Houston Astros tickets have been a hot item in recent years for several reasons, and those include seeing one of the most innovative ballparks in professional sports, watching the great Roger Clemens pitch, seeing the Astros put up monster offensive numbers and finding out if the team can finally break through for their first World Series title. They’ve been knocking on the door in recent years, and below we’ll take a look at how their roster shapes up as the Astros continue to chase their first championship.
Offseason Changes
It’s been an offseason of change for the Astros, and that starts with the departure of one of the franchise’s icons with the retirement of Jeff Bagwell. Bagwell will be missed, but the Astros also added a lot to their team, including free agents Carlos Lee, a power-hitting OF, and pitcher Woody Williams, who came over from the Padres. The Astros also swung a trade that brought them pitchers Jason Jennings and Miguel Asencio from the Colorado Rockies, which will add to their overall depth. Overall, the Astros will have a different look on the field, but some of these changes were completely necessary.
Players to Watch
There are several players who will be worth the effort of obtaining Houston Astros tickets. Lee will be intriguing, as he has become one of the most feared sluggers in baseball, but now he has to live up to his gargantuan contract. Bagwell’s unofficial partner in crime, Craig Biggio, is returning for another season and the batting order is also solid with the likes of Lance Berkman, who had a huge year in 2006 and Willy Taveras. On the mound, Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt will team with their new hurlers to form a respectable if not dominant rotation.
2007 Outlook
The Astros have put together a talented roster that should address their defensive and pitching weaknesses from last season, but the reality is that they sit in one of the toughest divisions in baseball. Not only will the Astros have to contend with the World Series champion Cardinals, but the Brewers are on their way up and the Reds appear ready to break out as well.
If the Astros can get better play in the field and stay healthy, they have every reason to think they can contend. It wasn’t long ago that the Astros were on the cusp of that first championship, and Houston Astros tickets for games in 2007 could be a chance to see an historic team by the time it’s all said and done.
Word count: 422