In a much better position ( standings wise ) than they were in 2005, and that was the year they went to the World Series. If not for the wild card, we'd be talking about 2001 as the last time this team made the postseason, and even then they were seven games back.

Identical record as last year, but the big difference being the other teams in the division have gotten worse and all of them have serious flaws. And I still cough when people mention the Astros are five games back of first place right now, because they've played fewer games due to a few rain outs and even one delayed game, all of which will be made up and I feel guilty adding a couple games on the deficit due to mother nature - something we can't control.

In my mind, we're only three games out right now with 37 losses because the first-place teams have 34 losses.