Hinch: 'I'm proud of the fact that 84 wins isn't good enough'

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.

''I'm not handling it very well at all,'' the Astros' second-year manager said. ''I hate losing ... I don't like being here and having this meeting when I know a game is being played tomorrow. But I'm proud of the fact that 84 wins isn't 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 baseball's best middle infields with second baseman Jose Altuve and shortstop Carlos Correa, but it's seeking upgrades at first base and in the outfield.

''I think we're 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. That's our job this offseason, is to put in some complementary pieces to add to the guys that we have that we're 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 isn't the target anymore.

''Our goal next year is to win the division and do some serious damage in the playoffs,'' Luhnow said. ''There's nothing short of that that's going to satisfy us.''