"As much as you want to cry for a guy who's not getting run support, we win as a team and we lose as a team… I certainly understand his frustration, but it's not like we're not trying. We're out there grinding them out and trying to score some runs, and it just hasn't happened."

—1B Lance Berkman, on the team losing despite strong efforts by RHP Roy Oswalt, who was 2-5 despite eight quality starts. 

I would like to address Berkman on this quote. Yes it is a team game BUT there are a lot of individual aspects to baseball. If a player makes an error it’s on HIM. If a hitter doesn’t put the ball in play it’s on HIM. If a pitcher leaves to many out over the plate and gets roughed up; it’s on HIM. Oswalt can’t hit for these guys; that is what they are paid to do. No one is asking Berkman, Lee or Pence to pitch for Oswalt; that’s HIS job. What we as fans want to see Lance, is for you to do your job. We want to see Carlos do what he’s being paid close to 17million dollars a year to do; drive in runs.

Baseball is a funny game; a hitter is successful when he fails 7 out of 10 at bats (3 for 10 = .300 if you’re wondering). It sounds silly to say but if you fail 7 ½ or more times out of 10 you are an average to poor hitter. Now, I will agree that if you come through with runners on more often than not but fail 7 ½ out of 10 then there is merit to that. But Lance; Carlos; Hunter…..THAT’S NOT YOU! You manage to fail most of the time regardless of the situation. That’s on YOU.

A pitcher doesn’t have the luxury of failing 7 out of 10 batters. I believe "WHiP" (Walks + Hits/Innings Pitched) to be a much more telling stat about the quality of a pitcher than ERA. And if anyone judges a pitcher on wins they are sadly misinformed. A pitcher has to go out and try to make every hitter fail. If he does more often than not he will be successful……if the other players do their INDIVIDUAL jobs.

Here’s a solution for you Lance. You, Carlos and Hunter do your job. Roy, Wandy and Brett will do their jobs and the ASTROS will do something THEY haven’t done much of in 2 years….win. I agree that you win and lose as a team; but it takes individuals SHUTTING UP and doing what they are paid to do. So Lance…..SHUT UP AND HIT.