2011 GAMES 61-66: How to Get the First Draft Pick

GAME 61 - June 7: Cardinals 7, Astros 4
GAME 62 - June 8: Astros 4, Cardinals 1
GAME 63 - June 9: Cardinals 9, Astros 2


GAME 64 - June 10: Braves 11, Astros 4
GAME 65 - June 11: Braves 6, Astros 3
GAME 66 - June 12: Braves 4, Astros 1

In a week that started mid-way through a 4-game losing streak, and ended with a 4-game losing streak, with just 1 win in the middle, it's hard to find a lot to get excited about. Even going through each game and finding just one thing to like starts to seem a bit hysterical. Happily for the Astros, with Pence on a 22-game hitting streak, finding something to like is a cheap thrill. Unhappily for the Astros, Pence sat out Sunday's game due to the lower back spasms that have been hurting him recently, putting the streak on hold and worrying a management team that doesn't have a lot to brag on at the moment.

Looking at the standings -- when I bother to do so -- I see that the Astros are still in the cellar of the combined Major Leagues, accompanied by only one team (the poor Cubs) in the Under .400 category. At 24-42, the Astros are on target to win barely 59 games this season -- by far the worst season in club history.  It is true that the Astros tend to be a stronger end-of-season team, and it's possible that the win-loss ratio may improve as we head towards fall. But, really, can anyone out there think of a good reason for that to happen?

My sister Elizabeth (the one who goes to Spring Training with me) does not believe that this year's Astros could possibly worse than the 1962 Colt 45s. She bet me $18 that the Astros will win at least 65 games this season. She's on.

Hard as it is to admit, it's getting hard to work up much excitement for coming home from a long day at the office to watch a ball game.

Having said that, here's what I hope the Astros will do: STAY THE COURSE. Stick with the rebuilding, don't try to sign players who could help win this year, play the kids. Keep around a few veterans to act as player coaches to the youngsters and lose a lot of games.

Meanwhile, I'll stick with the little pleasures, like watching Jordan Lyles try for his first big league win. They're keeping him on, now that Wandy's back from the DL, sending down Fulchino and bumping Aneury-Rod to the pen. And when we just keep losing and losing... just think of what a low draft pick we're going to get next year.