The Houston Astros were not very good in 2013. In fact, they were only the fourth team since World War II to lose more than 110 games in a season.
The Astros weren’t very good in 2011 or 2012 either. They have lost 106 or more games in each of the last three seasons.
But none of this is news. And why dwell on the negative? Sure, the Astros lost 111 games, but they also won 51 games against major league teams. Let's look back at the positive, happy and excited quotes that followed each of Houston's remarkable 51 wins this year.
Know hope. And admire the Astros for making it through another season without giving up.
Win 1: 8-2 vs. Rangers, March 31
"To sit at 1-0 right now feels pretty darn good, and we've just got to go back out there on Tuesday and play some more baseball." -- pitcher Bud Norris
Loss 1
Loss 2
Loss 3
Loss 4
Loss 5
Loss 6
Win 2: 16-9 at Mariners, April 9
"We showed today what the team really has. I guess the guys wake up today. I look at it that way." -- second baseman Jose Altuve
Win 3: 8-3 at Mariners, April 10
"Everyone's confidence was still rolling into today." -- first baseman Chris Carter
Win 4: 5-0 at Angels, April 12
"[Bud Norris] is a No. 1 starter and he's pitched a lot of big games. I think his best years are definitely ahead of him. He's growing up right in front of our eyes, and it's a pleasure to see." -- manager Bo Porter
Loss 7
Loss 8
Loss 9
Loss 10
Loss 11
Win 5: 3-2 vs. Indians, April 19
"I'm very proud of the guys tonight." -- Porter
Loss 12
Loss 13
Loss 14
Win 6: 3-2 vs. Mariners, April 23
"Every win is big." -- reliever Hector Ambriz
Win 7: 10-3 vs. Mariners, April 24
"I wanted to be a professional ballplayer and play at the highest level and being an Astro is just the icing on the cake." -- outfielder Robbie Grossman
Loss 15
Loss 16
Loss 17
Loss 18
Win 8: 9-1 at Yankees, April 29
"I know they can do it. You're just waiting for it to happen night in and night out and be consistent. That's why we stay positive, because we know it's in there." -- Porter
Loss 19
Loss 20
Loss 21
Loss 22
Loss 23
Loss 24
Win 9: 7-6 vs. Angels, May 7
"Losing two tough games to Detroit last series and getting swept by them, just winning this game I think helped the team a lot." -- Carter
Win 10: 3-1 vs. Angels, May 8
"[Jimmy Paredes] is a guy that we know can add some excitement to our ballclub. It's a combination of speed, it's power. I think this guy; he's turned the corner and allowed his ability to play. It's a joy to watch." -- Porter [Paredes finished the season with one home run and four stolen bases in 48 games.]
Loss 25
Loss 26
Loss 27
Loss 28
Loss 29
Loss 30
Win 11: 7-5 at Tigers, May 15
"Sometimes we pitch good but we don't hit. Sometimes we hit but we don't pitch good. Sometimes we put it together like today. We've been scoring some runs. It takes things like this to turn around some things." – catcher Carlos Corporan
Loss 31
Win 12: 4-2 at Pirates, May 18
"Even though we've had our share of bumps and bruises, we're going to hit a stretch where we start playing well and put together a string of games like we played tonight. It's a tremendous group of guys in that clubhouse." -- Porter
Loss 32
Win 13: 6-5 vs. Royals, May 20
"I'm trying to figure some things out and be more consistent. I've been able to get some big hits, and hopefully, the average will be there by the end of the year." -- third baseman Matt Dominguez, who finished the season with a .241 average
Loss 33
Win 14: 3-1 vs. Royals, May 22
"The bullpen had been taxed for a while, but the starters have definitely hit their groove." -- Porter
Loss 34
Loss 35
Loss 36
Win 15: 3-2 vs. Rockies, May 27
"I think these kind of wins are definitely something that can catapult you forward from just an energy standpoint. Finding a way as a team and to come out on top, that momentum can carry over." -- Porter
Loss 37
Win 16: 6-3 at Rockies, May 29
"That was good baseball there." -- Porter
Win 17: 7-5 at Rockies, May 30
"Normally when you make four errors, especially in a ballpark like this, you're probably looking at a bunch of crooked numbers. We did a good job of minimizing the damage." -- Porter
Win 18: 6-3 at Angels, May 31
"We're just trying to ride this out. We're going out there and playing hard-nosed baseball. We're playing good defense, our pitching's been outstanding and we've been getting big hits when we need them." -- outfielder Brandon Barnes
Win 19: 2-0 at Angels, June 1
"This group has come together. Day in and day out, these guys are picking each other up -- from the bullpen to the bench players -- and the coaching staff has pushed that out of us. Everybody is picking up their end of the bargain, and it's been pretty good to see." -- Norris
Win 20: 5-4 at Angels, June 2
"It says that we can beat anybody in this league. If we can compete with the Angels, then we can compete with anybody." -- Ambriz
Win 21: 2-1 at Angels, June 3
"I feel like we're playing really good baseball. We had been playing good baseball, but now we're starting to win those crucial break points. ... I look at the talent in that room. I know the potential we have. You're starting to see we're coming together." -- Porter
Loss 38
Win 22: 11-7 vs. Orioles, June 5
"It's a blast. We all pull for each other. We have a pretty good group. I think we all get along very well and we genuinely pull for each other, so when someone else has success it's like everyone is just enjoying it." -- designated hitter Carlos Pena
Loss 39
Loss 40
Loss 41
Loss 42
Loss 43
Loss 44
Win 23: 6-1 at Mariners, June 12
"It was definitely good to see the guys break out and put together some good at-bats." -- Porter
Win 24: 2-1 vs. White Sox, June 14
"That is what you call straight effort baseball. Guys just legging out infield hits and giving it everything they have hustling on the bases. Just an all-around tremendous job." -- Porter
Win 25: 4-3 vs. White Sox, June 15
"I'm extremely happy." -- Porter
Win 26: 5-4 vs. White Sox, June 16
"The starting pitching has been tremendous." -- Porter
Loss 45
Win 27: 10-1 vs. Brewers, June 18
"I think this is what we're capable of doing. I'm not talking about scoring 10 runs, but putting nice run support up for our pitchers. If they go and do what they are supposed to and give us a quality start then we have a chance to win. Today is one of the days that we show our potential as a team. It definitely feels good to see it actually happen." -- Pena
Loss 46
Win 28: 7-4 vs. Brewers, June 20
"What a ballgame. What a game. What a great homestand. I thought we were in every single game. This is a lot of momentum moving forward." -- Pena
Loss 47
Win 29: 4-3 at Cubs, June 22
"They keep battling, they keep fighting and we find a way to either get ourselves back into the game or make it a ballgame every night." -- Porter
Loss 48
Loss 49
Win 30: 4-3 vs. Cardinals, June 26
"For us to come out and battle and hang with them ... it's reassuring and it's good for the morale around here." -- catcher Jason Castro
Loss 50
Loss 51
Loss 52
Loss 53
Loss 54
Win 31: 4-1 vs. Rays, July 3
"Pure joy." -- Norris [The Astros traded Norris to the Orioles 28 days later.]
Loss 55
Loss 56
Win 32: 9-5 at Rangers, July 6
"One of the goals, along with winning the World Series, is playing in the All-Star Game. It's still kind of surreal." -- Castro
Loss 57
Loss 58
Loss 59
Win 33: 2-1 at Rays, July 12
"My whole family (was) here. I've got about 15 to 20 friends. My girlfriend's here. It's crazy." -- rookie pitcher Jarred Cosart on his major league debut
Loss 60
Loss 61
Loss 62
Loss 63
Loss 64
Loss 65
Win 34: 5-4 vs. A's, July 23
"It speaks to the resilience of that group in there. Every once in a while good things like this happen because you put yourself in position when you just keep fighting." -- Porter
Loss 66
Loss 67
Loss 68
Win 35: 8-6 at Blue Jays, July 27
"It was a good win for a ballclub that obviously has played well but not well enough to get over the hump." -- Porter
Loss 69
Loss 70
Win 36: 11-0 at Orioles, July 31
"What a tremendous job. It's amazing what happens when you throw strikes and don't put people on base." -- Porter
Loss 71
Loss 72
Loss 73
Loss 74
Win 37: 2-0 vs. Red Sox, August 5
"We have some guys who can create problems." -- Porter
Loss 75
Loss 76
Loss 77
Loss 78
Loss 79
Loss 80
Win 38: 5-4 at A's, August 13
"It's a big boost for the club and a big boost for the bullpen to get some big outs." -- Porter
Win 39: 2-1 at A's, August 14
"We've been playing pretty good. Things are going our way now. It's our turn." -- Corporan
Loss 81
Win 40: 8-2 at Angels, August 16
"We're playing hard and having fun." -- Carter
Loss 82
Win 41: 7-5 at Angels, August 18
"At some point, we're going to start to get our breaks. We're swinging the bats real well, and we're getting good starting pitching." -- Porter
Loss 83
Loss 84
Loss 85
Win 42: 12-4 vs. Blue Jays, August 23
"It's good when you have days like this. Everyone seems to be clicking on all cylinders. These are fun games. Everybody's upbeat and happy about this, and you'll sleep well at night when you have games like that." -- outfielder L.J. Hoes
Win 43: 8-5 vs. Blue Jays, August 24
"It's been a little while since we had a winning series at home, so that's been nice." -- Castro
Loss 86
Win 44: 10-8 at White Sox, August 26
"I couldn't be more proud of them." -- Porter
Loss 87
Loss 88
Loss 89
Loss 90
Loss 91
Win 45: 2-0 vs. Mariners, September 1
"Outstanding with a capital O." -- Porter
Loss 92
Loss 93
Win 46: 6-5 vs. Twins, September 4
"That's winning baseball." -- Porter
Win 47: 3-2 at A's, September 5
"These guys came into this series knowing what's at stake baseball-wise. [The A's] are fighting for a playoff spot, and obviously this is where we want to be as an organization. I think it's a great atmosphere for our players." -- Porter
Loss 94
Loss 95
Loss 96
Win 48: 6-4 at Mariners, September 9
"Young team learning how to win games, we did that today." -- outfielder Trevor Crowe
Win 49: 13-2 at Mariners, September 10
"That's the kind of night you wish you could have every night. When everyone's clicking on all cylinders." -- Hoes
Win 50: 6-1 at Mariners, September 11
"Definitely we want to finish strong. All the guys are coming together." -- pitcher Brad Peacock
Win 51: 9-7 vs. Angels, September 13
"I think this is the best complete baseball we've played all year from a starting-pitching standpoint, to an offensive standpoint, to hitting with men in scoring position, situational hitting, the bullpen coming in in tight situations and getting those crucial outs. As far the team goes, I think this is the best all-around baseball we've played." -- Porter
Loss 97
Loss 98
Loss 99
Loss 100
Loss 101
Loss 102
Loss 103
Loss 104
Loss 105
Loss 106
Loss 107
Loss 108
Loss 109
Loss 110
Loss 111
The Astros weren’t very good in 2011 or 2012 either. They have lost 106 or more games in each of the last three seasons.
But none of this is news. And why dwell on the negative? Sure, the Astros lost 111 games, but they also won 51 games against major league teams. Let's look back at the positive, happy and excited quotes that followed each of Houston's remarkable 51 wins this year.
Know hope. And admire the Astros for making it through another season without giving up.
Win 1: 8-2 vs. Rangers, March 31
"To sit at 1-0 right now feels pretty darn good, and we've just got to go back out there on Tuesday and play some more baseball." -- pitcher Bud Norris
Loss 1
Loss 2
Loss 3
Loss 4
Loss 5
Loss 6
Win 2: 16-9 at Mariners, April 9
"We showed today what the team really has. I guess the guys wake up today. I look at it that way." -- second baseman Jose Altuve
Win 3: 8-3 at Mariners, April 10
"Everyone's confidence was still rolling into today." -- first baseman Chris Carter
Win 4: 5-0 at Angels, April 12
"[Bud Norris] is a No. 1 starter and he's pitched a lot of big games. I think his best years are definitely ahead of him. He's growing up right in front of our eyes, and it's a pleasure to see." -- manager Bo Porter
Loss 7
Loss 8
Loss 9
Loss 10
Loss 11
Win 5: 3-2 vs. Indians, April 19
"I'm very proud of the guys tonight." -- Porter
Loss 12
Loss 13
Loss 14
Win 6: 3-2 vs. Mariners, April 23
"Every win is big." -- reliever Hector Ambriz
Win 7: 10-3 vs. Mariners, April 24
"I wanted to be a professional ballplayer and play at the highest level and being an Astro is just the icing on the cake." -- outfielder Robbie Grossman
Loss 15
Loss 16
Loss 17
Loss 18
Win 8: 9-1 at Yankees, April 29
"I know they can do it. You're just waiting for it to happen night in and night out and be consistent. That's why we stay positive, because we know it's in there." -- Porter
Loss 19
Loss 20
Loss 21
Loss 22
Loss 23
Loss 24
Win 9: 7-6 vs. Angels, May 7
"Losing two tough games to Detroit last series and getting swept by them, just winning this game I think helped the team a lot." -- Carter
Win 10: 3-1 vs. Angels, May 8
"[Jimmy Paredes] is a guy that we know can add some excitement to our ballclub. It's a combination of speed, it's power. I think this guy; he's turned the corner and allowed his ability to play. It's a joy to watch." -- Porter [Paredes finished the season with one home run and four stolen bases in 48 games.]
Loss 25
Loss 26
Loss 27
Loss 28
Loss 29
Loss 30
Win 11: 7-5 at Tigers, May 15
"Sometimes we pitch good but we don't hit. Sometimes we hit but we don't pitch good. Sometimes we put it together like today. We've been scoring some runs. It takes things like this to turn around some things." – catcher Carlos Corporan
Loss 31
Win 12: 4-2 at Pirates, May 18
"Even though we've had our share of bumps and bruises, we're going to hit a stretch where we start playing well and put together a string of games like we played tonight. It's a tremendous group of guys in that clubhouse." -- Porter
Loss 32
Win 13: 6-5 vs. Royals, May 20
"I'm trying to figure some things out and be more consistent. I've been able to get some big hits, and hopefully, the average will be there by the end of the year." -- third baseman Matt Dominguez, who finished the season with a .241 average
Loss 33
Win 14: 3-1 vs. Royals, May 22
"The bullpen had been taxed for a while, but the starters have definitely hit their groove." -- Porter
Loss 34
Loss 35
Loss 36
Win 15: 3-2 vs. Rockies, May 27
"I think these kind of wins are definitely something that can catapult you forward from just an energy standpoint. Finding a way as a team and to come out on top, that momentum can carry over." -- Porter
Loss 37
Win 16: 6-3 at Rockies, May 29
"That was good baseball there." -- Porter
Win 17: 7-5 at Rockies, May 30
"Normally when you make four errors, especially in a ballpark like this, you're probably looking at a bunch of crooked numbers. We did a good job of minimizing the damage." -- Porter
Win 18: 6-3 at Angels, May 31
"We're just trying to ride this out. We're going out there and playing hard-nosed baseball. We're playing good defense, our pitching's been outstanding and we've been getting big hits when we need them." -- outfielder Brandon Barnes
Win 19: 2-0 at Angels, June 1
"This group has come together. Day in and day out, these guys are picking each other up -- from the bullpen to the bench players -- and the coaching staff has pushed that out of us. Everybody is picking up their end of the bargain, and it's been pretty good to see." -- Norris
Win 20: 5-4 at Angels, June 2
"It says that we can beat anybody in this league. If we can compete with the Angels, then we can compete with anybody." -- Ambriz
Win 21: 2-1 at Angels, June 3
"I feel like we're playing really good baseball. We had been playing good baseball, but now we're starting to win those crucial break points. ... I look at the talent in that room. I know the potential we have. You're starting to see we're coming together." -- Porter
Loss 38
Win 22: 11-7 vs. Orioles, June 5
"It's a blast. We all pull for each other. We have a pretty good group. I think we all get along very well and we genuinely pull for each other, so when someone else has success it's like everyone is just enjoying it." -- designated hitter Carlos Pena
Loss 39
Loss 40
Loss 41
Loss 42
Loss 43
Loss 44
Win 23: 6-1 at Mariners, June 12
"It was definitely good to see the guys break out and put together some good at-bats." -- Porter
Win 24: 2-1 vs. White Sox, June 14
"That is what you call straight effort baseball. Guys just legging out infield hits and giving it everything they have hustling on the bases. Just an all-around tremendous job." -- Porter
Win 25: 4-3 vs. White Sox, June 15
"I'm extremely happy." -- Porter
Win 26: 5-4 vs. White Sox, June 16
"The starting pitching has been tremendous." -- Porter
Loss 45
Win 27: 10-1 vs. Brewers, June 18
"I think this is what we're capable of doing. I'm not talking about scoring 10 runs, but putting nice run support up for our pitchers. If they go and do what they are supposed to and give us a quality start then we have a chance to win. Today is one of the days that we show our potential as a team. It definitely feels good to see it actually happen." -- Pena
Loss 46
Win 28: 7-4 vs. Brewers, June 20
"What a ballgame. What a game. What a great homestand. I thought we were in every single game. This is a lot of momentum moving forward." -- Pena
Loss 47
Win 29: 4-3 at Cubs, June 22
"They keep battling, they keep fighting and we find a way to either get ourselves back into the game or make it a ballgame every night." -- Porter
Loss 48
Loss 49
Win 30: 4-3 vs. Cardinals, June 26
"For us to come out and battle and hang with them ... it's reassuring and it's good for the morale around here." -- catcher Jason Castro
Loss 50
Loss 51
Loss 52
Loss 53
Loss 54
Win 31: 4-1 vs. Rays, July 3
"Pure joy." -- Norris [The Astros traded Norris to the Orioles 28 days later.]
Loss 55
Loss 56
Win 32: 9-5 at Rangers, July 6
"One of the goals, along with winning the World Series, is playing in the All-Star Game. It's still kind of surreal." -- Castro
Loss 57
Loss 58
Loss 59
Win 33: 2-1 at Rays, July 12
"My whole family (was) here. I've got about 15 to 20 friends. My girlfriend's here. It's crazy." -- rookie pitcher Jarred Cosart on his major league debut
Loss 60
Loss 61
Loss 62
Loss 63
Loss 64
Loss 65
Win 34: 5-4 vs. A's, July 23
"It speaks to the resilience of that group in there. Every once in a while good things like this happen because you put yourself in position when you just keep fighting." -- Porter
Loss 66
Loss 67
Loss 68
Win 35: 8-6 at Blue Jays, July 27
"It was a good win for a ballclub that obviously has played well but not well enough to get over the hump." -- Porter
Loss 69
Loss 70
Win 36: 11-0 at Orioles, July 31
"What a tremendous job. It's amazing what happens when you throw strikes and don't put people on base." -- Porter
Loss 71
Loss 72
Loss 73
Loss 74
Win 37: 2-0 vs. Red Sox, August 5
"We have some guys who can create problems." -- Porter
Loss 75
Loss 76
Loss 77
Loss 78
Loss 79
Loss 80
Win 38: 5-4 at A's, August 13
"It's a big boost for the club and a big boost for the bullpen to get some big outs." -- Porter
Win 39: 2-1 at A's, August 14
"We've been playing pretty good. Things are going our way now. It's our turn." -- Corporan
Loss 81
Win 40: 8-2 at Angels, August 16
"We're playing hard and having fun." -- Carter
Loss 82
Win 41: 7-5 at Angels, August 18
"At some point, we're going to start to get our breaks. We're swinging the bats real well, and we're getting good starting pitching." -- Porter
Loss 83
Loss 84
Loss 85
Win 42: 12-4 vs. Blue Jays, August 23
"It's good when you have days like this. Everyone seems to be clicking on all cylinders. These are fun games. Everybody's upbeat and happy about this, and you'll sleep well at night when you have games like that." -- outfielder L.J. Hoes
Win 43: 8-5 vs. Blue Jays, August 24
"It's been a little while since we had a winning series at home, so that's been nice." -- Castro
Loss 86
Win 44: 10-8 at White Sox, August 26
"I couldn't be more proud of them." -- Porter
Loss 87
Loss 88
Loss 89
Loss 90
Loss 91
Win 45: 2-0 vs. Mariners, September 1
"Outstanding with a capital O." -- Porter
Loss 92
Loss 93
Win 46: 6-5 vs. Twins, September 4
"That's winning baseball." -- Porter
Win 47: 3-2 at A's, September 5
"These guys came into this series knowing what's at stake baseball-wise. [The A's] are fighting for a playoff spot, and obviously this is where we want to be as an organization. I think it's a great atmosphere for our players." -- Porter
Loss 94
Loss 95
Loss 96
Win 48: 6-4 at Mariners, September 9
"Young team learning how to win games, we did that today." -- outfielder Trevor Crowe
Win 49: 13-2 at Mariners, September 10
"That's the kind of night you wish you could have every night. When everyone's clicking on all cylinders." -- Hoes
Win 50: 6-1 at Mariners, September 11
"Definitely we want to finish strong. All the guys are coming together." -- pitcher Brad Peacock
Win 51: 9-7 vs. Angels, September 13
"I think this is the best complete baseball we've played all year from a starting-pitching standpoint, to an offensive standpoint, to hitting with men in scoring position, situational hitting, the bullpen coming in in tight situations and getting those crucial outs. As far the team goes, I think this is the best all-around baseball we've played." -- Porter
Loss 97
Loss 98
Loss 99
Loss 100
Loss 101
Loss 102
Loss 103
Loss 104
Loss 105
Loss 106
Loss 107
Loss 108
Loss 109
Loss 110
Loss 111
ABOUT THIS BLOG
David Schoenfield
Schoenfield is a senior writer for ESPN.com and been with ESPN since 1995, having served as baseball editor and Page 2 senior editor. Follow Dave on Twitter: @dschoenfield and the SweetSpot blog on Facebook.
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