Post by astrosmgr on Jan 31, 2008 19:08:10 GMT -5
Youth is the word of the day for the Astros. We are going with a young group and hope they improve with age. The starting 5 average 24.4 yrs and the batting line up averages 25.8 yrs. This could go even lower when the projection disk comes out. While we won’t be a powerhouse this year there should be improvements. A .500 year is not out of the question.
1B – Joey Votto. He has showed good power and average during his cup of coffee in 2007. In 84 Abs he had a .321 AVG and a .548 Slugging.
2B – Kelly Johnson – Has a good eye for the ball as his .375 OBP shows. This was his first full year in the bigs.
3B – Joe Crede - Was injured most of last year and it affected his hitting. Hopes are he will revert back to his 30 hr season of 2006.
SS – This is the only position that’s really open. The contest will be between Brandon Wood and Willie Bloomquist. Wood’s first season was bad. He never saw a bad pitch he wouldn’t swing at. Matter of fact he must not have saw any pitch. 12 Ks in 33 ABs. Bloomquist is the steady veteran who will fill in until Wood or someone else steps up to the plate.
C – Catching duties will be shared between Mike Napoli and Paul Lo Duca. Napoli is better behind the plate and has pop in his bat (10 hrs in 219 abs). Lo Duca is the better hitter but will more than likely start the season on the DL.
OF – Will be patrolled by Juan Encarnacion/Scott Hairston/Hunter Pence. Pence is a 5 tool player who started out his career with a bang. Encarnation is the veteran who won’t put up anything spectacular but should have steady numbers. Hairston has decent power and a good eye.
The benched will be manned by Trot Nixon, Martin Prado Todd Walker, Wes Bankston and Matt Stairs.
SP – Adam Wainwright/Shawn Hill/Micah Owings/Blake Hawksworth/Ian Kennedy – If nothing else they are young and should improve. Kennedy, Wainwright, Hill and Owings put up good numbers last year. Mark Mulder, Oliver Perez and the ageless wonder Tim Wakefill will provide a stop gap measure if any of these falter.
Closer – Jeremy Accardo – With a 2.14 ERA and 30 saves under his belt he should provide the relief that was desperately needed last year.
The bullpen will be made up of Armando Benitez, Blaine Boyer, LaTroy Hawkins, Yusmeiro Petit and Kirk Saarloos.
Three young players we’ll be keeping our eye on is Travis Denker, Chris Davis and Tyler Colvin. Hopefully the projection disk will be good to them this year.
1B – Joey Votto. He has showed good power and average during his cup of coffee in 2007. In 84 Abs he had a .321 AVG and a .548 Slugging.
2B – Kelly Johnson – Has a good eye for the ball as his .375 OBP shows. This was his first full year in the bigs.
3B – Joe Crede - Was injured most of last year and it affected his hitting. Hopes are he will revert back to his 30 hr season of 2006.
SS – This is the only position that’s really open. The contest will be between Brandon Wood and Willie Bloomquist. Wood’s first season was bad. He never saw a bad pitch he wouldn’t swing at. Matter of fact he must not have saw any pitch. 12 Ks in 33 ABs. Bloomquist is the steady veteran who will fill in until Wood or someone else steps up to the plate.
C – Catching duties will be shared between Mike Napoli and Paul Lo Duca. Napoli is better behind the plate and has pop in his bat (10 hrs in 219 abs). Lo Duca is the better hitter but will more than likely start the season on the DL.
OF – Will be patrolled by Juan Encarnacion/Scott Hairston/Hunter Pence. Pence is a 5 tool player who started out his career with a bang. Encarnation is the veteran who won’t put up anything spectacular but should have steady numbers. Hairston has decent power and a good eye.
The benched will be manned by Trot Nixon, Martin Prado Todd Walker, Wes Bankston and Matt Stairs.
SP – Adam Wainwright/Shawn Hill/Micah Owings/Blake Hawksworth/Ian Kennedy – If nothing else they are young and should improve. Kennedy, Wainwright, Hill and Owings put up good numbers last year. Mark Mulder, Oliver Perez and the ageless wonder Tim Wakefill will provide a stop gap measure if any of these falter.
Closer – Jeremy Accardo – With a 2.14 ERA and 30 saves under his belt he should provide the relief that was desperately needed last year.
The bullpen will be made up of Armando Benitez, Blaine Boyer, LaTroy Hawkins, Yusmeiro Petit and Kirk Saarloos.
Three young players we’ll be keeping our eye on is Travis Denker, Chris Davis and Tyler Colvin. Hopefully the projection disk will be good to them this year.