PITCHERS:
SP-- Roy Oswalt
SP-- Brandon Backe
SP-- Wandy Rodriguez
SP-- Chris Sampson
SP-- Woody Williams
SP-- Brandon Backe
SP-- Wandy Rodriguez
SP-- Chris Sampson
SP-- Woody Williams
P--Felipe Paulino
P-- Doug Brocail
P-- Jack Cassevo
P-- Fernando Nieve
P-- Stephen Randolph
P-- Oscar Villarreal
P-- Felipe Paulino
P-- Chad Poronto
CL-- Jose Valverde
Position Players:
P-- Doug Brocail
P-- Jack Cassevo
P-- Fernando Nieve
P-- Stephen Randolph
P-- Oscar Villarreal
P-- Felipe Paulino
P-- Chad Poronto
CL-- Jose Valverde
Position Players:
C-- Brad Ausmus
C-- J. R. Towles/Humberto Quintero
1B-- Lance Berkman
2B-- Kaz Matsui
3B-- Ty Wiggington
SS-- Miguel Tejada
OF-- Carlos Lee
OF-- Hunter Pence
OF-- Michael Bourne
Ut.-- Darin Erstad/Jose Cruz, Jr.
Ut.-- Geoff Blum
Ut.-- Mark Lorretta
Ut.-- Tomas Perez
Reserves:
The Astros are going to struggle this year with pitching depth. They have a lot of arms, yet they are young and inexperienced arms (especially out of the pen). For the position players, they have a lot of veterans, mixed with rookie and one year players. Erstad, Cruz, Jr., and Geoff Blumm can fill in all of the outfield positions, if rookie Michael Bourne and hot prospect Hunter Pence (if healthy), do not perform. Erstad, and Blumm can also fill in at first, if needed. However, the Astros do have a plethora of young and talented position players. Tomas Perez, Mark Loretta, and Yordance Ramirez can fill in up the middle, especially if Miguel Tejada has more trouble on Capitol Hill (for the steroid investigation and "Mitchell Report"). Overall, the Astros have the extra bats and defense, in the field, to keep their players fresh and substitute for injuries, if need be.
Rookies:
The Astros, as said above, have plenty of talent down on the farm, and some that will help this year. Justin "J. R. " Towles, is a 23-year-old catcher, who blazed thru the minor league system last year (hitting at stops at AA, AAA, and with the big club: .325'ish, with 12 homers, 63 RBI's, and stealing 11 bases). He will hit at the major league level, with gap power, and could provide ten to fifteen steals, in 2008. He is expected to start over the veteran, Brad Ausmus (who is a more than adequate back-up now). Along with Towles, the 'stros have plenty of first and second year arms, in their pen, and some may impact this year. Pitchers like Chris Sampson (who will start, now that Fernando Nieve is 100% out of the picture, from "Tommy John Surgery") and Felipe Paulinon will help the rotation. Paulino is was a stand out strike out pitcher, in the minors, with a 110:49 K to BB ratio. His line, overall last year, was 112.1 innings pitched, only 6 homers and less than a hit an inning, while striking out 121 batters, in AA.
Outlook Out of Spring:
The Houston Astros have a mix of veteran and young talent. However, they have little starting pitching (past Oswalt, if healthy), and pitching wins games. In a tough Central Division this year, with the Brewers, Cubs, and possibly the Cardinals ahead of them, they will have to get the maximum out of what they have. They feel as though Kaz Matsui is an upgrade over the staple Craig Biggio (who retired, as of now). Erstad, Cruz, Jr. feels energized for the first time (because he is able to play with his dad, who is the first base coach), Tomas Perez, Blum, and Loretta will provide plenty of quality at-bats, but not enough pop for the buck. Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman, Tejada and Ty Wiggington (picked up from Tampa Bay) will be expected to pound home most of the runs. However, if worst case scenario happens, which is; Tejada loses time to the "Mitchell Report," Wiggington does not have the working power in the NL, and/or injuries take their toll on any of the above, then the Astros could be cellar bound. Only to look up at the Cubs, Brewers, and Cardinals.
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C-- J. R. Towles/Humberto Quintero
1B-- Lance Berkman
2B-- Kaz Matsui
3B-- Ty Wiggington
SS-- Miguel Tejada
OF-- Carlos Lee
OF-- Hunter Pence
OF-- Michael Bourne
Ut.-- Darin Erstad/Jose Cruz, Jr.
Ut.-- Geoff Blum
Ut.-- Mark Lorretta
Ut.-- Tomas Perez
Reserves:
The Astros are going to struggle this year with pitching depth. They have a lot of arms, yet they are young and inexperienced arms (especially out of the pen). For the position players, they have a lot of veterans, mixed with rookie and one year players. Erstad, Cruz, Jr., and Geoff Blumm can fill in all of the outfield positions, if rookie Michael Bourne and hot prospect Hunter Pence (if healthy), do not perform. Erstad, and Blumm can also fill in at first, if needed. However, the Astros do have a plethora of young and talented position players. Tomas Perez, Mark Loretta, and Yordance Ramirez can fill in up the middle, especially if Miguel Tejada has more trouble on Capitol Hill (for the steroid investigation and "Mitchell Report"). Overall, the Astros have the extra bats and defense, in the field, to keep their players fresh and substitute for injuries, if need be.
Rookies:
The Astros, as said above, have plenty of talent down on the farm, and some that will help this year. Justin "J. R. " Towles, is a 23-year-old catcher, who blazed thru the minor league system last year (hitting at stops at AA, AAA, and with the big club: .325'ish, with 12 homers, 63 RBI's, and stealing 11 bases). He will hit at the major league level, with gap power, and could provide ten to fifteen steals, in 2008. He is expected to start over the veteran, Brad Ausmus (who is a more than adequate back-up now). Along with Towles, the 'stros have plenty of first and second year arms, in their pen, and some may impact this year. Pitchers like Chris Sampson (who will start, now that Fernando Nieve is 100% out of the picture, from "Tommy John Surgery") and Felipe Paulinon will help the rotation. Paulino is was a stand out strike out pitcher, in the minors, with a 110:49 K to BB ratio. His line, overall last year, was 112.1 innings pitched, only 6 homers and less than a hit an inning, while striking out 121 batters, in AA.
Outlook Out of Spring:
The Houston Astros have a mix of veteran and young talent. However, they have little starting pitching (past Oswalt, if healthy), and pitching wins games. In a tough Central Division this year, with the Brewers, Cubs, and possibly the Cardinals ahead of them, they will have to get the maximum out of what they have. They feel as though Kaz Matsui is an upgrade over the staple Craig Biggio (who retired, as of now). Erstad, Cruz, Jr. feels energized for the first time (because he is able to play with his dad, who is the first base coach), Tomas Perez, Blum, and Loretta will provide plenty of quality at-bats, but not enough pop for the buck. Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman, Tejada and Ty Wiggington (picked up from Tampa Bay) will be expected to pound home most of the runs. However, if worst case scenario happens, which is; Tejada loses time to the "Mitchell Report," Wiggington does not have the working power in the NL, and/or injuries take their toll on any of the above, then the Astros could be cellar bound. Only to look up at the Cubs, Brewers, and Cardinals.
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