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The Houston Astros lost 106 games in 2011. Then they lost 107 in 2012. Then they lost 111 in 2013. So, things haven't been going well. But they've spent that time identifying which players might be talented enough to be on the next good Astros team, and they've built arguably the best farm system in baseball. It will likely be another long season in Houston, but this year's team should be just regular bad instead of completely embarrassing and there is finally hope on the horizon.
A visual representation of the Astros' 2013 season. The bad news is that the guy in the middle is on the A's now.
Projected Lineup
C Jason Castro/Carlos Corporan
1B Jesus Guzman/Marc Krauss
2B Jose Altuve
3B Matt Dominguez
SS Jonathan Villar
LF Robbie Grossman
CF Dexter Fowler
RF L.J. Hoes
DH Chris Carter
* Top prospects George Springer (outfield) and Jonathan Singleton (first base) will likely make the majors at some point during the season.
Projected Rotation
1. Scott Feldman
2. Jarred Cosart
3. Brett Oberholtzer
4. Lucas Harrell
5. Dallas Keuchel
* Brad Peacock and Jerome Williams will begin in the bullpen, but could see starts as well.
CL Committee (Chad Qualls, Josh Fields, Matt Albers)
Key Injuries
Ranked on a scale of 1 (no big deal) to 10 (serious problem)
| Player | Details | Rating |
| RP Jesse Crain | He will start on the DL. He is still recovering from from offseason surgery for biceps tendinitis, and also has a strained calf. He could return in late April. | 3 |
| SP Alex White | He will start on the DL, as he is recovering from Tommy John surgery from April 2013. He may return in April, but you never know with elbow ligaments. | 1 |
| SP Asher Wojciechowski | He will start on the DL with a lat strain. He probably would not have made the roster anyway, though. | 1 |
Best-Case Scenario
Must Reads
Must Reads
Everything clicks. Castro and Altuve play like All-Stars, Fowler and Grossman get on base at the top of the order, and Carter swats 40 homers to knock them in. Springer and Singleton debut and they both contribute. The team settles on five adequate starting pitchers from their large collection, and Cosart and Peacock in particular turn their potential into results. In a display of baseball karma, Jimmy Paredes shows up now and then to run into opposing defenders while they are trying to catch fly balls. The Astros go on a Cinderella run and reach the .500 mark, representing a 30-win improvement over 2013. They shock the world by finishing in third place, ahead of the Mariners and Angels.
Worst-Case Scenario
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Must Reads
Everything falls apart. Again. Carter keeps striking out and shows no improvement, Fowler can't hit outside of Coors Field, the young starting pitchers either post ERAs over 5.00 or tear their UCL's, Crain never suits up for the team, and the whole group just generally treads water. Jason Castro is traded at the deadline when it becomes clear that more rebuilding is needed. Springer and Singleton struggle in Triple-A and only get cups of coffee in September. Orbit the Mascot pulls a Steve Bartman and gets in the way of Altuve trying to catch a foul ball for the final out of a game, leading to an eventual blown save and loss. The whole season is one long LOL Astros GIF. The team loses 113 games, somehow managing to get worse for the fourth straight year. In 2015, the Astros are re-assigned to the Bush League, a new, third league created just for them; they still manage to finish second despite being the only team in the BL.
My Prediction
I think there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the 2014 Astros, and Crawfish Boxes does as well. They're still bad, and they'll still be in last place when all is said and done, but I don't think they'll be a joke anymore. They have the talent to win 70 games if everything breaks just right. Due to playing in the tough AL West, I'll peg them at around 67-95, but if they manage to win 70 or even find their way to fourth place I won't be shocked. Specifically, I think Peacock will break out, one more starter will have a big year, Carter will break 30 homers as a full-time DH, and Springer will open eyes when he bursts on the scene. The worst is over in Houston.
(Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle has a great rundown of the Astros, if you'd like to familiarize yourself with their players.)
