2008 Predictions

[nolanryan5714]

Well, last year, we had a great thread on this same subject....so I just thought I'd start another one a bit earlier.

Keeping it civil, please - how do you see the Astros in 2008?

Oswalt will be the #1 starter. That is a no-brainer. However, I do see Chris Sampson maturing, along with Matt Albers. Brandon Backe should return with his usual gusto, and do just fine as a #3 or #4 starter.

Lee and Berkman really could do some damage if they got on the same page more often, offensively. I think '08 will be that year. Hunter Pence will undoubtedly be a force worth mentioning, if he keeps up what he did last season. That would be one frighteningly great trio.

I also believe wholeheartedly in playing Mike Lamb every day. He is a very valuable player who warms the bench far too often....but, going back to Cooper's comments this year, I don't know if that will happen.

I REALLY hope to see a successful return of Mr. Lidge, following his surgery.

Chad Qualls is stellar. He is at the top of his game right now.

I'll leave it at that right now. Looking forward to your input, everyone!


Go 'Stros! :crossfingers:

[tadlock11]

I'm sure spring training well be the tell-all, but I'm curious as to what chance players like Josh Anderson, J.R. Towles and Cody Ransom have.

[Astros4Life]

i will have to hold my predictions until february at the earliest...right now im paying attention to the rockets and texans...although the texans are dissapointing the way they seem to have fallen back into old ways...it also didnt help they were playing the chargers in san diego after all the fires

[KillerBee7]

i will have to hold my predictions until february at the earliest...right now im paying attention to the rockets and texans...although the texans are dissapointing the way they seem to have fallen back into old ways...it also didnt help they were playing the chargers in san diego after all the fires

I agree, I have to wait and see what the roster looks likes in a couple months.

[nolanryan5714]

Anyone feel like taking a stab at it now, as of December 16, 2007?

I think we are doomed to fail without at least 2 more good starters.

I also think the loss of Mike Lamb will be felt tremendously.

[holyroman]

I will say this, I think it will be a dogfight between the Astros, Cubs, & Brewers as I see it.
If everyone or 90% of the lineup plays to their potential then the pitching staff will get great run support and we could win like the cardinals did a couple of years ago when they had most of their lineup in their prime.
Their pitching staff had a lot of wins but not 2 and 3 starter stuff, in my opinion.

[izzy]

we are a must for october and maybe even a ring

[KillerBee7]

I really think we have a strong chance to win the division. Of course pitching is a concern but if Backe can step up and somone like Felipe Paulino emerge during the year we could have a stronger rotation behind Roy. I think our lineup is going to put up a lot of runs and our starters just have to give 6 innings and the bullpen can take over with Brocail and Villareal (maybe Sampson?) in the 6-8 innings and Valverde to close.

[KillerBee7]

So how do you see the 25 man roster looking like?

Here's my guess

Starting Lineup
Michael Bourn
Kaz Matsui
Miguel Tejada
Lance Berkman
Carlos Lee
Hunter Pence
Ty Wigginton
J.R. Towles

Bench
Brad Ausmus
Mark Loretta
Geoff Blum
Darin Erstad
Jose Cruz Jr.

Starters
Roy Oswalt
Brandon Backe
Wandy Rodrigeuz
Shawn Chacon
Woody Williams

Bullpen
Jose Valverde
Doug Brocail
Chris Sampson
Felipe Paulino
Oscar Villreal
Mark McLemore
Dave Borokowski

[nolanryan5714]

Well, now is certainly the time to revive this thread, people!


What do you see us doing, based upon what you have seen thus far, in 2008?

Oswalt will be strong....he's at the peak of his game, if there is such a thing for phenom pitchers of his caliber.
I still have very high hopes that Backe will be a solid #2. Maybe I'm sold on a notion, but at least it's a positive one.

Offensively, I don't really know. The absence of Biggio is HUGE. I knew it would be, but it is just now really sinking in how different the Astros are without him (and Bagwell).


Berkman, Lee, Tejada, and Pence will certainly be fun to watch this season. I just hope we can make up for what was lost last season, mostly speaking of Scott.

Where do I find us ending up?

At the present, I see 3rd place looming. However, once again, the WC is not inconceivable.....

Never a dull team to watch, the Astros are.....

[JordanDL3891]

The pitching is the only problem, but I would not be suprised to see them contend, though the Cubs and the brewers seem to be the teams to beat of the central division. I don't believe the Astros will be any worse than 3rd in the NL central though. I agree with the above lineup for openning day, but here's the lineup I see by september:

Michael Bourn (well, he's going to bat .250, but the Astros don't really have anyone else to lead off, maybe matsui if he bats around .300 again)
J.R. Towles (remember the mets in 2006 with Lo Duca?)
Hunter Pence
Lance Berkman
Carlos Lee
Miguel Tejada (No steroids + age = low production. 15 or less homeruns, .260 batting average, he wont stay 3rd in the order very long)
Kaz Matsui
Ty Wigginton (Well, he has potential, just hasn't really reached it, and being on such a strong lineup puts him on the bottom)

[holyroman]

The pitching is the only problem, but I would not be suprised to see them contend, though the Cubs and the brewers seem to be the teams to beat of the central division. I don't believe the Astros will be any worse than 3rd in the NL central though. I agree with the above lineup for openning day, but here's the lineup I see by september:

Michael Bourn (well, he's going to bat .250, but the Astros don't really have anyone else to lead off, maybe matsui if he bats around .300 again)
J.R. Towles (remember the mets in 2006 with Lo Duca?)
Hunter Pence
Lance Berkman
Carlos Lee
Miguel Tejada (No steroids + age = low production. 15 or less homeruns, .260 batting average, he wont stay 3rd in the order very long)
Kaz Matsui
Ty Wigginton (Well, he has potential, just hasn't really reached it, and being on such a strong lineup puts him on the bottom)

I think you are way off, but we can always come back to this post and check later in the season.
I'll bet Bourn bats closer to .285 than .260 like you predict.
And Tejada will hit closer to .290, 25 homers, 95 RBI's.

the lineup will be.

Bourn
Pence
Berkman
Lee
Tejada
Wigginton
Loretta
Towles
Pitcher

and when matsui is healthy they will try

Bourn
Matsui
Berkman
Lee
Tejada
Pence
Wigginton
Towles
Pitcher

[JordanDL3891]

I think you are way off, but we can always come back to this post and check later in the season.
I'll bet Bourn bats closer to .285 than .260 like you predict.
And Tejada will hit closer to .290, 25 homers, 95 RBI's.

the lineup will be.

Bourn
Pence
Berkman
Lee
Tejada
Wigginton
Loretta
Towles
Pitcher

and when matsui is healthy they will try

Bourn
Matsui
Berkman
Lee
Tejada
Pence
Wigginton
Towles
Pitcher

Houston likes to use Pence 2nd, I don't blame them, but I think Pence has more power and should be a 3 hitter.

I think I did underrate Bourn a little, looking back on it .250 is tooo low for him. What I mean is, I think the Astros are expecting more from him then they are going to get - I think Bourn (at least next season) Will be one of the worst leadoff hitters in MLB. I think Bourn could be compared to the current Coco Crisp.

Towles could bat around .320, 310, I wont be suprised. He could be a little Joe Mauer.

Tejada though, he's getting old, I don't see him hitting above 20 homers, it will be in the teens, and he wont bat over .300 I don't trust him batting 2nd or 3rd. I'd rather have Pence bat 3rd behind Bourn and Matsui / Towles leading into Berkman & Lee. Then again, I don't think Matsui is that good. I think he just got lucky in Colorado - why did it take him so long to show any talent? He was traded to Colorado for Nady, and was sent to AAA when he went to Colorado. He could have just had a lucky season, but then again, players are normaly unlucky in Colorado.