As I reported earlier today, the Astros play off odds actually got better over the weekend despite falling two in the elimination column. The Astros have played dismally against the Pirates in 2008, but this is not the same team. They are missing two key offensive assets in their line-up which has crippled the Pirates run scoring ability.
Prior to July 30 (which I'm loosely using to define the trade deadline), the Pirates averaged 4.94 R/G (source). After Nady and Bay get subtracted from the line-up, the Pirates have only managed 3.41 R/G (source). The ridiculous drop off in run creation should leave Astros fans with a huge grin on their face. A series sweep would is necessary for us to keep floating our wild card hopes, and a team that is as inept at scoring as the Pirates are should be easy fodder.
Current Series
4 game series vs Pirates @ Minute Maid Park
Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, Sep 8, 2008, 7:05 PM CDT Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.
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| Tue 09/09 | Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 90. | 7:05 PM CDT |
| Wed 09/10 | 7:05 PM CDT | |
| Thu 09/11 | 7:05 PM CDT | |
Alberto Arias has no stats with the Astros, but here's a link to his career stats.
I owe it to the concept of journalistic integrity to include this widget in here.
Sobering to say the least, but as Aaron Eckhart said in The Dark Knight, "the night is always darkest before the dawn." Also, this should be a pretty easy series for us, which lessens the loss of some of those guys while they are mending...so, yeah, Go 'Stros.