Well, the Astros lost. By a total of 6 runs in 4 games. And went 0-for-30 with runners in scoring position after Jason Lane's Game 3 double in the 8th inning. But goddamit, we made the World Series for the first time in our history. Consider:

2003-4 season - Win first postseason series in history, lose in NLCS
2004-5 season - Win two postseason series, reach World Series for first time in history, lose in WS
2005-6 season - ?? (The obvious pattern is that we'll win the WS next year).

Do I really believe that? Not really. The Astros are old. And I hate to say it but I don't think we're going to get any younger. I think we're going to re-sign Brad Ausmus, we already have re-signed Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, though I admire the hell out of him, would better help the team by retiring, and Roger Clemens might come back.

None of these things should happen.

This seems a strange time to talk about this - man, what a season what we had. Our record was 15-30 at one point. The Phillies and Marlins looked like better teams. But we clawed our way into the playoffs, beat the Braves, beat a superior Cardinal team, and then I think we were just exhausted in the Series. Part of that was because we had fought so hard for so long, and part of that was because we are an old team.

Well, I'm not going to talk about the offseason yet, actually. Here's to the 2005 Astros, a team built around the best front 3 (Clemens, Pettitte, Oswalt) in years, a solid front 3 in the bullpen (Qualls, Wheeler, Lidge), and just enough offense to get by. Cheers, guys.