In Oswalt We Trust.

[Marcus Bryant]

He's been the most consistent of the 'Big 3'.

http://www.astrosdaily.com/files/gallery/Oswalt_Roy_03.jpg

Roy O will get it done.

[Brutalis]

http://www.latino-mlb-players.com/images/Albert%20Pujols/albertpujols.jpg

BELIEVE

[SequSpur]

http://www.tech-sol.net/humor/choke1.jpg

Houston's New Baseball Logo.


:lol

[Marcus Bryant]

Now the Cards fans show up.

[Brutalis]

Nah. I've been a shy poster for a few months. Just not a big baseball fan, but still a Cards fan. If Houston wins it all I wouldnt mind. Just having fun.

[Horry For 3!]

Stros can still get it done but they better put this lost behind them quick or it won't be very good.

Game 6 Wednesday Oswalt vs Mulder

[Brutalis]

If Cards force a game 7 the momentum has completely shifted and then Houston gets to feel the pressure. Watching game 6, it seemed the Astros just got emotional towards the end and lost focus while the Cards fought for their lives with adrenaline.

[Jdspur20]

Nah. I've been a shy poster for a few months. Just not a big baseball fan, but still a Cards fan. If Houston wins it all I wouldnt mind. Just having fun.

the definition of a troll

[King]

Not worried, yet. The Cardinals, this year, scored 11 runs in 19 innings on Oswalt. Pujols, Edmonds, Walker, Eckstein and Sanders all have career averages above .285 against Oswalt.

[Extra Stout]

Why are Houston fans so worried? So the Bills scored a couple of touchdowns. It's still 35-17 Oilers!

[ShoogarBear]

Why are Houston fans so worried? So the Bills scored a couple of touchdowns. It's still 35-17 Oilers!

:flipoff

:lol

[Solid D]

I heard a good one today. "Get down off the Lidge, Astros fans". :lol

[hussker]

http://www.latino-mlb-players.com/images/Albert%20Pujols/albertpujols.jpg

BELIEVE

Is this the PRE-BALCO pic?

[Brutalis]

the definition of a troll
Because I'm not a huge baseball fan and don't care to talk baseball everyday?

Get real, or over yourself.

[Brutalis]

Is this the PRE-BALCO pic?
Yeah thats before he started lifting weights like a religion.

[Spurminator]

Including the ever-popular "face weights".

[T Park]

lol.

So now Pujols is on Roids??

Classic.


Idiots.


BTW, Bagwell sure has had alot of injuries, he must have taken roids too.

[scott]

This reminds me of 1999 when we were waiting to see who would win the right to lose to the Spurs in the finals.

[T Park]

oh yes.

Cause Chicago is unstopable lol.....

[clooneyschick04]

Why are Houston fans so worried? So the Bills scored a couple of touchdowns. It's still 35-17 Oilers!

Ouch. :depressed

:lol

[Jimcs50]

I am a little concerned, because Roy has not had great success against the Cardinals until the last game against them. Eckstein and Pujols have hit him really well and those are the two that I worry about the most.

Roy needs to keep his confidence that he had from game 2 and pitch his ass off.


Go Astros!!!

[Extra Stout]

This reminds me of 1999 when we were waiting to see who would win the right to lose to the Spurs in the finals.

This reminds me of Portland right after the MDM.

[ShoogarBear]

This reminds me of Portland right after the MDM.

Not quite, in that Portland was down 0-2 after the MDM.

The 'Stros still have a potential astronomical (no pun) collapse still awaiting them.

[Extra Stout]

Not quite, in that Portland was down 0-2 after the MDM.

The 'Stros still have a potential astronomical (no pun) collapse still awaiting them.I mean in terms of the psyche of the team and its fans, the false bravado.

Portland took solace in that they had come so close to winning in San Antonio, and that they were coming home, where surely they would win both games.

Houston is taking solace in its 3-2 lead, and that Roy Oswalt is starting Game 6, and surely he will dominate the Cardinals once again.

Portland talked tough, but mentally, they were destroyed, and didn't put up much of a fight from there on out.

Some of the Astros' words are betraying something. Why do they keep saying they have two more games to play? To a man, they've said that. One guy caught himself and added, "Uhh... unless we win Game 6. Anything can happen."

Robert Horry described the psyche it takes to be clutch. You must not care about whether you are successful. You must be able to go out there and make the situation "normal," just like any other game. Otherwise... you choke.

You can't tell me after what we saw on Game 5, the players celebrating even before Eckstein came to the plate, that they can put all that out of their heads. They let their guard down. They got wrapped up in the moment. It's why Lidge stopped pitching and started getting ready to celebrate. And they all got crushed in a way that is exceeded only by the Red Sox in Game 6 of the '86 World Series.

After that display, are they suddenly going to become stoic and dispassionate in order to do what needs to be done? If they can do that, then they are the toughest team in the history of professional sports. Because, everything that has come before in history would indicate that Games 6 and 7 are just a formality to complete one of the greatest choke jobs of all time.

[Horry For 3!]

Roy Oswalt > Cardinals

[Solid D]

Oswalt had his tractor beam going tonight!!!!

http://www.startrek.com/imageuploads/200303/voy-103-voyager-employs-a-subs/320x240.jpg

[Spurminator]

Series MVP.

Dude stepped it up.

[Marcus Bryant]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20051020/capt.sts11310200055.nlcs_astros_cardinals_sts113.j pg

:makemyday

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20051020/capt.sts13910200341.nlcs_astros_cardinals__sts139. jpg


2005 NL CHAMPS

[Horry For 3!]

Yup, Oswalt is bad ass.

[Solid D]

If only the Toy Cannon had had "Roy O"

http://www.astrosdaily.com/files/gallery/Wynn_Jim_02.jpg

[Brutalis]

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20041028/albert_908.jpg


and that was last year, too.

[Marcus Bryant]

Roy O is called on again to right the ship.

[Sense]

Oswalt won't be dissappointing.

[Spurminator]

Can Oswalt pitch three straight games?

[ShoogarBear]

Can Oswalt pitch three straight games?

Better still, can the Stros go three straight games without bringing Lidge in?

Giving up a GW home run to the best hitter in the game is one thing, giving up a GWer in the World Series to a punch-and-judy slapper like Podunksnik is just inexcusable.

[Spurminator]

I think Lidge will be okay. I think it will do a lot for him to hear the hometown fans cheering for him again.

[Spurminator]

Wait, what the hell am I saying? Lidge is toast. Bring back Wagner.

[Extra Stout]

Wait, what the hell am I saying? Lidge is toast. Bring back Wagner.
I guess now every time Lidge looks at the batter at the plate, he sees a Dominican dude wearing #5.

I was wondering where the psychological effects would show up. Props to the rest of the Astros, especially Roy O, for shaking it off. Oswalt has the temperament of a freaking Marine.

But Lidge immediately curled up in the fetal position when Pujols hit that shot. Review the video. If he hadn't been wearing a glove, he would have started sucking his thumb. And now he's shellshocked. He's ruined. After Podsednik hit that shot, Lidge had this look on his face like he never wants to come near the mound ever again. He's Calvin Schiraldi. He's Mitch Williams.

Better make Qualls the closer. Oh, wait, he gave up a grand slam. Make it Wheeler. Oh, he's been shaky, too. Russ Springer, maybe?

[Marcus Bryant]

Hopes...

The Oswalt of NLCS Game 6 gives the Astros two similiar starts in this series.

Pettitte gives the team another start in Game 5 like last night.

That Clemens sacks up and pitches an unforgettable Game 4 or that Backe (um, gulp) pitches yet another 'game of his life'.

And above all else, that the Houston bullpen looks like, well, the Houston bullpen.

[Extra Stout]

Hopes...

The Oswalt of NLCS Game 6 gives the Astros two similiar starts in this series.The Series probably has to go seven for that to happen.


Pettitte gives the team another start in Game 5 like last night.He's not up again until Game 6, unless the Astros are down 3-1, Clemens is unavailable, and Garner decides Wandy Rodriguez is not the best choice for an elimination game.


That Clemens sacks up and pitches an unforgettable Game 4 or that Backe (um, gulp) pitches yet another 'game of his life'.Since Clemens' availability even for Game 5 is questionable, I think we can rule out his pitching on short rest.


And above all else, that the Houston bullpen looks like, well, the Houston bullpen.If it doesn't, this thing will be over soon, and the Cubs will be the only remaining team with the eye-popping title drought.

[Marcus Bryant]

Oswalt in Games 3 and 6. Pettitte in Game 5. This is the World Series. Would you rather have a Oswalt on 3 days' rest or a Wandy Rodriguez starting? Ditto for Pettitte. The 'stros, at a minimum, have to go 2-1 on the homestand. Maybe you get there with Oswalt/Backe/Pettitte. Otherwise you are counting on Oswalt/Backe/Rodriguez to get you 2 in Houston and then Pettitte in Game 6 to get you to a Game 7 where you can start Oswalt again.

I guess we'll have to count on some Minutemaid Magic now.

[Spurminator]

I agree... If Clemens is a no-go, you have to pitch Andy and Roy in Games 5 and 6.

[Jimcs50]

Andy Pettitte is just being snake bit.

He should have won the last 2 starts.

Too bad, he is such a great pitcher, and it sucks that he has no decisions on two great starts.