Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Sports

Astros in for long, unfruitful campaign

by LEE CLARK
The Daily Cougar

The Houston Astros played their 20th game of the season Wednesday night, and though only an eighth of the schedule has been played so far, Astros fans should give up all hope that 2007 will be a big year for the hometown club.

After Wednesday night's 4-3 (16 inn.) loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Astros stand at 9-11, three-and-a-half games behind the National League Central Division-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

After Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at the hands of Pittsburgh, Astros manager Phil Garner said his team "stunk."

A quick glance at the team's statistics through its first 19 games gives a good indication of what stinks.

Before Wednesday's game, the Astros had the worst team batting average (.236) in the National League and were ranked 12 out of 16 teams in runs scored (81). 

There is some good news as far as the offense is concerned, though. Lance Berkman's bat will eventually catch fire, and by the end of the season, he and Carlos Lee will likely combine for 70 home runs and better than 200 RBIs.

While those two will produce for the offense, don't look for any excitement generated from other spots in the batting order -- those other six players are mediocre with the bats at best.

Yet even though the offense will continue to be poor, Astros fans know that championships are won with pitching.

Proof of that is the 2005 season when the Astros were National League champions. That year's offensive unit ranked 14th in the NL in batting average (.256) and 11th in runs scored (4.25 per game), but the pitching staff had the second-lowest ERA in the league (3.51) and was tops in the league in opponent batting average (.246).

So if great pitching translates into success in baseball, the 2007 Astros must have bad pitching.

Before Wednesday's game, this year's pitching staff owned the NL's 13th-worst ERA (4.31) and is 14th in the league in opponent batting average (.270).

The starting rotation leaves much to be desired. Roy Oswalt is a stud, but Jason Jennings and Woody Williams will need the kind of run support the Astros hitters can't provide. Now that Brad Lidge is no longer a reliable option, the bullpen should not be considered a strength, either. 

Bad pitching and bad hitting equate to bad baseball. Astros fans: Get ready for a long summer.

Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu