Above Water on the Ohio River

A different lineup yielded a familiar result Wednesday night for the Astros, a win, putting them a game above .500 for the first time in the 2007 season. Their third in a row came in the form of a come from behind 7-2 victory against the Reds. Chris Sampson made Stephen and I proud after pitching seven innings, giving up five hits and striking out two.

Cincinnati got off to an early 2-0 on the strength of a couple solo home runs from Brandon Phillips and Josh Hamilton. Aaron Harang was denied a decision in a game where he struck out eight in six innings of work. His only blemish was a run scored by Mike Lamb who was inserted in the lineup instead of Morgan Ensberg to face the right handed Harang. After winning all four of his starts last year against Houston, Phil Garner doubtlessly wanted to get another left handed bat out there. A Lance Berkman single scored Orlando Palmeiro in the eighth, and then the flood gates opened against a previously stout Reds bullpen. The pinch hitter, Mark Loretta then singled in Berkman and in the next at bat, Jason Lane knocked reliever Rheal Cormier’s first pitch into the seats for a 6-2 lead. Dan Wheeler pitched the eighth and ninth innings to close out Sampson’s third career win.

The game was not televised in Georgetown, but from what I can tell, the Astros are starting to do the things that go a long way towards picking up wins, yet don’t always show up in the boxscore. Carlos Lee didn’t reach the seats tonight, but he had a nice piece of situational hitting, getting an RBI groundout that scored Mike Lamb. Lance’s average didn’t rise tremendously, but his lone hit tied the game at 2. Mark Loretta did what he’s getting paid to do as well- producing when called upon. Jason Lane’s homer was just icing on the proverbial cake. Did I mention all five runs were scored with 2 outs in the eighth inning? After starting off 0-4, the boys have won 7 of 9. Not surprisingly, the improved record has been directly correlated to a doubling of their runs scored per game over the past nine. With Lance, Burke and Luke Scott yet to hit their stride, or even come close, the offense stands to improve a great deal more. On the mound, Sampson and Wandy have been pleasant surprises thus far. They will have to continue their superlative start, as Jason Jennings tries to recuperate from tendonitis. Woody starts tomorrow evening against the Reds, as the team goes for their second sweep of a series in a row.

Trades, Plans and Prognostications

A couple of our loyal readers have asked our thoughts concerning the trade possibilities surrounding Brad Lidge and others. I’ll admit that when I heard about the possibility that the Astros could get something for Lidge, I was ecstatic. He was like a toy that I used to love playing with, and now all it does it catch on fire when I pull it’s string. Rocco Baldelli is amongst the names being floated around. To which I say, we have a full outfield as it is and Chris Burke is still young- give him a season to get his centerfielder legs underneath him. Josh Beckett would be intriguing, I agree. Bring home the former Spring High School phenom, put him in Astros’ pinstripes, and watch as he helps Roy anchor the starting rotation to a date in the October Classic. This however, is doubtful, as well. Beckett has gotten off to a strong start this year (1.50 ERA, 3-0 record 9.0 K/9), and has another $20 million left on his contract through 2009, and then is due a $12.5 million option for 2010. The Astros have never been a club that has traded for a player who is under contract for more than just the rest of the current season. I think Purpura summed it up best, when he was asked by a Boston scout about Lidge’s availability. "I didn't say, 'No.' I said, 'Hell no.'” Ladies and Gentlemen, Brad Lidge may not return as our closer this year. Furthermore, until Dan Wheeler gives the team reason to think otherwise, everything should remain the same in our bullpen.

It is difficult to guarantee anything in baseball, and I will offer none here. But there’s one thing that I, a meager college student and blogger, have come to think about the 2007 Houston Astros, 13 games into the season. It is that this team may have familiar faces on it, but they are almost all in new roles. Jason Lane no longer starts, Chris Burke is in centerfield, Luke Scott has become a starting outfielder and Morgan Ensberg is often times batting in front of, rather than behind, Lance Berkman. The movement of Lidge and Wheeler has been chronicled already. Give the team some time to get accustomed to their new roles. They are professionals, true, but they are a team in flux. They are more than capable of achieving success with the team they have now.

My belief about this team lies in the assertion that,the Astros will not look the same in a month as they do now. Their players will almost certainly look the same, save for maybe Matt Albers and a few others, but they will play much more cohesive baseball on May 18th, than they did today. Adam Everett has four errors, Lidge has a K/9 of below eight and Lance has left the yard only once. That will change, and most certainly improve. Wandy and Sampson’s hot starts may cool, but they’re young, and this team will help them grow to become the kind of players they can become.

Their future brand of baseball may not be better, but it will be different. The players will grow into their new roles, and Phil Garner and Dave Wallace will learn how to best utilize them. Hopefully if it comes down to a trade making the difference Tim Purpura will be able to pull the trigger, and give the team a boost. I like this team, though. I like their chances, their potential and the unknown that surrounds them. This next stretch of baseball (nine games on the road against four teams) will be a starting point on which to judge this team. A new face, Matt Albers, has been called up to face Ben Sheets in Milwaukee on Friday. This may be a tough match-up, but it’s time to find out how this team reacts to tough times. They’ve overcome a sluggish start, now we can see how well the Astros swim with their heads above the water.

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