2004 Houston Astros

From BR Bullpen

2004 Houston Astros / Franchise: Houston Astros / BR Team Page[edit]

Record: 92-70, Finished 2nd in NL Central Division (2004 NL)

Clinched Wild Card: October 3, 2004, vs. Colorado Rockies

Managed by Jimy Williams (44-44) and Phil Garner (48-26)

Coaches: Mark Bailey, Jose Cruz, Gary Gaetti, Jim Hickey, Burt Hooton, Gene Lamont, Harry Spilman and John Tamargo

Ballpark: Minute Maid Park

History, Comments, Contributions[edit]

The 2004 Houston Astros went into the season full of anticipation following the off-season signing of free agents Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. Pettite was hurt and not much a factor for the majority of the year. Clemens did not disappoint, however, posting 18 wins and a sub 3.00 ERA en route to winning his 7th Cy Young Award.

The team hovered around the .500 mark before acquiring Carlos Beltran a month before the trade deadline. While Beltran played well, the team did not improve as a whole. After the All-Star break, manager Jimy Williams, who had been copiously booed at the 2004 All-Star Game held at Minute Maid Park, was fired, and Phil Garner was brought in as the interim manager. The team responded well, going 46-26 to end the year, and clinch the Wild Card on the final day of the year.

The Astros finally broke through in the playoffs, beating the Atlanta Braves for the first time in four tries in the Division Series, and extending the St. Louis Cardinals to seven games in the 2004 NLCS before finally loosing.

In terms of post-season success, 2004 had been the most successful Astros season up to that point.

Awards and Honors[edit]

Playoffs[edit]

NLCS vs. St. Louis Cardinals[edit]

Main article: 2004 NLCS
Game Score Date Pitchers
1 Houston Astros 7 at St. Louis Cardinals 10 October 13 Brandon Backe (ND) at Woody Williams (1-0)
2 Houston Astros 4 at St. Louis Cardinals 6 October 14 Peter Munro (ND) at Matt Morris (ND)
3 St. Louis Cardinals 2 at Houston Astros 5 October 16 Jeff Suppan (0-1) at Roger Clemens (1-0)
4 St. Louis Cardinals 5 at Houston Astros 6 October 17 Jason Marquis (ND) at Roy Oswalt (ND)
5 St. Louis Cardinals 0 at Houston Astros 3 October 18 Woody Williams (ND) at Brandon Backe (ND)
6 Houston Astros 4 at St. Louis Cardinals 6 October 20 Peter Munro (ND) at Matt Morris (ND)
7 Houston Astros 2 at St. Louis Cardinals 5 October 21 Roger Clemens (1-1) at Jeff Suppan (1-1)

Further Reading[edit]

  • Associated Press: "Backe fills in for Clemens", ESPN.com, October 3, 2004


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NL Division Series (3-1) Cardinals (NLC) over Dodgers (NLW)

NL Division Series (3-1) Astros (WC) over Braves (NLE)

NL Championship Series (4-3) Cardinals over Astros

World Series (4-0) Red Sox over Cardinals

AL Championship Series (4-3) Red Sox over Yankees

AL Division Series (3-1) Yankees (ALE) over Twins (ALC)

AL Division Series (3-0) Red Sox (WC) over Angels (ALW)