Who the Astros Need in 2011. . . (And a very brief argument for Crawford)

This is my first post, and it likely won't be my last.  Little  I'm hoping to generate some type of following, not because I think what I have to say is so very important, though it may be, but because I have no friends I can talk to about sports of any kind since I moved from Texas to California.  Because of that it's a little long, but I had a lot of stuff to say that I haven't been able to for awhile. :)  Introductions aside, I'll jump right in.  (One quick side note, lots of people use this jump thing.  Is there a purpose to it, and what is it?  For example: "Details coming after the jump."  I get that it's the little starts, hyphens, or whatever symbol is being used by whatever page, but what does it do?  I could google it, but I'd like a layman's definition.)

Ok, so everyone has their ideas of what is and isn't the most awesome idea of how to rebuild our beloved Astros.  They're not the worst team in the NL Central, but that doesn't say much considering that the Central has officially taken from the NL West the title of easiest NL division in the last couple of years.  You may not think the NL West was an easy division, but in my opinion it was the Dodger's to lose for long enough having the best record 3 of the last 5 years.

I think that next year will be an exciting year for us.  Not because we'll win the division, but because the changes I've been reading post after post demanding are finally happening.  Roy is gone, Lance is gone, we went from being the oldest team in '09 to a considerably younger team in '10 and put together the second best Divisional record in the NL behind the Reds.  All exciting stuff.  But while we're likely more than a key piece away from making a solid push, I don't think it's an unaffordable goal.

Where we stand now on my 25-man squad (ranked by position, not by batting order as I've noticed many do)

Rotation

• Myers
• Wandy
• Norris
• Happ
• Paulie/Figueroa

Pen

• Abad
• Lopez
• Lyon (Closer)
• Melancon
• Figueroa
• Byrdak
• Fulchino
• Lindstrom (Setup, alt. closer)

Catcher

• Castro
• Quintero

First Base

• Wallace

Second Base

• Keppinger

Shortstop

• Sanchez

Third Base

• CJ

Outfield

• Bourn
• Pence
• Lee

Bench Guys

• J-Mike
• Bourgeois
• Downs

This is essentially the lineup that won us so many second half games.  While I don't think you can call an entire second half of the season a fluke, I do think you can't expect them to do it for an entire season.  Plus, I like Angel, I do, but he's a downgrade defensively from Manzella, from what the "experts say" and I think we all know that neither can hit.  For some reason, whenever someone says our lineup is pretty well set, I see loads of disagreement for almost every position on the field, except our RF and CF.  Why is that? Here is my take.

Catcher

Contrary to what people keep saying, we don't need another catcher.  It's certainly not ideal the way they've been hitting, but catcher isn't a premium offense position anyways, and the Mauers and V-Marts of the world are rare.  What both of our guys can do is handle a pitching staff and that's what they get paid to do.  Castro's bat will hopefully develop, even if I'm not as high on him as his draft position, or other Houston fans, should allow me to be.  For now, It's serviceable when there are teams out there who definitely aren't.  We should be grateful.

First Base

Wallace has been a professional hitter at every stop on his path to the majors.  His lowest OPS was .769 in 62 games for AAA Memphis.  His bat will come along, and in the mean time spot starting Lee at first and bringing him off the bench to pinch once in awhile won't be the worst thing in the world.

Second Base

Kepp had a chance to show what he can do in a full season of play, and he didn't disappoint.  He may only be league average, but don't forget that he didn't strike out, EVER, seriously.  the closest guy with even close to the number of plate appearances is David Eckstein and he had about 80 fewer AB's to go along with that one less K.  True he's considered a LHP specialist, but he his 6 home runs this year, all of Righties, and managed a .282 avg. against them.  He deserves to start next year and I haven't heard any compelling evidence to the contrary.  Are there stronger players?  Sure.  Are there 30 stronger players than him to justify him not being good enough to start?  I personally don't think so.

Shortstop

This is my biggest hole in the lineup.  Again, like Angel, but neither he nor Tommy are the answer.  For this, I want us to spend money.  My personal pick, Juan Uribe.  I went to a Giants game when the Stros were in town, and he's fun to watch, has some pop, can play around the diamond, though I don't think he's need to here as he's be the everyday SS.  An if that doesn't sell you, just think: Everytime the opposing fans boo, you can pretend they're saying "UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU"  That tripped me out.  I was like, "Why are you booing your own guy?"  But then I got it cause I'm quick like that, and the kid next to me explained. . . that helped.

Third Base

CJ was a godsend.  He'll probably never be an MVP, but then again, Roy Oswalt was drafted in the 23rd round. . . I know he's not Roy, and don't tell me he isn't.  But their career paths show some similarities.  Point is, you never know how good you can be until you're pushed to be better than you are.  I think Baggy will continue to improve CJ, and if nothing else he'll be another Hunter Pence type hitter and a solid third baseman as his defense can only improve with prolonged exposure to the majors.

Outfield

We all know our outfield is set.  Whether we like it or not, and unlike most, I do.  Pence is Pence, Bourn is Bourn, and Lee is. . . so many things: El Lardo, El Bufalo, etc. etc.  He's also a terrific hitter, and while he's definitely on the decline, I think he'll bounce back.  And if he doesn't, what real choice do we have?  I don't like the argument that he's holding back the Youth Movement.  He isn't.  We don't have anyone in AAA worth bringing up, except if we absolutely had to, maybe Barnes as the hardest hitting outfielder we have, and his .270/.326/.516 slash is nice, but it may not translate to the majors and Carlos did finally come alive at the end.  Timing, as they say, is everything, and now isn't the time to think about a new LF.

I would like to sign a younger, more athletic outfielder, but the market is practically bare.  There honestly isn't a single name on the list of Free Agent outfielders worth taking a risk on (Cabrera) or paying the money for their sure things (Werth/Crawford).  Dunn can't play any position well, and the only reason he's in the majors is because he can hit 40+ homers, and while that's great, he's also on the wrong side of 30 at a time when we need to go younger.  If we're in contention mid-season, make an offer, we can use his homers down the stretch.  

If we have to have someone, I'm saying Crawford.  He's young, more athletic, and because of his fitness regimen I don't think it's likely that he'll be declining as rapidly as people are claiming at the end of a 6 year deal.  We supposedly build bigger, faster, stronger athletes than ever before, so why could Willie Mays and Satchel Paige could play into their 50's and Ricky Henderson could still lead the league in steals at 39 and steal 25 bases at 42.  Because they're stellar athletes, and Crawford is too.  Still, I say save the money.

Starters

Out Starters posted an excellent season, but we need a #5.  Figgy is good in a tight spot, but he's almost ancient.  I don't have a problem offering him a position out of the pen, because I think we have depth there to cover him if he falters, but we need a legitimate starter.  I say Ian Snell.  He's still relatively young, his career numbers aren't out of character for a #5, and with the right mentoring, aka our very own pitching coach to the starts, Brad Arnsberg, He could be just the guy we're looking for.  

Bullpen

I think our bullpen has the potential to be one of the better Pens in baseball next year, call me crazy. And I like Lindstrom, though being from Idaho, I'm partial to those home grown boys, since we have so few. . . his numbers aren't bad either.

So in summary, my big changes would be I want to pursue Uribe and Snell, and I don't want to, but if I had to, Crawford.

As a fan, I' most excited about the prospect of seeing Folty, Lyles, and DeShields, on the field at the same time.  Well, not Folty and Lyles. :) For now, what we have is what we're gonna have, and in a division like ours, it could win something.  Maybe at the All Star break we make a big acquisition, but I think we're two years too late for that (read: we should have done it when we were one game out of the division at the All Star break. . . remember that?)

Soo. . . I'm done.  I needed to say things, and they've been said.  Feel free to nitpick and Saberfy me (Crucify me with SABR-speak) as needed.  All responses are appreciated.