Tuesday, April 1, 2014

The WTHB Crew Weighs In On Astros Opening Day

In honor of the REAL MLB Opening Day, I asked the WTHB team to answer five questions about the new season from both a major league and minor league perspective. (Minor league games start on Thursday, by the way!) Here are their answers:

First up, Nance:

What is your prediction for the Astros record for 2014?

63-99

With the addition of the second DSL team, the Astros will now have nine minor league clubs. How many playoff berths do you predict? How many championships?

4/2

What two players are you most excited to see make their major league debuts?

Correa, Springer

Who do you think will be the Astros All-Star representative? Astros MVP? Astros Rookie of the Year?

If All-Star is just a token representative because there has to be a player from every team, then Dexter Fowler. If the representative from the Astros gets there based on true All-Star performance, then I’m going to say Jarred Cosart if he performs to his potential. MVP will be Matty D because of the value of his glove behind the groundball pitchers. ROY will be George Springer.

What are you looking forward to most this season at either the major league or minor league level?

Seeing young guys experience success at major league level and show steady improvement to fulfill potential.

Next up, Buca weighs in:

What is your prediction for the Astros record for 2014?

75-87

With the addition of the second DSL team, the Astros will now have nine minor league clubs. How many playoff berths do you predict? How many championships?

Five berths and three championships.

What two players are you most excited to see make their major league debuts?

I am excited to see Wojo and Folty take the hill across from some major league lumber.

Who do you think will be the Astros All-Star representative? Astros MVP? Astros Rookie of the Year?

For the All-Star I am hoping Altuve or Castro. Barring any new fan favorites or a serious injury it would have to be one of them. I say "hope" considering they are (as of now) Houston's three and four hitters. When that part of your lineup is in ALL-Star consideration, everybody is happy. MVP goes to Cosart if he is consistent. Rookie of the Year? I can honestly say I have no clue. I like surprises and time will certainly tell.

What are you looking forward to most this season at either the major league or minor league level?

There are two things that come immediately to mind: First, I am psyched beyond belief to start watching the Hooks again. If you have ever wondered where my bias lay, it is with that team in Corpus. Second, that the Community Partners signage at MMP was relocated and now we can all enjoy one of the best views in MLB again.

I couldn't resist putting DeAnna on the spot as well:

What is your prediction for the Astros record for 2014?

68-94

With the addition of the second DSL team, the Astros will now have nine minor league clubs. How many playoff berths do you predict? How many championships?

I am incapable of keeping up with all the minors, that's why I have YOU to tell me what to think!

What two players are you most excited to see make their major league debuts?

Springer (of course) & Folty

Who do you think will be the Astros All-Star representative? Astros MVP? Astros Rookie of the Year?

Allstar: Altuve
MVP: MattyD but I have a feeling Marwin will surprise us all.


What are you looking forward to most this season at either the major league or minor league level?

I'm looking forward to all the glorious potential!

Dustin gives us his take:

What is your prediction for the Astros record for 2014?

I'll go with 69-93, which would give the Astros the #5 pick in the 2015 Draft

With the addition of the second DSL team, the Astros will now have nine minor league clubs. How many playoff berths do you predict? How many championships?

6 berths, 2 championships (I got Quad Cities repeating)

What two players are you most excited to see make their major league debuts?

Mike Foltynewicz and George Springer

Who do you think will be the Astros All-Star representative? Astros MVP? Astros Rookie of the Year?

My pick for MVP would have to be Jarred Cosart. Although I don't think he'll have an encore of his 1.95 ERA in 2013, an ERA in the 3-3.30 range would be awesome. I also believe that his peripheral stats will be vastly improved as he ends up throwing 185 innings this year.

George Springer will be the team's ROY. He'll be 3rd in homers to Chris Carter and Jason Castro despite playing about 2/3rds of a 162-game schedule.


What are you looking forward to most this season at either the major league or minor league level?

Robbie Grossman and Jarred Cosart carrying the torch for their hometown. On the minor league side of things, continued dominance.

Also, one prediction from me: Jonathan Villar will steal 60 bases this season.


And finally my thoughts:

What is your prediction for the Astros record for 2014?

I'm going with 71-91 and back to .500 (or better) next season.

With the addition of the second DSL team, the Astros will now have nine minor league clubs. How many playoff berths do you predict? How many championships?

I may be overly optimistic, but I think six of the nine clubs will make it to the playoffs (including one of the DSL teams) and four of them will bring home the hardware.

What two players are you most excited to see make their major league debuts?

I have to go with Folty and Springer at this point, but I would also love for Carlos Correa to fulfill his goal of getting a September call-up this season.

Who do you think will be the Astros All-Star representative? Astros MVP? Astros Rookie of the Year?

I am going to say Jarred Cosart will be the Astros All-Star representative. I actually like that he has a chip on his shoulder. It makes him work that much harder to be the best he can be, and with his natural abilities, his best is pretty darn good.

I've been going back and forth on the MVP question. I'm going to think outside the box and pick Dexter Fowler. After the ridiculous public flailing he got from Denver Post writer Mark Kiszla for not having enough "grit," I will be rooting extra hard for him to have a career season and serve as a sparkplug for the team.

George Springer is kind of a no-brainer. Even when Springer struggles, he is a very special player.


What are you looking forward to most this season at either the major league or minor league level?

At the major league level, I'm looking forward to every rookie debut. I'm incredibly excited about what's coming to MMP.

At the minor league level, I'm most looking forward to the first time I board a plane on my way to a minor league venue. The anticipation is almost (but not quite) better than the reality.

And that's the case with where the Astros are right now in their rebuilding efforts. The anticipation is wonderful, but when the reality finally gets to Houston, it's going to be amazing.

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