charlie 3Houston Astros
March 10th 2010 14:51
Can the Houston Astros contend for a playoff berth in 2010? Let's take a closer look at what they can or can't bring to the table.
Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez, and Brian Moehler are a good one two three punch. Add the new addition of Brett Myers and you are set. People think he will be the reason the Stros will be succusful. I think it was a great move on their part and as long as he pulls out 13 wins Houston will be sitting pretty. Do not forget about young righty Bud Norris. He rounds out the rotation with a telling upside. Myers is a veteren with a meaningful downside. He will produce as long as he is healthy.
Now to the lineup with the dangorous foursome of Michael Bourn, Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, and Hunter Pence. The rest of the lineup is nothing to write home about. Berkman and Lee are getting older but could still be great trade bait if the Astros are not in the playoff race. There is a lack of prospects in the farm system. Tommy Manzella is one of them prospects that i am talking about. Let's keep an eye on him and hope to god i am wrong about the farm system.
The bullpen if you want to call it that will be lacking this year. Last year's workhorse of the pen, Tim Byrdak, will be returning. Byrdak has not played on a decent team in his career which started in 1998. LaTroy Hawkins will not be returning which could be a good thing. Instead Matt Lindstrom will be closer with Brandon Lyon as set up. Not a very scary bullpen at all.
Geoff Blum will be your pinch hitter in 2010. He won the World Series in 2005. I have no idea how any team can consider him a bat off the bench. Geoff is worlds better in the feild than hitting. Maybe by the trade deadline we will be seeing him start over Manzella or even Pedro Feliz.
Lineup
1. Michael Bourne- 2009 Gold Glove Award Winner
2. 2B Kaz Matsui- 1998 Pacific Leauge MVP
3. 1B Lance Berkman- 5x All Star
4. LF Carlos Lee- 3x All Star
5. RF Hunter Pence- 2009 All Star
6. 3B Pedro Feliz- 2008 World Series Champion
7. C J.R. Towles- 31 career RBIs
8. SS Tommy Manzella- 0 career home runs
Rotation
1. Roy Oswalt- 3x All Star
2. Wandy Rodriguez- 51-52 career record
3. Brett Myers- 2008 World Series Champion
4. Brian Moehler- 831 career strikeouts
5. Bud Norris- 2008 Arizona Fall Leauge Rising Star
Prediction: How Towles can start over Humberto Quintero has baffled me. To answer the question that i asked at the beginning of this article no Houston can not contend. The biggest strenght that they have and hopefully build on is the top three in the rotation. The biggest waekness is the middle infeild. the bullpen has holes but can be taken care of. Manzella i'll let prove himself but Matsui is not the guy the Astros need at second. Houston will be in dead last in the N.L. Central anywhere from 21.5 to 30 games out. 65-97 or worse to end 2010.
Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez, and Brian Moehler are a good one two three punch. Add the new addition of Brett Myers and you are set. People think he will be the reason the Stros will be succusful. I think it was a great move on their part and as long as he pulls out 13 wins Houston will be sitting pretty. Do not forget about young righty Bud Norris. He rounds out the rotation with a telling upside. Myers is a veteren with a meaningful downside. He will produce as long as he is healthy.
Now to the lineup with the dangorous foursome of Michael Bourn, Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, and Hunter Pence. The rest of the lineup is nothing to write home about. Berkman and Lee are getting older but could still be great trade bait if the Astros are not in the playoff race. There is a lack of prospects in the farm system. Tommy Manzella is one of them prospects that i am talking about. Let's keep an eye on him and hope to god i am wrong about the farm system.
The bullpen if you want to call it that will be lacking this year. Last year's workhorse of the pen, Tim Byrdak, will be returning. Byrdak has not played on a decent team in his career which started in 1998. LaTroy Hawkins will not be returning which could be a good thing. Instead Matt Lindstrom will be closer with Brandon Lyon as set up. Not a very scary bullpen at all.
Geoff Blum will be your pinch hitter in 2010. He won the World Series in 2005. I have no idea how any team can consider him a bat off the bench. Geoff is worlds better in the feild than hitting. Maybe by the trade deadline we will be seeing him start over Manzella or even Pedro Feliz.
Lineup
1. Michael Bourne- 2009 Gold Glove Award Winner
2. 2B Kaz Matsui- 1998 Pacific Leauge MVP
3. 1B Lance Berkman- 5x All Star
4. LF Carlos Lee- 3x All Star
5. RF Hunter Pence- 2009 All Star
6. 3B Pedro Feliz- 2008 World Series Champion
7. C J.R. Towles- 31 career RBIs
8. SS Tommy Manzella- 0 career home runs
Rotation
1. Roy Oswalt- 3x All Star
2. Wandy Rodriguez- 51-52 career record
3. Brett Myers- 2008 World Series Champion
4. Brian Moehler- 831 career strikeouts
5. Bud Norris- 2008 Arizona Fall Leauge Rising Star
Prediction: How Towles can start over Humberto Quintero has baffled me. To answer the question that i asked at the beginning of this article no Houston can not contend. The biggest strenght that they have and hopefully build on is the top three in the rotation. The biggest waekness is the middle infeild. the bullpen has holes but can be taken care of. Manzella i'll let prove himself but Matsui is not the guy the Astros need at second. Houston will be in dead last in the N.L. Central anywhere from 21.5 to 30 games out. 65-97 or worse to end 2010.
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