Houston Astros: Three observations from early May

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HOUSTON, TX – April 02: Houston Astros fans cheer on on Opening Day at Minute Maid Park on April 2, 2018, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Fan’s Expectations

When your team wins a championship, it’s easy to think they’re going to repeat. You have the best team and you know what it takes to get there. But when it’s a team that’s not accustomed to winning before, this is where a case of inexperience comes into play.

I talked about how the Houston Astros have a swagger that hasn’t been there in years and that was because we hadn’t had any reason to cheer. Now, the Astros are legitimate contenders. The Astros are the champions and the Rockets are in the hunt for their title. So why not? We have a good case for showing off our swagger even if the naysayers hate it.

But sometimes we might have to deal with reality. I’m sure fans were thinking we’ll win 100 games and blow out our division by fifteen or more again. No team will come close and we will repeat. If we’re fortunate, we might go for a three-peat.

It’s ok for us to be optimistic and confident about our chances. We have the right to feel that way. Where the problem lies is when the team doesn’t live up to our expectations.

Are We Frustrated?

Yes, we’re frustrated with the Astros playing like a sub-.500 team right now. We feel this is a championship team that can repeat and instead, they’re playing like a team that tries to grind out runs or hit the long ball, which is not our brand of baseball. Pitching has been dominant, but the runs have not been there to show for it.

It’s a tough stretch we find ourselves in. But that stretch will soon turn to easy. Would you rather relive 2016 all over again when we started 17-28? Or would you rather ride along in 2018? If you said 2018, good for you. If you picked 2016, shame on you. People can jump on and off the bandwagon all they want or just take a break from the team. But ultimately, darkness will soon bring the light at the end of the tunnel. Our team will get going.

Yet, there’s one thing I think we should remind ourselves. Even if we win it all again this year…

There’s Not Going To Be Another 2017

I said in the intro that this season was going to be tough to repeat. It could be construed two ways.

The Astros quest to repeat will be difficult.

It will be tough to repeat our success from last season.

More from House of Houston

You know, talent-wise, this team is supposed to be better. But what happened last season was incredible. Historically, we had one of the best offenses that were compared to some of the great Yankees teams ever. We won 101 games, which was only second to the 1998 squad. We beat the three highest top payroll teams in the league to win it all.

Was it a miracle last season? I don’t think it was considering we were a contender. But was it a special season? Oh yeah! You add all the elements from a great offense led by an MVP-caliber player and a group of athletes that crushed opponents for much of the season. Plus add in a hurricane and a big trade, which were the missing elements needed to inspire the team to a championship. It’s a big special thing of a year to look back on.

The Houston Astros can win another championship this year or anytime soon. However, they also might never win again (I doubt that because we can win more in a lifetime). But even so, nothing will overtake 2017 because we earned it and it was a special season just like…

1969 New York Mets
1994 New York Rangers
2004 Boston Red Sox
2009 New Orleans Saints
2016 Chicago Cubs
2016 Cleveland Cavaliers
2017 Philadelphia Eagles

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I’m not giving up on this team. I know what we’re capable of. Will we get on a roll? You betcha! Can we repeat as a championship team? We can! It’s frustrating to go through this now. But when you think about it, better now then later.

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