THE FIRST POST OF (hopefully) AN ASTROS' FAN PERSPECTIVEListening to the most recent BaseballGeeks podcast (#15) sparked my interest to begin expressing my opinions on the defending National League champion Houston Astros (dang that has a nice ring to it).
Coming off a historic year for the Astros that included the first National League championship and World Series appearance in franchise history, I had relatively low expectations for the team this year. When your team averages one World Series appearance every 45 years or so, I figured it would be awhile before I saw the next one. This, combined with the possibility that the Astros would lose Roger Clemens and the franchise leader in homeruns, Jeff Bagwell, caused me to enter this season with low expectations. Now I am excited.
The normally slow starting Astros (see 15-30 start last year) have come out of the gates with guns blazing. For a team that won the National League by scoring fewer runs per game than Daryl Strawberry scores crack hits per day, the Astros average of over 6 runs a game to start the season has been very welcome. The embodyment of this hot start lies with Lance Berkman and Morgan Ensberg. Both sluggers have already hit 6 HRs this year in 14 games. Berkman is batting a cool .370 with 18 ribbies while Ensberg is steaming with a .429 average with 13 RBI.
On top of the two sluggers, NL Rookie of the Year runner up Willie Taveres, a perpetual base stealing threat, is batting over .300 while Adam Everett, one of the most underrated defensive players in the league, is batting .327 in the 8 spot. Thats over 80 points higher than his career average.
While losing Clemens, at least for the first 3rd of the season, will sting, I don't think it will hurt too bad. While Clemens is a great inning eater, strike out king and ERA ace with a league leading 1.67 last year, his record was a paltry 13-8. I believe the 'stros can make it work with two aces in Roy O and Pettite and some great young talent. Roy Oswalt has started out 3-0 with a 2.76 ERA including an opening day gem where he threw 8 innings of 3 or 4 hit shutout ball. Pettite has had a rough start with a 1-2 record, however I believe he'll reign it in as he always does.
The rest of the rotation is young, but can be solid. Brandon Backe, when healthy, is a very solid pitcher as well as a decent hitter in the 9 spot. Wandy Rodriguez has had a great start, going 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA, and Tyler Bucholz, a rookie called up this season has looked very solid in the 3 appearances he has made, including 1 start.
And how can you talk about the Astros staff with out talking about "Lights Out" Brad Lidge? Is there any other closer in the league with the electricity that Lidge brings every night? With a fastball that can reach 98 on an average day and a slider that makes batters (with the exception of Pujols, but then again, Pujols makes every pitcher seem silly) look like children swatting at flies, I challenge you to find one. Lidge already has 5 saves in 5 attempts and looks to have an All-Star year.
Despite the key losses of Clemens and Bagwell, the Astros definitly appear capable of defending their NL championship. With a 10-4 record and an early 1.5 game lead on the NL Central competition, they are on their way. However, if it takes falling 15 games below .500 for the 'stros to win the pennant, we might be in trouble.
I liked reading your analysis on your team. The NL Central is a tough division with the Cardinals and Cubs. The Brewers are improved and the Reds have started nicely. The Stros will be right there again this year because of their pitching. I think Clemens will be back and help with a playoff push. I expect the Central to get two teams in the playoffs the Cardinals and Astros. Thr Central in both leagues is going to be fun to watch all year. Looking forward to reading your future posts.