Fansided

2015 Houston Astros preview

By Will Osgood

Sep 7, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) prepares to delver a pitch against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) prepares to delver a pitch against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 16, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) is congratulated by teammates after getting a club record 211th hit in a season during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) is congratulated by teammates after getting a club record 211th hit in a season during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

The Houston Astros look to improve on a rather lousy 2014 campaign. 

Introduction/2014 Capsule

The 2014 Houston Astros were largely a mess. Manager Bo Porter was fired with about a month to go in the season, replaced by Tom Lawless who led the team to a respectable 11-13 record through September.

Houston finished 12th of 15th in the American League attendance game, bringing in just 1.75 million fans to the quirky Minute Maid Park. Yet, the Astros were the best team in Texas for the first time in years and overall showed some signs that maybe 2015 can be the first great season for the Astros this decade.

With Chris Carter and George Springer looking like a potential 30 home run duo for years to come, and the still just 25-year-old Jose Altuve rising to near MVP levels at second base the ‘Stros are on the rise.

General manager Jeff Luhnow has been building quite slowly, in almost the exact manner of current Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie—by using analytics and a devotion to bottom out and thus earn early round draft picks.

2014 Record: 70-92

2014 Run Differential: -94

Other Key Stats: 14th in AL in runs scored (629); last in AL in hits (15); last in strikeouts (1,432); last in batting average (.242); 13th in on-base percentage (.309).

On the positive, third in the American League in home runs with 163 homers, second in stolen bases with 122.

Pitching-wise: 12th in AL in ERA at 4.11; 10th in hits allowed, 11th most walks given up and 13th in AL in batters struck out at just 1,137.

Lasting Memory from 2014 season: Diminutive second baseman Jose Altuve captured the American League batting crown on the season’s final day as he went 2-4 in an 8-3 Astros loss in New York against the Mets.

At least that was the only lasting memory on the field. The team also infamously butchered contract negotiations with No. 1 overall pick, though as Ben Reiter tries to argue here, it wasn’t as bad for Houston as it appeared.

Next: Who's new & who's gone?

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