MLB Baseball Betting - Houston Astros

Manager: Cecil Cooper (first full season).

2007: 73-89, fourth place in NL Central

Training: Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee, Fla.

Home Park: Minute Maid Park, Grass, Cap. 40, 950, Opened April 7, 2000.

World Series Titles: (0)

Acquisitions: OF Reggie Abercrombie, INF Geoff Blum, LF Michael Bourn, RHP Doug Brocail, RHP Jack Cassel, RHP Shawn Chacon, OF Jose Cruz, OF/INF Darin Erstad, 2B Kevin Hooper, 2B Kazuo Matsui, LF David Newhan, RHP Chad Paronto, 2B Tomas Perez, SS Miguel Tejada, RHP Oscar Villarreal, LHP Wesley Wright.

Departures: RHP Matt Albers, OF Josh Anderson, INF Eric Bruntlett, INF Chris Burke, 3B Michael Costanzo, SS Adam Everett, RHP Juan Gutierrez, RHP Jason Jennings, INF Mike Lamb, RHP Brad Lidge, LHP Trever Miller, C Eric Munson, LHP Troy Patton, RHP Chad Qualls, RHP Dennis Sarfate, OF Luke Scott,

Outlook: After making several roster-altering changes this past offseason, the Astros will enter the 2008 season with more speed and hwat they hope will be an improved pitching rotation and bullpen.

Houston acquired young left fielder Michael Bourn from the Philadelphia Phillies to be the team’s new leadoff man and also acquired veteran second baseman Kaz Matsui though he will open the regular season on the disabled list. Right fielder Hunter Pence is a star in the making after hitting an impressive .322 in 108 games covering 456 at-bats last season.

The Astros also should have a very respectable middle of the batting order with veterans Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada batting in the No. 3 through 5 spots.

Third baseman Ty Wigginton will need to do a bit better than his .278 batting average in 148 games while driving in just 67 runs and catcher J.R. Towles is an unknown entity at this point of his young career.

While the Astros think their starting rotation will be better in 2008 than it was last season, the fact of the matter is that once the ‘Stros get past No. 1 starter Roy Oswalt, they have more questions than answers in Brandon Backe, Wandy Rodriguez, Shawn Chacon and Chris Sampson, the team’s four other starters. Backe went 3-1 last season in five starts while Rodriguez went an unimpressive 9-13, Chacon, 5-4 and Sampson, 7-8. The Astros waived veteran Woody Williams just prior to the start of the regular season, much to the chagrin of many of the team’s veterans.

The Astros have one of the game’s best closers in Jose Valverde who saved 47 games last season while blowing seven but the Astros problem will be getting the ball to their overpowering closer with a lead.

The Astros open the season at +6000 to win the 2008 World Series in the BetUS Sportsbook. Check out all the latest MLB odds in the BetUS Sportsbook and futures section.

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Official Website: www.houstonastros.com