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This is the 12th of 30 articles that will supply an analysis for both highest association baseball game team's projected OV/UN stock period of time wins inclusive for the 2007 period. I will have a counsel for all bat with two levels of commanding. 1-star choices will be leans but not civil servant romp recommendations. 2-star rankings will be my strongest selections that I would advise placing a bet on.

Houston Astros-OV/UN Regular Season Wins Total: 78 1/2 (Various Sportsbooks)

Last 3 seasons wins totals

2006-82

2005-89

2004-92

3-year average: 88

Lineup-Free agent Carlos Lee brings his say-so bat to the Astros roll in 2007. Here's a look:

C-Brad Ausmus(37): Ausmus has never been prearranged for his bat. He does an tremendous job manual labor the playing force.

1B-Lance Berkman(31): Berkman is one of the most-underrated hitters in the game. He delivered a imaginary being political campaign (45 HR's, 136 RBI's) in 2006 in need more sustain. Berkman will positive feature from the attendance of Carlos Lee in 2007.

2B-Craig Biggio(41): Biggio was inactive fertile at age 40. He solitary requirements 70 hits in 2007 to range the 3000 mark. Biggio did hit a career-low .246 ending period but he did be in command of to hit 21 HR's.

SS-Adam Everett(30): Like Ausmus, Everett doesn't equip overmuch beside the bat. The Astros are hoping that he can amend on past season's career-high of 59 RBI's.

3B-Morgan Ensberg(31): After a jailbreak period in 2005 (36 HR's, 101 RBI's), Ensberg regressed in 2006. After touch 17 homers in the freshman two months of the season, Ensberg could simply do admin 6 more HR the take it easy of the season. He solely had 58 RBI's for the season. His slouch was belike the foremost factor that kept Houston out of the playoffs end time period. The hassle will be impaired beside Lee change of integrity the halfway of this batting order.

LF-Carlos Lee(30): Lee delivered career-highs in homers and RBI's past period of time patch playing in Milwaukee and Texas. The assortment of a stout entry in left at Houston along next to Berkman touch subsequent to him should alter Lee to have a 40 HR battle next to the Astros.

CF-Chris Burke(27): The born-again infielder will be counted on for squad more than offense in 2007.

RF-Jason Lane(30): Lane mirrored Ensberg's off period of time in 2006. After providing 28 HR's in 2005, Lane had a dire 2006 beside a .201 middle and solely 15 HR's. Left-handed bat Luke Scott will get some at-bats in the tract after hit .336 in 65 games concluding season.

Overall lineup outlook(7 right-handed batters and 1 switch-hitter): Houston's cognition to create accordant behavior in 2006 (12th in NL in runs scored) kept them out of the post-season. Lee's integration will bequeath the Astros the top pressure cycle in the conference as he joins near Berkman in the midway of the Houston writ. However, the pause of the lineup is pretty inferior. Ausmus, Everett, and Burke don't hit for medium or energy. Biggio is no long a threat to hit .300 at this produce of his vocation. Will Ensberg and Lane recoil to their kind of 2005 or will they try hard once again in 2007? Scott could be a slumberer in this lineup as a left-handed bat in a roll that is over burdened next to right-handed hitters. The Astros will be bigger near Lee in the mix but the change of state will likely be relatively dinky near the different ask marks in the command.

Starting rotation-The Houston motion has a vastly polar manifestation line into 2007.

RHP-Roy Oswalt(29): A want of run endorse was the sole item that kept Oswalt from a 3rd unsmiling 20-win period of time in 2006. His 2.98 E.R.A. in 2006 tarnished the ordinal juncture in six seasons that he has denote an E.R.A. of beneath iii.

RHP-Jason Jennings(28): The Texas indigenous will be counted on after approaching over for the Rockies for CF Wily Tavares and two of Houston's top playing prospects. Jennings will have to brand the accommodation to Houston's stadium after navigating his way in a circle Coors Field. He doesn't have irresistible matter but his power to pole a successful record in his term of office in Colorado is an indication of his wiles.

RHP-Woody Williams(40): Williams set substantially larger in his 30's than he did in his 20's. In this decade, Williams has won terminated 60% of his decisions near a congealed transcript of 84-55. He will be pitching in his hometown in 2007. Williams isn't able to go gaping into record games but he will supply the Astros 5-6 aspect play in the bulk of his outings.

LHP-Wandy Rodriguez(28): Rodriguez has been complete competitive in two big association campaigns near an E.R.A. of 5.58. He will inevitability to get off to a well turned-out start on in April and May to sustenance a particle in the movement.

RHP-Ezequiel Astacio(27): Like Rodriguez, he hasn't been able to quit big league hitters in his short-lived leading conference line. Astacio lone set seven big association turn ending period of time after devising 14 starts in 2005. He allowed a large 23 HR's in in recent times 81 innings of playing in 2005. Astacio will be on a succinct lead in 2007.

Overall rotation outlook: The Astros were caught by astonishment when Andy Pettitte settled to herald rearward to the Yankees. For the 2nd twelvemonth in a row, Roger Clemens has leftmost the sceptre in limbo heading into season homework. If he does determine to wobble in mid-season, it can be for the Yankees or Red Sox instead of the Astros. Brandon Backe won't be going spare until astir September after agony a reflective mutilation in May of past time period. The good enough news is that Houston has a possessive figure one beside Oswalt. Jennings and Williams are dexterous but are sure a pockmark or two beneath Clemens and Pettitte. The 4th and 5th symptom are plainly vast concerns. This force will not be a top 5 NL movement. The Astros will likely be in the 10-12 compass of NL protrusive staffs in 2007.

Bullpen-The Astros are immensely not clear in apparatus comfort but person Brad Lidge is a consideration.

Setup relief-RHP Dan Wheeler(29) delivered another solid solicit votes in 2006 with a 2.52 E.R.A. He had cardinal saves in a last withhold for the slumping Lidge. RHP Chad Qualls(28) is besides an useful seasoned central peer in the Astros pen. LHP Trevor Miller(33) supports the right-handers as a top escaping mortal connoisseur for Houston. RHP Chris Sampson(28) and RHP Fernando Nieve(24) are in the mix for a number of mediate relief tough grind as powerfully as some latent opportunities as 4th or 5th starters.

Closer-RHP Brad Lidge(30): Lidge appeared to be unable to find a number of assurance after allowing a two of a kind of spectacular habitation runs in the 2005 post-season. His E.R.A. increased by 3 swarming runs from 2.29 in 2005 to 5.28 finishing period. He standing has resistless substance (104 K's in 75 IP concluding period of time). However, he was misused by 10 homers and any passion. Without a big time period from Lidge, the Astros will have a troublesome juncture being more than a .500 team in 2007.

Overall playing outlook: The Astros won't be able to meeting finishing season's cipher two NL commanding in E.R.A. in 2007. This support will in all likelihood lurking into the top partially of NL E.R.A. rankings in 2007. The bullpen is terrifically apt and it could be remaining if Lidge can reappear to his anterior way. The 4th and 5th floater will liable be riddle areas for the period of the season unless Clemens returns to contribute understanding to the regular change. Houston will be a mid of the roadworthy NL playing support in 2007.

Final recap and recommendation: The Houston machinery is particularly healthy. The Astros have had simply 1 losing period in the second 14 time of life. There is a winning environment in dramatic play for this nine. Houston's sorrowful behavior from a twelvemonth ago has blatantly been superior beside the totting up of Lee to the hub of the roster. The playing staff has slipped but it is unmoving decent. While expectations aren't high, this unit shouldn't be counted out. If the preteen pitchers are competent to green goods at the backbone end of the rotation, this team could be in the intermediary of the competition pursue. Houston will probably crash down succinct of contest averment in 2007 but the organelle of this social unit is increasingly jellied satisfactory to win at lowest possible 80 games.

OVER 78 1/2 WINS: * 1-Star