Daily Craig: Let's go back to 2005

HOUSTON – I am happy baseball is back tonight. I am looking forward to the second half of the season and hope the Astros will be able to keep JJ Watt off the lead sports story for at least another week or so. Not that I don't appreciate him, but I am all about baseball this time of the year.

For fun I thought we might check out where the guys were on this date in 2005. You remember how awful the team started winning just 15 of the first 45 and ending up in the World Series. OK, history Buffs (no reference to the minor league club's nickname or the nickname of Milby H.S.) Let's check out some ancient box scores.

The Astros had risen from the dead to be one game over .500 team after the break. They were trying to go two games over on this date of July 15, 2005, when they lost to the Cards 4-3 in 13 at St. Louis. The Cards rose to 57-32 having already run away with the NL Central. Houston was just hanging on to try for that Wild Card. With the loss, Houston fell 12 and a half back. We were already doing Texans pre-camp stories.

With most Houstonians watching their electric bills more than the NL Central standings, it all worked out in the end. Except for the sweep of the Chisox in the World Series. I just thought I would check on how the guys were doing then and remind you things are better this season. Seven games better re-starting the season.