2nd best team in baseball in '05

[bluestainedivy]

I've been going at it with some astro fans down here in TX who contend that they were the second best team in baseball in '05. In my mind St. Louis had a better team overall, and in the AL the yanks, BoSox, A's, Angels and Indians would've competed with them if they were to make it to the WS. Houston had one of the stronger staffs in the MLB but their offense was extremely opportunistis. They also were one game away from a one-game playoff against Philly at the end of the year and struggled with Atlanta in the NLDS.

 

Am I being off base here?

[illiniredbird]

Its hard to debate that we were better thant the Astros that year because they did beat us head to head. I think that any team in the playoffs on the American League side would have won the World Series. Watching the NL playoffs was painful that year due to the lack of offense...especially the Astros.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Houston had a great run to get to the WS, but I don't think they were close to being the 2nd best team. Top 6-8 probably, but definitely not top 2.

[CubsBullsBears]

I say the Tribe were a better team than Houston and would've made the playoffs if not for Buerhle's attempted murder of Travis Hafner.

[PujolsPower]

Its hard to debate that we were better thant the Astros that year because they did beat us head to head. I think that any team in the playoffs on the American League side would have won the World Series. Watching the NL playoffs was painful that year due to the lack of offense...especially the Astros.

 

I think you could make a pretty good argument that the 162 game season is a better barometer of how good a team is than a seven game series. The Astros did finish 11 games back of STL, and that was with the Cardinals playing on cruise control for the last month of the season. The Astros were also 5-11 versus STL in the 2005 regular season.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Why argue about second best? That seems a bit pointless.

[Brian]

Why argue about second best? That seems a bit pointless.

 

second best is first loser.

[ChiCubsFan]

Although it doesn't matter AT ALL, I think Houston can say they were the second best team. I don't think they were, but they were the first runner up for the world series. But like Vance said, whats the point of arguing over who is SECOND best.

[soccer10k]

Although it doesn't matter AT ALL, I think Houston can say they were the second best team. I don't think they were, but they were the first runner up for the world series. But like Vance said, whats the point of arguing over who is SECOND best.

 

Houston didn't play any of the other three 2005 AL playoff teams (NYY, BOS, LAA) so how do you know if the Astros are second best? The Red Sox and Angels also lost to the White Sox in the postseason and it is impossible to determine if the Astros were better than either of those two if the Astros didn't play either of them. I'm not saying that the Astros weren't the second best team just that it's impossible to determine if they were.

[SoxFan76]

I'd say the Angels were the 2nd best team last year, but the Astros were damn good. That series could of easily been a 4 game sweep for the other guys.