The Pecan Park Eagle

Carlos Correa
For some Astros, the spark that lights the fire may come again with the sight of Carlos Correa, back in the cage, returning to do one of the things he does so well for the good of the team.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST STANDINGS

THROUGH GAMES OF THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017 

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST SCORES

GAMES OF THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017

 RAYS 5 – ASTROS 3.

 ROYALS 6 – MARINERS 4.

 ANGELS 5 – PHILLIES 4.

 RANGERS 4 – TWINS 1.

GIANTS 11 – ATHLETICS 2.

AMERICAN LEAGUE BATTING AVERAGE

THROUGH GAMES OF THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017

NR * = NEEDS MORE “AB”S TO QUALIFY FOR RANKING.

ASTRO*NOTES

What else could he say? When Astros Manager A.J. Hinch spoke at the post-game media conference last night, there wasn’t much else he could do. It was “fall on your sword time” following the clubs third consecutive sleeper level of play loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in as many nights at Minute Maid Park on Thursday evening. Like anyone else whose been paying attention, Hinch hasn’t forgotten that this is the same Astros club that already has 69 wins and a big double-digit lead in the AL West.

They just aren’t playing like it this week. Whether it’s due to injuries, normal August exhaustion, a tad of foreboding and disappointment in our pitching, and our inability to hopefully improve the same through deals prior to the playoffs, so far, doesn’t really matter.

This is how baseball plays out. Slumps are real. And only good teams have them. When bad teams lose, it’s because losing is what bad teams do, without serious hope of recovery.

How do we know the Astros are a good team that is capable of winning? Here’s a quick Astros Catechism lesson:

Q1) Can we look to any one thing that tells us that the Astros are a good team? Answer: Yes, because they’ve already proved it. You don’t build a record of 69-39 in early August on good luck alone.

Q2) Do the Astros have enough talent now to win it all in October? Answer: Of course, they do. It’s just a matter of them waking up to the fact that they already know what they each can do to help make it happen – and then going out there in bonded numbers attachment to the same goal and getting it done.

Q3) How does that “earn it” 2017 club motto fit into the plan – or was that simply a marketing scheme? Answer: No marketing plan alone is strong enough to do what this club has done all year to this point. They’ve earned every inch of that monster lead they hold over the other AL West clubs. And now that they’ve set up the banquet hall of great expectations, it’s nearing the time they shall be called upon to earn the benefits of the Playoff and World Series banquet itself.

Q4) How soon can we expect this current mini-slump to end – and for the big turnaround roll to start rocking? Answer: Who knows? It could be today. It could ignite over something that suddenly reminds and energizes everyone else as to what needs to happen all over the roster for this season to end in success. Now, if enough people start performing their jobs on the same level that Jose Altuve performs his work (How’s that for a wishful thought?), there should be no need for further questions about where this team is going in October.

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Happy Birthday, Dave Hoskins!

Born: August 3, 1925; Died: April 2, 1970.

Dave Hoskins was the first black player in the the Texas League as a member of the 1952 Dallas Eagles.

Here’s a link to a column we wrote about him on March 3, 2010:

https://bill37mccurdy.com/2010/03/07/dave-hoskins-first-black-texas-leaguer-1952/

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Tags: A Brief Astros Catechism (Plus Stats)

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