AUTHOR: jesse5shsu TITLE: Astros Hoping to make their 45th Season A Success DATE: 10:04:00 AM ----- BODY:

The Houston Astros are celebrating their 45th anniversary this season. They started as the Colt 45's back in 1965, and have seen some great players along the way. Nolan Ryan, Jimmy Wynn (aka The Toy Cannon), The Niekro's & their knucklebalss, Jose Cruz, Mike Scott, and of course "The Killer Bees," Biggio & Bagwell. The newest "Bee" is looking forward to the season, as Lance Berkman is eager to start the year, and feels the team's offseason moves are going to have a positive impact on the season. Minute Maid Park has had 10 years of baseball played as well. The Park opened in 2000 as Enron Field, and has been a hitter's ballpark from the inaugural season to the present. The Crawford Boxes make for a short porch in left, and the man patrolling Left Field hopes to have another RBI filled season. Carlos Lee reported to Spring training in good shape an on time this year. Some may remember him confusing the arrival date last year, as the big left fielder arrived two days late and not in the best of shape. He has produced well in the middle of the lineup however, and looks ready to have another good season at the dish. Opposite from Lee is Hunter Pence in Right Field, and he is looking to improve in all facets of the game this season. He has said that perfection is his ultimate goal, and he will keep striving to achieve the best season in every facet the of the game. He wants his defense, offense, and intangibles to keep progressing. He wants to be a better hit and run player, better base stealer, and more patient at the plate. He told Astros .com that he plans on improving all of these areas and more in a recent article, and this attitude seems to be contagious as the Astros appear loose, happy, and eager for the 2010 season. To complete the outfield is Centerfielder Michael Bourn. Bourn was the Astros MVP last season, and hopes to be the catalyst at the top of the order to this Houston offense. The players know that the team needs to score some runs this year, and if Bourn can continue to hit well, get on base, and run like he showed last season, the lineup will be able to be prolific for the "Good Guys." Only time will tell how the season will pan out for the boys from Houston, but all signs appear to be positive in Spring Training's early stages. Workouts are upbeat, and outlooks are right where they need to be so far.

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