Another Long Flight After a Successful Day

At just about 7:58 San Diego time the Houston Astros charter arrived on the West Coast. That was after four hours of flying from Milwaukee where the club finished up a successful series by taking two of three from the Brewers.

Next up are the Padres for four games to conclude this second straight ten game long road trip. The Astros schedule has seen them away from home for 21 of 34 days when this trip is over. They have played only six home games and 20 road games since leaving for Colorado on June 7th. And you know, despite the overall 31-48 record they have played OK in most series--other than the sweeps to the Rangers and Yankees.

When one factors in that this team is not the same one that started the season so miserably that offers some hope. In fact since the Round Rock Trio-- Jason Castro, Chris Johnson and Jason Bourgeois joined the club the Astros are 5-4. Add the return of Wandy Rodriguez to effectiveness on the mound to go with Roy Oswalt and Brett Myers and the steady everyman Brian Moehler there is more reason for optimism that the club may be able to stave off the worst season in franchise history.

In fact if I were a betting man I would bet on it. With Lance Berkman starting to show signs of coming around and the same for Carlos Lee along with some big games from Pedro Feliz even though he has lost his regular job to Johnson, this club has been and will score runs at a much greater pace than for the first two and a half months of the season.

Of course, the next four games will be rough. San Diego's ballpark is not built for hitters. They have good pitching, too. But the Padres are not blessed with an outstanding offense and the Astro pitchers get the same ballpark advantage, too.

Thursday and Friday are night games with a day game on Saturday and a almost night game on Sunday. A split would result in a .500 road trip. That would be good enough.