As the calendar moves deeper into March, many baseball fans have found a welcome distraction in the World Baseball Classic. For Astros fans like me, it has been exactly that, a high-level brand of baseball played with passion and intensity at a time of year when we’re usually stuck parsing spring training box scores and trying not to read too much into them. The games have been competitive, the atmosphere electric, and the quality of play a reminder of just how great this sport can be.
But when the World Baseball Classic winds down, Astros fans will have to confront a reality that’s much closer to home. The regular season is less than two weeks away, and at least for me, General Manager Dana Brown and the Astros front office haven’t done much to ease the concerns that still linger about this roster.
At last check, there is still a noticeable imbalance on the roster. The Astros have a logjam of infielders while lacking the kind of left-handed bat in the outfield that could lengthen the lineup and provide better balance. That issue has been talked about all spring, yet here we are with Opening Day fast approaching and no clear resolution in sight It is also worth noting, unlike a year ago with Cam Smith, no one is really stepping up to take charge of an opportunity.
Behind the plate, I still believe the Astros could benefit from adding a veteran backup catcher. Even with the minor league signing of Christian Vázquez helping the organizational depth chart, there’s value in having experience and reliability backing up the starter over the course of a long season. Victor Caratini was huge for this team and he’s gone, can you replace him and his versatility?
Pitching is another area where additional depth wouldn’t hurt. A left-handed arm in the rotation or another arm in the bullpen would add versatility to a staff that will inevitably face the wear and tear of a 162-game season. And when you factor in that closer Josh Hader won’t be ready to start the season, the bullpen suddenly feels a little thinner than Astros fans might like.
None of this is meant to suggest that the Astros aren’t talented enough to compete. Quite the opposite. The roster as currently constructed should absolutely be capable of competing for another American League West title. The core of this team remains strong, and the expectation of meaningful baseball in Houston every year is something fans have come to appreciate.
But competing for the division and competing for another championship aren’t always the same thing.
Owner Jim Crane often says the championship window for this organization is always open. If that’s truly the case and the Astros have certainly operated that way in recent years, then there’s still work to be done to ensure this team is positioned to compete for more than just a division banner.
Dana Brown has been patient this spring, perhaps waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. But with Opening Day rapidly approaching, the clock is ticking. Standing pat may ultimately be the decision the organization makes.
If that’s the case, Astros fans will have to hope the talent already in place is enough.
Personally, I’m not quite comfortable yet and with time running out before the season starts, I can’t help but wonder if the Astros are leaving a few important moves on the table.
Let me know what you think, and until then, GO USA!
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