Let’s Go Astros! Five Bold Predictions for 2012

Ah yes, baseball season is here. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m actually excited about this upcoming baseball season for our hometown Astros. New owner, new GM, and a roster full of young players brimming with potential. Considering we were the worst team in baseball last year, there really isn’t anywhere to go but up from here.

And THAT is a cause for optimism! Don’t worry you naysayers… there will be plenty of room on the bandwagon later on. Here are my five predictions about our Astros during the 2012 baseball season.

1. The Astros will have a new “Face of the Franchise” by the end of the year.

Have you noticed the team’s Root! Root! Root! billboards going up across town recently? For the record, I actually like the new [old?] marketing slogan. I bet you a Minute Maid Star Dog you can’t name all five players that are plastered across these billboards.

Am I right? I’m right aren’t I? I know I am.

I’ll be accepting my Star Dogs at Opening Day this Friday. Section to be determined. I like them with chili and cheese… no mustard. Thanks.

Last season, Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn would have been all over these ad campaigns. But they’re gone. In their place, we have youngsters, Jose Altuve, Jason Castro, J.D. Martinez and Bud Norris — players the Astros hope will develop into household names and Carlos Lee — the-overpaid-veteran-with-an-untradable-contract-so-we-might-as-well-include-him-in-an-ad player.

Ask the rest of the nation what player comes to mind when you think about the Astros as you will likely still get Bagwell, Biggio, Oswalt, Berkman or even Pence. This will change by the end of this season AND that player is not currently on the active roster.

I won’t go as far as predicting who this player will be but a player will be deemed “the most astro of Astros” this season.

2. The Astros will have a DESERVING all-star in the All-Star Game.

I hate the rule that every MLB team must have a player in the All-Star Game each season. Every year I watch the player introductions and at least a few times I will think, “Yeah that guy isn’t an all-star.” Now no disrespect to the these players but c’mon, you’re the best player on your team but that’s probably not saying much.

For the Astros it could be a youngster taking the much-talked-about “next step” (I’m looking at you Bud Norris) or it could be one of the veterans regaining their form and having a bounce back year (hopefully raising their trade value while they’re at it). Either way, the Astros’ all-star will be a DESERVING addition to the all-star team.

Personally, I’m leaning towards the latter happening — specifically, Brett Myers back in a closer role.

Myers has excelled as a closer before in his career when he was with Philadelphia so I fully expect him to anchor the back of the Astros’ bullpen this season. The Astros should be able to be competitive in most games and allow opportunities for Myers to pick up saves and even a few wins.

Brett Myers, 2012 Houston Astros all-star.

3. The best addition to the Astros this year will be GM Jeff Luhnow

Ed Wade was basically in a no-win situation as the last general manager of the Astros. He was brought in to keep an aging major league team competitive while infusing talent into what had become a barren and talent-less minor league system. All while working under an owner who couldn’t handle the idea of owning a losing team and didn’t want to stick around for the rebuilding process.

Some fans will say Wade did what he could with the resources he was given — he did make some smart acquisitions at the major league level and did bring talent back in to the minors. Other fans will chastise Wade for bad signings — what’s up Kaz Matsui — and basically funneling Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence to his former employer, the Phillies.

In steps Jeff Luhnow, a player development executive from the St. Louis Cardinals. Yeah, those Cardinals, the World Series Champs. The same St. Louis Cardinals that the Astros used to battle with for the division title on an annual basis. Problem is, the Cards stayed an elite team while the Astros became, well, the Lastros.

Some of the immediate improvement made by the Astros this season will be a product of the successful moves made by former GM, Ed Wade, but there’s no question the winning experience that Jeff Luhnow brings from the well-respected Cardinal’s front office will prove to be invaluable.

4. The Astros will FINALLY find takers for Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez and Carlos Lee

Yes, its the same question Astros fans have been asking over and over again. Will the Astros ever find teams to take the bloated contracts of veterans Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez and Carlos Lee?

The anticipated bounce back seasons for these veterans this year will get contenders interested again and the Astros will finally trade away this trio of veterans. Don’t think so? It isn’t that far-fetched.

Brett Myers is a proven closer and every year there seems to be a contender searching for reliable, back-of-the-bullpen help. The season hasn’t started yet and already the Red Sox and the Reds have lost their closers to injury. Somebody will come calling about Brett Myers, especially after his all-star appearance this season!

Wandy Rodriguez is a left-handed starter who has shown flashes of being a dominant starting pitcher. Starting pitchers are always a hot commodity. Left-handed starting pitchers even more so. Wandy will shake his usual slow start to the season this year and be gone by the trade deadline.

Carlos Lee is the most polarizing player on the Astros. Fans forget that Lee was brought in to complete a team NOT to be the main man. People complain about his lack of defense and base running, but Lee didn’t earn his $100 million contract by beating out grounders and shagging down line drives, he got it by being a hitter and a RBI machine. As long as he will waive his partial no-trade clause, some American League team is looking at their new designated hitter.

A return to the Rangers maybe? He’ll still be near his beloved ranch!

5.  The Astros will NOT be the worst team in the National League this season.

Last season, the Astros finished with the worst record in the National League. No one was surprised. If we repeat that feat again this year… again no one would be surprised.

That isn’t going to happen this season. The Astros won’t win the World Series, they won’t make the playoffs, they likely won’t even be an above-.500 team, but they will NOT be the worst team in the National League.

I’d like to thank the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and the New York Mets ahead of time.

That’s it guys, my bold predictions for the Astros 2012 season. What do you guys think about the upcoming season? Check back later on during the season to see how many of my predictions come true!