Countdown to Opening Day: #29 Houston Astros

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#29: Houston Astros: Houston, we have a SERIOUS problem

PROJECTED LINEUP

SS Tyler Greene
2B Jose Altuve
1B Carlos Pena
CF Justin Maxwell
DH Brett Wallace
LF J.D. Martinez
RF Fernando Martinez
C Jason Castro
3B Matt Dominguez

PROJECTED ROTATION

Lucas Harrell
Bud Norris
Jordan Lyles
Phillip Humber
Erik Bedard

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Jose Veras

Set-up: Wesley Wright

Top Prospect: Carlos Correa (SS)

Jose Altuve

You can turn back the clock on the uniforms, you can move divisions, but you cannot change the fact that Astros are in a world of hurt for the foreseeable future. When they decided to start from scratch at the deadline of 2011 they were not kidding. Any player with value above the age of 20 was shipped out of town for low level prospects complete with years on control.
Not even the players the Stros received for Hunter Pence have made an impact yet, though Jared Cosart and Johnathan Singleton have a chance to this year. But if players such as Cosart do get the call, do you truly know they are ready to make an impact and make Houston a household name? It's not like there are established players at the big league level right now blocking their arrival, and the fact they have not made the team yet should be quite concerning.
Give them credit though, while 2013 could get ugly in the talented American League West, the Astros do have depth and flexibility. There seems to be more than one candidate to earn 500 at-bats at every position. The Astros are going to find out who is cut out and who just needs to be cut.

Lucas Harrell

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - Even with the so-called juggernaut offenses in Anaheim and Texas, the American League West is still won with pitching and the Astros end up having the best 1-through-12 in the division. Lucas Harrell, who won 11 games with sub-4 ERA on last year's 55 win team shows he is a legit ace and wins 17, Bud Norris keeps the walks down and the strikeouts up, Philip Humber's no-hit stuff plays all season, Jordan Lyles finally lives up to his once-hyped name, and Erik Bedard makes 30 starts. 

REAL TALK - If you are truly a hardcore Houston fan and want to get excited about its future head on over to Frisco, Texas and take a look at the RoughRiders. The double play combination of the future Carlos Correa (2012 #1 overall pick) and Delino DeShields Jr. (2010 #8 overall) will be there turning two. As for the Astros, people were high on several of their projected everyday players at one point in time. Hope it clicks for Fernando Martinez, Brett Wallace, Chris Carter and the likes, and keep expectations low. Start the Jose Altuve to the All-Star game voting now - he will be your only hope.

Breakout: Matt Dominguez (3B)

Bust: Justin Maxwell (OF)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Jose Veras (CL)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 55-107 (6th in NL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 62-100 (5th in AL West)

**Check back tomorrow for the San Diego Padres**