ESPN.com - Major League Baseball - Houston Astros preview


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Thursday, April 5
Houston Astros preview

ESPN.com

POWER RANKINGS


	First baseman Jeff Bagwell just keeps hitting -- at Enron and everywhere else.

Strength of schedule
.488, 12th in NL
Lineup ranking
1st in NL
Pitching ranking
7th in NL
Prediction
1st in NL Central

The lowdown
2000 record: 72-90 (4th in NL Central)
Runs scored: 938, 2nd in NL
Runs allowed: 944, 16th in NL

Three key issues for 2001
1. Can Jose Lima rebound from terrible season?

2. Will relievers Billy Wagner and Mike Jackson return from injuries to turn around the bullpen?

3. Is the left side of the infield in capable hands in shortstop Julio Lugo and third baseman Chris Truby?

Three key facts
1. The Astros hit an NL-record 249 homers last season, including 47 by Jeff Bagwell and 44 by Richard Hidalgo.

2. After going 21-10 in 1999, Jose Lima fell to 7-16 in 2000 and at one point lost 13 consecutive decisions.

3. After missing the entire 1999 season with a knee injury, Moises Alou finished second in the league with a .355 batting average and added 30 HR and 114 RBI.

RETURNING 2000 STATISTICAL LEADERS

AVG	M. Alou	.355
HR	J. Bagwell	47
RBI	J. Bagwell	132
RUN	J. Bagwell	152
SB	J. Lugo	22
WIN	S. Elarton	17
SV	O. Dotel	16
ERA	S. Elarton	4.81
Complete 2000 Statistics: Batting \| Pitching

Dave Campbell's scenarios
Best case: Bags bags triple crown.
Jeff Bagwell has another MVP-caliber season and leads the Astros beyond their 2000 performance.

Worst case: Fans wearing paper Bags.
Astros could embarrass fans and disappoint again if Jose Lima doesn't return to form that saw him win 21 games in 1999.

ESPN.com's lineup analysis
Player	Comment	Pos. rank*
J. Lugo, SS	Questions about his D, but he's solid hitter	5
C. Biggio, 2B	Remember he was having down year before knee injury	3
J. Bagwell, 1B	Scored 152 runs, most in majors since Lou Gehrig in '36	2
M. Alou, RF	He's immobile in the OF; when you slug .613, who cares?	4
R. Hidalgo, CF	Total package: 44 HRs (28 on road) and good D	4
L. Berkman, LF	Needs to improve vs. LH; will knock in 100 runs	8
B. Ausmus, C	Caught 150 games with Tigers last year	9
C. Truby, 3B	Wild hacker who isn't long-term answer to third	15
ESPN.com's pitching staff analysis
S. Elarton, RHP	5.74 ERA in first half; 4.08 in second half	17
S. Reynolds, RHP	Will miss first few weeks after knee surgery	24
J. Lima, RHP	Don't blame Enron; ERA was 6.32 on the road	48
W. Miller, RHP	Some feel he has No. 1-type stuff	56
Middle relief	Added depth with Jackson, Brocial, Cruz	7
B. Wagner, CL	Says he's throwing pain-free	5

	Position average (NL rank):	6.25 (1st)
	Pitching index (NL rank):	7.50 (7th)

* Position rank, compiled by ESPN.com's baseball staff, compares each NL team's strength at that position, including platoons, based on players' total projected value (offense, defense, durability) for the 2001 season.

NL position players and bullpens ranked on a 1-16 basis, with 1 being best.
NL starting pitchers ranked on 1-64 basis, with 1 being best. Cumulative rankings of starting pitchers are combined with bullpen and closer for overall pitching index, with more weight given to starters.
In both rankings, 1.00 is the best possible score, 16.00 the worst.

Click here for position-by-position NL rankings.

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