joeywa
Unofficial HS BBQ Consultant & Baseball Pundit
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2013
- Messages
- 17,739
So what are y'all's expectations this season for the 'Stros?
Last year was pretty ugly, but I like some of the youth and so far it looks like Jeff Luhnow has got the rebuilding of the farm system as a priority.
It also looks like the moves to add some Ps to the staff will help, and hopefully we'll see a couple of them pan out with decent ERAs. The hitting could use some help, because other than Castro, I just don't see much in the lineup. Hopefully Carter will get better at the plate and free agent CF Dexter Fowler will be serviceable. Minor League prospect Jonathon Singleton at 1B is a question mark because he got a ban in the fall for smoking dope I think. I know the staff was high on his upside, but the dope thing may have dampened their optimism.
The additions of Feldman and Crain are the two biggest names there. Not sure when Crain will be cleared 100% to pitch since he had surgery in the fall. Hopefully he'll be ready to contribute by mid-season and can be as productive as he was in 2013 for the White Sox. I really hope that Mark Appel is able to get some looks this year in the Houston rotation. He was phenomenal in college.
Porter should be fine at the helm, although I think about 80% of his coaching staff is in their first year together. He's putting the building blocks together, and with a little luck this project should take better shape this year and look solid going into 2015.
So do you see an improvement from last year's 51-111 record? I say yes. Let's not be foolish, they aren't going to the playoffs, and I'd be surprised if they have more than 70 wins on the season, but I think 70 is a good high-side, things-go-right season.
Last year was pretty ugly, but I like some of the youth and so far it looks like Jeff Luhnow has got the rebuilding of the farm system as a priority.
It also looks like the moves to add some Ps to the staff will help, and hopefully we'll see a couple of them pan out with decent ERAs. The hitting could use some help, because other than Castro, I just don't see much in the lineup. Hopefully Carter will get better at the plate and free agent CF Dexter Fowler will be serviceable. Minor League prospect Jonathon Singleton at 1B is a question mark because he got a ban in the fall for smoking dope I think. I know the staff was high on his upside, but the dope thing may have dampened their optimism.
The additions of Feldman and Crain are the two biggest names there. Not sure when Crain will be cleared 100% to pitch since he had surgery in the fall. Hopefully he'll be ready to contribute by mid-season and can be as productive as he was in 2013 for the White Sox. I really hope that Mark Appel is able to get some looks this year in the Houston rotation. He was phenomenal in college.
Porter should be fine at the helm, although I think about 80% of his coaching staff is in their first year together. He's putting the building blocks together, and with a little luck this project should take better shape this year and look solid going into 2015.
So do you see an improvement from last year's 51-111 record? I say yes. Let's not be foolish, they aren't going to the playoffs, and I'd be surprised if they have more than 70 wins on the season, but I think 70 is a good high-side, things-go-right season.
