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2007 Houston Astros Predictions

Our 2008 Houston Astros Predictions is now posted!

If the Astros are thinking that the addition of power hitter Carlos Lee alone will solve this team’s offensive problems, they have another thing coming. The reason why this team has been able to succeed without a very potent offense has been it’s starting pitching, and now they have lost Andy Pettitte to the Yankees, I fully expect the Rocket to follow. Does Carlos Lee make up for those losses? I’ll let you be the judge.

The status of the starting rotation is yet to be determined, but Houston was able to get Jason Jennings from the Rockies. This was a desperation move after losing Pettitte in which the Astros may have given up too much to get Jennings. They lost center fielder Willy Taveras and two budding star pitchers in Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz. I’m not so sure the Rockies didn’t make out like bandits here. Number one starter Roy Oswalt will bring his Cy Young caliber stuff to the mound every fifth game. At least the Astros can count on that. He has a 98-47 career record to let you know that you are going to win with this guy. The Astros also picked up Woody Williams in free agency because he has been an Astro killer. These type of moves rarely pan out. Wandy Rodriguez probably lands one of the last two spots just because he is a lefty. As far as the pen goes, it looks good on paper. Lidge will need to return to his 2005 form and Chad Qualls has the makings of being a first-class reliever.

Offensively, I think this team is still among the weakest in the NL Central. Carlos Lee will help Berkman see even more pitches, but who else is going to produce runs for this team. The Astros are going to need a big season from Morgan Ensberg like they got in 2005 when he reached All-Star status. He drove in just 58 runs last season which needs to increase by about 30. Biggio is still getting it done in the two spot but he doesn’t have the wheels he came into the league with. Speed is definitely a problem for this Houston team which could resort to small ball to make up for their lack of big bats if they had more wheels.

Houston will likely miss out on the postseason in 2007. After Oswalt, the starting rotation is looking pretty shaky. If Jennings’ ERA goes down at Minute Maid from what it was at Coors, that could go a long way to help shore this thing up. You have to like when a team who needs offense goes out and gets a big stick like Carlos Lee, but I just don’t see it being enough in the very deep NL Central. The Cubs, Cards, and Brewers all look to be in better spots heading into opening day.

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