American League Horror Story: Astros
Since the anthology series is premiering tonight on FX, one of my favorites that I will surely be watching, I thought it only appropriate to play on that show title in order to describe just what is currently happening in the race for October. Suffice it to say, Astros fans, Halloween may be arriving prematurely for our fan base.
The team lost another heart breaker to the in-state rival, and all around whipping bullies, the Texas Rangers last night. To make matters even more scary, the Astros have lost ground both in the division, with Seattle re-taking 2nd place, and the wild card chase. Where the team was 1 game back not but a couple of weeks ago, they now find themselves 4 games back. I'll let you see for yourselves, fans and readers:
And your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis didn't have such a great night last, either. He went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts and a pop out. El Oso Blanco is probably feeling the same sting that this whole team is feeling right now. It's never easy to see moments like these for any of the guys, but especially my bear buddy! I would join many in the media in saying the proverbial "What else is new?" hypothetical question. But the truth is, I just can't bring myself to do that. I have many reasons for this, but my biggest two are these:
1. There are a lot of different scenarios that can still play out, so long as the team gets back to their winning ways and goes on a winning binge over these last 16 regular season games. Especially, given that the AL East division, probably the toughest division in all of baseball right now, will be playing each other a lot. A combination of Baltimore, New York and Toronto could all beat up on each other to a point that one of the other to a point that one of the other teams in contention, including the Astros, could slide back in the hunt. The frightening part is, time is running out fast, and having to go through 4-5 teams to get in will be no easy feat!
2. This team has too good of chemistry to just unravel like this. It's true, the Rangers do seem to be living rent free in the Astros' collective minds. But that doesn't mean that this team is any further from the destiny of greatness that anyone else in the league is.
Things do still look scary right now, fans and readers. There's no denying that. And if the Rangers get far enough in the playoffs, even winning the World Series, it will be an ongoing nightmare for every last one of us Astros fans. Can the team still have a winning season? You bet! A record above .500 is most certainly in the cards. But if they do not want to be going home early and succeed in participating in October baseball, some serious work will need to be done for the remainder of this season, and going into next season. Pitching will be among the biggest concerns to address, but I'll let the decision makers handle that one.
Of course, the 2017 season schedule was released just today:
Still looks pretty rough, even heading into next year. But with the potent lineup they already have, and the pursuit of pitching upgrades, 2017 could be another of many up years to come for this Astros organization. Let's just pray they make the necessary adjustments they need to so that they are still competitive for the foreseeable future. Whether people like it or not, that includes keeping and extending the Big White Bear, Evan Gattis! (FYI, when the Astros arrive at Sun Trust Park in Atlanta for the July 4th series, I'm already banking on, and looking forward to, a huge standing ovation for Evan Gattis in his return to the ATL!)
I've stated many times to some of my other friends that perhaps a hypnotist can come in and trigger something within these players and coaches to get the Rangers out of the collective psyche of them bullying up on the Astros. Far fetched? Perhaps. Scary? Could possibly be, given the pros and cons of hypnosis on the brain. But considering the qualifications of such an individual, along with any intent that doesn't include brainwashing the guys to rob banks or do unspeakable things to the unsuspecting public, than why not? At this point, I think desperate times call for desperate measures! Even with my screenwriting Hollywood-style active imagination, I join everyone from the H-Town fan base in saying that this nightmare needs to end, AND SOON!
The team lost another heart breaker to the in-state rival, and all around whipping bullies, the Texas Rangers last night. To make matters even more scary, the Astros have lost ground both in the division, with Seattle re-taking 2nd place, and the wild card chase. Where the team was 1 game back not but a couple of weeks ago, they now find themselves 4 games back. I'll let you see for yourselves, fans and readers:
Current standings as of today!!!!
And your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis didn't have such a great night last, either. He went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts and a pop out. El Oso Blanco is probably feeling the same sting that this whole team is feeling right now. It's never easy to see moments like these for any of the guys, but especially my bear buddy! I would join many in the media in saying the proverbial "What else is new?" hypothetical question. But the truth is, I just can't bring myself to do that. I have many reasons for this, but my biggest two are these:
1. There are a lot of different scenarios that can still play out, so long as the team gets back to their winning ways and goes on a winning binge over these last 16 regular season games. Especially, given that the AL East division, probably the toughest division in all of baseball right now, will be playing each other a lot. A combination of Baltimore, New York and Toronto could all beat up on each other to a point that one of the other to a point that one of the other teams in contention, including the Astros, could slide back in the hunt. The frightening part is, time is running out fast, and having to go through 4-5 teams to get in will be no easy feat!
2. This team has too good of chemistry to just unravel like this. It's true, the Rangers do seem to be living rent free in the Astros' collective minds. But that doesn't mean that this team is any further from the destiny of greatness that anyone else in the league is.
Things do still look scary right now, fans and readers. There's no denying that. And if the Rangers get far enough in the playoffs, even winning the World Series, it will be an ongoing nightmare for every last one of us Astros fans. Can the team still have a winning season? You bet! A record above .500 is most certainly in the cards. But if they do not want to be going home early and succeed in participating in October baseball, some serious work will need to be done for the remainder of this season, and going into next season. Pitching will be among the biggest concerns to address, but I'll let the decision makers handle that one.
Of course, the 2017 season schedule was released just today:
Still looks pretty rough, even heading into next year. But with the potent lineup they already have, and the pursuit of pitching upgrades, 2017 could be another of many up years to come for this Astros organization. Let's just pray they make the necessary adjustments they need to so that they are still competitive for the foreseeable future. Whether people like it or not, that includes keeping and extending the Big White Bear, Evan Gattis! (FYI, when the Astros arrive at Sun Trust Park in Atlanta for the July 4th series, I'm already banking on, and looking forward to, a huge standing ovation for Evan Gattis in his return to the ATL!)
I've stated many times to some of my other friends that perhaps a hypnotist can come in and trigger something within these players and coaches to get the Rangers out of the collective psyche of them bullying up on the Astros. Far fetched? Perhaps. Scary? Could possibly be, given the pros and cons of hypnosis on the brain. But considering the qualifications of such an individual, along with any intent that doesn't include brainwashing the guys to rob banks or do unspeakable things to the unsuspecting public, than why not? At this point, I think desperate times call for desperate measures! Even with my screenwriting Hollywood-style active imagination, I join everyone from the H-Town fan base in saying that this nightmare needs to end, AND SOON!
Original Photo Credit: Karen Warren of the Houston Chronicle. Updated Photo Credit: Morgan Price on Twitter @hashtagmojo
Evan Gattis and the Houston Astros will need to go on a win "killing" if they are to make the playoffs this fall!
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