HOUSTON -- Houston manager A.J. Hinch politely answered question after question Monday about what went wrong this season before he was finally asked how he was dealing with his team missing the postseason a year after reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2005.Im not handling it very well at all, the Astros second-year manager said. I hate losing ... I dont like being here and having this meeting when I know a game is being played tomorrow. But Im proud of the fact that 84 wins isnt good enough.The Astros took a step back this season after a surprising trip to the ALDS in 2015, forced to play catch up after going 7-17 in April. They remained in the wild-card hunt until the last weekend of the season, but injuries to key members of the rotation and several role players became too much to overcome.Houston has one of baseballs best middle infields with second baseman Jose Altuve and shortstop Carlos Correa, but its seeking upgrades at first base and in the outfield.I think were well positioned for next year, general manager Jeff Luhnow said. There are very few organizations of the 30 that have quite as exciting a young core to build around. Thats our job this offseason, is to put in some complementary pieces to add to the guys that we have that were excited about.The Astros went 84-78 a year after finishing 86-76, giving them consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2005-06. Of course, after years or rebuilding, over .500 isnt the target anymore.Our goal next year is to win the division and do some serious damage in the playoffs, Luhnow said. Theres nothing short of that thats going to satisfy us.Some things to know as the Astros wrap the 2016 season.AWESOME ALTUVE: Altuve had another MVP-caliber season in 2016. He won the AL batting title for the second time in three seasons by hitting .338 and got his third straight 200-hit season with an AL-leading 216. He hit 42 doubles and stole 30 bases, and his five triples, 24 homers and 96 RBI were all career highs.The 26-year-old Altuve is the first second baseman to win multiple batting titles since Rod Carew won five from 1969-75.I just wonder how he can get any better, Luhnow said. Hes really done an unbelievable job of setting goals for himself and improving his game in every way that he possibly could. Hes one of the best players in the American League, the best players in the game and were just happy to have him here.KEUCHEL STRUGGLES: Ace Dallas Keuchel had a tough season a year after winning the AL Cy Young Award. The left-hander went 9-12 with a 4.55 ERA after finishing 2015 a career-best 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA. He looked sharper in August but was shut down after a start on Aug. 27 because of shoulder inflammation and didnt pitch again. Luhnow said he isnt worried about Keuchel and expects him to bounce back next season.CORREAS GROWTH: The top overall pick in the 2012 draft had a solid sophomore campaign after winning AL Rookie of the Year in 2015. He hit .274 with 20 homers and 96 RBI despite playing the last weeks of the season with a shoulder injury.Correa turned 22 in September, and the Astros are pleased with his development this season.Correa, though, is disappointed he failed to do more in 2016.Carlos Correa will probably never live up to his own expectations, Hinch said. Im not sure youre ever going to live up to the hype, but when the dust settles and we look back at this season, well look back at it as a growth season for him, as a productive season and a step in the right direction.RASMUS DONE IN HOUSTON? OF Colby Rasmus was Houstons highest-paid player this season, making $15.8 million, but batted just .206 in 107 games while dealing with various injuries. Rasmus is eligible for free agency, and although Luhnow wouldnt say definitively, he suggested Houston was unlikely to retain the 30-year-old.He still has value to major league teams and Im sure hell have an opportunity to sign somewhere, Luhnow said. But Im not sure how, or if, he fits into our plans at this point. Cheap Air Max 2017 . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. 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Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Air Max Outlet Online . JOHNS, N. The winner of the main event at UFC 206 between Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis on Saturday will walk away with an interim UFC featherweight title and a shot at newly crowned champion Jose Aldo. Both fighters are known for their dynamic striking abilities. However, there are key differences in their styles that are illustrated by their career statistics. The differences could turn out to be deciding factors on Saturday.Significant strikes per minuteBoth Pettis and Holloway have reputations as solid strikers. However, Holloway is much more active on the feet. In his UFC career, he has landed 5.61 significant strikes per minute. That more than double Pettis rate of 2.54. Holloway is much more likely to engage in exchanges and brawls, while Pettis prefers to operate outside of punching range and pick his shots. If the Hawaiian is able to close that distance to initiate exchanges, he should have the advantage.Striking defenseThe difference in striking styles also comes across in the fighters defensive numbers. Pettis absorbs 2.38 significant strikes per minute and avoids 57 percent of his opponents attempts. Holloway has the advantage as he avoids 67 percent of his opponents attempts. However, he has absorbed many more significant strikes per minute during his UFC run (3.76). If Pettis is able to maintain his type of distance, he should be able to avoid eating a ton of shots from Holloway.ddddddddddddFight timeBefore the UFC moved this fight to the main event, it was scheduled for only 15 minutes. Now, it will be a 25-minute bout. Both fighters have similar average fight times, Holloway at 11:28 and Pettis at 11:07. However, a longer fight almost certainly favors Holloway. During his UFC/WEC career, Pettis has gone to decision seven times. In those bouts, he has a 2-5 record. Holloway has also gone to the judges cards seven times, but he is 5-2 in those bouts.SubmissionsDespite the highlight-reel kicks, Pettis finishes more fights via submission than any other method. In his UFC/WEC career, he has won six fights with submissions. He averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, which double Holloways, who averages 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Pettis might not have the most traditional guard game, but he is certainly always a threat to latch on a submission in scramble and finish a fight. However, that might not be the easiest task against Holloway, who has not been submitted since falling to Dustin Poirier in his UFC debut back in 2012. ' ' '