Happy New Year All!

I would like to thank my readers for hanging with me in 2012 as I continued to explore the Astros road back to respectability in the minor leagues. 2013 is probably not going to be a pretty year at the big league level ... again. The move to the American League is going to be difficult and our young players are going to struggle at times.

But once all is said and done and 2013 is over, Jon Singleton, Jarred Cosart and Brett Oberholtzer (among others) will likely have some major league experience under their belts. The likes of George Springer, Delino DeShields, Mike Foltynewicz and Nick Tropeano will all be a year closer ... tantalizingly close. And the excellent draft class of 2012 will be a year older, wiser and more experienced. We can expect to see many of those college players fast-tracked through the system just as we saw with Andrew Aplin, Nolan Fontana and Kenny Long last year -- think Brady Rodgers, Aaron West and Tyler Heineman, among others. Coming up swiftly behind them will be the young guns -- Lance McCullers, Carlos Correa, Rio Ruiz, Adrian Houser and others.

And in between, there will be players who will open our eyes as they develop and meet their potential. Where will Ariel Ovando, Domingo Santana and others be a year from now? Can non-drafted free agents like Lance Day and Brian Blasik continue to impress? What can Vince Velasquez, Kyle Hallock and Jack Armstrong do when healthy? Can Jio Mier stay healthy and continue with the progress we saw in the Arizona Fall League? Will Jonathan Villar and Paul Clemens make that next step? What currently unheralded player will emerge from the shadows and show us star potential?

And of course, we'll have yet another number one draft pick and more players will come in to help strengthen the system. This time next year? I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear that the Astros have a top five farm system.

Yes, it may be another painful year in the major leagues. But there will be many more signs of hope, many more bright spots as we finally start to see the light at the end of a long, long tunnel. Don't blink. You don't want to miss it. Happy New Year!

Lance Day ‏@Lance_Day

Ever wonder where time goes? Holy shirts #NYE is over. 2012 is over. In a blink and a half it's gonna be this day next year. Don't miss it