Since we are a little behind schedule and nobody really cares about these two teams anyway, I am gonna pull some abbreviated, double-duty today….

Cincinnati Reds
73-89, 5th place NL Central

Projected Lineup
SS Felipe Lopez
2B Rich Aurilia
CF Ken Griffey, Jr.
LF Adam Dunn
3B Edwin Encarnacion
1B Scott Hatteberg
RF Austin Kearns
C Jason LaRue

Projected Rotation
Aaron Harang
Bronson Arroyo
Brandon Claussen
Eric Milton
Dave Williams

Projected Closer
David Weathers

Outlook

Sigh. What the hell is there to say? This team could just not be any more lost, and new General Manager Wayne Krivsky doesn’t seem to understand how to address the problem. I tip my cap to him for locking up Adam Dunn to a 2-year extension, and finally handing a full-time gig to Austin Kearns deserves mention. But after that…there just isn’t much to like about this club. First, they acquired Tony Womack. Sought him out, decided they needed him and pulled the trigger for a 36 year-old that posted a 47 OPS+ for the Yankees last season. Second, they acquired Scott Hatteberg, also 36, who posted a 79 OPS+ last season. Oh and did I mention he is a first baseman? If you asked me at the beginning of this off-season which two players I would consider to be the least desirable in baseball, I think Womack and Hatteberg may have ranked two and three respectively on my list (obviously John Flaherty would have been #1). And yet, the Reds went out and snagged both guys. Worse still, they are going to start Hatteberg, and even gave up on a 24 year-old with Hall-of-Fame comps so that they could make room for him. Yes they acquired Arroyo in the deal but no way would Krivsky does that trade without believing Hatteberg is a viable full-time option. Fortunately for Reds fans, Womack, at least at this point, appears to be buried behind Lopez, Aurilia and Freel for middle infield duties. Still, the lineup will hit. It led the National League in runs scored last season and figures to be up there again.

The problem of course with the Reds is that they can’t pitch. No sense in going into it in much detail. There is no reason to believe they will crack the top-10 in the NL in run prevention, and this once again will make them a 70ish-win club.

Prediction: 71-91

Houston Astros
89-73, 2nd Place NL Central, Wild Card Winner, NLCS winner

Projected Lineup
CF Willy Tavares
2B Craig Biggio
1B Lance Berkman
3B Morgan Ensberg
LF Preston Wilson
RF Jason Lane
SS Adam Everett
C Brad Ausmus

Projected Rotation
Roy Oswalt
Andy Pettitte
Brandon Backe
Wandy Rodriguez
Ezequiel Astacio

Projected Closer
Brad Lidge

Outlook

With a core of stars like the Astros have and coming off a World Series appearance, I should have a warmer, fuzzier feeling about this squad then I do. Lance Berkman is one of the finest hitters in the game, Oswalt and Pettitte two of the very best starters and Brad Lidge is just about as good as it gets nailing games down. Ensberg, Wilson and Lane are a formidable trio of supporting sluggers in Houston’s lineup but after that, this team gets a little ugly. Looking over the guys from whom they will be counting on for major contributions, there are just too many of them that can’t get it done. Willy Tavares sucks, Craig Biggio is more or less done, and neither fact has dawned on Phil Garner. These two should lead the team in plate appearances, to boot. Adam Everett and Brad Ausmus also are offensive dead weight. The 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 spots will drag this lineup down night in and night out, to the point where you wonder how they will ever win with any of their back-3 starters taking the hill.

And that’s the thing about the pitching too. Two great hurlers in Oswalt and Pettitte, a helluva good closer in Lidge but then what? A couple of nice bullpen arms in Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler but not much more. Handing Backe, Rodriguz and Astacio the ball every fifth day and then just kind of hoping for the best is no way to pursue a repeat NL championship. This Astros club could be so much more, but too much carelessness addressing some key parts will hold it back.

Prediction: 78-84