Behind enemy lineups: Houston Astros
Farewell tour bodes ill for Astros


Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
The Astros are hoping for a big season from offseason acquisition Jed Lowrie.

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Enquirer news services

Don’t expect a lot of celebrations on the Houston Astros’ National League farewell tour.

Unless you count the cheers coming from opposing dugouts.

The Astros were the worst team in baseball in 2011, and if anything, they’ve gotten weaker. The list of discards by the Astros over the past two seasons includes Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman, Michael Bourn, Hunter Pence and Mark Melancon.

That doesn’t leave a lot of talent.

General manager Ed Wade shed almost all of those high-paid stars, as ordered, then was fired when new owner Jim Crane took over.

Now, Jeff Luhnow, who built a nice reputation rebuilding the Cardinals farm system, is the GM charged with fixing a club that’s headed for the American League in 2013.

Houston won’t be heading over there with any more NL titles.

Where the Astros stand heading into spring training:

PACKING FOR SPRING: The biggest offseason acquisition was switch-hitting shortstop Jed Lowrie (.252, 6 homers, 36 RBI in 88 games with Boston), a one-time sure-fire Red Sox prospect who will be given an everyday job for the first time. The Astros also added outfielder Jack Cust (.213, 3 homers, 23 RBI in 67 games with Seattle) and catcher Chris Snyder (.271, 3 homers, 17 RBI in 34 games with Pittsburgh) and signed veteran pitchers Livan Hernandez (8-13, 4.47 ERA with Washington) and Zach Duke (3-4, 4.93 with Arizona) to minor league deals. Kyle Weiland, who already owns a Boston record (first player tossed from his first big-league game last July 10), probably will start the season at Triple-A after being acquired with Lowrie for Melancon.

SPRING CLEANING: Melancon (8-4, 2.84, 20 saves) was the key departure, and the Astros don’t exactly have a strong candidate to close games. Of course, they’re probably not going to have a ninth-inning lead that often anyway. They also said goodbye to shortstop Clint Barmes (.244, 12, 39) and outfielder Jason Michaels (.199, 2, 10).

FOR STARTERS: 1. RH Brett Myers, 31 (7-14, 4.46 ERA); 2. LH Wandy Rodriguez, 33 (11-11, 3.49); 3. RH Bud Norris, 26 (6-11, 3.77); 4. LH J.A. Happ, 29 (6-15, 5.35); 5. RH Jordan Lyles, 21 (2-8, 5.36).

Myers took a big step back in 2011 and is being counted on for a rebound. Rodriguez and Norris improved, although their win-loss records don’t reflect that.

CLOSING TIME: With Melancon gone, Luhnow has declared the competition for the closer’s job wide open. Brandon Lyon and David Carpenter are the leading candidates. Manager Brad Mills will settle on one of them by the end of spring training, but several pitchers could fill the role temporarily throughout the season.

EVERYDAY EIGHT: C-Snyder, 31; 1B-Carlos Lee, 35 (.275, 18, 94); 2B-Jose Altuve, 21 (.276, 2, 12); SS-Lowrie, 27; 3B-Jimmy Paredes, 23 (.286, 2, 18); LF-J.D. Martinez, 24 (.274, 6, 35); CF-Jason Bourgeois, 30 (.294, 1, 16, 31 SB); RF-Brian Bogusevic, 27 (.287, 4, 15).

Lee is the only big threat in the lineup – and he’d be gone if the Astros could trade that contract – but there are some up-and-comers here, too. Paredes, acquired in the Berkman trade, made a big splash last season after being called up from Double-A. Martinez also has shown some promise.

SPRING’S BURNING QUESTION: How long will it be before Lee is shipped to an AL team and Jonathan Singleton is called up to take his place? Singleton started 2011 in High A and likely will start this season in Double-A, but you can bet Luhnow will be keeping a close eye on him this spring.

BOTTOM LINE: The last year in the NL won’t be pretty for Houston.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120...ter-sports