How to make the Astros a playoff team in 2012

Unfortunately I don’t see Carlos Lee having any trade value regardless the amount of money the Astros are willing to pick up. Releasing him is about the only way that somebody different will be manning left field in the immediate future. In that case it would be an extreme waste of money for a guy that has at least been hitting for a high average as of late. I could see making the case to release Lee if the Astros had someone tearing the cover off the ball in the system and knocking on the door but that’s not the case. I was hopeful that person would be J.D. Martinez, but he has been slowly rounding back into form after his injury.

He’d Bradley was just drafted this year so he can’t be traded until a year has went by, so he’s not an option.

Also still leary about Berkman, especially as an outfielder. This is definitely a rebound year, but you would have to be worried about him decreasing back to last years form. Plus he will only be getting older in baseball years, and an outfielder with a history of knee injuries is scary.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Roy back, but I very seriously doubt that happens.

well, i agree we should be able to compete at all levels in 2012… but, NO OLD GUYS need apply. are we rebuilding, or not? if we are stick with young players… clee has to agree to trade and it is not likely that he will. i agree with writer if he would and would eat about 80% of salary if i had to. we have pitching. happ is only problem among starters. aneury rodriguez looked good last nite in relief of happ. we have a couple of minor leaguers who are pitching really well. we need to get downs in the game regularly. johnson is coming around, his ba went from .200 to .265 in last few weeks. barmes is good defensively, but offense is lacking. we get the same or better with manzella or better with downs. we need legit 5 tool left field, a young player. Keep myers,…geez, he is a good pitcher and he is ??29 or 30 and we have him on favorable contract. you can always use a ‘horse’ who goes 6 or 7 and only yields 3 or 4 or 5 at most and sometimes gives up little or nothing. happ needs to go to minor leagues or bp…get squared away. bullpen is starting to look good!! some of young guys are coming around, see latest performances. lopez and melancon can take care of 8 and 9 inning. we could use a strong middle reliever to add to the bunch that is there. are we rebuilding or scratching our ass. magnus

Maybe if by miricle we could grab reyes for a decent deal. ( decent as in not cripeling like lee s contract was) we could be a different team with him and maybe at some point altuve up the middle. Still unclear because Lee holds you back next year as well.

You need dominant pitching and great defense, and power.

Also, you cant have 3 black holes in your lineup, certainly not 4. Barmes, to me, is great defensively, his bat is meh – but I think it will come around and he’ll be better than Everett – so I say we keep him there. Johnson has power but it might not be enough. I really like Johnson, but he’s a stopgap. Downs -probably the same thing.

Castro -we know he’s a good defender, but will his bat play? If he can hit like Yadier Molina, I’m fine with that. Bourn provides excellent defense, and is dangerous when on base. Pence is getting better by the day, and I expect he’ll keep up that production for 3, maybe 4 years. Wallace is a high average, low power – so far – 1B – that’s fine. So, we need someone with power and hopefully a high OBP in LF – not Carlos Lee – I don’t know if JD MArtinez is ready and can produce that – send him to AAA –
Can we get Paul Goldschmidt from the Dbacks? He profiles as a power hitting OF. I think we should really try and get a guy – through trade, no ridiculous long contracts – that can mash. Can Matt Kemp be pried away from the Dodgers? These are just random thoughts…. Berkman would be great, I mean GREAT. But, he I think he’s been burned by Houston and might require a huge contract.
Our pitching though is decent, not dominant. We must trade Myers, and honestly if we can trade Happ I’d love to. Keep Wandy, unless you’re floored by an offer. He’s cheap and he’s our ace. Lyles is progressing nicely. Norris is as well. That’s a good 1-2-3. We might be able to sign RoyO again in FA, or maybe a guy like Annibel Sanchez? I think hes a FA. BUllpen you’re gonna have to get some proven vets, to go along with Melancon and Lopez, maybe Anuery Rodriguez – guess you could let him try for the rotation too – he looked good yesterday.
Bench – use your own guys. We have plenty of guys that can take over Jason Micheals expensive role. Let Altuve fight for 2B in spring training, as well as Keuchel, who I think will be a very good #3 – possibly a Wandy type picture later on.
That’s it. But you have to get a guy or guy(s) with more power and more OBP than we currently have. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to get an ace to go along with Wandy and Norris. I guess if you can trade Wandy for Betances or whoever (Shelby Miller!! Jk…) then you do that.

LIke Rendon. Hopefully he balks at Washington’s offer, and we can take him #1 next year. We need good defense on that hot corner, I guess for now Downs is an upgrade over CJ. But, man I really liked the potential of CJ’s bat… oh well, off to AAA or Boston he goes.

Right now left field, third, short, and catcher are below average. The bullpen is horrible and the starting staff is inconsistent especially from the 4 and 5 spots.

Sign Jose Reyes at SS, Ludwick or Willingham for left (Lee to bench), CC Sabathia for rotation (if he opts out), and Heath Bell for bullpen.

That scenario is not realistic. Goal should be to improve and try to get close to .500 in 2012 and shoot for a winner in 2013.

sure… this is a good team… a lot of good parts..need to get set for 2012.. pence is best right fielder in nl….bourne is fastest in nl…bourgeois is 2nd fastest…. downs needs to play every day..at 2b..with kepp at ss…or vice versa… clee might agree to go to contender… maybe al…maybe make an offer to get oswalt bacik and tell him to get back fixed and have him for next yr…. offer ?? barmes…??? phillies might go for it if we picked up some of oswalts salary.. dont pick up much.. this is a big risk…magnus

“What would we have to give up?

pence, lyles, springer, deshields?"

None of the above because I said the Astros aren’t getting Kemp. My point was that for a contending team(i.e. not the Astros) Kemp might be more touchable than Sands due to his contract.