HOUSTON ASTROS

The temptation here is to skip this team and move on to the next.

Houston finished 56-106, 40 games off the pace! Next season they move on to the American League Central so that both leagues are equal in numbers.

In spite of a dismal year at the plate, the team batting average was .258, that ranked 10^th in the race for dismal. They finished 26^th in runs scored, 23^rd in on base percentage and 24^th in slugging percentage at .374 as a team. The teams pitching is probably the real reason for the team’s shall we say success? 28^th in ERA and everyone else hit .266 against them, including Webber’s Funeral Little League team.

Carlos Lee led the team in all categories. The ‘Stros’ failed to hit 100 homers in 2011, or any one pitcher win more than 11 games. But what did they do to help themselves:

Free Agent Market-

Clint Barnes SS escaped to Pittsburg, and Jason Michaels found the escape route to Washington. Livan Hernandez on the other hand took his 4.47 ERA with his 8-13 record and left Washington for Houston. Someone should have explained to him that it’s Houston TEXAS, not the TEXAS Rangers, but luckily for him it’s to a minor league contract! There were no takers.

Final analysis: Who cares?