BetFirms' Jack Jones has some thoughts on where the Astros will end up following the 2010 season:
5th in the NL Central and UNDER 74.5 Wins – Houston managed to win just 74 games last season despite a fast start. The Astros didn’t do enough in the offseason to improve their roster, as Brett Myers and Pedro Feliz are merely fill-ins. Lindstrom won’t be the best answer at closer as he’s too erratic, so expect more blown saves this season. I really like this outfield consisting of Lee, Bourn and Pence, but the rest just doesn’t stack up against the top-tier teams in this division. Oswalt is another year older, and other than Rodriquez, the rest of the starters are too unproven. Houston will be battling it out with Pittsburgh in the cellar of the NL Central once again.
How about that? A prediction and paragraph about the Astros that doesn't include Lance Berkman's name...
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
