It is time to predict were the Astros will be at the end of the 2009 season last year i was off by 13 wins I said they would only win 73 they won 86 so i have to give credit were credit is due but i don't think they made any improvements to the team and it will cost them so my prediction for 2009 80-82 forth place NL central
84-78 in the wildcard race the last month of the season Oswalt 19-13 Hampton 12-8 with DL time Positive surprises Bourn posts .350 OBP with 40+ steals 3b platoon combines for 20 hr/75 RBI Wandy 16-11 3.90 ERA
I like Major's post. Last year I predicted 80-82 wins. This year, I think more like 78-80 wins, but I'm hoping for the surprises Major has listed, as they're not unreasonable in the least. The Astros' all-time record is currently 3738-3747. As such, here's hoping for a miraculous 10-over-.500 finish (not likely), and they will be back over .500 for the first time since some point I believe early in 2006 or 2005, when they were there for like one game. First game is April 6 v the Cubs! Can't come soon enough!
I'll go with last years record, 86-75. They're essentially the same team as last year. Starting pitching is questionable, a possible black hole at the catcher's spot. If Kaz and Lee stay healthy for most of the season and Bourn picks up his numbers, that could compensate for the loss of production in Ty. If they can actually manage to get off to a good start, which hasn't been done by an Astros team in a good long while, they may have a chance at the postseason.
They have essentially the same starters from last year (without the 1/2 season of Wolf). Oswalt had a forgettable 1st half of the season. The bullpen should be the same or a bit better. With the exception of Wolf and Hawkins, no other pitcher consistently overachieved. No reason to expect the pitching to be worse than last year, and I suspect it will be noticeably better.
If Hampton and Wandy both have very good seasons, we could snatch the WC. It will be tough otherwise. I don't see Moehler repeating what he did as a starter last season. I do hope Backe improves. He obviously has to if he wants to remain a starter. I'm sticking with 76 wins but starters not named Roy O. will determine if we do better or worse than that.
