The Astros had the team last year to make a run at the playoffs but were caught up in a tough division that also produced the wild card winner, and missed making the playoffs by four games. The team did make some excellent additions to their team before last season when they signed outfielder Carlos Lee and closer Jose Valverde. Both players lived up to expectations, as Lee batted in 100 RBI and Valverde was a solid closer and saved 44 games out of 51 chances.
This time around the Astros should at least battle for the wild card, because the division race will be stacked with the Cubs and Cardinals. You can count out the Brewers for the playoffs, because their pitching staff took a hit when they lost CC Sabathia to free agency.
Offense carried the Astros last time around and will once again be the focal point of this team. All they need though are solid starts from the pitching staff. The offensive production was led by Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee.
Berkman batted .312 on the year and led the team with 29 homeruns and 106 RBI. This guy just keeps on putting up solid season after solid season, and hasn’t shown any signs that he is about to slow down.
With Carlos Lee finishing in second to Berkman in the homerun and RBI categories, he is poised for another 25 plus homerun and 100 plus RBI season. With these two bats in the lineup, they will provide problems each night for opposing pitchers. Berkman and Lee will have to carry the load offensively, but not a lot of pressure will be placed on them, since the Astros saw the emergence of Hunter Pence, and signed Aaron Boone.
Pence is a solid outfielder and showed some pop in his bat with 25 homeruns and 83 RBI. Look for him to run more this season and build on the eleven stolen bases from last year.
Boone has been slowed down by injuries in the past three years, but when healthy and an everyday player, he can provide that secondary run support, and compliments Berkman, Lee and Pence nicely.
One player that is on the decline is Miguel Tejada, who has had a whirlwind experience the past few off seasons, and has never looked the same since his days with the Oakland Athletics, when he was a threat every time he stepped up to bat. Yes, he did have a few a good years with the Orioles, but he wasn’t that dangerous, and all that steroid scandal and use has really messed him up mentally. Tejada can still play the game, defensively he is very reliable, but if you’re an Astros fan don’t expect a lot of offense from him.
The Astros also added Darin Erstad in the off-season and is a good depth player, and can play any of the three outfield spots.
Geoff Blum, what about him, who would have thought he’d hit 14 homeruns, after hitting just 15 in four years before 2008. Even if he can’t hit fifteen again, he is still a good bat to have in the bottom of the lineup and that can get on base.
In the pitching department, the Astros have star ace Roy Oswalt, who always delivers a quality start every fifth day, and can almost guarantee an Astros victory. He has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the past four to five years and has averaged at least 17 wins a year, which is what he posted last year. Oswalt really needs to dig deeper and find some more wins, because the rest of the rotation really cost the Astros a chance at the playoffs.
Going second, will most likely be Brandon Backe, who before last season was a closer for two years. In his return back to the rotation he posted a 9-14 record with an ERA of 6.05. Those stats for any number two pitcher are unacceptable.
One of the other starters is Wandy Rodriguez, who finally posted an above five hundred record at 9-7. The question is can he do that again, because Wandy has been consistent in getting nine victories over the years, but was also able to lose twelve games on average.
If Wandy and Backe can shape up their games and earn 20 victories combined, which is a stretch, the Astros will be in good shape through the season and especially for the stretch drive in September.
The last two starting pitchers spots are a question mark. In those two slots, it’s not about the victories, but the ability to eat innings and just pitch a solid game. If that doesn’t happen the bullpen will be thrust into more work and will be burned out even before September. The Astros do have a good bullpen with LaTroy Hawkins, Doug Brocail, and newly signed Mike Hampton. With Hampton, the Astros have some flexibility, because he can either be a spot starter or a relief pitcher. Whatever direction the Astros go in with Hampton, it will work out for both sides, for the better.
Overall, this Astros team has what it takes offensively to compete for a playoff spot and in a very tough division with three teams (including the Astros) that have legit chances at the playoffs. The starting pitching will need to step up, including Roy Oswalt who is always solid, but the Astros will need a little bit more from him. The rest of the rotation must have good years, with solid starts, and that will keep the Astros in games.
POSITIVE --> EXCELLENT BATTING ORDER, WITH BERKMAN AND LEE BATTING THIRD AND FOURTH.
NEGATIVE --> STARTING PITCHING HAS TO BE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR.
X-FACTOR --> ROY OSWALT, THIS GUY HOLDS DOWN THE PITCHING STAFF, AND A LOT OF THE PITCHING SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON HIM.
SLEEPER PICK --> AARON BOONE WILL HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AT THRID BASE WITH GEOFF BLUM. BUT, BOONE IS A MORE RELIABLE BAT AND COULD BE THE EVERYDAY STARTER IF HE GETS BACK TO HIS OLD FORM.
PREDICTION --> ASTROS WILL BE IN TOUGH WITH CUBS AND CARDINALS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY PITCHING IS NEEDED. BESIDES ROY OSWALT, THE ASTROS DON’T HAVE ANYONE ELSE THEY CAN CONFIDENTLY TURN TO FOR A SOLID SEASON AND THAT WILL COST THEM THE PLAYOFFS.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in this or any other article written by 12nadnuk are of his thinking and what he thinks is correct or close to it in the sporting world. If there are any problems by anyone, 12nadnuk is open for rebuttal and what not, and honest criticism. There is also a comments section, so feel free to post what is on your mind about the article. Thank you for reading.
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