If camp were to break today, who is on Astros' '07 Roster? Assuming 11 pitchers, 2 catchers? The question to me is who is on the roster, what is the biggest need at this point?
Astros need, one starter, an upgrade at catcher, an upgrade at third, team speed and as far as the bullpen goes I just think they need to perform up to their ability.
Here is what I've got considering we don't make any trades or acquisitions: C Ausmus 1B Berkman 2B Biggio 3B Ensberg SS Everett LF Lee CF Burke RF Scott Bench: Palmeiro Lamb Loretta Bruntlett Gimenez Lane SP Oswalt SP Jennings SP Williams SP Nieve SP Albers MR Sampson MR Miller MR Borkowski MR Qualls MR Wheeler CL Lidge Possibilities: Signing SP Paul Wilson to fill our #5 hole in the rotation.
I would feel more comfortable with Sampson as the #5 guy over Albers. He looked more impressive to me last year.
I will be very surprised if Albers does not start the season in AAA. I don't see Lane making the team either. Lincoln Holdzcom is a Rule 5 player that they picked up that will likely make the team as a bullpen pitcher. Starting Position Players (8) Lance Berkman Craig Biggio Adam Everett Morgan Ensberg Brad Ausmus Carlos Lee Chris Burke Luke Scott Bench Position Players (5) Orlando Palmeiro Eric Bruntlett Mike Lamb Mark Loretta Humberto Quintero or Hector Gimenez (both are out of options) Starting Pitchers (5) Roy Oswalt Jason Jennings Woody Williams Chris Sampson Fernando Nieve Bullpen (7) Brad Lidge Dan Wheeler Chad Qualls Trever Miller Dave Borkowski Lincoln Holdzcom Wandy Rodriguez Richard Hidalgo is a dark house candidate to make the team as a late inning OF defensive replacement.
Biggio Burke Berkman Lee Ensberg Scott Everett Ausmus Palmiero, Loretta, Lamb, Jimerson, Quintero Oswalt Jennings Williams Nieve Sampson Lidge, Wheeler, Qualls, Miller, Borkowski, Holdzcom, Asencio Jimerson makes the team as the late inning OF replacement. He has power, speed, & defense. He will certainly strike out more than Lane. However, he can play all 3 of positions and has a great arm.
Why does everyone insist on putting Ensberg above Lamb? Morgan was very sloppy on defense last year and we're all well aware of his offensive woes...Last we saw, Lamb was the superior player in most regards. I'm fairly certain Mike can bat .300 for a full year at third, hit 20 homers and bat in enough runs to keep pitchers honest - hell, he can even use the glove a little bit, as he got much better with experience while the year went on. Ensberg's certainly shown some flashes in his career, but has yet to display ANY real consistency. One full year of all star play sandwiched between 6 or 8 intermittent periods of extreme slumps and streaks. 2005 might be enough for most of y'all to keep the faith; but with '06 factored in, I definitely consider Mike Lamb our best third baseman at this point. So how about a little Houston sports SATs? "Mike Lamb is to Kenny Thomas as Morgan Ensberg is to ________" Spoiler Eddie Griffin?
Starters: Ausmus Berkman Biggio Everett Ensberg Lee Burke Scott Bench: Gimenez Lamb Loretta Bruntett Rodriguez Palmiero Starters: Oswalt Jennings Williams Albers Sampson Bullpen: Nieve Holdzcom Miller Borkowski Qualls Wheeler Lidge
It appears to me that the Good Guys are a solid 4th outfielder and a 4th and/or 5th starter from being a strong Central contender? Palmiero (and Bruntlett?) seems unnecessary with that group.
I don't know of any team who simply needed either a FOURTH outfielder, or a FOURTH/FIFTH starting pitcher to be competitive... these are pretty non-crucial positions. Now, you can argue their 1-3 starting pitching is solid, but nothing special (which is true)... but they're not going to sign a #4 or #5 guy (unless they sign Clemens) that would be talented enough to crack this top 3.
