The team had one great thing going for it during the '90s and most of the '00s: its ability to keep Bagwell and Biggio together. So they get a star for that. But the Astros are known primarily for a few ignoble things: (1) having Astroturf named after them; (2) leaving town for a month in 1992 so that the GOP could occupy its home field for the national convention; and (3) fielding the infamous "whites-only" pennant team of 2005.

Not so good...

Second baseman Craig Biggio got his 3000 hit this year.  Also The Astros will forever be linked to baseball history :   Introducing indoor baseball to the baseball world (1965 Astrodome), and artificial turf (astroturf).

There's something going on with team's chemistry...

Man, the Astros are playing like their hair is on fire. 8 straight wins - 4 against the 1st place Cardinals...I'm impressed. To go from 7 games out to 1.5 games out in little more than a week is incredible. I'm pulling for guys like Biggio and Clemens big time. No matter how it ends up, they've got to be happy with the way they've battled back.

Have had some good teams over the years, and sometimes bad ones, but have been quite competitive for the better part of a decade, with quite a few playoff appearances. Unfortunately, this team is really aging and I wouldn't be too shocked if they tumbled down the standings next season.

well, as a braves fan, i'm prone to dislike them. it would have been nice to see the national league perform a little better in the world series, but at least they got there, which is more than i can say for my beloved bravos. I hate the "killer B's" but mainly because they're so good. biggio almost never gets out, but lance berkman couldn't possibly look any dumber. i'll give him his due, because he stepped up for his club in the post season, but dude just looks like a corn-fed goofball. and as for minute maid park, what the heck kind of ballpark puts a hill and a flag pole in dead center? just seems silly and begging for someone to get hurt. but the astros are a good team, and i hate when the braves play them in the post season because we usually lose.

I'm a Cardinals fan and they are our new rival I guess after two years of back to back NLCS hard competition. And they win at home alot (did Enron spend all their money on naming this stadium and making it perfect home field condition and then lay off all their workers? it g ot renamed to Minute Maid Park by the way). How could Brad Lidge pitch no home runs in the regular season and 3 doing the post season. Yes they are one of my two least favorite teams them and the Yankees, but i'll give them two stars because rivalry is fun.

Something needs to happen with this offense. On occasion, Clemens and Pettitte bail them out, but it probably be best to put an Offense Wanted sign outside of Minute Maid Park. Well, that's what happens when Carlos Beltran leaves your ballclub. Not a playoff team.

The Rocket needs to pack up and move on. This team a trainwreck. Baggs is broken and finished, Biggio is close behide (regardless of his BA and 8 jacks so far). They looked good at the end of 04 with Beltran, it's over now. The couldn't hit their way out of a wet paperbag.

Beltran didn't want to play for the Astros. We would haved payed him as much as the Mets if you include the income tax NY has. If the Mets weren't fools with monry they would have cut Beltran's contract money by a third, because only the Astros were willing to pay that high. P.S. Berkman is better, he hit in the .300 while Beltran hit .268, come on??

The Astros should've gone aggressively after Carlos Beltran. But they let him go. Beltran basically carried that team last season. ... If Andy Pettitte can stay healthy all year, they do have a shot of going deeper into the postseason. Expect Bagwell and Berkman to have big years again.

coughed up 18 million for Clemmons and watched Beltran defect to Shea. will be in the dust by July, especially if Berkman doesnt heal well

Weren't supposed to contend for the division? And now they're 20 games back and have NO chance of making the playoffs? Hmm...

Now that the Astros cannot go on talk, but must go on performance, let's admit that this is one of the most underachieving teams in baseball. I thought in pre-season that they would go a long way, as many did. There is no excuse for this team to be doing as poorly as they are.

The Astros rock my face off. All 8 starting field players contending for All Star Game + Enron Field = Entertainment

good team.

Chauncey needs a name that's not so woos like.

Good Team!

They have significant offense, but if their young pitchers don't come around, there won't be any playoff action for them in 2003. If Oswalt and Miller do pitch as well as they are capable, these guys could be trouble.

Jeff Kent will help this team alot. Miller and Oswalt are the best young 1-2 combination in the NL. They will battle it out with the Cards all year long.

One word BAGWELL

Use to be from Houston, like the Astros.