2010 N. L. Central Preview: Astros Take Two More Giant Steps Backward

Not too long ago, this franchise was in the World Series.

Now it seems the front office is in a hurry to become the worst team in its own division, if not in all of baseball. This is an organization going in the WRONG direction, primarily because of bad decision-making in the front office.

They have too much money invested in too few players and have shown a reluctance to trade players when they could get max value for them.

Add to that the dearth of talent in the minor leagues—another responsibility of the ever-incompetent front office—and you have a perfect storm of futility.

Gone is Miguel Tejada, essentially replaced with Pedro Feliz. Gone are closer Jose Valverde and setup man LaTroy Hawkins, replaced by Matt Lindstrom and Brandon Lyon…or Lyon and Lindstrom (as the case may be).

This cannot be the situation Brad Mills dreamt of when he pined away for the opportunity to be the top dog on the field.

Key Additions: Pedro Feliz, Matt Lindstrom, Brandon Lyon, and Brett Myers

Key Subtractions: LaTroy Hawkins, Miguel Tejada, and Jose Valverde

Key Performer, 2010: Matt Lindstrom

Starting Rotation

The Astros rotation is not especially strong.

It is anchored by RHP Roy Oswalt, who is looking to rebound from a very un-Oswalt-like season (8-6, 4.12) and southpaw Wandy Rodriguez, who has improved in each of the last three seasons, culminating with a 14-12 record, with a 3.02 ERA, last season.

After that there isn’t very much.

They are hoping Brett Myers can rebound from what afflicted him last year (4-3, 4.84 in 70.2 IP), but his performance thus far in spring training indicates those hopes may not mean very much.

After Myers, there isn’t much—there will likely be guys cut last in spring training who can provide better results than the projected No. 5 guy.

RHPs Bud Norris (6-3, 4.53) and Brian Moehler (8-12, 5.47) fill out the back end of a pretty ugly rotation—Norris has just ten career starts and Moehler probably should have retired a couple of years ago.

And there isn’t much behind them. Yikes!

Bullpen

The bullpen has been overhauled due to the front office’s penurious nature.

Of course, why spend big money to re-sign someone like Valverde or Hawkins when the team is going to stink anyway? Right? So they went out and overspent for someone like Lyon. Jeez!

Apparently Lindstrom will close if he is able to overcome whatever afflicted him last season (does that sound familiar?). He has a great fastball, but something was clearly wrong in 2009.

Lyon is there to be Lindstrom’s backup, or maybe the team’s future closer (based on his contract that is what he NEEDS to become).

After those two guys, the Astros trot out a group that includes Alberto Arias (2-1, 3.35), Tim Byrdak (1-2, 3.23) and Jeff Fulchino (6-4, 3.40). Actually, the middle relief corps is pretty solid.

The question is how effective the guys will be who are backing them up.

Lineup

The Astros have a very good outfield. Slugger Carlos Lee (.300, 26 HR, 102 RBI), speedster Michael Bourn (.285, 3 HR, 35 RBI, 61 SB), and the emerging Hunter Pence (.282, 25 HR, 72 RBI) all offer an array of offensive skills—and Bourn is a Gold Glover in center field.

But the Astros' IF is substantially below-average with the exception of Berkman (.274, 25 HR, 80 RBI).

2B Kaz Matsui, SS Jeff Keppinger (or maybe Tommy Manzella), and Feliz will just not get the job done on a day-to-day basis. Catcher J.R. Towles has 234 ABs in three years.

Outlook

Bleak.

The starting pitching after the top two won’t be very good. The bullpen will therefore get over-used and consequently struggle. The top of the lineup will score runs, but they will have to do it alone as the bottom of the lineup will be abysmal.

This is nearly identical to the write-up I provided before last season—except with the offseason moves the front office made the outlook is gloomier. They may even fall behind Pittsburgh to finish in sixth place.

SOX1Forecast: 69-93, 5th place.

Houston Astros — Top Five Prospects

1. C Jason Castro
2. RHP Sammy Gervacio
3. SS Jiovanni Mier
4. OF Jon Gaston
5. RHP Jordan Lyles