Keep Smiling (Through Your Tears)!

GAME 8: Blue Jays 5, Astros 2
GAME 9: Blue Jays 7, Astros 3
GAME 10: Astros 6, Blue Jays 4

There's a fair amount of ranting and raving on Twitter from the other #AstrosFans -- and you can't really blame them. Frankly, the team just isn't very good. But why would any of us expect them to be? The Astros are fielding the youngest, least experienced team in baseball. This is a season to look for gems in the rough, and hope for the not-too-far-off future. After 3 years of being the worst team in baseball,  our exciting farm system gives much to hope for. (And we get another first pick this summer!)

Not surprisingly, the Astros lost their first road series up in Toronto. It's not that the Blue Jays are invincible -- they were, after all, the worst team in the AL East last season. It's just that the Astros are worse. There were many opportunities to score, and the Astros did not capitalize on them. The team's ability to score with RISP is too dreadful to contemplate.

Meanwhile, the players are young guys with energy. They like to run - they're second in the league for steals (7 for 7). They are second in the league for homers - 14 after 10 games - without any clearcut power hitters to account for them. Nine different players contribute to the home run total. In the few games we've won (including last night's win) most of the runs were scored off of homers.

On the other hand, they lead the AL in strikeouts, and the team batting average just barely breaks .200 -- the worst in the league. The on base percent is a measly .275 (worst), with an OPS of .674 (next to worst).  But batting stats like these don't account for everything. The Mariners' total hits, at 64, ties the Astros' for worst in the league, and their overall batting average is not much better than ours. But Seattle has turned those hits into a winning record. (Ever hear of situational hitting? The Astros haven't.)

So about this second series loss - get used to it,  Astros Fans! But think optimistically. If the Astros lose all the rest of the series this season - but win just ONE game in each - our record will still be better than it was last year!

Off to play the Rangers in Arlington. Unfortunately for the Rangers (and luckily for the Astros), they have some serious DL problems, so maybe we have a chance -- to win one.

As for me, it's back to the kitchen to get ready for Passover!