Struggles against St. Louis continued Sunday, as the shell-shocked Stros looked meek and defenseless against Kyle Lohse. There has never been a better time to travel to Pittsburgh for the club than now. Jim Deshaies said it best during the broadcast: 1-5 stretches will happen for a lot of solid ballclubs, but when 1-5 is all you have to show for an entire season to-date, it feels a lot worse. If you are an Astros fan, you have to hope that Brian Moehler and Mike Hampton can reverse course from their last outings and give the team solid performances and take some pressure off the offense.
Now for the positives. Michael Bourn got a hit in his 6th consecutive game, and looks focused and patient at the plate. I know it's early, but Cecil Cooper needs to think strongly about giving the fleet-footed Bourne, his chance to return to the leadoff role. Kaz Matsui is more suited to hit 2nd, 6th or 7th where he can look to drive the ball and knock in some runs. Why (as pre-game lineups suggest) Michael Bourn is out of the lineup, I have no idea. Bourn is the sole bright spot in the lineup, and if you are going to shift the lineup around for today's game, why not give the guy a shot to be a spark plug.
The offense will improve, mark my words, but as of yet, it's just one of many areas of concern from Coop, Ed Wade, and Drayton McLane. Zach Duke was 1-1 with a 2.91 era against Houston last year and today is Pittsburgh's Home Opener. The Astros will have their work cut out for them, but the task is far from impossible. Get some wins in Pittsburgh and have something to build on for the return to Minute Maid. Seasons cannot be won in the first two weeks of the season, but they certainly can be lost.
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