MLB Team by Team: 2008 Houston Astros

Last year by all measures was a horrible year for the Houston Astros. The offense sputtered, outside of Roy Oswalt, there was no starting pitching to speak of, and the bullpen had more holes than a very unlucky gangster.

After years of making the playoffs, even going to the 2005 World Series, all the Astros had to look forward to was their legendary second baseman Craig Biggio's pursuit of 3,000 hits. He got there, and now he's gone. Are the Astros following suit?

OFFENSE: C+

The offense took a few good steps up, providing all goes well. They traded five players to the Baltimore Orioles for former MVP Miguel Tejada, who had a solid year last year (.296, 18 homers, 81 RBI), but he brought emotional (the death of his brother) and legal (possible perjury charges) baggage with him that may affect his numbers. They also acquired Kaz Matsui to replace Biggio at second, who's had a rebirth since his days in New York and is a very tough out. Add them to left fielder Carlos Lee (played all 162 games last year, hit .303, smashed 32 homers, drove in 119) and first baseman Lance Berkman (34 homers, 102 RBI), and you can do a lot worse at the plate.

PROJECTED LINEUP 1 Matsui 2B 2 Bourn CF 3 Tejada SS 4 Lee LF 5 Berkman 1B 6 Pence RF 7 Wigginton 3B 8 Towles C 9 Pitcher's spot

STARTING PITCHING: D

The rotation, however, was not addressed at all. They've still got Roy O (14-7, 3.18 ERA), but they, by rule, can only run him out there once every five games. Wandy Rodriguez is young, and has potential, but he's going to be tried by fire this year following up Oswalt. Brandon Backe has been put in the rotation out of the bullpen, so he'll be seeing a lot more than 28.2 innings this year. Time will tell if he can handle it, and will also tell if last season for Woody Williams was an aberration (8-15, 5.27) or the beginning of the end. Manager Cecil Cooper better have sturdy shoes, because he'll be doing a lot of walking to the mound this year.

PROJECTED ROTATION: Oswalt, Rodriguez, Backe, Williams, Sampson

BULLPEN: B-

In the grand tradition of the Six Million Dollar Man (and the Texas Rattlesnake, both the same name, you know), the Astros said they can rebuild it better, stronger. They got a massive upgrade at closer by reeling in Jose Valverde (47 saves in 54 chances) from the Arizona Diamondbacks. They brought in 12-year veteran Doug Brocail from the San Diego Padres, Geoff Geary from Philadelphia, Oscar Villarreal from Atlanta, and Dave Borkowski, the lone holdover from last season. Fatigue could be the only thing that stops this unit from being one of the better ones in the National League.

CONCLUSION

The Astros' season is looking like driving a Porsche full speed along a sheer cliff. If everything goes right (Tejada overcomes his off-season, the offense plays out of their minds, the rotation at least is tolerable behind Oswalt, the bullpen's arms don't fall off), the view will be spectacular. But if the least little thing goes wrong, the whole thing could go splat.

PREDICTION: 75-87, fifth in National League Central