Out-scored 41-11 and a 1-5 record in our last six games. We're lucky to be 3-5 on the season. Dexter Fowler was sensational the first three games, producing a multi-hit game in all of them, and hasn't been in the starting lineup since then with a serious stomach virus that hospitalized him.
"Today's the first day I was able to eat solid foods and I feel like I have some strength to do anything," Fowler said. "I think (returning Wednesday) is what we're looking at. Hopefully I'll be back in there It's just dependent on how today goes."
Dexter Fowler pinch-hit in the top of the 9th during last night's game and he grounded into a fielder's choice. It's possible he may return to the starting lineup tonight. Hopefully he can feel strong again and set the table at the top of the lineup. We need his run production and defense in center field.
It's going to be a very long season and I want to at least see some progress being made. I like what I see from Dexter Fowler (when healthy), Jose Altuve, L.J. Hoes, Jesus Guzman, Scott Feldman and that's about it. Even the bullpen has been struggling lately. I'm hoping when Jesse Crain returns at the end of the month that he'll provide the Astros with a reliable late-inning option. When healthy he's head and shoulders better than anybody we have in the bullpen right now.
Best case scenario: Scott Feldman continues to impress and Jesse Crain returns to his 2013 all-star form with the White Sox before he injured himself last year. It's a possibility that we'll have two amazing trading chips to use closer to the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline. There will be many contending teams looking for both starting pitching and bullpen help. Snagging a couple of good prospects wouldn't be a bad thing but at some point the Astros have to turn the corner and become a competitive team. They can't do that always trading away their best players.
I'm just going to enjoy the 2014 Astros season for what it is. Looking forward to every one of Scott Feldman's starts, in particular. There are only certain guys on this team, which I mentioned already, that make it fun for me to watch every game. I want to see more of the top-rated prospects being called up as well. At the very least George Springer, Mike Foltynewicz and Mark Appel should see some big league action this season. Jonathan Singleton, Domingo Santana, Lance McCullers Jr. and Carlos Correa will likely be called up at some point in 2015.
TL:DR version: If you're a hardcore Astros fan like me, you just want to move ahead to the 2016 regular season. Whichever player we draft number one overall in this June's MLB Draft will likely be in the big leagues by opening day 2016 if not during the 2015 season. Either way he'll just be one of several young players on the way up. Odds are that at least one, two or three of those highly-rated prospects will pan out and become solid players. Not every young man with talent turns out to be a bust.