by now that the Astros aren't going to score for him. Perfection is the only possibility. Oswalt still has one more chance to pitch for the Astros before the end of the month, if he's not traded to the Phillies or Cards by then. Still time to tie Niekro. Still time for a no hitter. Of course, it would probably be another bad luck loss.

It's vilely hot in the DC area this weekend, with temperatures and humidity readings reminding me what I hated the most about growing up in Houston. I suspect that my love of baseball began with the building of the Astrodome and the urge to be somewhere -- anywhere -- air conditioned in nasty Houston summer.

I haven't posted much on Astros fashion statements in a while. In my 2005 game journal, I used to note which uni they wore in each game, as well as oddities of hair styles, socks up or down, and so forth. But I do have one thing to say: The Astros should get rid of the throwback uniform games once and for all. For some perverse reason, they always seem to lose in throwback games. Yesterday's 7-0 beating isn't the worst. Remember the July 4th, 2004 shellacking while dressed up as Southwest Airlines planes -- Rangers 18, Astros 3.

Happy ending to an otherwise sorry weekend series against the Reds: At least they didn't sweep us. Wandy did everything anyone could want him to do: Seven shutout innings, 1 hit, 2 walks, 7 Ks. Lyon and Lindstrom each threw a scoreless inning in relief to seal the deal. It wasn't exactly a blowout for the Astros batters, but Michael Bourn led the charge, going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI -- half of the Astros' 4 runs. Cj and Pence were good for the other two runs with solo homers. Unfortunately, I had to spend Sunday in the office, where I put the game on for a little while. Then we had to huddle in the kitchen through a tornado warning and sudden ferocious squall. When I got home, we'd lost power, so I didn't get to watch the happy win straight through.

Cubs coming to town next. Let's see if we can keep taking series from them.