The Houston Astros stink.
Hard to believe that this team, just three years ago, was in its first-ever World Series. More than 40 years of futility ended. But now, it looks like Houston is well on its way to the abysmal teams of the late eighties.
Back in 1986, the Astros' season ended with a 4-2 NLCS loss to the New York Mets. Astros pitcher and Mets killer Mike Scott would've pitched Game 7. And yet, despite that great season, Houston's play plummeted. In 1987, Nolan Ryan went 8-17 despite leading the MLB in ERA and strikeouts. I'll never forget how bad Houston's hitting got: in the 1988 season, Astros shortstop Rafael Ramirez's season batting average of .276 was the highest on the team.
These days, if you hit .276, you're likely to be a utility player.
I remember after one embarrassing loss to the San Francisco Giants, then-Astros manager Hal Lanier ordered the team to take batting practice again. Normally, a team does this before the game, but Lanier decided Houston needed extra help.
What ails the Astros now? Many would say it boils down to three things: incompetent ownership, a general manager who's prone to making questionable decisions and a minor league system that's depleted.
When I look at the Houston Chronicle online, I often hope I'll read that Drayton McLane is selling the team. If he does, my distaste for the Astros' ugly uniforms aside, I hope the new owner will do one thing that will potentially blossom into a successful baseball team:
Hire a savvy, competent help. General manager. Manager. Hitting and pitching coaches. Scouts. The works.
And, for crying out loud, a willingness to spend money to bring in quality players.
Amazing it is that Houston, being the nation's fourth-largest city, is considered a small-market team.
Keywords: Astros
