Do you see the Houston Astros a playoff contender next season?

Answer 1

I absolutely see them competing for the NL Central or Wild Card (most likely their division, its rly weak).

The upgrade to their offense is enormous. The biggest jump in MLB was made by the Astros on offense. Their lineup should be pretty sick...

1.) Michael Bourn CF (.295, 6 HR's, 52 RBI, 47 SB)
2.) Hunter Pence RF (.312, 22 HR's, 89 RBI, 21 SB)
3.) Lance Berkman 1B (.308, 41 HR's, 129 RBI)
4.) Carlos Lee LF (.298, 36 HR's, 118 RBI)
5.) Miguel Tejada SS (.303, 29 HR's, 103 RBI)
6.) Ty Wigginton 3B (.287, 23 HR's, 84 RBI)
7.) Kaz Matsui 2B (.292, 8 HR's, 52 RBI, 17 SB)
8.) Brad Ausmus C (.249, 4 HR's, 33 RBI)

The above numbers are my "projections".

That is a tough lineup especially in that ballpark of theirs. Michael Bourn is one of the best kept secrets in baseball IMO. The talent to become one of the best defensive CF's and the speed to be one of the best leadoff men in baseball. The addition of Tejada is huge. I know he isnt the same Tejada that was the MVP, but he wasnt happy in Baltimore so i think that changes alot of things. I think w/ that ballpark he has the capability to hit 30 HR's. Carlos Lee had an outstanding yr last season no reason why he wont again. Berkman was WAYYY down last season dont expect him to do anything under .300 w/ 40 HR this season. Kaz will thrive in a small market, i mean he isnt a great player but he is a solid second basemen. Ty Wigginton is a hell of an offensive player w/ the possibility of .280 w/ 25 HR's. Then, the man, Hunter Pence. This kid is a stud, and at the plate he will help anchor that lineup even as just a 2nd yr player.

Their rotation is anchored by the NL's Johan Santana, none other than ROY OSWALT. Arguably the best pitcher in the game. He has never had a losing season, he has a winning % around 65% or better, he has won 10 or more games every single yr, he has never had an ERA over 3.49 (stunning), and he will be in the running for the Cy Young w/ this offense behind him. After that it does get iffy, Woody Williams is a terrible 2 IMO, i wish he wasnt there, but you have to realize last season was one of his worst and it will not happen again. But thank God Jason Jennings isnt back, he was brutal last yr. Wandy Rodriguez is solid and young, only going to get better. He has the makeup to be a very good 3. Brandon Backe is a stud if healthy, the guy was extremely impressive in his playoff stint and has the stuff to be solid. Chris Sampson is a really young pitcher who was their best in the minors. He has the makeup and ability to be their #2 down the road.

1.) Roy Oswalt (19-6 3.12 ERA)
2.) Woody Williams (14-12 4.10 ERA)
3.) Brandon Backe (13-9 4.23 ERA)
4.) Wandy Rodriguez (15-8 3.96 ERA)
5.) Chris Sampson (11-10 4.61 ERA)

Again my "projections".

Then we make our way to the bullpen, where we have upgraded in a MAJOR way. Getting Jose Valverde and getting rid of Brad Lidge was massive. We got one of the best closers in the game, we have to be happy with that. Plus the addition of Oscar Villareal and Geoff Geary will really help out the pen. Doug Brocail is a good addition. Then we have some great young pitchers like Fernando Nieve, Paul Estrada, Jack Cassel, Ryan Houston, Wesley Wright, those guys will be heard of soon (Nieve could possibly be a starter). Valverde will finish w/ 38-45 saves again this season b/c that offense will score enough runs to get him the ball late in the game.

Moving on, to the bench. We have depleted the bench giving up Lamb (huge mistake) and Scott, Burke, and Palmeiro (another big mistake) but we have gotten a lil help with Reggie Abercrombie (great defensive replacement), Darin Erstad (not a bad sign for just 1 mill), Mark Loretta (great job keeping him, hell of a PH), Geoff Blum (capable if giving great AB's), JR Towles (STUD catcher), and Humberto Quintero (another solid catcher, great behind the plate).

Im feeling confident abt the Astros. Even with a 88 win season they could take the Central easily. The Brewers have their problems, the Cardinals are WAY down, the Cubs are the Cubs they are always overrated, the Reds have problems all the time, and the Pirates well.....they suck. That pitching probably isnt good enough for them to make any real noise in the playoffs, but that offense will give teams fits throughout the regular season and will do enough to get us into the postseason. Although an early exit will prob. be the case, they are def. making the necessary strides to make this a better ball club!

Answer 2

Yes....

...and they're better than the Cubs and Cardinals...

Answer 3

They will be competitive, but the play for now approach will be painful. With Tejada, he has been in steady decline, and if he was juicing, the decline will continue. They picked up Bourn to replace a guy in Josh Anderson who had essentially the same skills. They have to commit to Towles over Ausmus or the catching position will be a screaming vortex of suck for another season. I know he's great with the staff - make him the pitching coach, just get him out of the batting order! Berkman is tremendous, and Hunter Pence will be a huge performer. I hope Lee stays healthy, and Wiggington plays way better than his history would suggest.
The pitching staff, other than Oswalt and Valverde, is really scary. Woody is a career ending arm injury waiting to happen, and Wandy still needs to learn that more strikes are a good thing. They have traded off the best minor league pitching staff in baseball over the last 2 years in losing Hirsh, Troy Patton, Matt Albers, and Mitch Talbot... I have followed the Astros since the early 80's, and I am prepared to be very frustrated this season.

Answer 4

i think theyll contend but eventually loose out, they will probably be very competitive for the division and the wild card
i think the brewers will win the central and the cubs will edge out the 'stros, braves, mets and nats for the wild card

Answer 5

They are going to be an above average team next season. The Astros have a good hitting lineup, but their starting rotation looks iffy. I would say they finish with a 90-72 record.

Answer 6

They'll contend for a playoff spot, but they wont make it.

I think they'll finish behind the Chicago Cubs for sure.

They'll have a similar record with the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers.

They'll battle for the Wild Card spot with the Mets/Phillies in the NL East and Diamondbacks/Rockies/Padres/Dodgers in the NL West (and the Cardinals/Brewers in their division).

Answer 7

yep

Answer 8

We didn't in prove our starting rotation that much but we picked up some pitchers that would make a big difference. We are counting on Backe and Woody to pounce back from injury and a bad season. We're also counting on Wandy and Sampson to improve and step up even more. And with the strength of the line-up Oswalt has a good chance of being a 20 game winner.

The game plan GM Wade is going for is that we want to win in 2008. He's made some moves that makes the over offense CRAZY heres the line-up

Michael Bourn
Kazuo Matsui
Miguel Tejada
Lance Berkman
Carlos Lee
Hunter Pence
Ty Wigginton
J.R. Towles
Pitcher

Bourn and Matsui at speed and great stealing ability at the top of the line-up. Tejada, who is a hard pull hitter, is in the best right hander pull hitter park in the league. Lee and Berkman are gonna put up 25-30 homers, 85-120 rbi's a piece. Hunter Pence is fast, swings a good stick, and gets on a lot. And Towles has some pop.

The line-up is stacked and you can't pick around anyone cause there's a solid player behind them. This line-up will bring plenty of run support for the weak rotation.

It's hard to say what will happen because of injury's and the division their in. But the astros have a good chance of doing something big this year,

Answer 9

Yes I do.

Answer 10

As of now, every team is a contender. It is a possibility but I dont see the Tejada trade helping them. They gave up 5 players for 1 old and steroid using player. I think Tejada is just going to end up being a distraction and not helping the team.