Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Houston Astros Season 21 Outlook

Season 20
Won/Loss (place in division) & Playoffs:  48-114 (4th), missed playoffs
Offense:  610 runs (16th)
Pitching:  5.06 ERA (16th)

Major ChangesFA Departures:  SP Felipe Borbon, SP Alfredo Guerrero, LR Red Bolton,

FA Signees:  IF Damaso Baez, SP Santiago Vizcaino
Rule 5:  SP Bucky Ojeda (#1),  RP Raymond Cobb (#33)

Promoted:  C Nate Getz, 3B Rodney Scott, CF Homer Bellhorn, SP Carlos Benavente, SP Don Shibata, SP Charles Mays, 2B Luis Hernandez, RP Mike Powell,

Lurking in AAA:  IF Jin-Chi Donald, SP Tony Moya, SP Robin Buford

Season 21 Outlook
Things are looking up in Houston.  After all those years of tank...er, rebuilding, the prospects are arriving.  Get this...20 players on the major-league roster are 1st, 2nd or 3rd-year players.

Are any of them any good?  Some.  New C Nick Getz is a defensive whiz and will hit with some power.  2B Luis Hernandez will be a competent lead-off man.  3B Rodney Scott chips in more power, although he may prove to be a defensive liability.  SP Carlos Benavente could be a ROY Contender this year and a CY contender eventually.  And the 2 gems of the system, SP Tony Moya and IF Jin-Chi Donald, are ML_ready and should get the call early in the season.

Will they challenge this year?  Doubtful but who knows?  There's serious talent here.

No comments: