Two Guys Sports
Bruce BostwickCan the Astros make it?
September 7th 2008 23:17
The Houston Astros have once again made things interesting.
Several times over the course of the last decade the Astros have seemingly been dead at or just after the All-Star break just to make a late-season run and a run at the playoffs. If they do that this season, it would be a bigger achievement than their 2006 performance when they were 8.5 games back on Sept. 19 and in third place in the NL Central at 72-78. Out of the wild card race, the Astros’ only shot at the playoffs was to overcome first-place St. Louis. The Astros ultimately missed the playoffs, but with three games left, they had pulled to within half a game of the Cardinals.
That was just the latest in a string of late season antics, including the 2005 season, where the Astros were 44-46 two games after the All-Star break and made the World Series.
But now the Astros of 2008 are threatening once again. They’ve been as low as 9-games under .500 and even one month ago a losing record, but as of late have been on fire. Winners of nine of their last 10, the Astros sit at 76-67. But can they make the playoffs? With only 19 games left, it’s very doubtful. Catching the NL-Central leading Chicago Cubs would take a miracle, as the Cubs hold a 10-game lead over the Astros.
So let’s look at the wild card. The Astros are only 6-games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. Not impossible, but unlikely. The Astros basically have to win 6 more games than the Brewers in the last 19 games. So if the Astros go 12-7, the Brewers have to go 6-13, and that’s just to tie.
But the second problem is that the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals are also ahead of the Astros in the standings. Six games and three teams in 19 games? That would be an epic comeback. The Astros basically have to go about 17-2, and hope none of those others go anywhere near that. Impossible? No. Difficult yes.
But in any case, with the Cubs struggling a bit, the Brewers not able to make much ground, and the Dodgers catching the Diamondbacks, the Astros run has given us one more thing to make the end of the season fun to watch.
Several times over the course of the last decade the Astros have seemingly been dead at or just after the All-Star break just to make a late-season run and a run at the playoffs. If they do that this season, it would be a bigger achievement than their 2006 performance when they were 8.5 games back on Sept. 19 and in third place in the NL Central at 72-78. Out of the wild card race, the Astros’ only shot at the playoffs was to overcome first-place St. Louis. The Astros ultimately missed the playoffs, but with three games left, they had pulled to within half a game of the Cardinals.
That was just the latest in a string of late season antics, including the 2005 season, where the Astros were 44-46 two games after the All-Star break and made the World Series.
Roy Oswalt id 8-1 in his last 11 starts, helping the Astros climb back into the Wild Card race.
But now the Astros of 2008 are threatening once again. They’ve been as low as 9-games under .500 and even one month ago a losing record, but as of late have been on fire. Winners of nine of their last 10, the Astros sit at 76-67. But can they make the playoffs? With only 19 games left, it’s very doubtful. Catching the NL-Central leading Chicago Cubs would take a miracle, as the Cubs hold a 10-game lead over the Astros.
So let’s look at the wild card. The Astros are only 6-games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. Not impossible, but unlikely. The Astros basically have to win 6 more games than the Brewers in the last 19 games. So if the Astros go 12-7, the Brewers have to go 6-13, and that’s just to tie.
But in any case, with the Cubs struggling a bit, the Brewers not able to make much ground, and the Dodgers catching the Diamondbacks, the Astros run has given us one more thing to make the end of the season fun to watch.
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