MLB
For years, the Houston Astros were a joke. Their punchline season was 2013, when they were 51-111, posting the most losses in franchise history. It marked the third year in a row where the team failed to reach even the paltry total of 60 victories, but the bottom is sometimes the launching pad to the top.
The Astros, by virtue of their 7-3 victory in Kansas City on Monday night over the Royals, have now won 11 straight games (and 11 in a row on the road) to run their record to 42-16 (.724), best in the majors.
The Astros lead the American League West by 14 games over the Los Angeles Angels. Our friends at MLB.com had these observations about the winning streak and the Astros’ division lead: “It’s the Astros’ longest winning streak since a club-record-tying 12 in a row late in 2004. Houston…is now on pace for 117 victories, one more than the 2001 Mariners. The Astros are the first with 42 wins in their first 58 games since that Seattle club.”
Born as the Houston Colt 45s in 1962, the team became the Astros in 1965. The franchise has appeared in the World Series only once (2005) and has never won a championship.
Well, the Chicago Cubs went 108 years between titles before cashing in last October. The Boston Red Sox endured 86 years between titles. The Cleveland Indians haven’t been champions since 1948. Of course, this wait for Houston involves complete title famine. But if patience is going to pay off for anyone, it just might be these Astros.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman
Cadbury: Cool Cow Facts
-
Correa joined the Mets with a $315 million contract. Recently, baseball player Carlos Correa announced that he had cut...
-
Oklahoma and Texas will depart from the college sports conference at the end of the season. The Big 12...
-
Robert Kraft wants to re-sign Brady just long enough that he can retire as a Patriot. Earlier this week,...
-
The skilled third-baseman will be enshrined in Cooperstown. Scott Rolen is one of the most skilled and recognized third-basemen...
-
Brady’s 23rd football season has ended. On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys went head-to-head for...
-
Smith has been fired after one season with the team. Over the weekend, the owners of the Houston Texans...
-
Pelé passed due to complications related to colon cancer. On Thursday night, the sporting world received unfortunate news: Pelé,...
-
His return heralded a victory over the Phoenix Suns. On Sunday, Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas needed to take...
-
Mayfield will be available on waiver to other NFL teams. After an underwhelming performance in his current role as...
-
Mike White led the team to a decisive victory over the Bears over the weekend. On Saturday, the New...
-
The game has been moved out of New York due to an encroaching snowstorm. This weekend, the Buffalo Bills...
-
Negative pushback prompted the team to give the role to someone else. Recently, the Brooklyn Nets have been in...