And so it begins.

Actually, I take that back. It began when the Astros acquired Carlos Beltran in a three-way that left the Peter Gammonses of the world agape and ajaw, dealing then-closer Octavio Dotel to the A’s and John Buck to the Royals. It continued when the move didn’t pay immediate dividends. The educated voices swirled that the Astros should “flip” Beltran (and Jeff Kent), seeing as they were going to lose him anyway. Read the rest of this entry »

The season may have ended a week earlier than hoped, but Houston fans will remember 2004 as one of the finest years in franchise history. The campaign not only took the Astros and their followers on a thrilling ride. It also served as a reminder of a number of lessons that are easily forgotten in more mundane seasons.

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