The Astros begin their 2008 season tonight on the West coast against the San Diego Padres. Staff aces and close friends Roy Oswalt and Jake Peavy square off against one another in Oswalt’s club-record 6th opening day start.
The Astros’ new-look roster will make its first appearance hoping to set the tone after a disappointing 2007 campaign. Some of the notable newcomers making their Astros debut tonight are Michael Bourn, Miguel Tejada and Jose Cruz Jr., son of first base coach and Astros legend Jose Cruz.
The biggest question heading into the season is pitching and Houston fans hope that question gets answered very quickly. Houston-native Woody Williams was released, so that gives the Astros a relatively young and inexperienced starting rotation after Roy Oswalt.
The powerful offense is finally one I can tolerate watching and even if the Astros are bad they should be fun to watch. Tonight I’ll go with the Astros winning 5-4 with Hunter Pence hitting a deciding double late in the game.
2008 Predictions:
3rd place in the National League Central (82-80), behind the Cubs and Brewers.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Season Preview
Baseball season is right around the corner and the buzz around Houston centers around the expectations and questions surrounding the Astros. With a team that looks drastically different from last year's, the Astros look to get back to their winning ways.
There were many new significant additions made to the club such as shortstop Miguel Tejada, closer Jose Valverde and center fielder Michael Bourn. Most of the changes will obviously enhance the offense, but will leave the pitching skeptical at best. Familiar faces Morgan Ensberg, Adam Everett, Brad Lidge and Chad Qualls are no longer with the team, which pleases many Astro fans.
With Spring Training about to wrap up, most of the roster decisions have been made by manager Cecil Cooper, who will begin his first full season at the helm. Some decisions such as whether or not to carry three catchers, keep 11 or 12 pitchers or who cracks the starting rotation have yet to be made. Roy Oswalt, Brandon Backe, Wandy Rodriguez and newcomer Shawn Chacon are all locks to be in the starting rotation. Veteran Woody Williams looked to be on his way out the door until he turned in a quality start today that could save his job. Since so much is invested in Williams, it is likely that fan-favorite Chris Sampson would be the odd man out of the rotation.
This season is unlike any other, especially being the start of the post-Bagwell-Biggio era. It will also be the first time the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox and perennial powerhouse New York Yankees play a regular season game in Houston. There is a lot to look forward to this season in Houston as long as Roger Clemens does not suit up again for the Astros.
There were many new significant additions made to the club such as shortstop Miguel Tejada, closer Jose Valverde and center fielder Michael Bourn. Most of the changes will obviously enhance the offense, but will leave the pitching skeptical at best. Familiar faces Morgan Ensberg, Adam Everett, Brad Lidge and Chad Qualls are no longer with the team, which pleases many Astro fans.
With Spring Training about to wrap up, most of the roster decisions have been made by manager Cecil Cooper, who will begin his first full season at the helm. Some decisions such as whether or not to carry three catchers, keep 11 or 12 pitchers or who cracks the starting rotation have yet to be made. Roy Oswalt, Brandon Backe, Wandy Rodriguez and newcomer Shawn Chacon are all locks to be in the starting rotation. Veteran Woody Williams looked to be on his way out the door until he turned in a quality start today that could save his job. Since so much is invested in Williams, it is likely that fan-favorite Chris Sampson would be the odd man out of the rotation.
This season is unlike any other, especially being the start of the post-Bagwell-Biggio era. It will also be the first time the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox and perennial powerhouse New York Yankees play a regular season game in Houston. There is a lot to look forward to this season in Houston as long as Roger Clemens does not suit up again for the Astros.
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