The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo, who is one of the few members of the national media to pay even remote attention to the Astros, handed out his awards, team-by-team. For the Astros:
Best player: Hunter Pence continued to progress, with 25 homers and 91 RBIs.
Best pitcher: Brett Myers went at least six innings in all but one start.
Breakthrough: Third baseman Chris Johnson, son of Sox first base coach Ron Johnson, can hit, hit for power, and defend.
Regressed: Carlos Lee, who has $37 million remaining on his contract, is no longer a dominant player.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
