Is It Too Late for a Run: Where Have These Houston Astros Been All Year?

The Houston Astros have finally begun winning ball games fairly consistently.

My only question is: Where were these Astros at the start of the season?

Carlos Lee jacked a grand slam in the top of the 10th inning on Wednesday night in Colorado, as Houston came back from an early deficit and topped the Rockies, 6-2, in wild fashion.

And it’s about damn time.

Just moments after Houston made their final selections in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, it finally appears as though the Astros are beginning to get things going this season.

However, it’s likely too little, too late.

I know the MLB season is excessively long—as is the draft—but realism eventually has to begin kicking in for all Houston fans, including myself (being the “Forever Optimist,” it’s tough to admit that the Astros are terrible this year).

As the trade deadline draws nearer and nearer, Houston fans are beginning to fret at the realization that Roy Oswalt—and possibly Lance Berkman as well—may no longer be Astros after this season.

That’s a tough pill to swallow for lifelong Astros fans.

Trust me.

The future, at least at this point and time, appears it will be built around the likes of guys such as Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn, and up-and-coming catcher Jason Castro (just to name a few of the younger stars in Houston).

But this summer’s draft should help the cause in a major way.

Houston selected pitchers in the 2010 MLB Draft. Lots of them (26 to be exact).

And that’s precisely what the Astros need right about now.

Yes, Houston is beginning to finally play some entertaining baseball games.

Lee is finally beginning to play like the MLB player we all knew he was, and is; amazingly, the bats are beginning to re-awaken in the Astros lineup; and pitching is becoming more dominant and consistent.

All positive things looking towards the future, but I’ll take what I can get as a Houston baseball fan right about now.

It’s great to see the Astros finally winning games, don’t get me wrong by any means.

I’ll continue to watch all season—win or lose.

But, in the same breath, it’s exciting to be a Houston fan right now.

The future looks bright.

And winning a few this season, even with the Hollywood endings, doesn’t hurt at all.

For now, I’ll take what I can get as an Astros fan…

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at [e-mail]