Houston Astros

The Astros got hot at almost exactly the right time last year and rode a rich vein of form down the stretch to win a division crown (89-73) and get to the World Series.

Pitching

I’m sure they’d love to have Clemens back (lets face it he’ll take a month off after the WBC and then he’ll have a big cheque placed in his hand and he’ll be back) but with or without him Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte will carry the load logging a tonne of quality innings.

Brandon Backe should provide solid innings behind the big two and then its down to two of three youngsters with Wandy Rodriguez and Ezequiel Astacio first in line after call ups last year but top prospect Jason Hirsh is waiting in the wings.

Middle relief was sometimes a question mark last year but Chad Qualls and Brad Lidge nailed anything that got to the 8th. Lidge might have hit a wall come the World Series and his workload might have to be watched but his combination of a hard fastball and a sharp breaking slider is intimidating and often un-hittable.

Defence

Its amazing how Brad Ausmus keeps coming and back and remains among the very best catchers around. He might not be able to play as many games as he used to but there are very, very few who have his nimbleness behind the dish.

The infield should be solid with Morgan Ensberg and Chris Burke both capable at third and second respectively. What was refreshing last year was that Chris Everett got to play regularly as he is an excellent shortstop but was usually the first victim when the team felt they needed more offence.

The arrival of Preston Wilson gives the team a lot of options in the outfield and most of them improve upon last years trio. Wilson can play both centre and right to a high standard and whether they are happy with Willy Taveras in centre or would like to move him to left they will have a natural set of outfielders for the first time in a long while.

Offence

Chris Burke has long been groomed as Craig Biggio’s heir in the leadoff spot but the team might be reluctant to put him there after posting a mere .309 OBP in his first full year. Taveras gives them another option and failing that Biggio is still around to take it off the elbow.

Preston Wilson was a good addition as he should provide additional power in support of Lance Berkman and Ensberg who were often asked to carry the offensive load last year but still the depth is questionable. Mike Lamb and Jason Lane can provide some pop but there’s not much else.

Rookie Watch

Jason Hirsh is 6-8 and 245 lbs i.e. a big lad, and he exploded up the charts last year. He has a good change to go with a hard slider and mid-90’s fastball that came on leaps and bounds last year as he started to focus more on location than velocity.

Its likely he’ll start the year in AAA but if Clemens doesn’t come back then a spot on the big league roster might be his.

Management

Phil Garner had never really had any real success before last year but had developed a reputation as a players coach. He was brought in as a temporary measure and then stuck when he managed to get this team really playing well. If you take a team to the World Series you can’t be that bad.

Tim Purpura had a tough task following former GM Gerry Hunsicker and spent most of his first off-season handcuffed by trying to work a deal with Carlos Beltran and the team were left in a hole when Beltran signed with the Mets. Much of the top talent from the Astros farm is either with the big club or a few years away so there’s plenty of opportunity for Purpura to make his mark on the club but for now this is still Hunsicker’s team.

Outlook

The Astros had a weak offence last year but still managed to ride career years from Clemens and Pettitte and the usual efforts from Oswalt and Lidge but they also had a lot of luck down the stretch by avoiding injuries and found ways to just stay ahead. Competition will be even tougher this year but while they don’t look that impressive on paper they still managed to get to The Series last year with a similar team so you can’t count them out.