In a preview for the Astros, the Bleacher Report asks if the Astros are the NLC sleeper. Then they answer their own question in relatively short fashion by predicting a 79-83 finish.
Then this:
The biggest effect the Houston Astros will have in 2009 will be at the trade deadline. I really don't see the Astros competing this year, and it's essential to their future that they move some of their bigger named players.
It wouldn't shock me to see Matsui, Valverde, Tejada, Hawkins, Ersted, and many more traded by July 31st.
That's disheartening. Basically saying the Astros will be so far out of the race by July 31 that they'll be like swingers looking for partners: anyone or everyone. Let's look, though, and this is where I give credit to C70 at the Bat - rather than give opinions on which there's not much credibility to report (author says this: Baseball is clearly my favorite sport. Growing up in Chicago, I have always been a huge Cubs fan. I love watching and analyzing Chicago Cubs baseball.) Okay.
Who in the hell is going to trade for Miguel Tejada at the deadline? And many more? Just say it - Oswalt. If you want to make predictions on sleepers (then say they'll be 4 games below .500), then go balls out and make some predictions.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith