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Yes, the Astros suck, but there is hope. Check out these over/unders for the rest of the season.
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Astros pitching coach Dewey Robinson might be in for a Long season.
The Astros are off to a 1-6 start. Some fans, talk show hosts and local media are already in full meltdown mode.
On Sunday, they got a whopping three hits against the Cardinals and were shut out.
On Monday, they improved. They got a whopping four hits against the Pirates. And were shut out.
It's not just that they are losing. They have been competitive in just one of the seven games -- the one they won. The other games have been mismatches.
Regardless, it is still too early for panic. The Astros have two more games in Pittsburgh, then return home for a 10-game homestand. They could easily win the next two, go 6-4 at home and be right back to the 8-8 mediocrity most projected for them.
However, owner Drayton McLane isn't the most patient man. If the losing -- especially in such inept fashion -- continues, heads will roll sooner rather than later.
Since we're here for perspective, we'll give you some over/unders on when it is OK to panic.
Over/under on when to worry about the starting pitching: Game No. 25. By then, most will have five starts. If Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz are still healthy and semi-effective, the rotation might be OK. Hopefully by then Roy Oswalt will have it together as well.
Brian Moehler is a different story. He has been completely shelled in two starts, and one wonders how he was penciled in as a third starter after a year in which he had a barely mediocre season at 11-8 with a 4.56 ERA. Because he exceeded expectations by not completely sucking, he gets a No. 3 spot in the rotation? No way he matches that production.
Over/under on when to panic if they still have one win: Game No. 15. That might seem high, but the season won't become a complete mess until that point. They have proven in past years they can play better in the second half, but the fans will lose interest fast at that point. And there were already an awful lot of empty seats during the opening series.
Over/under on record that will get Cecil Cooper fired: .400 or less after 50 games. That would be a 20-30 record. If the Astros are hanging around at that, Coop will be gone.
Over/under on how long Ed Wade lasts: 2010. Even if the Astros are colossally awful, he will likely be given one more year. Whether or not that is a good idea remains to be seen. Let's see how he deals with the trading deadline.
Over/under on the date Drayton McLane gives up on the season: Oct. 1, which will probably be three months after they are eliminated.
Can the Astros get it together? Of course. Well, not if Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee continue to hit .162 and .192, respectively. If that happens, they are done.
But Berkman and Lee will start hitting. Oswalt will pitch better. The season still comes down to what it started with -- the shaky rotation behind Oswalt.
Wandy Rodriguez will be fine, especially at home. Hampton and Ortiz have to stay healthy. Someone needs to step up, whether it be Moehler or Bud Norris or even Brandon Backe at some point.
Until that happens, it would be nice if the Astros would at least appear to be competitive.
If not, the over/under on when people quit being interested? May 1.
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