http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2003/preview03/hou.html This is what ESPN has to say about the Stos'... Mark my words...World Series, here we come...
Are you serious...Have you been keeping up w/ the team this spring... You know we're going to score, but we're also going to have great pitching... This is going to be a special year...Not only will they win the Division, but they'll get past the 1st round, finally and keep winning all the way...
I hope all scream at me late this summer and all fall long, but I just don't see the 'stros finishing ahead of St Louis. Or the Cubs. I wouldn't bet cash money Houston will beat out the Reds or even Pitt. I hope I am W R O N G !
I hope you're joking. We "won" the Grapefruit League in 1991, and then went on to go 65-97 that season.
Hey maybe we will be the Anaheim Angels of this year. I believe they didn't win a playoff series before last year's miracle ride. I just wish we had another elite pitcher though. A young A.J Burnett would look good in an Astros unis don't yall think. He was great last year.
You think ESPN could at least get stats right. Lugo didn't make 12 errors in 60 games, he only made 8 in 84.
If there is anything more meaningless in sports than spring training, I have yet to find it... Astros will finish 2nd behind the Cubs this season, possibly third behind St. Louis if they get healthy.
Yeah just like Moises Alou did and Vinny Castilla, and Ken Caminetti, and Randy Johnson........ see a pattern here? Forget about all these so called put-us-over-the-top additions, everything still depends on the killer B's producing in the playoffs. I can't figure out why the media has so doing so well in projections. You guys think Kent will do it for us? We have a gaping hole at third, nobody knows what to expect out of Hidalgo, Biggio is playing a new position, and the entire rotation outside of Oswalt and Wade Miller has health questions. Don't get me wrong I love the 'Stros and will root them on all year long even though all I get to see is Phillies games. (Who look good this year by the way). It's just after watching the B's bats fail time and time again in the playoffs, I've become convinced the Astros will never make it out of the first round.
The gaping hole outplayed all other national league clubs statistically. http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/2002/1121/1464082.html
Hmm... interesting, but I still don't consider either Ensberg or Blum the answer there though. Perhaps this is more of an indication of the lack of talent at third in the NL rather than our dominance.
Well, since our combination of 3B was the most productive last season...exactly who would you consider to be the answer at 3B?
I'm really excited about the Astros this season. For the first time in a long time, the front office looks to be extremely competent, and the ownership seems interested in winning the World Series, not just merely content to win the weak division. I'm hoping for a Stros-Sox WS as usual, but this time I'm hoping the Stros win. Give 'em hell Roy.
The front office has been competent for a long time, especially since Hinsicker arrived. The Astros have finished 1st or 2nd every year since 1994 with the exception of 2000. Hunsicker has done quite well with his budget, especially in regards to picking up bench players, middle relievers and 4th/5th starters. The front office has done an incredible job with their international system, scouting and minor league system (arguably the best in baseball).
Don't know, we've had a revolving door at third for so long, I'd just like to see someone prove themselves, or stay healthy long enough to solidify the spot.
Platoon. I think Engsberg will probably surpass Blum sometime this season. If he doesn't, Blum will still be a good #2 hitter. I don't expect the Stros to get the same production this year at third, but it should still be in the upper third of NL at third. I have pretty low expectations out of most of the NL 3rd basemen especially if the Astros wanted one to bat second. Maybe the AL has some good 3rd basemen, but I only watch NL. "Ghostmen" are more legitimate baseball players than DH's. If the Astros have a gaping hole, it is short. Lugo played better last year, but still isn't a good SS, IMHO. The thing I fear most is that the Astros now have two Lugo's.
Should be Platoon with Blum to Engsberg ratio at 2:1 to start season. I don't think either one will give the Astros a competitive disadvantage thugh.
