Waiting For The Rocket
http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/790/1/Waiting-For-The-Rocket/Waiting-For-The-Rocket.html
Peter Giordano
By Peter Giordano
Published on 03/29/2007
A lot of questions and uncertainties surround the Astros and their chances in the revamped NL Central, but none more than the status of the seven-time Cy Young Award winner, Roger Clemens. Will he, or won’t he be back in the Houston starting rotation? The Rocket may not know himself, but expect an entertaining bidding war between the Astros, Yanks and Red Sox. If he doesn’t pick Houston, it might be another October out of the playoffs for the Stros. Pete Giordano takes a look as ASM’s 30 in 30 train stops in Houston.
A lot of questions and uncertainties surround the Astros and their chances in the revamped NL Central, but none more than the status of the seven-time Cy Young Award winner, Roger Clemens. Will he, or won’t he be back in the Houston starting rotation? The Rocket may not know himself, but expect an entertaining bidding war between the Astros, Yanks and Red Sox. If he doesn’t pick Houston, it might be another October out of the playoffs for the Stros. Pete Giordano takes a look as ASM’s 30 in 30 train stops in Houston.
Waiting For The Rocket
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).
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).
Waiting For The Rocket
In centerfield, comes the always-versatile fielder in Chris Burke, for now. Expect him to eventually become Houston’s second baseman once veteran Craig Biggio calls it a career. Speaking of Biggio, he’ll be at second base again this season needing only 70 hits to reach 3,000. Biggio has had an impressive career with Houston, winning four Gold Glove awards and making the All-Star team five consecutive years in the late 90s. As always, expect him to be hit by every pitch thrown inside as he’s known around the league as “the king of hit batsmen.”
In left field you have Carlos Lee looking to make a memorable impact in his first season with the club. Lee will hit for power as he has over 30 home runs each of the last three years. Expect him to hover around the .300 AVG mark as well.
Morgan Ensberg will be once again starting at third base this season and looking to rebound after a lackluster season a year ago. After only 23 homers and 58 RBIs, the Astros could use the 36 HRs and 101 RBIs he put up in their World Series run in 2005. Adam Everett at shortstop and Luke Scott in right field will round out the lineup. Everett has given you over 50 RBIs the past four seasons, but don’t expect much more. Scott is a youngster who barely played half the season last year. Expect him to make the team, but share his duties with long-time Astro Jason Lane.
Brad Ausmus will be calling signals behind home plate. Ausmus is a wily veteran who since 1996 has been with the Tigers or your beloved Houston Astros. He is quite durable to say the least as he’s caught in over 100 games each of the past 11 seasons. The club also made a smart move in bringing in a fifth infielder in Mark Loretta. Loretta can play almost any infield position and is a veteran right-handed bat.
The moral of the story is the NL Central is a crapshoot as always. The Cardinals are coming out with a huge target on their feathers as the World Series Champions; Lou Pinella is the new sheriff in Chicago looking to take the Cubs back into the playoffs; and the Brewers are on the move with their youth. The Astros will fall somewhere in between all of this. The good news (bad news if you live in Western PA and Cincinnati/KY region) is that we know who will be in the basement this season, as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds won’t see the right side of .500 past April. We just don’t have a clue in who will be staying in the Penthouse Suite come October; if the Rocket lands in Houston come June, the Astros might just have a shot after all.
2006: 82-80 (2nd in NL Central)
In left field you have Carlos Lee looking to make a memorable impact in his first season with the club. Lee will hit for power as he has over 30 home runs each of the last three years. Expect him to hover around the .300 AVG mark as well.
Morgan Ensberg will be once again starting at third base this season and looking to rebound after a lackluster season a year ago. After only 23 homers and 58 RBIs, the Astros could use the 36 HRs and 101 RBIs he put up in their World Series run in 2005. Adam Everett at shortstop and Luke Scott in right field will round out the lineup. Everett has given you over 50 RBIs the past four seasons, but don’t expect much more. Scott is a youngster who barely played half the season last year. Expect him to make the team, but share his duties with long-time Astro Jason Lane.
Brad Ausmus will be calling signals behind home plate. Ausmus is a wily veteran who since 1996 has been with the Tigers or your beloved Houston Astros. He is quite durable to say the least as he’s caught in over 100 games each of the past 11 seasons. The club also made a smart move in bringing in a fifth infielder in Mark Loretta. Loretta can play almost any infield position and is a veteran right-handed bat.
The moral of the story is the NL Central is a crapshoot as always. The Cardinals are coming out with a huge target on their feathers as the World Series Champions; Lou Pinella is the new sheriff in Chicago looking to take the Cubs back into the playoffs; and the Brewers are on the move with their youth. The Astros will fall somewhere in between all of this. The good news (bad news if you live in Western PA and Cincinnati/KY region) is that we know who will be in the basement this season, as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds won’t see the right side of .500 past April. We just don’t have a clue in who will be staying in the Penthouse Suite come October; if the Rocket lands in Houston come June, the Astros might just have a shot after all.
2006: 82-80 (2nd in NL Central)