Spring training begins on the last day of February. Also, who wants to participate in a fantasy baseball league this season? Here is the Astros' 2014 projected lineups (as of now) according to RotoChamp.com: http://www.rotochamp.com/baseball/TeamPage.aspx?Team=HOU ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/hou...md=20131226&content_id=66138386&vkey=news_hou Astros expect more growth from young team in '14 Fowler brings stability to leadoff spot; veteran Feldman added to rotation By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com | 12/26/2013 10:00 A.M. ET HOUSTON - There is nowhere for the Astros to go but up. The Astros certainly weren't expected to contend during their first season in the American League West, but losing a club-record 111 games wasn't exactly what anyone had in mind, either. As the calendar gets ready to turn to 2014, the Astros are setting themselves up to make the long climb to respectability on the field. Even the most cynical observer doesn't have to squint to see the organization is moving in the right direction. Houston has the best Minor League system in the game, and many of its top prospects should hit Minute Maid Park next season. Meanwhile, the Astros have already made some moves to add veteran players to plug holes and have shown a willingness to spend some money this winter. The Astros probably weren't as bad as their record indicated, having lost their final 15 games against a steady diet of contenders who had everything on the line. The AL West, against which the Astros went 25-51, doesn't figure to get any easier, though, with Prince Fielder joining the rival Rangers and Robinson Cano among a handful of acquisitions made by the Mariners. While the A's should contend for another division title and the Rangers and Angels have deep enough rosters to contend, the Astros want to start a steady climb in that direction. They plan to do it by building around their talented young corps of players and by adding veterans when needed. Eventually, the Astros want to stand toe-to-toe with the A's and the Rangers, and they promise they won't be shy about spending serious money when it's time to compete. For now, Astros can hope that 2014 will serve as a window to an even brighter future. The Astros, as expected, head into 2014 with many key questions. 10. Are Jarred Cosart, Brett Oberholtzer and Brad Peacock the real deal? The three rookies were rock-solid in the rotation in the second half of last season, giving the Astros enough confidence in their abilities that Houston felt comfortable trading 23-year-old Jordan Lyles to the Rockies. They'll return to anchor a rotation that includes newcomer Scott Feldman and a bevy of other arms competing for a spot, including Dallas Keuchel and Alex White, among others. 9. Will this be the year Scott Feldman finally throws 200 innings? Signed to a three-year deal in December to serve as the veteran presence in the Astros rotation, Feldman has never thrown more than 190 innings in his five years as a healthy starting pitcher. He topped out at 189 2/3 in 2009 with Texas, but the Astros brought him to Houston to eat innings and take some of the pressure off their younger arms in the rotation. 8. What can we expect out of Jose Altuve? It was a hit-and-miss year for Altuve, who signed a contract extension midway through last season. His batting average and on-base percentage slumped in 2013, but he should benefit from the signing of Dexter Fowler, who will hit first in the lineup. That will allow Altuve to settle into the No. 2 hole in the order after being moved around the top three spots last season. 7. Where have you been, Chad Qualls? Qualls, who was drafted and developed by the Astros and pitched for them in the 2005 World Series, made an unlikely return to Houston when he signed a two-year deal with an option for 2016 in December. Since leaving the Astros in 2007, Qualls has pitched for seven teams, so he finally has some stability. The Astros expect him, at 35 years old, to be a leader for their young bullpen. 6. Is Jonathan Villar the answer at shortstop? We saw the best and worst of Villar in 2013. He made his Major League debut in July and dazzled with his speed -- including an amazing straight steal of home in Baltimore -- and befuddled with some of his baserunning gaffes. Villar's hands aren't the greatest, but he has enough tools to earn a full-season look at shortstop -- a position top prospects Nolan Fontana and Carlos Correa occupy in the Minor Leagues and could be knocking at the door soon. 5. Can Chris Carter cut down on his strikeouts? Carter, whom the Astros acquired from the A's in February, has enough power to warrant giving him another look in 2014 despite his high whiff rate. He struck out a club-record 212 times last season, but he led the team in homers and RBIs. The Astros' lineup would benefit if Carter were able to put the ball in play more, and he's worked hard to try to become a complete hitter. He'll have a full 2014 season to try to get it done. 4. Who will close games? The Astros left the Winter Meetings still in search of a veteran closer, so there is no answer just yet. The bottom line is they need someone with some closing experience at the back end of a bullpen that led the league in blown saves in 2013. Jose Veras, who was their closer for the first half of the season before being traded away, has been given a contract offer, and the team has looked at a handful of other relievers, including Houston resident Jesse Crain. 3. How will Dexter Fowler impact the lineup? Astros manager Bo Porter said at the Winter Meetings that the newly acquired Fowler would hit leadoff next season. That will give the Astros a set leadoff hitter after seeing four players make at least 23 starts in the No. 1 hole in the order last season. Fowler has a career on-base percentage of .365 and has some pop, so he'll immediately become one of the team's best offensive weapons. 2. Can Jason Castro stay healthy and improve on 2013? Castro, who missed all of the 2011 season following major knee surgery and battled some nagging knee and foot injuries in 2012, looked like a different player in 2013 because he was completely healthy. He did have a cyst drained and removed from his knee late in the season, but there's no reason to believe he won't show up to camp at 100 percent and primed to build off the strong numbers he posted last season. 1. When will George Springer make his debut? Ah, the million-dollar question. You knew it was coming. Springer, one of the team's top prospects who put up huge numbers in Double-A last season and later Triple-A, should make his long-awaited Houston debut in 2014, but when? The chances of seeing him on Opening Day lessened when the club traded for Fowler to play center field, which is Springer's position. The club hasn't ruled out Springer in right, but since he hasn't done it much, it wouldn't be a shock to see him start in right field in Triple-A. Mark it down: He will make his debut in 2014, but exactly when remains anyone's guess.
always. even if i complain about being miserable after the euphoria that was 2004/2005, it's still baseball and the home team. just please, not another 100 loss season. 90 Ls is ok just not 100.
Always, of course. The Astros still won't be very good this year, but they'll be infinitely better than what they were for the past 3 years. Even if my excitement gets drained, which will very likely occur, I still have the Astros minor league system and its embarrassment of riches to fall back upon.
Yep, I've been a little more excited for the start of every season starting in 2012 when we actually started heading in the right direction as a franchise and stopped spinning our wheels, and now the rebuild is almost done. The Astros actually improved last season, but the soul crushing incompetence of the bullpen undermined it. They have become a joke to most people, so when they start winning and become trendy again it will be that much sweeter for those of us who stayed.
Hopefully they can get the TV stuff straightened out so the folks down in Houston (and those of us around the state who used to be able to watch on FSN) can see this team start to grow and evolve. I'm going to try and swing by Spring Training next month when I'm down in Orlando for a conference. Anyone have any tips on when to get there and where to go?
Since the Springer stash for cash waiting period is almost finally complete, it will be up to the Astros on whether or not they're trying to extend arbitration eligible time, or simply trying to get an extra year of club control. If its just club control, they only need to keep him down an additional 11 days of the season. If its for super-2 status (or arbitration eligibility), he'll probably need to stay down for a little more than 3 months. The following article goes over it pretty well as it applied to the Will Myers situation in Tampa. http://www.draysbay.com/2013/3/18/4117886/wil-myers-and-super-2 Also, glad to hear there will be another fabricated "excuse" besides stating the obvious... we've now moved passed the rule 5 draft (which was excuse # 36) to that he will need some time to acclimate to RF since the Astros got Fowler (even though we all know that the adjustment from CF to RF is far easier than the other way around... and as it is, I'd probably want Springer in CF vs. Fowler anyways).
Springer has RF experience and has 3 months before opening day. It seems a ludicrous suggestion from Tags.
Not necessarily excited for the Major League team in the sense of watching every game, and dedicating time and money to them, but I am certainly excited for what the future holds. This will be the first time that I will pay more attention to the development the players in the minors than I will to the team that plays in MMP. I'm not saying I'm not going to root for the Astros, I'm just saying that it's even more exciting to see our youth develop.
I am pumped about going to the game. I am not pumped about playing the AL or the huge changes they make. I dislike "rebuilding" or "overhauling" teams. Damn crybabies!
The Stros before the season starts is the one thing that I always have irrational optimism about. I always think there's a chance to surprise. I think that's more possible this year than the last several. A lot of MLB-caliber players on the MLB roster for the first time in awhile on opening day, a rebuilt pen, and I'm actually looking forward to seeing our staff this year. Could be a sneaky good staff. So, yes, I'm excited as usual, but there's not much that can happen this year that would disappoint me too much. It's a bonus year, in my mind. It's gonna start getting more and more exciting at a rapid rate though, that's for sure. Oh, and I wish I would watch the games on my TV set.
Always. Just hope I get to see games on tv in Austin this season. I believe OKC opens the season @ Round Rock, so I'll be there for sure, Springer or not. On Springer, if it's 11 days to gain that extra year...fine. 3 months is just ridiculous. It's time to give him his shot.
I always think maybe they will surprise. This is the first year in a while that I can recall the Astros coming off a bad September, so that has dampened my enthusiasm a bit.
My wish list for 2014: Springer to solidify himself as a good ball player Brett Wallace to be gone by the end of the year Jon Singleton to have a bounce back year Appel and Asher Alphabet look like the real deal. And finally the big one: A season of 75+ wins for the Astros!!!!! I guess I'm a little too optimistic.
Yeah 75 is a bit much, I'd personally put the over under at about 67. Which sadly would be a massive improvement.
Pen is completely overhauled, Feldman will hopefully bring added stability to the rotation, Fowler, Springer, etc... There are enough changes to trick ourselves into believing for a few weeks. :grin:
And then for a few weeks after the July 4th break when Springer finally gets promoted... Difference between us and the Rays is that the Rays didn't "need" Myers to stay in contention (but he certainly bolstered their lineup)... Astros need some quality OF play from the start. Just hoping Springer doesn't need much of an adjustment period... but I'll take the extra year of club control if he is indeed a star (don't really care about the super-2 unless we plan on being super cheap and start trading players with arbitration eligibility left to avoid paying them the arbitration raises).
The first week of January is too early for me to get excited about anything baseball. It will come though. By spring training maybe. The bullpen looks to be better at a glance
