It's a good thing the Astros are getting out of the Central. Though they did win the NL Pennant in 2005, they've recently struggled to compete against the likes of the Cardinals, Brewers, Reds, and Cubs. However, AL West fans, this Astro team is not a doormat, and they're going to enter the wild west with guns blazing, wanting to prove themselves against what has become an elite division.
The roller coaster the Astros have been on over the last decade is pretty unbelievable. They went from best in the NL and a new ballpark to worst in the majors and a team for sale. Now that the new ownership is in place, this is a team with new direction, new hope, and a new desire to win.... and a new logo/mascot perhaps?
The Astros started last last season 0-5 and were never over .500 once the entire season. Sound familiar? It should. They started 2010 0-6, but unlike 2010, they were never able to right the ship. They had some good pieces that will be back this season, but really, 2012 will be a work in progress for the 'Stros.
So what do the Astros bring to the table for 2012? A whole lot of youth. Remember how we discussed the youth of the Royals lineup? The Astros may take the cake for least experienced lineup. Returning from last year but moving to first base for 2012 is Carlos Lee (.275/18/94). And now, to wow you: Lee is the only returning starter from last year's opening day lineup. He also is the only player in the lineup to appear in 90 or more games last year. Yeah. That's how inexperienced this lineup is. Lee had a down year last year in a week lineup, but the 35 year old may not have much left in the tank anyway. Jed Lowrie (.252/6/36) is the big signing of the off-season, having been acquired from the Red Sox for former closer Mark Melancon.
The overhaul WITT predicted last year happened. By July, Pence, Bourn, Barmes, and Hall were all wearing different uniforms. What resulted by September was a pretty similar lineup to the one we'll see this April. Catching is former Stanford standout Jason Castro, but he batted .205 last year. The other soon to be household names include J.D. Martinez, Jordan Schafer, Brian Bogusevic, Jimmy Paredes, and Jose Altuve. Ages: 24, 25, 28, 23, 21. In limited time last year, all faired pretty well. Four out of the five hit over .270 in limited at bats. Martinez hit 6 home runs in only 205 at bats, and could be a 20-25 HR guy this season.
On the pitching side, the outlook is a bit brighter. Four of the five starters return from last year from a pitching staff that had a 4.51 ERA, worst in the national league.... uh oh. Nevermind, things may not look so great. Well.... it's a little better, these four returning pitchers' ERA was 4.23, which would have been good for 14th in the National League. But hey, it could turn around. Happ and Norris can only get better. Wandy Rodriguez has to play better than the meager effort last season. And Brett Myers, though only 7-14 last year, continues to sport good K/9 and K/BB ratios among other peripherals. As for the bullpen... yeah... young.
Here is the Astros expected opening day starting roster:
C: Jason Castro
1B Carlos Lee
2B Jose Altuve
SS Jed Lowrie
3B Jose Paredes
LF J.D. Martinez
CF Jordan Schafer
RF Brian Bogusevic
P1 Brett Myers
P2 Wandy Rodriguez
P3 Bud Norris
P4 Henry Sosa
P5 J.A. Happ
Cl Brandon Lyon
Best Case Scenario:
From last year:
"The team is sold to a local buyer committed to keeping the team in Houston."
This came true! But for this year, that owner, Jerry Crane, stays the course and lets his youth develop for the next season. But they do ever better than that, they produce some of the best young talent in 2012, and, under Lee's leadership, the lineup gels into a work of art, with everyone contributing top to bottom. Martinez becomes an overnight star as the Astros vie for the NL Central crown all season. Wandy returns to fine form, and Norris and Happ become the pitchers the scouts thought they could be. Though they narrowly miss the playoffs, they go into 2013 as a fan favorite in Houston, and a sexy pick to win the AL West their first year in it.
Worst Case Scenario:
Things go from bad to worse for the Astros. Lee goes down with injury. Rodriguez and Myers get traded for junior high school prospect rights. Martinez, Castro, Paredes and the gang struggle to hit over the Mendoza (Jeff Mathis) line. New owner Jerry Crane panics and finds a way around the union to actually let fans pay him to play for the Astros, figuring correctly that adult softball players might do better than his team. It's a long summer in Houston, as the season threatens to be historically bad. The Astros go into the off season with little hope but to wait for the next attempt at a rebuild and enter the AL West as a doormat for the resurgent Oakland Athletics. And just like last year, the Pirates shock the world and finish in 4th place, forcing the Astros to the very bottom of the NL Central (that's right, the Cubs finish fifth).
What Will Probably Go Down
69-93 sixth place in the NL Central, but with a lot of promise!
And your lovely song of the post!
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