On May the 22nd the Houston Astros had a dismal 17-28 record, a season worst 11 games under .500, and they were buried in last place in the American League West standings. It appeared like their 2016 season was over at that time even before it had a chance to start.

The Astros are also 1-9 against the Texas Rangers this season. A Rangers team which has owned us for the past two years now, and they are just on another level and running away with another American League West division title. At last check they were 20+ games over .500 and claimed the best record in the American League.

All I can do is applaud the Texas Rangers (tip your cap to them). I have no bitterness or bad blood for our fellow in-state rivals. Kudos to the Texas Rangers for having an amazing year. They have a great organization, several all-star caliber players and amazing fans who sell out games in 110 humidity heat during these dog days of summer. I know a lot of Texas Rangers fans up north, from where I live, and they are passionate fans who love to chat baseball and I actually enjoy hanging out with them when I can.

But back to the Astros, who have had a successful month of June, and they can find themselves back at .500 (36-36) with a win tonight. They are currently only 1.5 games back of the Seattle Mariners for second place in the AL West and 4 games back of that second wild-card spot in the American League. A lot of teams are in the AL wild-card race right now so it's not going to be easy to win either of the two wild-card spots in the AL.

As I type this the Angels have a 1-0 lead after 2 innings against the Astros here in Houston.
A loss tonight would push us back to two games under .500. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

I'm sorry to ramble about my thoughts. These next two paragraphs is all I want to point out.

Jose Altuve entered tonight hitting .343 with a .423 on-base percentage. His OPS has steadily been over .960 for most of this season. He's currently ranked third in the Majors right now in WAR, which I know a lot of you praise like the bible. Altuve is on pace to hit a career high in home runs (20+) as well. Power has all of a sudden been a part of his game as well this season. He's having an all around better season than fellow second baseman Dustin Pedroia had back in 2008 when he won the AL MVP for the Boston Red Sox.

Obviously Jose Altuve has MVP credentials this season but a lot of the voters like to reward players who are on playoff teams. So if the Houston Astros make the playoffs, even if it's as the second wild-card team (like last year) that would give Altuve a better chance to bring home the hardware.

The only way the Astros will make the playoffs in 2016 is if Dallas Keuchel, last year's AL Cy Young award winner, can turn his horrible season around. So far he's a mind-boggling 3-9 with a 5.32 ERA this year. Our best starting pitcher this season has been Doug Fister, signed to a one year deal, who is currently 8-3 with a 3.21 ERA. You can make a case that Doug Fister has a chance to make the all-star team this year (along with Jose Altuve). He went 16-6 with a 2.41 ERA with the Nationals two years ago (2014) prior to an injury-plagued season last year. Either way he's been a bargain sign for the Astros in 2016.

Our bullpen struggled a lot the first few months, mainly Ken Giles, but they have pitched better lately.
Guys like Carlos Correa and George Springer are starting to rake as well. It seems like things are improving.

I still think we need one more slugger in the middle of our lineup. A fierce power hitter.
Highly touted first base prospect A.J. Reed could receive a call up to the Astros any day now.

It would be nice to reach .500 with a win tonight. At 36-36 we can start over and perhaps a make run at that second wild-card spot in the American League. If we can reach late July very much in the thick of the wild-card race perhaps we can make a trade to bolster the team. Thankfully there is still time for the Houston Astros to salvage what has been an otherwise disappointing 2016 season thus far.

Anyways, I know I don't stop by much on the forums anymore. Hopefully everybody is doing well.
I could go on and on chatting about the Astros. Enjoy your baseball and good luck to all of your teams.

It appears the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs are on a collision course for the 2016 World Series.
But that's the beauty of baseball. Just when you think you've got things figured out something wild occurs.

The Houston Astros will probably never win a World Series in my lifetime but it's that hope I cling onto.

omg dude, seriously, stop.

Who are you buddy? I only post once or twice a year on the baseball sub-forum now a days.
No worries. I'll stop now. I'm just glad to be here having fun again. I miss a lot of you guys.

Don't listen to Esthetic, please continue with your insightful posts & topics.

Also please do one of these this year in the f&r forum:

http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=71148466&f=204&o=0

:)

I actually missed these posts lol.
Hi Ryan


Altuve could and maybe should win if he continues this pace, but unfortunately he doesn't meet the height requirement

Thank you, guys.

I realize it will be tough for the Astros to win the wild card again just like last year.
There are a lot of good teams in the American League right now. It's a deep league.

Carlos Correa just hit a walk off two-run single in the bottom of the 9th. Astros won 3-2.
Bases were juiced with no outs and he hit a gapper into right center field. That was a great win!

The Astros made it back to .500 with a 36-36 record. Maybe now they can keep climbing up the wild-card race.
They're only 3.5 games back of the 2nd wild-card spot now. Right on par with about seven other teams though. LOL

A lot will depend on Dallas Keuchel turning his struggling season around.
He has to pitch a lot better (more like last year) to do it. If he can I like our chances.

But at least now they made it back to even water with a lot of season still left.

We have 9 games left against the Rangers this season (1-9 against them in 10 games so far like I mentioned).
The Astros have to go 5-4 or 4-5 in those remaining games with Texas. Something respectable. Can't lose all 9 of them.

The Rangers stranglehold on us is hard to explain. But the Astros have to focus on short-term goals. Just playing good baseball like they've been doing in June is good enough. Catching the Mariners for second place could happen soon, etc... etc...

I believe the Mariners lost again tonight so the Astros are only a 0.5 game back of them now.
But it's going to be wild-card or bust at this point. The Rangers have all but clinched the AL West.

It feels nice to have come back from the abyss (17-28 record) but now is the hard part. Keep winning games.

EDIT: 3 games back of the second wild-card spot now. With a ton of season left.
It's only a dream for now. A lot of tough games are coming up. Royals, White Sox, Mariners, etc... etc...

I have to stay relaxed until August and September when the AL wild-card race heats up.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on Jun 21 2016 09:48pm

http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=71148466&f=204&o=0

please madmartigangod

iso 2016 version

I'll give my 2016 NFL predictions closer to the season starting in September.
It's almost that time. First preseason game is August 7: Hall of Fame game between the Packers and Colts.

Super Bowl 51 this upcoming February is here in Houston too.
There is already a great buzz all around the city about this season.

The crazy thing is the Houston Texans have some exciting pieces in place. Their defense is talented. Brock Osweiler has looked very good in mini camp. They added a lot of speed on offense this off-season. Lamar Miller at running back. Will Fuller and Braxton Miller were drafted in the 1st and 3rd rounds at wide receiver to compliment DeAndre Hopkins. And Jaelen Strong is entering his second year with all the talent in the world. Bill O'Brien called him the most improved player on the team at mini camp.

If the Texans offense becomes legit, to go along with a strong defense, they'll become a tough team to beat.

But we'll see. I've been trying to tame my excitement for now. It's still June.
When I was younger I'd go crazy with my NFL expectations (predictions) only to be let down.

Right now I'm just trying to take things one step at a time. Mostly focused on the Astros.
But if you follow the Houston Texans closely, like I do, you have to like what you see.

I talk to a lot of Dallas Cowboys fans, who say the Texans suck, but clearly they are teasing me.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on Jun 21 2016 10:02pm

ty... we need more predictions from you in the f & R ;)

that's funny forgot the texans snagged Braxton Miller, I was almost hoping the patriots would go for him mid draft, he's a big wild card tho, Hopkins is a stud, those freak circus catches don't get old

Manny machado is on pace for 40HR 60 doubles

Yeah altuve not winning the MVP