The Houston Astros might be better than people think this season, which isn't saying much because many believe they could become the first team since the 1962 Mets to lose 120 games.
As bad as the Twins have been the past two seasons, losing 99 and 96 games, Houston has been worse, dropping 107 and 106. Now the Astros have switched leagues, moving from the relatively forgiving National League Central to the richly talented American League West.
"We will outperform the expectations," Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow told CBSSports.com this spring, knowing those expectations aren't exactly huge.
The team's projected payroll is about $25 million. The top returning player stands 5-5 — second baseman Jose Altuve. The expected cleanup hitter, Carlos Pena, batted .197 last year. The biggest offseason pitching acquisitions were claiming Philip Humber off waivers and signing Erik Bedard to a minor league deal.
It could get ugly fast. Of Houston's first 41 games, 31 come against teams that finished above .500 last year, including two series apiece with the Rangers, Athletics, Angels and Tigers.
The Astros will take their lumps, knowing the team that finishes with the majors' worst record gets the first pick in the following year's draft, along with a higher draft spending limit.
Houston took advantage last year, signing two premium first-round talents in shortstop Carlos Correa and pitcher Lance McCullers. The Astros hold the first pick for this June's draft, and they are a good bet to hold it again in 2014.
Through the draft and trades, Lunhow is 16 months into an unapologetic rebuilding project, and frankly, the Astros needed it. From 1997 through 2005, the Astros made six postseason appearances — a stretch much like the Twins had from 2002 through 2010.
