The Agony of Waiting

If you were like me, December was the worst month. Not only was there no baseball, but it was cold. Sure, there was no school, and Christmas was coming, but that made it worse. The calendar ground to a halt, and everywhere you turned you were reminded that there were only X shopping days until Christmas. It was torture.

This is what I've been thinking about for the last month while I've waited for the Astros to win more than two games.

We can spit statistics st you about how bad this team is. Truth is, you already know. This is an incredibly frustrating time for the Astros (hopefully) and their fans. Every loss chips away at our goodwill towards mankind, our patience, and our ability to hide how much the losing affects us to our family and friends. Chances are you are more on edge, snappier, angrier, more liable to take your dog for an aggressive walk, or change a diaper like a roided-out ball of rage.

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders went 20-134, generally considered to be the worst team in baseball history. They played the last half of the season on the road, afraid to play in front of their own fans. Baltimore's Hall of Fame manager John McGraw fined and suspended a hungover pitcher who lost to the Spiders.

We may be at the point where teams play the Astros harder, so they don't become the team that lost to Houston. This is the dark part. It can't get much worse. The 2012 team may be worse than, or at least as bad as, the 2011 team. But it doesn't mean that it won't get better. These days have been a long time in coming, and to echo what numerous people have said, it's going to take some time to get out of it. Help is, presumably, on the way. It might not be next season, it might not be 2014. But it will get better. The Cleveland Spiders ceased to exist after that 1899 season. At least we know the Astros will play next year.

Commenter Jeff somewhat condescendingly told us to remove our heads from our rectums and trust in Luhnow's plan. He's right, of course. To think that the Astros won't get better is not feasible, if only from an emotional standpoint. It doesn't mean that this season is not borderline ridiculous. The Astros are finding new and exciting ways to lose games every day. But you have to admit, it's easier to be freezing cold if you know Christmas is coming.