3 Houston Astros

Though they reached the World Series for the first time in franchise history, the Astros went gently into last winter, batting .203 while limping through a four-game sweep by the White Sox. That anemic performance--including a 1-for-33 stretch in Game 3 that manager Phil Garner angrily called "pretty poor hitting, absolute rotten hitting"--underlined what had been Houston's greatest weakness all season: Despite playing in one of the majors' coziest parks, the Astros finished in the bottom half of the National League in runs and in slugging and on-base percentages.

"When we ended the World Series, the thought was that we needed to add some offense," general manager Tim Purpura says, "but it quickly came down to the fact that we would have to add in the outfield. The attractive thing about Preston Wilson is that he plays all three outfield positions, and that would give us some versatility and flexibility; that, coupled with his desire to come here. He was very proactive."

Wilson, who hit 25 home runs splitting last season between Colorado and Washington, took his free-agent fate into his own hands in January, phoning Purpura directly to express his interest in going to Houston; after the 15-minute call that Purpura took on his cell while driving, a one-year, $4 million deal (with a club option for three more years at $8 million annually) was arranged quickly, and Wilson had the best chance of his career to play for a contender. "They've proven that they're committed to winning," he says. "At the end of the day you want to be in a situation where you're given a chance not only to succeed personally but also as a team. This was the place that best afforded me that option."

An unabashed power hitter who hacks shamelessly (his 148 strikeouts were fourth most in the majors last year), Wilson will thrive in Minute Maid Park, where the short leftfield wall is an open invitation for his dead-pull stroke. In that call with Purpura, Wilson discussed improving his selectivity, but the Astros won't push the issue. "With sluggers, guys who hit for power and production, you're going to strike out a lot," Purpura says. "We weren't looking for a guy to hit for average, we're looking for a guy to hit the ball out of the ballpark."

Houston's lineup--with first baseman Lance Berkman hitting third and third baseman Morgan Ensberg batting cleanup--will benefit from Wilson's protective righthanded bat in the five hole. "Those other guys hitting in front of [Wilson] would have to get pitches to hit, and they could have some more numbers, too," Garner says. "If he produces like we think he can, you can't sneak through it. Somebody is going to get you."

Wilson will probably shuttle among all three outfield spots, though right, which is geometrically simpler at Minute Maid, would suit Wilson best. "I'll fall into place at one place or the other," he says. "In the end it's just making sure I'm positioned well, working with my centerfielder. It can be challenging because it's an unusually shaped outfield, but I've never had issues there. You have to watch the way the wall is shaped and how the ball kicks off it, but you can prepare yourself for that."

With the expected retirement of 43-year-old Roger Clemens, the club's greatest void, of course, appears in its rotation. The Astros will attempt to fill the four and five slots by drawing from the unappealing grab bag of lefthander Wandy Rodriguez and righthanded prospects Taylor Buchholz and Fernando Nieve. Rodriguez had a 5.53 ERA last season, and Buchholz and Nieve have never pitched in the majors. Rodriguez seems most certain to make the club, mainly on the misguided rationale that he won 10 games last year.

Wilson, who has never played for a winning team in eight seasons, relishes the chance to experience the postseason; anything less than another pennant would be a disappointment for his new club as well. "I always wanted to be a part of the playoffs and have that desire," he says. "I'm just as hungry as these guys are to get there."

IN FACT
The Astros ranked 24th in the major leagues in runs scored last season, with 4.28 per game. That was the fewest for a World Series team since the 1992 Braves averaged 4.21 runs.

CONSIDER THIS
a modest proposal

With a bullpen that's deep from the right side and thin from the left--for example, lefty specialist Mike Gallo has allowed a higher batting average to lefthanded hitters than to righties each of the past two years--manager Phil Garner should use his power arms for multiple innings and not be concerned with getting lefty-on-lefty matchups. Righthanders Brad Lidge and Dan Wheeler(right) are effective against lefties, and righthanded ground ball machine Chad Qualls has been terrific against them. By using his pen this way, Garner may also be able to save a roster spot for a pinch hitter to bolster one of the league's weakest lineups.