Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images
The Astros roll into the weekend on a six game winning streak. Their road trip begins with three games at the atrocious Orioles then three at the faded White Sox. Check my calculation, but if they win all six that would make for a 12 game winning streak. It's not likely but it's a darn decent possibility. Fun with math: if the Astros are 85 (a very high number) percent likely to win each game, it's a 38 percent likelihood they win all six. Bump it up to 90 percent likely to win each game and winning all six becomes a better than 50/50 shot.
Three times in their history the Astros have ripped off 12 consecutive wins. The first came in September of 1999, the final season of the Astrodome. As it played out they needed all 12 wins as the Astros won the National League Central by one game, with Mike Hampton winning his franchise record 22nd game of the season on the final day of the regular season.
12 game winning streak number two came in 2004, straddling August and September. The Astros began the stretch at 64-63, seven games out of the NL Wild Card (only one per league back then). At streak's end they were tied for the Wild Card spot, and would go on to win the last seven games of the regular season schedule to edge out the Giants by one game.
The most recent 12 gamer goes all the way back to…last season. At 37-25 the defending World Series Champions weren't struggling, but a dozen wins later they were nearly halfway to their ultimate win total: the single season franchise record of 103.
The 2019 juggernaut Astros are on pace to win 105 games. To win "only" 100 the Astros can struggle to the finish with a 25-22 record. Bet the over. Never assume, but…
No franchise in MLB history has ever strung together four consecutive 100 win seasons. It doesn't take 20/20 vision to see that as in play for the 2020 Astros. As I put it in a SportsMap.com video earlier this week, this Astros' squad is stacked like Pamela Anderson in the 90s.
Still, for all the Astros' awesomeness, they enter the weekend trailing the Yankees (winners of nine in a row) and Dodgers (winners of five straight) by one game in the race for homefield advantage in prospective American League Championship Series and World Series matchups. So the Astros need to keep winning. And winning. And winning. And they probably will.
Giant streak
One of my favorite baseball factoids is about the winning streaks of the 1916 New York Giants. They started the season 2-13, then racked up 17 straight wins. Toward the end of the season the Giants won the still standing record of 26 in a row. 26! The 1916 New York Giants finished fourth. Combining the two streaks the Giants went 43-0. The rest of the season they went 43-66.
Adding a Duke
Thursday night's Texans preseason opener at Green Bay was, well, a football game. Kind of. Four preseason games are not necessary evils. What they are, are annual rip-offs of season ticket holders. Commissioner Babble pays lip service every year to "we know it's not what the fans want and above all else we care about the fans (well, other than maybe player safety)." The owners will get rid of two easy profits preseason games per year just as soon as the players agree to an 18 game regular season schedule.
The Texans' General Manager-less braintrust made a nice little acquisition in running back Duke Johnson from Cleveland. As long as he isn't a malcontent. The Texans have never before had a quality third down pass catching complementary back. Arian Foster was an all-around beast for a few years, which probably contributed to his short shelf life of excellence. Lamar Miller is a solid starting running back, but not good enough to be an unquestioned every down back. Last season Miller caught 25 passes at a lackluster 6.5 yards per reception. Johnson caught his career low in four seasons with the Browns, 47. In 2017 he caught 74 passes and for his career Johnson is over nine yards per reception. If the Texans are good and Johnson is one reason why, trading a low third round pick for a guy under contract for this season and two more is a good deal. Add in the track record of Texans' third round picks and it looks fantastic!
You bet...
Saturday September 7: LSU at Texas is a pick 'em, Clemson is an 18 ½ point home favorite over A&M. If forced to play one of the four teams, Gig 'Em!
Buzzer Beaters
1. The 2016 Reds gave up a record 258 home runs. The 2019 Orioles are on pace to give up 332. Even with the juiced balls, that's ridiculous. 2. Keke Coutee injured? Go figure. 3. Best salad dressings: Bronze-blue cheese Silver-balsamic vinaigrette Gold-honey lime
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Feb 20, 2025, 3:52 pm
Adding Brendan Rodgers is a low risk move that could provide solid upside. Photo via: Wiki Commons.
The Houston Astros have bolstered their infield by reportedly signing former Colorado Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers.
Sources: IF Brendan Rodgers and #Astros have agreed to a 1-year deal, pending physical. pic.twitter.com/ysZkLgMbYs
— Ari Alexander (@KPRC2Ari) February 19, 2025
The move adds both defensive stability and offensive upside to a team looking to maintain its dominance in the AL West.
Rodgers, a former first-round pick, spent the past six seasons with the Rockies, where he showcased his defensive prowess and developing bat. Known for his smooth glove work, he won a Gold Glove in 2022 and has been a steady presence at second base. Offensively, Rodgers has shown flashes of power and consistency, though injuries have occasionally slowed his progress.
Should he make the team, Rodgers is expected to slot into the infield mix, potentially taking over as the everyday second baseman or serving as a key utility option. His arrival makes the possibility of Jose Altuve playing a significant amount of time in left field seem more likely.
It also frees up Mauricio Dubon to remain in a utility role and not regularly penciled in at second base when Altuve starts in left.
Rodgers posted a .267 batting average over 135 games last season. He recorded a .314 on-base percentage, while slugging .407, with an OPS of .721. He also blasted 13 dingers in the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field.
You can watch his 2024 highlights below.
*ChatGPT assisted with this content.