Roof 1, Astros 0

Looks as if the Astros were on to something in their asking for Minute Maid's roof to be closed last night. Their roof is akin to Sampson's hair. Remove it and they're both as weak as a kitten with arthritis.

It's ironic that chief whiner Phil Garner was the one who helped do his team in. Ninth inning. First and Third situation. One out. You've got a scuffling rookie(Taveras) going up against one of the great postseason pitchers of this era (El Duque). You've got a switch-hitter who's a proven postseason performer. One who tied up the game the other day in the ninth for your team. El Duque struggles against lefties. How do you not pinch hit Vizcaino in that situation?

I've always thought that Garner was overrated as a manager. Before he got to Houston do you how many seasons over .500 that he's logged? One. His first when he was 92-70. He's been on borrowed time ever since. He's one of these guys that gets the reputation for being a great baseball mind even he's though accomplished absolutely nothing. He's given the benefit of the doubt because he's managed medium and small market teams. People I know who watch National League ball regularly are dumbfounded by some of the moves he makes. Now I see why. There's not much a manager can do with a bad team, but he sure can ruin a good one. Someone needs to just make sure he stays out of his teams way.

He kills his team for not hitting in that game in the postgame, but a manager is supposed to put his team in position to give them their best chance at a win. If he's going to kill his team for not hitting (and they were dreadful), he needs to take a hit for some of the horrible moves he's making.

The Astros are D-O-N-E. Unless Garcia phones it in, I can't see the Astros coming back from a loss like this. And please, don't bring up the 2004 Red Sox. The White Sox have much better pitching than the Yankees and are much fresher at this time of year thanks to the rotation's performance in the ALCS. This series is over after tonight.

And I'll have my life back.