Can woeful Astros close National League chapter with a final hoorah?

The Houston Astros enter their final season as a National League team in 2012, but are coming off the worst season in franchise history. A 56-106 record left them 40 games behind NL Central winners the Milwaukee Brewers and with the worst record in baseball. It was also the first time the franchise experienced a 100 lost season.

After trading away most of their big assets in Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn and Michael Melancon it’s fair to say that the Astros are entering a rebuilding phase that is likely to carry over into their move to the American League. The only positive aspect of the Astros off-season was the departure of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder from their division, which may give the pitchers a few less sleepless nights, if only for one season. Unfortunately for the Minute Maid faithful, it looks like it’s gonna be a long old season once again.

IN: Travis Buck (OF – Cleveland), Jack Cust (OF – Philadelphia), Zach Duke (SP – Pittsburgh), Diory Hernandez (INF – Atlanta), Livan Hernandez (SP – Washington), Jed Lowrie (INF – Boston), Brad Snyder (OF – Chicago Cubs), Chris Snyder (C – Pittsburgh), Joe Thurston (INF – Miami), Kyle Weiland (SP – Boston)

OUT :  Clint Barmes (INF – Pittsburgh), Robinson Cancel (C), Luis Durango (OF – Atlanta), Mark Melancon (RP – Boston), Jason Michaels (OF – Washington), J.R. Towles (C – Minnesota)

Catchers : Humberto Quintero led all Houston catchers with 79 games last season, showing how injury hit that part of the roster was. The fact that he has played less than 350 games in seven seasons at Houston proves that he doesn’t have the skill set to be an everyday catcher. That leaves Jason Castro and Chris Snyder fighting for the starting role. Youngster Castro missed the entire 2011 with a torn ACL but the Astros have high hopes for him, while veteran Snyder hit .271 in limited time at Pittsburgh last year. Carlos Corporan is lurking in the Minors should the injury bug strike again, but hit .188 AVG in over 50 games last season suggest a full-time Major League career may never arise.

Infielders : Jed Lowrie was the big winter acquisition, arriving in a trade from Boston. The switch hitter gets the chance to become an everyday player following four years as a reserve with the Red Sox. Veteran Carlos Lee appears to have the nod as the first baseman due to his diminishing speed after a 13 year career spent mostly in left field. The sole high earner at the club hit 18 homers last season and enters the final year of a $102 million contract that has suffocated the Astros. Brett Wallace has shown he is capable of manning first should Lee play the outfield. The infield is completed by diminutive 21 year old Jose Altuve and Jimmy Parades, both of whom had impressive rookie campaigns in limited game time last season. With the rebuilding nature of the Astros, a great deal of pressure will be placed on the shoulders of these two youngsters. Matt Downs and Chris Johnson each played over 100 games last season but make way for the youngsters. Diory Hernandez and Joe Thurston are veteran Minor Leaguers with some MLB experience and have been invited to Spring Training, while young Marwin Gonzalez will be looking to take advantage of the ‘give youth a chance’ movement.

Outfielders : Much depends on where Carlos Lee will play, but currently Jordan Schafer, Brian Bogusevic and Jason Bourgeois are slated as the starters. The trio, however, combine for zero Opening Day starts so it could be a bumpy ride. Bourgeois did, though, steal 31 bases and hit nearly .300 in 93 games last season. Travis Buck and Jack Cust are new signings who provide both experience and pop, although Cust has been plagued by PED rumours and was named in the Mitchell Report. Three consecutive years of 25+ homers seem well and truly in the past for the 33 year old, while J.D. Martinez appears the most likely to force his way into the starting line-up. The 24 year old was yet another young Astro to show bags of potential in limited time as a rookie in 2011. Lefties B.J. Shuck and Fernando Martinez are another young duo capable of claiming a roster spot.

Starting Pitchers : After the duo of Wandy Rodriguez and Bud Norris it essentially looks like a ‘best man wins’ Spring Training contest featuring no less than seven hopefuls aiming for three starting spots. Rodriguez had another solid year, leading the team in wins (11) and ERA (3.49), while Norris was also sub 4.00. His six wins in 30 starts shows the lack of Houston runs last year. Spring Training invitees Zach Duke and Livan Hernandez offer solid veteran options, but that appears to go against the rebuilding culture in Houston. J.A. Happ and Jorge Sosa may be the best in house options, but the duo combined for just nine wins and a 5.32 ERA in 39 starts last season. Kyle Weiland, Lucas Harrell and 21 year old Jordan Lyles complete the hopefuls. Lyles went 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA in 15 starts last season and will surely be better suited starting the Minors, while Weiland and Harrell have limited big league experience.

Relief Pitchers : After trading Melancon in the off-season to Boston for Lowrie and Weiland, the closer spot was initially up for grabs, but volatile veteran Brett Myers has been given the role, having been a favourite to make the rotation. Myers struggled somewhat and manager Brad Mills will be desperate to see him return to his 3.14 ERA form of 2010.  Brandon Lyon, despite an 11.48 ERA in 15 appearances last year seems the favourite to step up should Myers struggle. Wilton Lopez, Dan Carpenter and lefty Sergio Escalona all return after sub 3.00 ERA  seasons in 2011. If the trio can replicate those numbers then the bullpen may be a strong point for the Astros. Elsewhere, however, the story is less impressive. Wesley Wright should be given the role of lefty specialist after giving up just two earned runs in 21 appearances last year, while Juan Abreu looked good, but 6.2 innings is hardly a suitable sample size. Enerio del Rosario, Aneury Rodriguez, Fernando Rodriguez and Rhiner Cruz complete the hopefuls looking for a place on what will be a very young bullpen but all are relatively inexperienced and have never been ‘lights out’ pitchers, while those who miss out in the starting rotation race could all garner deep consideration for a bullpen spot.

PREDICTION : The Astros are clearly in a rebuilding phase and have very few parts that could be considered even average at the Major League level. The young talent will all have plenty of game time though, and that could benefit the franchise in the long run, but right now, there’s nowhere else to put them other than sixth place.