July 6-9 - Astros @ Cleveland: Series Preview

Before we begin, a quick word to wrap up the Red Sox series. As predicted here, the Astros really struggled with Clay Buchholz on Saturday, split the two coin-flip games and got out of Boston 1-for-3. The Astros are now sitting 12 games over .500, and due to the Angels demolition of the Rangers in Arlington, their AL West lead is down to three games.

Cleveland is, in many ways, a similar foe to Boston.

Can Houston Be a Baseball Town?

Just another Tuesday night at MMP. Does it have to be?

The Philadelphia Phillies are fielding the worst team in baseball, both objectively and subjectively. Their win percentage puts them further from .500 in either direction than any team. Their players are unhappy, their manager abruptly quit after those inside and outside baseball had concluded he was hopelessly over his head. They have one of baseball's most dangerous dynamics: a lame duck baseball operations staff, and one that is being tasked to make big decisions about a future they have no hope of participating in. They are six years removed from losing the World Series and have been steadily falling apart ever since. They are, essentially, the 2011 Astros.

The Phillies are averaging a reported 24,472 fans per game this season.