Astros Reach 2017 Season Win #100
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….and they write it on the bricks of a solid, not perfect, season!
ASTRO*NOTES
Thanks largely to the 3-RBI night of 3rd-baseman Alex Bregman and the clutch pitching of starter Charlie Morton and relievers Devenski, Harris, and Giles, the Houston Astros recorded their second 100-win season in MLB history. The other time came about in 1998 when Manager Larry Dierker’s Killer Bee Astros finished as Champions of the NL Central Division before getting knocked out of the playoffs – in spite of the Killer Bee threat and the presence of late season future HOF pitching ace Randy Johnson.
It happens.
The important thing is – that was then. This is now. And as long as we have the humility to remember that the presence of a late season future HOF pitcher is no more of a guarantee of success in 2017 than it was 19 years ago in 1998, we will take Justin Verlander and his 5-0, 1.06 ERA mark as an Astros ace since September 1st as the blessing it truly is – but we take nothing for granted. As the club makes another serious move on a possible World Series year with the aid of another potential HOF pitcher, Justin Verlander just seems to be more committed to the Houston Astros beyond 2017 than Randy Johnson was beyond the 1998 season, in spite of that heart-in-our-throats year (10-1, 1.28 ERA) the tall guy ran through his foes as an Astro starter from August 1st of that season. Both men gave Houston all they each had to give during both of their late season stretch appearances as Astros.
Johnson left Houston for Arizona after 1998. We have hopes of keeping Verlander in 2018, regardless of what happens this year. That being said, we take nothing for granted. Let’s just play the games and win the one that’s on the schedule for today. It does help to feel that the club is hot again – and at just the right time.
The Astros won with double-digit power scoring and good pitching over Boston, 12-2, on Thursday night. Last night, Friday, the same hot Astros club won, 3-2, with strategic hitting and good pitching and defense. The only outcome difference was the run differential that came with each night. Friday night, the Astros won a “losable game”, but their pitching and defense refused to let it happen.
If the Astros win the Saturday and Sunday series and season closing games, they will finish with a 102-60 mark that matches the regular season record of their their 1998 NL counterpart.
No matter what. The Pecan Park Eagle is with them all the way. One game at a time.
We could not be happier at this point with the baseball feast that is now upon us as members of the Houston Astros fan base.
Play ball, Astros! ~ Give ‘Em all you’ve got! ~ And thank you for being our guys!
And thank you, AJ Hinch, for the great job of stewardship you’ve performed as our Astros manager! ~ You da’ man!
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HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE RACES, GB IN EACH
THRU GAMES PLAYED FRIDAY, 9/29/2017
| CLUB | W | L | W% | AL | NL | WS | |||
| DODGERS | 102 | 58 | .638 | ~ | L | L | |||
| INDIANS | 101 | 59 | .631 | L | ~ | 1.0 | |||
| ASTROS | 100 | 60 | .625 | 1.0 | ~ | 2.0 | |||
| NATIONALS | 97 | 63 | .606 | ~ | 5.0 | 5.0 |
L = LEADER BY LEAGUE AND WS OVERALL.
Overall Leader gets home field advantage (HFA) in World Series.
GAMES TO PLAY: DODGERS 2, INDIANS 2, ASTROS 2, NATIONALS 2
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HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE SERIOUS CONTENDER SCORES
THRU GAMES PLAYED FRIDAY, 9/29/2017
ASTROS 3 – RED SOX 2
INDIANS 10 – WHITE SOX 1
NATIONALS 6 – PIRATES 1
ROCKIES 9 – DODGERS 1
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AMERICAN LEAGUE BATTING AVERAGE LEADERS
THRU GAMES PLAYED FRIDAY, 9/29/2017
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BA |
| 1 | JOSE ALTUVE | HOU | 584 | 203 | 39 | 4 | 24 | .348 |
| 2 | AVISAIL GARCIA | CWS | 515 | 170 | 27 | 5 | 18 | .330 |
| 3 | JOSE RAMERIZ | CLE | 580 | 184 | 55 | 6 | 29 | .317 |
| 4 | ERIC HOSMER | KC | 600 | 190 | 31 | 1 | 24 | .317 |
| 4 | JOSH REDDICK | HOU | 477 | 150 | 34 | 4 | 13 | .314 |
| NC * | CARLOS CORREA | HOU | 419 | 131 | 25 | 1 | 24 | .313 |
| 6 | MIKE TROUT | LAA | 394 | 121 | 25 | 3 | 32 | .307 |
| 7 | JOE MAUER | MIN | 521 | 159 | 35 | 1 | 7 | .305 |
| 8 | JOSE ABREU | CWS | 615 | 187 | 42 | 6 | 33 | .304 |
| 9 | MARWUN GONZALEZ | HOU | 455 | 138 | 34 | 0 | 23 | .303 |
| 10 | LORENZO CAIN | KC | 580 | 174 | 27 | 5 | 15 | .300 |
| OTHER ASTROS | ||||||||
| 13 | YULI GURRIEL | HOU | 523 | 155 | 41 | 1 | 18 | .296 |
| 19 | ALEX BREGMAN | HOU | 550 | 158 | 39 | 5 | 19 | .287 |
| 22 | GEORGE SPRINGER | HOU | 544 | 155 | 29 | 0 | 34 | .285 |
NR * LOST TIME ON THE DL HAS REMOVED CORREA FROM AN OFFICIAL QUALIFYING PLACE IN THE RANKING OF TOP 40 HITTERS.
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Bill McCurdy
Principal Writer, Editor, Publisher
The Pecan Park Eagle
The Pecan Park Eagle 
September 30, 2017 at 1:31 pm |
After the ball went under Alex Bregman’s glove at the beginning of game one in the Boston series, I sensed he felt he needed to atone for that rare defensive miscue, and he certainly has offensively.
September 30, 2017 at 10:08 pm |
Today’s loss may have been a blessing in disguise for Houston. I feel the Astros match up much better against Boston than they do against the NY Yankees. I still believe Cleveland is going to be a tough thorn for the Astros after losing 5 of 6 to the Indians this season. If they take care of business against Boston, they will get the chance to show they can beat Cleveland. The biggest question now is the make up of the post season roster, and which pitchers are going start. Obviously, Verlander and Keuchel will go 1-2, and I presume Charlie Morton or Peacock goes 3 or do they go with McCullers at 3? Also which guys make the bullpen….hopefully NOT mike “Light my” Fiers.