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In the following five years the Astros finished second in the Central, twice winning the wild card. One of those wild cards took the club to the teams first World Series. The Astros played the White Sox in 2005 after shocking the Braves and the Cardinals in the NL. The team could not continue the magic and were swept by the White Sox in a series with low scoring ball games.Originally called the Colt .45s, the club changed its name because of the arrival of the space program to Houston. The new team name, the Astros, and the new ballpark, the Astrodome. The Astrodome is famous for being one of the first venues with artificial turf.
The Astros struggled during the ‘60s, failing to finish over .500 and generally ending the season near the bottom of the league. The ‘70s were kinder to the Astros, who finished second twice and third twice during the decade.
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During those first two decades the Astros had a good deal of talent with Joe Morgan and Jimmy Wynn and pitchers Ken Johnson and Bob Bruce. The talent could not rally enough victories to reach the plaoffs though.
The ‘80s saw the Astros reach the playoffs three times, twice losing in the National League Championship Series. The first appearance in the post season in 1980 was a close series with the Philadelphia Phillies. The series went all five games with four being played into extra innings. The Astros lost in game five in a heart breaking 8-7 game that went 10 innings. The Astros of the ‘80s were a team known for its pitching more than its hitting, with legendary pitchers like Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton.
The end of the ‘80s and the beginning of the ‘90s had the team selling off its parts and beginning anew. The result was a young team built around Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. The two were the anchors of the Astros for over a decade. Over that decade the club won four NL Central Division titles in five years from 1997 to 2001, but could not make it out of the first round in the playoffs.
In the following five years the Astros finished second in the Central, twice winning the wild card. One of those wild cards took the club to the teams first World Sereis. The Astros played the White Sox in 2005 after shocking the Braves and the Cardinals in the NL. The team could not continue the magic and were swept by the White Sox in a series with low scoring ball games.
Roy Oswalt is the ace of the pitching staff. That is the only sure thing about the Astros pitching situation. Brandon Backe will get to show if his 3-1 record and 3.77 ERA at the end of last season was the real thing or just a tease. The rest of the staff is awful. Wandy Rodriguez and Woody Williams must bring down their high ERAs or be reading to be replaced by prospects from triple A. Jose Valverde has a good future as the closer after saving 47 games last season. Doug Brocail is a quality reliever and Geoff Geary might have surprising season. Berkman and left fielder Carlos Lee are sure things in the lineup. Miguel Tejada still has some pop left in his bat and Ty Wigginton passes as a third baseman with ok numbers. Hunter Pence looks to be the next piece of the puzzle for the Astros in right or center after a great 2007 season.
The faces of the franchise are no longer Craig Biggio nad Jeff Bagwell. First baseman Lance Berkman and pitcher Roy Oswalt are the new leaders in the clubhouse.
Roy Oswalt is the ace of the pitching staff. That is the only sure thing about the Astros pitching situation. Brandon Backe will get to show if his 3-1 record and 3.77 ERA at the end of last season was the real thing or just a tease. The rest of the staff is awful. Wandy Rodriguez and Woody Williams must bring down their high ERAs or be reading to be replaced by prospects from triple A. Jose Valverde has a good future as the closer after saving 47 games last season. Doug Brocail is a quality reliever and Geoff Geary might have surprising season. op left in his bat and Ty Wigginton passes as a third baseman with ok numbers. Hunter Pence looks to be the next piece of the puzzle for the Astros in right or center after a great 2007 season.
The fans at Minute Maid Park will get watch the future and the proven veterans try and return to 2006 form or even 2005 when they went to the World Series. The schedule will be soft with plenty of games against weak Central division foes. Find your Houston Astros tickets at Ticket Specialists for the great prices and terrific seats.