End of an era

[russ99]

Today is the last day of National League baseball for the Houston Astros.

When playing in the Astrodome, they were the foremost speed, defense and pitching teams playing "NL-style baseball" (along with the Cards) and it quickly became my favorite, decades before Ozzie tried to add some of those elements to the Sox.

50 years of tradition and history down the drain, thanks for nothing Bud.

The Astros in the A.L.? Ain't gonna be the same...

[LoveYourSuit]

Originally Posted by russ99

Today is the last day of National League baseball for the Houston Astros.

When playing in the Astrodome, they were the foremost speed, defense and pitching teams playing "NL-style baseball" (along with the Cards) and it quickly became my favorite, decades before Ozzie tried to add some of those elements to the Sox.

50 years of tradition and history down the drain, thanks for nothing Bud.

The Astros in the A.L.? Ain't gonna be the same...

Ain't gonna be the same?

Nothing is the same. Baseball has gone through a lot more significant changes over the past 20 years than one team flipping leagues.

With interleague play being the biggest.

[SI1020]

Bud has done everything he can to NFLize MLB. A lot of the special features of baseball are now gone, but hey who am I to hold up progress?

[kittle42]

Originally Posted by LoveYourSuit

Ain't gonna be the same?

Nothing is the same. Baseball has gone through a lot more significant changes over the past 20 years than one team flipping leagues.

With interleague play being the biggest.

Have to agree. The Yankees flipping leagues? The Red Sox? The Cards? The Cubs or White Sox? Huge deal. The Astros? Not so much. Not any bigger than the Brewers, for that matter.

[doublem23]

What is the record for most consecutive 100-loss seasons? Houston is already on 2 and counting and I can't believe that going to the better league's best division is going to help them improve their on-field performance much.

Early over/under on # of wins next year for the Astros has to be in the 49.5 range.

[MeteorsSox4367]

I don't know if it matters much but Texas will be without National League baseball. Hopefully, the schedulers will have the good sense to have Dallas (Arlington) and Houston on the same roadtrips.

I'd hate to see the Sox go from Oakland to Houston and then back to Seattle, for example.

[cub killer]

Originally Posted by russ99

50 years of tradition and history down the drain, thanks for nothing Bud.

The Astros in the A.L.? Ain't gonna be the same...

Down the drain? I vehemently disagree, their NL memories will live on forever.

As others have said, it's not a big deal. They didn't have any real NL rivalries. If they start winning again, everything will be fine.

to the new era in Astros baseball. Hopefully attendance will pick up again, and baseball popularity in Houston will rise to higher levels.

[russ99]

Originally Posted by cub killer

Down the drain? I vehemently disagree, their NL memories will live on forever.

As others have said, it's not a big deal. They didn't have any real NL rivalries. If they start winning again, everything will be fine.

to the new era in Astros baseball. Hopefully attendance will pick up again, and baseball popularity in Houston will rise to higher levels.

Good post, but it is a big deal to Astros fans.

Also, they do have an NL rivalry with the Cardinals (who had a farm team in Houston before the Colt 45's/Astros were established) and lesser ones with the Cubs, Reds and back in the 2-division NL West days with the Dodgers. Thankfully they're playing the Cardinals, Reds and Brewers in interleague next year to keep that going.

New uniforms, logo, etc. to be announced on Nov. 2nd. Can't wait to get a current orange and blue Astros hat again.

[Hitmen77]

Originally Posted by LoveYourSuit

Ain't gonna be the same?

Nothing is the same. Baseball has gone through a lot more significant changes over the past 20 years than one team flipping leagues.

With interleague play being the biggest.

Yeah, if Bud had his way there probably won't even be an American League and National League by the end of the decade.

I wouldn't be surprised to see an MLB Eastern and Western "conference" 10 years from now.....and I think that would be a terrible thing.

[Zakath]

Originally Posted by doublem23

What is the record for most consecutive 100-loss seasons?

Philadelphia Phillies, 5 consecutive seasons, 1938-42. From 1936-45, the Phillies had 7 seasons where they lost more than 100, which is scary considering that it was only a 154-game schedule up until 1961.

Most recently, the Royals had 3 consecutive 100-loss seasons from 2004-6, and 4 out of 5 (2002, 2004-6).

Interesting trivia in looking this up: What is the oldest team in the majors that has NEVER had a 100-loss season?

Answer: The California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels, entered the majors in 1961 (never lost more than 95 games in a season). The only other team in the majors that has never lost 100 is the Colorado Rockies, through their 20 years. The New York/San Francisco Giants come close, only having one 100-loss season (exactly 100, in 1985) in their 130-year history.

[SI1020]

Originally Posted by Hitmen77

Yeah, if Bud had his way there probably won't even be an American League and National League by the end of the decade.

I wouldn't be surprised to see an MLB Eastern and Western "conference" 10 years from now.....and I think that would be a terrible thing.

Yes I believe that is exactly what Bud wants.