"As Astros fans, all we hear about is how the winning won't happen until 2014 (2013 for the truly delusional). Well, I say why not just win this year?

No, I haven't been possessed by the spirit of "The Grocer." No, I don't need a padded cell. (Well, I might, but that's not related to this post.)

Look, I understand the reality that this team is probably going to give us a year of heartache before we get dragged kicking and screaming to the AL West. But before the season has started and with Spring Training still joyfully about four weeks in the future, I decided to take a glass-half-full (OK, all-full) look at the 2012 Astros. After all, once the season begins, the hopelessness of 2012 will be our everyday reality. So why not imagine what could be?

First, a couple of ground rules: I am in no way advocating spending money on this team. My dream is limited to what we have, not some pie-in-the-sky dreamland where we sign Roy Oswalt and Prince Fielder. So if I am limiting my dream, I hope you must too."