The Astros are managed by Phil Garner, who’s been with the team ever since the 2004 season.  He brought immediate success to the team upon his arrival, guiding them to a League Championship Series against the Cardinals in 2004 and the franchise’s first NL Pennant in 2005.  Garner’s team missed the boat last season bringing them as close as ½ games behind the eventual MLB champion, St. Louis Cardinals.  Their General Manager is Tim Purpura who begins his second season as GM and his 13th year in the organization.  He is widely credited with the success of the Astros farm system that’s produced such players as Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt and Morgan Ensberg.

Starting pitching has always been a strong point for the ‘Stros in their recent run of success, but entering the 2007 season the team sure could use the services of Clemens.  As the world knows Andy Pettitte is back in the Bronx and, without Clemens, Roy Oswalt is slated to be the ace of the pitching staff.  For his small stature, he’s one of the hardest throwers in the game.  With a lifetime ERA of 3.05, Oswalt is a no-hitter waiting to happen every fifth game. 

The Astros were also able to acquire Jason Jennings from the Rockies in exchange for centerfielder Willy Taveras and two pitchers, including top prospect Jason Hirsh.  Jennings won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2002, but hasn’t returned to form since.  The team is hoping that it was only the air in Colorado and not Jennings’ potential that has limited the righty’s success the past few years. 

Following Jennings is Woody Williams, who will turn 41 in August.  He’s spent time with the Padres twice this decade and was with the Cardinals for three years from 2001-2004.  He’s been known to lose his control as the innings wear on, so don’t expect him to ever go past six or seven innings.  The fourth and fifth spots fall to youngsters Wandy Rodriguez and Matt Albers.  Rodriguez is the only lefty in the rotation and was in and out of the minors last year, posting a pitiful 5.22 ERA through July.  Winning 10 games as he did in 2005 as the fifth starter would be a setback at this point. 

The fifth spot remains up in the air.  Matt Albers is slated to be on the mound, but Chris Sampson will be called on as well.  Albers worked his way up to the majors last season starting in AA Corpus Christi posting an excellent 2.17 ERA.  He was called up in late July to make his first major league start against the Padres but didn’t fair too well.  He gave up five runs in five innings and eight hits in a loss. 

The bullpen consists of Sampson, Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler and Fernando Nieve.  The biggest question regarding the pitching staff is closer Brad Lidge.  He developed as a setup man to former Houston closers Billy Wagner and Octavio Dotel, but graduated to the closer role once those two departed.  In 2005, Lidge posted an amazing 42 saves, but had a down year in 2006 managing to save only 32 games.  The Astros need him to get back to 40-save form to have a chance in ’07.

The Astros lineup for the 2007 season is a different story.  One of the original members of the Killer B’s, Jeff Bagwell, retired after more than 15 years at first base for the Astros.  Things ended sour between the two parties after the team declined to pick up his option in 2007, and bought out the remainder of his contract.  Bagwell became a free agent in November 2006, but a debilitating shoulder condition forced his retirement. With Baggy gone, a familiar face will take over at first for the Astros in Lance Berkman.  Last season the switch-hitter compiled the best numbers of his career.  Berkman hit for an impressive .315 batting average and 45 home runs.  Hitting 136 RBIs, Berkman broke the Astros single-season record set by Bagwell in 1997 (135).