I've been out of the Astros loop for a while; I really didn't pay much attention at all last season, but I'm looking to get back into the 2009 squad. It seems that the general feel is that we may be a decent team, but we're certainly not back at the level where we want to be yet. Is this accurate? I was also wondering if one of you kind and knowledgeable Astros fans here would clue me in to our new-look lineup, and maybe post some thoughts on how we look at each position based on what you saw last year and what you've seen so far out of Spring Training. Just a quick run-down would be great.
check other post for linup ideas a few rumours are going on on team signings actually the team still need pitching.
It's always possible if some of the older player signings have a resurgence and some of our younger players show a jump in development, but barring those things I see the Astros being pretty bad this year. I just don't have any real faith in any of our starters other than Roy Oswalt. Perhaps I'm being overly cynical from the Spring Training record...but I haven't found too much of anything to get excited about so far for 2009.
They won the first spring training game. Their current spring record is 1-15. But there have been 3 ties so that 1-15 record is a little deceiving.
The Astros are stuck in between completely rebuilding and trying to win now...which means that they will suck and they won't be fun to watch.
I think they will be terrible but should actually be fun to watch. You've got guys on the team who compete hard night in and night out. It's tough to watch when you have a mediocre team where the guys just go through the motions.
I don't think they can be the worst team in baseball history as long as Oswalt stays healthy. I can see them anywhere from a 90 win team to a 70 win team. Let's go with the middle there and say 80-82.
No, but the current winless streak is reminding me of the Orioles' 21-game skid to start that season.
From the Chron today, the worst Spring records and the ensuing season records. Only 4 of the 13 teams went on to have a winning record. The odds are that this will be a terrible season.
http://footer.mlblogs.com/ So that prompted me to check the win-loss records from recent Astros Spring Trainings. Their World Series season in 2005 produced a 13-14 mark during Spring Training. In fact, the only non-losing exhibition season the Astros have had in the last five years occurred in '07, when they were 18-11-1. And, they went on to have their worst season since 2000.
A quick run-down of the off-season: Drayton is counting his dollars. He's forcing Ed Wade to search in the bargain bin for pitchers and reserve infielders. So, we picked up "veterans" (a synonym for "old guys") Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz for our pitching staff, and an "veterans" Jason Michaels and Aaron Boone for the infield. We suck in spring training. As of right now, we are 2-16-3. We have almost no offense to speak of. Kazuo Matsui and Michael Bourn have been abysmal at the leadoff, and we've had to hitting from our catchers to speak of. To add to that, even the veterans are slumping (Berkman, Lee, Tejada). How are we fixing things? First, Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz are having a great spring. They may end up being great bargains and great pick-ups by Ed Wade. Second, Aaron Boone is having open heart surgery and will be gone the entire season. Chris Johnson, a prospect from Class AAA, has shown some pop in his bat and an ability to hit, so may end up getting the starting job at third with Blum backing him up. Third, we signed another "veteran" Ivan Rodriguez as a 1-year rental until Castro or Towles come of age (my money is on Castro). So, how are we looking overall? My guess? Third in the central behind the Cardinals and Cubs and out of the playoffs. Average, at best.
I think we could be ok. The World Champion Phillies rotation featured: Cole Hamels 3.09ERA Brett Myers 4.55ERA Jamie Moyer 3.71ERA Kyle Kendrick 5.49ERA Adam Eaton/Joe Blanton 5.80/4.20 ERA I'd say our rotation is actually fairly comparable to that. Our offense is probably one player short of theirs. Believe.
