The Astros joined the American League West in 2013. Since then they have been one of the worst teams in baseball compiling a record of 129-209. The team hasn't had a winning season since 2006, when they were still in the National League. All this seemed like a good thing to Mariners fans. We were gaining a weak opponent in our division. This should have been a chance for our team to feast on a bad opponent. We could have bolstered our record against Houston. It hasn't quite worked out that way for the Mariners.
According to Baseball-Reference.comas of 4/21/15 the Astros have a 20-20 record against the M's since 2013. While going .500 against a team in your division isn't normally terrible against a team as bad as the Astros you have to do better. The Astro's have a .366 winning percentage against MLB teams not in Seattle. This means the Mariners have let the Astros outperform their expected win-loss record by five games. This is five games the Mariners really could have used, epecially last year when they missed the post season by one game.
If the Mariners have any chance of making the post season this year they need to win their games against teams as bad on paper as Houston's. Starting 0-2 against the 'Stros is definitely a step in the wrong direction. The bull pen needs to shut down the Astro's offense in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings. This team is rip for striking out. They led the American League in 2014 and 2013 with 1442 and 1535 K's respectively. Our hitters need to destroy their pitching. Houston's team ERA was fourth worst in the AL last year at 4.11 and worst in 2013 at 4.79. There is just no excuse for not dominating these guys.
It is nice of the Mariners to welcome the Astros to the American League by taking it easy on them, but it is also stupid. Letting such an inferior opponent beat you half the time is pitiful. Lloyd McClendon needs to whip his team into shape and stop the embarrassment. The Mariners need to beat the Astros.
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