THE ASTROS SUCK

The team is hot and you have so many talented players on the team.

The hottest team in baseball going into the playoffs is historically the one to take it all.

Momentum helps and the Astros have it better than anyone. Their one-two punch of Clemens and Oswalt is the equal of Schilling and Pedro. Lidge is the premier closer in baseball heading into the playoffs. Suprisingly, they are developing a solid set-up man in Chad Qualls. They are hitting the baseball as well as any team if not even better than most. They are very similar to the Marlins of last season and may equal the final outcome that Florida produced.

Look good on paper, but have a long history of blowing up when it matters. And what's with the furore these Yankee fans have about Clemens' changing his mind about retirement? Maybe he just didn't want to have to remember that he wore pinstripes in his last trip to the hill. Can't blame him for that.

I certainly hope not after Clemens claiming his career had ended and going to Houston. It was the Yankees' fault that they lost Pettitte to free agency there (an irresponsible move by Steinbrenner to allow the league's most consistent pitcher since 1995 walk away), but Clemens went back on something he had vehemently asserted last season.

The additions of Clemens and Pettite give the Astros a lot of starting pitching depth. If they can overcome the Cubs, they might be the favorites to head to the Series out of the NL.