Astros: Chronicle's stories and predictions

[codell]

Staff predictions:

http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/sports/baseball/astros/predictions/index.html

Clements, Pettie give Astros World Series hopes:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/2483339

Dotel, Lidge to close the deal:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/2484745

NL Central Preview: Cubs counter splashy Astros' moves by adding Maddux :

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/2481652

Despite injuries, Bagwell sees gain in playing with pain:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/2480644

Biggio knows his 17th season with Houston could mark end of an era:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/2478230

Man pulling Astros' strings prefers anonmyity:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/2485219

[codell]

Im so excited about the game tonight (something to take my mind of the Rocket's losing streak ;)):

NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Astros
NL West: Giants
NL Wildcard: Cubs

NLCS: Astros over Phillies

AL East: New York
AL Central: Royals
AL West: Anaheim
AL Wildcard: Boston

ALCS: New York over Boston

WS: Astros win!!! Astros win!!!

NL Cy Young: Oswalt (my original pick was Prior, but his injuries have scared me away)
NL MVP: Pujols
NL ROY: Matsui

AL Cy Young: Schilling
AL MVP: Guerrero
AL ROY: Crosby

[codell]

ESPN's predictions:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2004/news/story?page=expertpicks

Out of 17 writers, 7 have us winning the division and 8 have us winning the wild card. Apparently two don't even think we'll make the playoffs. 4 writers picked us to go to the WS, but all predicted we would not win it all.

1 writer picked Lance Berkman for MVP.

3 writers picked Oswalt for the Cy Young (1 picked Billy Wagner).

[codell]

Diamond Mind projections (they have St. Louis winning the division and the Astros and Cubs tying for the WC):

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2004/news/story?id=1774245

[Groogrux]

NLE: Phillies
NLC: Astros
NLW: Diamondbacks
NLWC: Cubs

DS: Astros over Dbacks
DS: Phillies over Cubs

CS: Astros over Phillies

ALE: Yankees (Orioles finish ahead of the Sox)
ALC: White Sox
ALW: Anaheim
ALWC: Seattle

DS: Anaheim over White Sox
DS: Seattle over New York

CS: Anaheim over Seattle

WS: Astros over Anaheim

[Nick]

Originally posted by codell

3 writers picked Oswalt for the Cy Young (1 picked Billy Wagner).

The one writer who picked Billy Wagner was John Kruk... who apparently wants EVERYBODY to know that he once played for the Phillies, and that they are his favorite team.

Really John? Nooo... can't be!

This is far worse than Gammons' infatuation with the Red Sox... prepare yourself four countless Darren Daulton and Lenny Dykstra comparisons on baseball tonight from here on out.

Just give me Ravey (Karl Ravech) and Harold Reynolds saying "Liiima timme!" and that's all I need...

[codell]

If Wags wins the Cy Young, then hed have to have Gagne like #s. 50+ saves and an ERA around 1 or less.

Although, it wouldnt be outrageous, if Oswalt/Johnson/Prior have less than stellar seasons.

[JPM0016]

Here are the diamond mind projections for 2004

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2004/news/story?id=1774245

St. Louis finishes 92-70

Chicago finishes 90-72

Houston finishes 90-72


Houston Astros (90-72, division title 30%, wild card 17%)
The Astros and the Cubs, who finished in a virtual dead heat for second place in our simulations, are similar in other ways, too:



both have very good pitching staffs and mediocre lineups, though Houston's hitter-friendly park makes them look a little less similar than they really are



each team hired a future Hall of Famer pitcher this winter -- Roger Clemens in Houston, Greg Maddux in Chicago



both feature a trio of young starting pitchers -- Houston's are Roy Oswalt, Wade Miller, and Tim Redding, while the Cubs have Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, and Carlos Zambrano



a trio of aging hitters is key for both lineups -- Jeff Bagwell, Jeff Kent, and Craig Biggio for the Astros; Sammy Sosa, Moises Alou, and Mark Grudzielanek for Chicago


Difference makers: The new closer, Octavio Dotel, who is projected to thrive in that role on the basis of three terrific seasons as a setup man but is unproven in that role.

[Nick]

Diamond Mind predicted the Astros to clobber the division last year... its a computer formula.

[RocketManJosh]

Here's a new article off the main headline on Sportsline.com picking the Stros to win it all ...

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/7229502

This is the most excited i've been at the beginning of a season in a long time :)

[codell]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/april

Funny stuff from Page 2:

April 13 -- Disney Studios officials blame Richard Hidalgo's dismal start at the plate (5-for-27, one RBI) for the poor box-office showings of the movie bearing his name.

May 30 -- Astros rookie Jason Lane is injured when Jeff Kent makes him wash his truck

http://espn.go.com/i/page2/photos/040405june.jpg

June 30 -- Thanks to online write-in support from overseas, Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is selected as the National League's starting shortstop for the All-Star Game.

[Uprising]

The Chronicle has been awesome the last couple of days.

I love the special sections for the Astros, all color HUGE photos. Man I am excited.