The Season is over for Most

With the last out on Sunday afternoon in New York the Houston Astros 2009 season came to an end. The final record was amazingly close to what the majority of pre season prognosticators had chosen. How the Astros got there may not have been exactly as expected, but in the long baseball season things tend to finish where they should.



The club could have made those same experts wrong had things take just a few different turns. Carlos Lee was the only offensive performer who did as expected, perhaps minus a few home runs. Michael Bourn actually did far better than his past and short record had shown. He started to fulfill potential. Lance Berkman was down at least 30 points in average and ten homers and 30 rbis from what the club needed. Some of that was injury caused, but not all. Hunter Pence's RBI totals weren't where the Astros need them, but his average and home run totals were certainly adequate. And his right field defense was among the best in baseball.



Miguel Tejada had a fine final year with the Astros if that turns out to be the case. His defense has slipped but certainly not hit ability to get base hits. Fewer homers than in his peak seasons but still plenty of doubles.



The defensive play and health of Kazuo Matsui was superb. Unfortunately he was another whose batting average was not up to par. Still he stole some bases and hit with a bit of power late in the years.



The real shortcoming which was predicted by those "experts" was on the mound--mainly the starters. A lot of faith was put in the hope that Russ Ortiz and Mike Hampton could help. For the most part they could not. Add Roy Oswalts tough luck and injuries and that left Wandy Rodriguez as the only full season steady hand.



Yet, the Astros were in the race in the admittedly under performing NL Central till right around All Star time. Eventually, the weaknesses in the club caught up to it.



So now it is the time baseball management starts making the adjustments necessary to get back to the top. In a way this poor season is a good thing. If the 2008 Astros over achieved their way to 86 wins the falloff in 2009 was not unexpected. There is no reason to hold back in building the club for 2010--even with budgetary considerations. The door is open for Ed Wade to start the project. The bet here is that before too long the Astros will be once again a real competitor for the NL Central and hopefully even bigger achievements.



VACATION COMING

This will be the last column/blog I write for two weeks. Immediately following the game on Sunday and the last word in this effort I will be on two weeks vacation. My comments and columns will return when I do. Fox Sports Houston will also soon be unveiling a new web page so keep checking Twitter and Facebook for news on that as well as the latest with the Rockets and Texans...plus off season Astros news.