54-year old manager Brad Mills seemed to look overmatched early in his rookie year as a major league manager as the Astros were 26-45 (36.6%) in their first 71 games last season. But, then something seemed to click as the Astros finished the year 50-41 (54.9%) in the last 91 games. The Astros were 76-86 (46.9%) overall in Mills’ first year in charge. Mills is really going to be tested in 2011 because the Astros didn’t add much talent over the winter and they are already suffering some injuries in spring training.

31-year old righty Brandon Lyon will be the Astros’ closer in 2011. He pitched in 79 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 6-6 with 20 saves, a 3.12 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Lyon has now pitched in 453 games (21 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 33-40 with 74 saves, a 4.05 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. I have a feeling that Lyon is going to do a solid, but unspectacular job as the Astros’ closer in 2011.

27-year old righty Wilton Lopez will be the Astros’ set-up man in 2011. Lopez pitched in 68 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 5-2 with 1 save, a 2.96 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He only walked an absolutely stunning 5 batters in 67 innings last season for the Astros! He has now pitched in 76 games (2 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 5-4 with 1 save, a 4.17 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Don’t be surprised to see Lopez vulture a couple of saves away from Lyon in 2011.

25-year old lefty Fernando Abad comes into the 2011 season as the Astros’ #16 prospect according to Baseball America. Abad pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 19 games (4 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 4-3 with a 2.35 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Abad could be the lefty the Astros stick with late in games in 2011.

26-year old righty Mark Melancon came over in a deal with the Yankees last year and the Astros like him. He pitched in 20 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Melancon has now pitched in 35 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 2-1 with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

23-year old righty Aneury Rodriguez comes into this season as the Astros’ #11 prospect according to Baseball America. Rodriguez was a Rule 5 Draft Pick off of the Tampa Bay Rays’ roster, so they will have to keep him on the active roster all year long if they want to keep him. He pitched in 29 games (19 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 7-5 with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Rodriguez has now pitched in 141 games (131 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 41-43 with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. I look for the Astros to keep Rodriguez active all year long.

31-year old righty Jeff Fulchino will need to pitch better in 2011 if he wants to continue earning a major league paycheck. He pitched in 50 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 2-1 with a 5.51 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Fulchino has now pitched in 111 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 8-5 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

30-year old lefty Gustavo Chacin is back for 2011. He pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP. Chacin has now pitched in 102 games (58 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 27-17 with 1 save, a 4.23 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Chacin needs to limit the baserunners quite a bit more if the Astros are going to use him in 2011.

26-year old righty Samuel Gervacio had issues last season. He pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA and a 2.46 WHIP. Gervacio has now pitched in 35 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He has the potential to really help the Astros in 2011 if he can remain healthy and focused.

27-year old righty Alberto Arias missed all of the 2009 season due to an injured shoulder. He last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Astros. Arias has pitched in 45 games (2 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Arias can help the Astros in 2011 if he can stay healthy.

26-year old lefty Wesley Wright is going to have to step up in 2011 if he’s going to be pitching a lot with the Astros in 2011. Wright pitched in 14 games (4 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 1-2 with a 5.73 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 134 games (4 starts) in his first three years with the Astros and he is 8-9 with 1 save, a 5.33 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Wright does have a live arm as he has 133 whiffs in his first 133 1/3 innings in his major league career, but he needs to throw more strikes as he walked 72 batters which is way too many.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ASTROS BULLPEN IN 2011: D

The Houston Astros have acquired 32-year old lefty swinging IF/OF Joe Inglett from the Rays for either a player to be named later or cash. Inglett played in 102 games for the Brewers last year and he was 36 of 142 (.254 avg, .733 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Inglett has now played in 313 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 223 of 781 (.286 avg, .742 OPS) with 97 runs scored, 6 homers, 76 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. This was a good move for the Astros as Inglett will be an asset off the bench for them in 2011.

The Astros will be without starting shortstop Clint Barmes for the next 4-6 weeks due to a fractured left hand. This is a big blow to the Astros who were depending on Barmes to improve the D while providing some power at SS in 2011. Angel Sanchez will likely be the Astros’ starting shortstop when the 2011 season begins and he did a decent job for them last year.

The Astros have signed 28-year old righty reliever Fernando Nieve to a minor league deal. Nieve pitched in 40 games (1 start) for the Mets last year and he was 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Nieve pitched two years for the Astros earlier in his career in which he pitched in 51 games (11 starts) in which he was 3-4 with a 4.63 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Nieve has now pitched in 99 games (19 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 8-11 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The Astros will give Nieve a chance to get his career back on the right track but he will have to start the year in the minors.