Countdown to Opening Day: #22 Houston Astros

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Michael Bourn

SS Clint Barmes

RF Hunter Pence

LF Carlos Lee

3B Chris Johnson

1B Brett Wallace

2B Bill Hall

C Jason Castro

P Wandy Rodriguez

PROJECTED ROTATION
Wandy Rodriguez

Brett Myers

Jay Happ

Bud Norris

Ryan Rowland-Smith

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Brandon Lyon
Set-up - Wilton Lopez

Top Prospect - Jordan Lyles (RHP)

Breakout

Bud Norris - Norris is my sneaky choice for an all-start selection this year. His slider is nasty and he can pile up the strikeouts with the best of them. I can see Norris having such a good first half that be makes the trip to Arizona for the mid-season classic.

Bust

Brett Myers - You would be foolish to think Myers can duplicate his strong 2010 season. He pitched well over what anyone thought he could do, earned his long-term deal and now I can some regression. It is highly unlikely he goes seven innings every time out again and finishes with an ERA below 3.50.

Biggest Spring Training Question

No Berkman, no Oswalt, no Leaders? - Every team needs one or two guys to lead vocally and lead with action and this season the Stros will be searching for that guy. Carlos Lee has never been the rah-rah, do-what-I-do guy, so they might lean on Hunter Pence to become the veteran at age 27, after three straight years of 25 homers. Someone needs to show the young guns (Wallace, Johnson, Castro) how it is done.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 76-86

Can Pence pace the Stros to success?

PROJECTED FINISH: 5th in the National League Central

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for the Milwaukee Brewers