For the first time in, well, a long time, the Astros swept an opposing team.
They did it with youth. They did it without underperforming, expensive and unhappy veterans.
We all saw J.A. (pronounced Jay) Happ's first start. He went six scoreless innings of two-hit ball to pick up the win. No, he may not be a top-of-the-line starter, but his numbers don't lie. And although I wasn't happy when I heard he was the centerpiece of the trade, I can't find a reason to complain.
Brett Wallace went 1-for-6 on the homestand and looked comfortable both at the plate and in the field. Plus, you have to like Jeff Bagwell as his mentor.
This new era, though a rebuilding one for now, is yielding some excitement. Bobby Heck, just look at how our new prospects have done so far.
Jonathan Villar, the SS prospect picked up from Philadelphia, has gone 4-for-8 in Lancaster. He also has two walks, two doubles, and five RBIs.
Mark Melancon, our RHP prospect picked up from New York, has pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings thus far. In 58 innings this year, Melancon has struck out 58 while holding a 3.57 ERA.
Our last prospect picked up at the deadline was Jimmy Paredes. Paredes is transitioning to 2B after playing shortstop in New York. He has gone 1-for-6 with a double thus far.
These players may not be MLB-ready yet, in fact, they may never be. But they could very well help the Astros in the future. As for now, though, we're undefeated with the team at hand.