HOUSTON ASTROS

2005 finish: 89-73, 2^nd place in NL Central, wildcard

Manager: Phil Garner (3^rd season)

Incoming: OF Preston Wilson, LHP Trever Miller, RHP Steve Sparks, RHP Dave Borkowski, RHP Steve Sparks.

Long gone: RHP Roger Clemens, IF Jose Vizcaino, OF Charles Gipson, LHP Mike Burns

Rotation: RHP Roy Oswalt, LHP Andy Pettitte, RHP Brandon Backe, LHP Wandy Rodriguez, RHP Ezequiel Astacio, LHP Carlos Hernandez, RHP Taylor Buchholz

Relievers: Closer: RHP Brad Lidge; Setup men: RHP Dan Wheeler, RHP Chad Qualls, RHP Russ Springer, LHP Mike Gallo, LHP Trever Miller, RHP Dave Borkowski

Regulars: 2B Craig Biggio, SS Adam Everett, 1B Lance Berkman, 3B Morgan Ensberg, LF Preston Wilson, RF Jason Lane, C Brad Ausmus, CF Willy Taveras

Role players: C Raul Chavez or C Humberto Quintero, 1B/3B Mike Lamb, IF Eric Bruntlett, IF/OF Chris Burke, OF Orlando Palmeiro, OF Luke Scott, 1B Jeff Bagwell (DL)

The pressure is on: Is Willy Taveras for real, or will his lack of power and on-base percentage deficiency cost him a regular job?

Breakout candidate: Chris Burke doesn’t have a regular position at this point, but it says here that he will by the end of this season.

Rundown: Roger Clemens is gone for now – at least until May 1 – and maybe forever. And that is going to hurt, when you consider that he led the league in ERA at an amazing 1.87, was a strong Cy Young Award candidate, and should have won a handful more games than 13. Even if he returns after May 1 – and there is some thought that he could be back on the mound at Minute Maid Park in early June -- they can’t count on that kind of contribution from him. And if Clemens doesn’t come back at all, the Astros just don’t have anything close to plug into their rotation. Jeff Bagwell also is gone for now – and likely forever. But since they all but played without him last year, his loss won’t be missed on the field. Lance Berkman stays at first base, leaving the three outfield spots to Preston Wilson, Jason Lane and Willy Taveras. Wilson was an excellent pickup by general manager Tim Purpura – a productive bat at a very reasonable $5 million salary for 2006, and no commitment beyond unless an option is picked up. Lane could produce even more than the 26 homers and 78 RBI he amassed in a breakout 2005. Morgan Ensberg is now an established power threat, and they will have Berkman for a full season, unlike last year, when he missed the first month – one big reason why they got off to a dreadful 15-30 start. Still, this offense is far from potent, as it was shut out 17 times last season, and other than Wilson, remains unchanged. Taveras hit .291 and has excellent speed, but he’s no lock to repeat his 2005 rookie season. Craig Biggio has turned 40, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him give way more often to Chris Burke, who also could play more in the outfield. The rest of the bench is solid as well. There’s nothing wrong with the bullpen back three of Brad Lidge, Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls. But there are question marks and a lack of depth in middle relief, where Mike Gallo, Trever Miller and Russ Springer . It’s the same story with the rotation. How can you not like a 1-2 of Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte, as both are legitimate No. 1 starters. But Brandon Backe was merely adequate in his first full season in the rotation, and Wandy Rodriguez and Ezequiel Astacio will have to make huge leaps to establish themselves in the No. 4 and 5 spots. If not, Carlos Hernandez and Taylor Buckholz could get opportunities. For a team that relied heavily on its pitching staff last season, when it was second in the league in ERA, these aren’t good signs. The Astros have been post-season players each of the last two seasons, but they are going to have a tough time making it three in a row.

Predicted finish: 2^nd place, 86-76

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