October Slaw: Astros fans waited how long for this?

Five hours of baseball last night, all leading up to Ezequiel Astacio's appearance on the mound. And, well, we all know how that went. It was a fitting metaphor for Astros fans. They've waited 40-odd years for this?

Sheesh, even the Indians won a game (two, actually) when they made the 1995 Series after making their fans wait four decades. Not that the Indians didn't go quietly into the night in that series (they did), but as a quintessential happy-to-be-there team, at least they gave their fans something to hang on to.

That said, things haven't reached a truly awful state in Houston yet. I mean, is there any way this doesn't get remembered as the greatest Astros team in history? At least until they make it back to another Series? I'll hold off on the fan-outreach programs until Houston fans have been through the wringer a couple more times.

If I seem uncharitable, it's because today is the eight-year anniversary of Game 7. Yes, that Game 7.

UPDATE: A certain bling-encrusted guest blogger of ours has pointed out to me that, had that 1995 team won the World Series, there would be ample argument to consider the 1995 Indians one of the greatest teams of their time, if not ever. People always remember that team won 100 games, but they don't always remember it was a 144-game season. Translated to a 162-game schedule, their winning percentage of .694 would be good for 112 wins. The Tribe led the AL in homers, ERA, batting average, OBP and probably some more shit.

Of course, it's all for naught because they simply didn't hit in the World Series. Sigh.

Fun fact: Did you know Billy Ripken played on that 1995 Indians team? I sure as hell had forgotten, if I ever knew.