2010 Houston Astros Spring Training Preview

By all accounts the 2009 baseball season was a big disappointment for the Houston Astros. After a 2008 season where Houston was above .500 the slid backwards to a 74-88 record in 2009. The Astros were not the busiest team in the off season, but they made a few moves. The question becomes were those moves the right ones or just a shuffling of the deck chairs on the Tit antic.

The Astros first major move of the off season was hiring a new manager, former Boston Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills Mills has never managed in the big leagues, but does have 11 years experience in the minors. Mills is lucky because he has quite a few veterans on this club that can still produce. He just needs to make sure they buy into his philosophy, much of that will have to be done in spring training.

Houston will be missing a few familiar faces in 2010. Gone are Jose Valverde, Mike Hampton, LaTroy Hawkins, and Miguel Tejada. After two years as the Astros closer Valverde moved over to the American League, signing a two year deal with the Detroit Tigers. Hampton is gone due to a rotator cuff injury that will cause him to miss all of the 2010 season. Hawkins moved on to the Milwaukee Brewers after a solid year and a half in the Astros bullpen. Shortstop Miguel Tejada chose to rejoin the Baltimore Orioles after two steady years in Houston. The Astros will miss Valverde the most, but understandably wouldn't spend $7 million a year on a closer.

The Astros did dip their toes in the free agent market signing starter Brett Myers, third baseman Pedro Feliz, and closer Brandon Lyon. Myers will probably be the number three starter behind Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez. Myers had 10 starts last year with the Philadelphia Phillies and also worked out of the bullpen. Feliz will take over at third base for Geoff Blum. Feliz also played for the Phillies last season hitting just 12 home runs but with a respectable 82 runs batted in. Brandon Lyon will hope to repeat his impressive 2009 numbers where he posted a 2.86 ERA. The Astros also traded with the Florida Marlins to pick up some bullpen help in fire-baller Matt Lindstrom. He will likely start the season as the setup man to Lyon.

The Houston offense will be powered by veterans Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, and Hunter Pence. Berkman will look to bounce back from a less than stellar year in which he only drove in 80 runs.

When the 2010 season comes to a close you will probably find the Astros right around the .500 mark. The fourth and fifth spots in the pitching rotation will be a problem that will probably plague them all season long. Up the middle of the diamond they are serviceable at best with J.R. Towles at catcher, Kaz Matsui at second, Jeff Keppinger at shortstop and the lone bright spot, the speedy Michael Bourn in center. All this equals a battle for fourth place in the NL Central with the Cincinnati Reds. Prediction: 80 wins and fourth in NL Central.

Statistics courtesy of www.mlb.com