There are plenty of baseball fans that wish the Houston Astros would have a fall from grace, but claiming that it is happening is stirring up a hornet's nest.That's exactly what Travis Sawchik of The Score did Friday afternoon, by penning a story titled, "The Astros have begun their initial descent from baseball's top echelon."Granted, Houston's traditional early season lull has carried on a bit longer than it did in 2022. But to suggest that the Astros have begun to fade is a bridge too far for a team still five games over .500.theScore@theScoreThe Astros have begun their initial descent from baseball's top echelon. thesco.re/3MJe5AF(via @Travis_Sawchik)379The Astros have begun their initial descent from baseball's top echelon. 🚀 thesco.re/3MJe5AF(via @Travis_Sawchik) https://t.co/nHjKrtzSdJThe Houston Astros have contended with a number of injuries so far this season, but are still just two games off the lead in the American League West with a 24-19 record.However, the Astros also have the fortune of not playing in MLB's most competitive division, the AL East, where Houston would be just one-half game out of last place. Conversely, the Astros would also be leading the AL Central by a half-game as well.Houston Burner Boiii@BurnersHouston@theScore @Travis_Sawchik Lets see where we’re at in October.1@theScore @Travis_Sawchik Lets see where we’re at in October.Matt Skinner@14_skinny@theScore @Travis_Sawchik You can’t be fucking serious1@theScore @Travis_Sawchik You can’t be fucking seriousThe Astros Locker WS Champs@TheAstrosLocker@theScore @Travis_Sawchik The Astros continue to have the best ERA in all of baseball despite 3 of their starters being on the IL. That entire rotation was unheralded, developed in house, and is under team control. The offense has been missing 2 key all stars while 2 more slumped. YDKB.21@theScore @Travis_Sawchik The Astros continue to have the best ERA in all of baseball despite 3 of their starters being on the IL. That entire rotation was unheralded, developed in house, and is under team control. The offense has been missing 2 key all stars while 2 more slumped. YDKB.It is a long way until October, and the Houston Astros will continue to get healthier. The team welcomes one of the best — some might say most controversial — players in the league Friday night. The second baseman Jose Altuve makes his season debut. Altuve undergone surgery on his right thumb after it was broken during the World Baseball Classic in March.seriously?!?@krislytle@theScore @Travis_Sawchik Bold move, calling the season on May 19th.23@theScore @Travis_Sawchik Bold move, calling the season on May 19th.ty2005_92@ty2005_92@theScore @Travis_Sawchik Saying the Astros are declining because they’re projected to only win 89 games this year is a moot point. It literally means nothing@theScore @Travis_Sawchik Saying the Astros are declining because they’re projected to only win 89 games this year is a moot point. It literally means nothingEyes-On-Houston@EyesOnHou@theScore @Travis_Sawchik What are you talking about? I get that your national writers don't like us, but you gotta stop making up fantasy and actually look at the facts as they are. The Astros aint done being at the top of baseball.5@theScore @Travis_Sawchik What are you talking about? I get that your national writers don't like us, but you gotta stop making up fantasy and actually look at the facts as they are. The Astros aint done being at the top of baseball.As professional wrestler Ric Flair used to say, "To be the man, you've got to beat the man." To that end, the Houston Astros are still "The man" until another team knocks them off the perch.The Tampa Bay Rays were a fashionable pick to be just that team after a scorching April. However, the Rays are now holding on for dear life against the rising tides in the AL East. Tampa Bay may be eight games better than Houston right now, but it is still just under a month away from the first day of summer.Robert Ozias III 🍕@timehasflownby@theScore @Travis_Sawchik exactly how does one have a "descent" in May when 5 games over .500 and finally having the greatest Astro of the 2000s return in Altuve tonight?4@theScore @Travis_Sawchik exactly how does one have a "descent" in May when 5 games over .500 and finally having the greatest Astro of the 2000s return in Altuve tonight?🌋Cash Money🌋 (3-13-1)@therealsantosv@theScore @Travis_Sawchik Missing McCullers, Urquidy, García, Brantley, and Altuve. Still 5 wins over .500. LMJ and Altuve are coming back soon, Brantley after that, we still have the best ERA with 3 starters missing. We are the immortals from Persia.@theScore @Travis_Sawchik Missing McCullers, Urquidy, García, Brantley, and Altuve. Still 5 wins over .500. LMJ and Altuve are coming back soon, Brantley after that, we still have the best ERA with 3 starters missing. We are the immortals from Persia.Cody Dewar@CJDewar24@theScore @Travis_Sawchik They’ve been injured. Let’s check this again in the summer1@theScore @Travis_Sawchik They’ve been injured. Let’s check this again in the summerThe Astros have won seven of their past 10 games heading into the weekend. It's a run matched in the AL only by the New York Yankees.Cody T@The_Cody_T@theScore @Travis_Sawchik This is not going to age well@theScore @Travis_Sawchik This is not going to age wellHouston Astros take on the A's this weekendJeremy Pena #3 of the Houston Astros reacts to hitting a double in the ninth inning vs. the Chicago CubsThe Astros get to host the worst team in MLB this weekend when the Oakland Athletics come to town.