When the 2008 MLB season began I did not give the Houston Astros much chance of being a true contender for the NL Central Division crown. Neither did any of the so called "experts". Yet here it is May 16th and the Astros find themselves perched in 2nd place just a game and a half behind the divsion leading Cubs.

The offseason acquisitions made by GM Ed Wade, most notably Miguel Tejada, and Kaz Matsui were meant to bolster a light-hitting offensive unit which in the past was considered dead if it fell behind by more than just a couple of runs. But this team has consistently shown the ability this year to not only win games but do it in dramatic fashion, coming from behind numerous times to pull out a victory out of what appeared to be the locked jaws of defeat.

Tejada and Matsui have lived up to their promise. Hunter Pence continues to mature and improve. Carlos Lee is a reliable RBI machine. Darren Erstad has provided a much needed spark coming off the bench, and Michael Bourn has contributed speed to a team which has been lacking in that department in the recent past. But the biggest reason the Astros have been able to knock the old horse-hide around the park so well is because of the current MVP of the league, Mr. Lance Berkman. Few have ever witnessed a hitter be so hot for such an extended period of time. Heck, I am having to loosen my tie at this moment just mentioning his name. and is it my imagination or are the keys of this pad starting to singe my fingertips...Berkman is currently on a magical 14 game hitting streak which has resulted in the Astros climbing from 6 games under 500 to 6 games over. He was named Player of the week last week with Ruthian type numbers like a slugging percentage of over 1100 and a .689 batting average. He currently leads the Majors in runs, hits, doubles, total bases, RBIs, HRs, and slugging percentage. He is hitting at a .396 clip and he seems faster on the base paths. He has energized a team many considered to be doormats this year and Astros fans are chomping at the bit to watch an exciting brand of baseball that H-town has been sorely lacking. I fully intend to witness it myself during their next homestand which if things keep going the way they are will find this season's comeback kids on top of the NL Central. 

The Houston Astros hosted the ST. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park last night and the Astros came away with a tight 5-4 win. The Astros are now 9-1 in one run games this season. It was the first meeting between these two teams since Houston closed down old Busch Stadium last year on their way to the World Series. Roy Oswalt pitched that final game in ST. Louis last year and it was a gem.  Cardinal players commented afterward that Roy was simply unhittable.

Last night Oswalt was on the mound again for Houston and his mastery over the Cardinals is still in tact. He left the game with a5-3 lead after 8 innings. He gave up only 4 hits, one being a monster blast by the best hitter in baseball, Albert Pujols. Brad Lidge came in for the 9th and proceeded to make it tense for Astro fans by giving up a double and then having to pitch to Pujols. Flashbacks to Alberts heartbreaking Game 5 HR from last years Championship Series immediately came to the minds of the more than 38,000 fans in the stands and to viewers at home. "Walk him!" I yelled at the screen. Just as I did last year before his gigantic HR sunk the Astros and stole a chance to let Houston fans celebrate their 1st World Series appearance in team history at home. Well, Lidge did not walk him in 2005 and he chose to pitch to him again last night with first base open. Pujols then drove the pitch to dead centerfield over 400 feet from home plate. I scremed in fear . Fortunately, Willie Tavares ran it down on the hill in center,[ A very difficult play to make.. Just ask Biggio how many times he fell down hitting that hill running after a fly ball.]

Anyway, after a hit and RBI by the Cardinals followed , Lidge managed to get the final out on a good defensive play in the hole by Berkman{ The current NL leader in RBI} and the Astros won a squeaker against their division rivals. And Brad Lidge has driven me to carry a bottle of Rolaids with me everytime I watch him pitch. He currently is the league leader in saves but it seems to always be a struggle. These two teams have the best record in the NL  since 1994.

With the win , Roy Oswalt improved to 5-1 this season and the Astros kept pace with the division -leading Cincinnatti Reds. ESPN reported an interesting fact after the game...Roy Oswalt has the highest winning percentage at home of any pitcher since 1920! Only Babe Ruth from his years in Boston was better.

Minute Maid park has a reputation as a hitters park but the Astros staff wins there. Oswalt, Pettite, and Clemens all have outstanding records at home. It just goes to show how great pichers win no matter what the dimensions of the park. And for Roy Oswalt Home Cookin' is sweet indeed.

Hope Springs Eternal:

With the arrival of Spring comes many fine things. In the Texas Hill-Country, beautiful bunches of  Bluebonnet flowers line our roadsides and paint our pastures. The warmer weather teases our senses and evokes memories of happy times and stimulates our psyche as we envision rafting down the gorgeous Guadalupe River with beautiful women wearing  scentilating  attire and righteous attitudes.

But along with these fantastic pleasures, a deeper and more pure event occurs. ..Baseball Season! Yes my friends it is the time of year when fans everywhere unite in the dream that our favorite team will  ultimately overcome their past failures and rise to the summit of the Baseball world by acquiring the prize known as The World Series Crown. Even Cubs fans have a moment to dream, and hope fills the air.

I have been a life-long Houston Astros fan and we are establishing our own bit of passionate suffering  as we now enter our 45th season without a world championship. The previous two seasons have brought us to the brink as we were just one victory away from the Series in 2004 and we finally got there  last year only to be swept in 4 games by the ChiSox...SIGH...

Jeff Bagwell, the best player in franchise history, and a future Hall Of Famer begins the season on the D.L. and will probably be forced to retire due to his lingering shoulder injury. Roger Clemens is undecided on returning and already in the team's first 3 games there is evidence of the same offensive problems as before, a lack of clutch hitting, especially with  2 outs and runners in scoring position. And Andy Pettite just got bombed in his first outing of the year...SIGH...

But we play 162 games and as The Astros proved last year after a 15 win, 30 loss start, anything can happen. So there is hope. And for a fan like me, well, that's about as much as i deserve.