[Chron] Questions aplenty linger over Astros

Questions aplenty linger over Astros
Garner wrestles with holes at 2nd, center, left, pen
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

As soon as Roger Clemens accepted his one-year contract, the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer legitimized the Astros' belief they could compete for a postseason berth this year.

With 20-game winner Roy Oswalt, a healthy Andy Pettitte and Clemens, the Astros have three legitimate top-of-the-order pitchers who can compete against any other ace in the majors. Righthander Brandon Backe is penciled in for the No. 4 spot in the rotation and Brad Lidge is rated among the game's best closers.

Beyond Oswalt, Pettitte, Clemens, Backe and Lidge, however, there are plenty of questions for the Astros.

"If we go to spring training tomorrow," manager Phil Garner said, "I'll sit down with the coaches and say, 'All right, this is what we need. We have to determine who's going to be center field, who's going to be left field and who's going to be second base.' "

That's not all, though.

Who will drive in runs now that the Astros' 2004 RBI leader Jeff Kent is playing in Los Angeles and fellow All-Star Carlos Beltran, the hero of the 2004 postseason, is playing for the New York Mets?

Lance Berkman, the Astros' Most Valuable Player and top hitter in 2004, also will be missing on opening day as he recovers from right knee surgery.

With Kent and Beltran gone, who will protect Berkman in the batting order when he returns to the lineup?

Barring a trade for Texas Rangers All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano, the 2005 Astros might struggle to score even at hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park.

"Make no mistake about it," Clemens said, "this team's going to have to pitch."

Nothing kills a team's confidence quicker than a leaky bullpen. It doesn't matter how brilliant Oswalt, Pettitte, Clemens and Lidge are if there is nobody consistent enough to secure a lead in the eighth for Lidge to close out a victory.

"We need an eighth-inning guy to emerge somehow, someway from one of our guys or if we pick up somebody, whatever we do," Garner said. "We need a lefthanded specialist. Can it emerge from what we have? It may, but that's what I'd like to have."

Righthander Ezequiel Astacio, who was 13-10 with a 3.89 ERA atClass AA Round Rock last year, has the mid-90s fastball and intestinal fortitude that has many Astros officials optimistic he can pitch the eighth or even start in Houston next year.

Astacio was the Rookie of the Year in the Dominican Winter League and "these guys (in the front office) love him," Garner said. "He pitched good in winter ball."

Astros general manager Tim Purpura has been in search of a lefthanded specialist, and he turned much of his attention to John Franco, 44, the all-time leader in saves by a lefthander.

"We're waiting on John Franco to make a decision," Purpura said. "We spoke (Thursday). I spoke to John, Phil spoke to John and (special assistant and former Astros coach) Matt Galante spoke to John. I feel pretty good about it."

Garner would like two lefthanders in the bullpen.

But if lefty Mike Gallo doesn't step up in spring training and another lefthander doesn't impress, the Astros won't mind going with only one lefthanded reliever.

Barring injury or trade, Carlos Hernandez, Tim Redding and Pete Munro will compete for the fifth spot in the rotation.

"Fifth starters you always have potential and possibilities," Garner said. "We don't want to count out Hernandez, but Tim Redding can step up. Pete Munro can step up.

"We need a guy to do that."

Center fielder Willy Taveras, who seemed destined for Class AAA Round Rock this year, will have a chance this spring to prove he can play in the majors.

Chris Burke, the Astros' first-round pick out of Tennessee in 2001, also will get his shot at second base after earning the Pacific Coast League's Rookie of the Year Award in 2004. With a great spring, he could bounce Craig Biggio back to the outfield for good.

Outfielder Jason Lane, who sat on the bench most of last season, is practically assured a starting spot in 2005.

That is unless he is packaged with Burke or Astacio to get a quality, proven major-league player such as Soriano.

"We need the center-field question answered," Garner said. "We need the second-base question answered. Is it going to be Biggio? Is it going to be Burke?

"The question is, 'Does Lance start the season, does he not?' I doubt that he will, but if he does then that changes that mix.

"If he doesn't, it's got to be Lane over there, somebody at center and perhaps Biggio or Burke at second, Lane in left field. ... I'm not set on anything. I'm wide-open."

Before Clemens reached his decision, it would have been easy for the Astros to go with a complete rebuilding approach in 2004.

That's not the case anymore.

"Literally to me, with Clemens we go from a second-tier club to a first-tier club," Garner said. "First tier means you can compete with the top three clubs.

"We should be one of the top three teams. We can be one of the top three teams."

The thought of Astacio being used in relief is intriguing, as I don't doubt he has the stuff- the question is, does that stunt his potential growth as a starter?

Garner's comments on the OF/2B situation is intriguing to me. He's the manager, and he sounds really cryptic about it. Certainly not a ringing endorsement of Burke, and I think he's fairly confident about Orlando Palmeiro NOT being in the opening day lineup...or at least I hope not.

As far as Franco...he's a lefty who gets lefties out, and gets lit up by righties. Those have some use, and imo would be preferable to Mike Gallo.

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