We lost our softball game last night by one lousy run (I was the tying run and was stranded on 2nd base), but I had the best game I’ve had in ages. I went 3-for-4 and was on base each time. I hit into one fielder’s choice, but ironically that was the time I ended up scoring a run. I also made a catch in the outfield. Woo!
I’m headed to Minute Maid Park again tonight for my second Astros game this week. After worrying me with two quick losses to the Marlins, they won the last two on the strength of Clemens and Pettitte and are now a half game ahead of the Phillies and Marlins for the Wild Card lead.
This race is really going to go down to the wire, I think, and probably won’t be decided until the last day of the season! The Astros have a decent schedule left to play, with 3 against the Brewers, 4 against the Pirates, 7 against the Cubs, and 2 against the Cardinals. The Cards, of course, are the tough part. I think the ‘Stros should be able to emerge with more wins than losses against all the others. It’s just a guess, but if they can go 10-6 or better in the last 16 games, I think that would do it…
While the Astros battle the NL Central, the Marlins and Phillies have slightly harder schedules. Both face the NL East-leading Braves again, as well as the not-dead-yet Nationals, and this weekend they actually play each other — I don’t expect either one to sweep the three-game series, so hopefully their wins will sorta cancel out.
Come on Astros! I wanna go to more postseason games! (Though if the Astros can hang on and win the Wild Card, the first round will be exactly the same as last year — playing the Braves. And if they win that — likely playing the Cardinals, who I expect to feast on the sub-.500 NL West winner.)
