Houston Astros Get Stomped by San Francisco Giants, Fall below the .500 Line

If the Houston Astros sputter, if fans in the Bayou City start displaying, "Wait 'till next year!" signs, if Drayton McLane throws the ultimate Hail Mary pass and begs Mike Scott, Nolan Ryan, and Jim Deshaies to come out of retirement, I think it'll be for one central reason. Pitching. Yes, Bud Norris is looking impressive, having shut down a good St. Louis Cardinals team in his first major league start. Yes, Roy Oswalt is having a tough time. Yes, Wandy Rodriguez looks like he could become the great lefty ace the Astros haven't had since Mike Hampton's first tour of duty. But despite the flashes of brilliance, Houston's pitching needs help. Felipe Paulino was roughed up last night, lasting 4.1 innings, giving up nine hits, five runs. His ERA is 7.28 on the season, and he's now 2-6. It makes you wonder if releasing Russ Ortiz was really a good idea. His ERA was lower than Paulino and Wesley Wright. Twelve of the Astros' 18 pitchers have ERA...