Initial Report on the Astro's....Pre-Spring Training
HOUSTON ASTROS
First impression: The Astros have somehow turned their only World Series appearance into a decline to irrelevance, culminating in Phil Garner and Tim Purpura losing their jobs. Fortunately, irrelevance, given a little money and creativity, doesn't have to last long in the NL Central.
The Cubs went from worst to first in 2007. The year before, the St. Louis Cardinals ran 83 wins all the way to a parade. Even these Astros, who were 13th in the NL in runs and 12th in ERA, hadn't lost all hope before late August. So, Ed Wade, in his second incarnation as a big league GM, reworked the Astros from the middle out.
J.R. Towles is expected to start at catcher, replacing veteran
Brad Ausmus, who becomes Towles' backup.
Wade traded for shortstop
Miguel Tejada (about, oh, 20 minutes before George Mitchell's report hit and several weeks before the FBI investigation), traded for center fielder Michael Bourne and signed second baseman Kaz Matsui.
He also acquired closer
Jose Valverde, replacing
Brad Lidge, who had been dealt to Philadelphia. There remains the issue of starting pitching after
Roy Oswalt, so they'll need a bounce-back season from
Woody Williams and full health from
Brandon Backe, at the very least.
The Astros likely fall in with the Reds and Cardinals, behind the Cubs and Brewers.
Competition: Four pitchers –
Chris Sampson,
Jack Cassel,
Felipe Paulino and
Runelvys Hernandez – have a shot at the final rotation spot. And the back end of the bullpen, behind Valverde,
Oscar Villarreal,
Geoff Geary and
Doug Brocail, is unsettled.
Healing: The Astros don't appear to have any injury problems. Oswalt, bothered by an oblique strain late last season, and Sampson, who had elbow soreness come and go in the second half, are expected to be ready for camp.
Next: Towles, near as anyone can tell, became the first Astros player to advance from Class A to the major leagues in the same season. A decent catch-and-throw guy, Towles has always hit, and batted .375 for the Astros in 14 September games.
