I almost feel bad for 40-year old first time major league manager Bo Porter.  Porter was with the Nationals as a coach the last two years, so he was around winning….but I don’t think that will matter in 2013.  He has been a major league coach for the last six years, but nothing has taught him about the buzzsaw he’s going to step into as the new manager of the Houston Astros.  The Astros were the worst team is baseball last year and they are moving from the weak N.L. Central to the tough as nails A.L. West.  The Astros did very little to improve the roster in 2013, so look for Porter to take a lot of lumps this year.  The Astros just hope that he learns from them and grows along with the team.

The Astros have a lot of live, but inexperienced arms in the bullpen for 2013.  32-year old righty Jose Veras will get his big shot to close for the Astros in 2013.  He pitched in 72 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 5-4 with 1 save, a 3.63 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.  Veras has now pitched in 327 games (0 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 19-17 with 5 saves, a 4.01 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.  28-year old lefty Wesley Wright will likely be the Astros’ top set-up man in 2013.  He pitched in 77 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 3.27 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.  Wright has now pitched in 232 games (4 starts) in first five years in the majors and he is 10-11 with 2 saves, a 4.55 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.  The rest of the guys in the pen will have to earn spots this spring.  28-year old righty Hector Ambriz pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 1-1 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 52 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-3 with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.  27-year old righty Sam Demel pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the D-Backs last year and he was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP.  He also pitched in 56 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year in which he was 1-4 with 1 save, a 4.07 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.  Demel has now pitched in 72 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 4-4 with 2 saves, a 4.95 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP.  26-year old righty Rhiner Cruz was a Rule 5 Draft pick two winters ago.  He pitched in 52 games (0 starts) in his first taste of the majors last year and he was 1-1 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP.  The Astros plucked 27-year old righty Josh Fields away from the Red Sox in last winter’s Rule 5 Draft.  He comes into this season as the Astros’ #25 prospect according to Baseball America.  Fields pitched in 42 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 4-3 with 12 saves, a 2.01 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 132 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 11-8 with 23 saves, a 3.57 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.  26-year old lefty Xavier Cedeno could also see an expanded role in 2013 for the Astros.  He pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 3.77 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 47 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 0-1 with 1 save, a 4.96 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.  28-year old lefty Sergio Escalona missed all of last season due to injury.  He pitched in 49 games (0 starts) for the Astros in 2011 and he was 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 63 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.  30-year old righty Jose Valdez is also in the running for a bullpen spot.  He pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.  Valdez has now pitched in 24 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 5.88 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2013:  D-

The Astros are going to need some starting pitchers to step up in 2013, or it’s going to be a very, very long season.  27-year old righty Lucas Harrell will be the Astros’ #1 starter in 2013.  He came out of nowhere to pitch really well for the Astros in 2012.  Harrell pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 11-11 with a 3.76 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 49 games (37 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 12-13 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.  28-year old righty Bud Norris is the only other starter guaranteed a spot in the opening day starting rotation.  Norris pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 7-13 with a 4.65 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.  Norris has now pitched in 98 games (97 starts) in his first four years with the Astros and he is 28-37 with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.  22-year old righty Jordan Lyles, 30-year old righty Philip Humber, 34-year old lefty Erik Bedard, 26-year old righty John Ely, 25-year old lefty Dallas Kuechel, 24-year old righty Alex White and 25-year old righty Brad Peacock will duke it out for the #3, #4 and #5 spots in the rotation this spring.  Lyles pitched in 25 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 5-12 with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 45 games (40 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 7-20 with a 5.20 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.  Humber pitched in 26 games (16 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 5-5 with a 6.44 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 80 games (44 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 16-15 with a 4.87 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.  Bedard could surprise for the Astros in 2013.  He pitched in 24 games (all starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 7-14 with a 5.01 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.  Bedard has now pitched in 192 games (189 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 63-64 with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP.  Bedard has been a solid major league pitcher when healthy.  Ely pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 0-2 with a 20.25 ERA and a 3.75 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 25 games (19 starts) in his first 3 years in the majors and he is 4-13 with a 5.70 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.  Kuechel pitched in 16 games (all starts) for the Astros last year in his first taste of the majors and he was 3-8 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP.  He also pitched in 16 games (all starts) in AAA-ball for the Astros last year and he was 6-4 with a 3.90 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.  He is going to be a longshot to break camp with the Astros in 2013.  Alex White will likely start the 2013 season in AAA-ball for the Astros.  He pitched in 23 games (20 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 2-9 with a 5.51 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP.  White has now pitched in 33 games (30 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 5-13 with a 6.03 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP.  The Astros hope that a chance of scenery will spark both White and Peacock in 2013.  Peacock came into this season as the A’s #4 prospect according to Baseball America.  He pitched in 28 games (25 starts) in AAA-ball for the A’s last year and he was 12-9 with a 6.01 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP.  Peacock did pitched in 3 games (2 starts) for the Nationals in 2011 and he was 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2013:  D

24-year old lefty swinging Fernando Martinez and 24-year old switch-hitting Jimmy Paredes will duke it out for the starting RF job for the Astros in 2013 this spring.  Martinez played in 41 games for the Astros last year and he was 28 of 118 (.237 avg, .766 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 6 homers and 14 RBIs.  He played in 6 games (all starts) in RF last year and he had 0 assists or errors there while showing poor range.  Martinez has now played in 88 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 52 of 249 (.209 avg, .647 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 8 homers, 26 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  Martinez was once a top prospect with the Mets not too long ago, so he might surprise in 2013.  Jimmy Paredes played in 24 games for the Astros last year and he was 14 of 74 (.189 avg, .474 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 0 homers, 3 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  He played in 15 games (13 starts) in RF last year and he had 1 assist and 2 errors there while showing below average range.  Paredes has now played in 70 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 62 of 242 (.256 avg, .639 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 2 homers, 21 RBIs and 7 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RIGHT FIELDERS IN 2013:  D

29-year old righty swinging Justin Maxwell heads into spring training as the Astros’ starting CF.  He played in 124 games for the Astros last year and he was 72 of 315 (.229 avg, .764 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 18 homers, 53 RBIs and 9 stolen bases.  He whiffed 114 times while only walking 32 times last year, as he is a big time hacker at the plate.  Maxwell played in 59 games (47 starts) in CF last year for the Astros and he had 4 assists and 0 errors there while showing out of this world range.  Maxwell has now played in 246 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 116 of 534 (.217 avg, .737 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 27 homers, 79 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.  33-year old lefty swinging Rick Ankiel will probably be Maxwell’s top backup in 2013.  He played in 68 games for the Nationals last year and he was 36 of 158 (.228 avg, .694 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 5 homers, 15 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  Ankiel played in 63 games (37 starts) in CF last year and he had 2 assists and 2 errors there while showing outstanding range.  Ankiel has now played in 608 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 438 of 1,793 (.244 avg, .729 OPS) with 247 runs scored, 69 homers, 233 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.  26-year old righty swinging Brandon Barnes got his first taste of the majors for the Astros last year.  He played in 43 games for the Astros last year and he was 20 for 98 (.204 avg, .515 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer, 7 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  He walked 5 times while whiffing 29 times for the Astros last year, so he has some things to fix with his swing.  Barnes played in 32 games (23 starts) in CF last year and he had 2 assists and 0 errors there while showing outstanding range.  Barnes also played in 106 games in AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 128 of 399 (.321 avg, .894 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 12 homers, 69 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.  29-year old switch-hitting Trevor Crowe will also be trying to win a bench job with the Astros this spring.  Crowe played in 84 games in AA+AAA-ball last year for the Indians and Angels and he was 87 of 310 (.281 avg, .745 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 3 homers, 29 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.  Crowe last played in the majors back in 2011 with the Indians.  He has played in 205 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 160 of 653 (.245 avg, .625 OPS) with 76 runs scored, 3 homers, 55 RBIs and 29 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CENTER FIELDERS IN 2013:  C+

25-year old righty swinging J.D. Martinez will battle 26-year old righty swinging Chris Carter for the LF job this spring.  Martinez played in 113 games for the Astros last year and he was 95 of 395 (.241 avg, .685 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 11 homers and 55 RBIs.  He played in 100 games (97 starts) in LF for the Astros last year and he had 9 assists and 2 errors there while showing poor range.  Martinez has now played in 166 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 152 of 603 (.252 avg, .705 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 17 homers and 90 RBIs.  Chris Carter is a 1B by trade.  He played in 67 games for the A’s last year and he was 52 of 218 (.239 avg, .864 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 16 homers and 39 RBIs.  Carter has now played in 106 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 71 of 332 (.214 avg, .735 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 19 homers, 46 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  24-year old lefty swinging Fernando Martinez could also get in on the action in LF for the Astros at some point in 2013.  He played in 31 games (29 starts) in LF for the Astros last year and he had 1 assist and 0 errors there while showing slightly below average range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LEFT FIELDERS IN 2013:  C-

26-year old righty swinging Chris Carter and 26-year old lefty swinging Brett Wallace could form a timeshare at DH for the Astros in 2013.  I doubt it would be a straight platoon, as that would benefit Wallace a little too much.  I look for the Astros to split the ABs almost in half between Carter and Wallace, unless one of them wins the job outright with a big spring.  Carter played in 67 games for the A’s last year and he was 52 of 218 (.239 avg, .864 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 16 homers and 39 RBIs.  He walked 39 times and whiffed 83 times for the A’s last year, so he’s a hacker at the plate.  Carter has now played in 106 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 71 of 332 (.214 avg, .735 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 19 homers, 46 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  Wallace played in 66 games for the Astros last year and he was 58 of 229 (.253 avg, .746 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 9 homers and 24 RBIs.  He is also a hacker at the plate as he whiffed 73 times while walking 18 times for the Astros last year.  Wallace has now played in 232 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 177 of 709 (.250 avg, .699 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 16 homers, 66 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  Both Carter and Wallace were highly thought of prospects not that long ago, so one of them could have a breakout year in 2013 for the Astros.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE DESIGNATED HITTERS IN 2013:  C

The Houston Astros will be going young at 3B in 2013.  23-year old righty swinging Matt Dominguez heads into spring training as the starting 3B for the Astros.  He played in 31 games in his first taste of the majors last year for the Astros and he was 31 of 109 (.284 avg, .787 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 5 homers and 16 RBIs.  He also played in 123 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 115 of 447 (.257 avg, .682 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 9 homers and 69 RBIs.  Dominguez played in 31 games (27 starts) at 3B for the Astros last year and he made 1 error there while showing out of this world range.  Dominguez has now played in 48 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 42 of 154 (.273 avg, .739 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 5 homers and 18 RBIs.  25-year old righty swinging Brandon Laird will also compete for the starting 3B job this spring.  He played in 9 games for the Astros last year and he was 9 for 35 (.257 avg, .669 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs.  Laird also played in 130 games in AAA-ball for the Yankees last year and he was 128 of 503 (.254 avg, .721 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 15 homers, 77 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  Laird played in 8 games (5 starts) at 3B for the Astros last year and he had 1 error while showing poor range there.  Laird has now played in 28 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 13 of 56 (.232 avg, .599 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 5 RBIs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE THIRD BASEMEN IN 2013:  C+

29-year old righty swinging SS Tyler Greene never got a big shot in his years with the Cardinals, but he will get one in 2013 with the Astros.  Greene is likely going to be the starting SS for the Astros when the 2013 season opens.  Greene played in 116 games for the Cardinals and Astros last year and he was 70 for 305 (.230 avg, .674 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 11 homers, 30 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  He played in 43 games (34 starts) at SS last year and he had 7 errors while showing slightly below average range.  Greene has now played in 266 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 139 of 621 (.224 avg, .647 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 16 homers, 58 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.  Greene is a hacker at the dish though as he walked 49 times and he whiffed 182 times so far in his career.  23-year old switch-hitting Marwin Gonzalez played in 80 games last year in his first taste of the majors with the Astros.  He was 48 of 205 (.234 avg, .607 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 2 homers, 12 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.   He played in 47 games (38 starts) at SS for the Astros last year and he had 5 errors while showing slightly below average range.  Gonzalez will likely be the top utility man on the infield in 2013.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SHORTSTOPS IN 2013:  C-

22-year old righty swinging 2B Jose Altuve is one of my favorite players to watch for the Astros.  He stands at only 5′5″, 170 pounds but he sprays line drives all over the field and he can run like the wind.  Altuve played in 147 games for the Astros last year and he was 167 of 576 (.290 avg, .740 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 7 homers, 37 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.  Altuve played in 147 games (142 starts) at 2B for the Astros last year and he had 11 errors while showing off pretty good range.  Altuve has now played in 204 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 228 of 797 (.286 avg, .716 OPS) with 106 runs scored, 9 homers, 49 RBIs and 40 stolen bases.  The loser of the battle for the starting job at shortstop between 29-year old righty swinging Tyler Greene and 23-year old switch-hitting Marwin Gonzalez will likely be Altuve’s top backup at 2B in 2013.  Greene played in 59 games (43 starts) at 2B last year and he had 4 errors while showing really good range there.  Gonzalez played in 6 games (4 starts) for the Astros last year and he didn’t make any errors while showing out of this world range.   25-year old righty swinging Jacob Elmore will be a longshot to win a bench job for the Astros in 2013.  He played in 30 games for the D-Backs last year and he was 13 of 68 (.191 avg, .497 OPS) with 1 run scored, 0 homers and 7 RBIs.  He played in 5 games (1 start) at 2B for the Diamondbacks last year.  Elmore also played in 108 games in AAA-ball for the D-Backs last year in which he was 144 of 419 (.344 avg, .908 OPS) with 95 runs scored, 1 homer, 73 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SECOND BASEMEN IN 2013:  B+