Any brief perusal of the Stros/Baseball category of this blog will reflect that I am a big supporter of the folks at Baseball Prospectus, who produce the flat-out best research and analysis of baseball on the planet. A couple of days ago I received my copy of Baseball Propectus 2006 and, as usual, it’s combination of witty writing and first-rate statistical research and analysis makes it essential reading for anyone who wants to keep up with the current status of MLB teams and players. I actually take my copy of Baseball Prospectus with me to each of the many Stros games that I attend each season.
The lastest edition of Baseball Prospectus — as with the past two annual editions — is bearish on the Stros, primarily because of the club’s reliance on high-priced aging stars Bagwell and Biggio and an overall lack of talent in the farm system. My more optimistic appaisal of the Stros allowed me to one-up Baseball Prospectus in predicting that the Stros would be a playoff club last season (pre-season post here), although I must admit that — during both of the past two seasons — there were times that I was ready to throw in the towel on the Stros, too.

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