"The Houston Astros were such a flaming disappointment in 2011 that the team has actually been relegated, bumped to the American League, effective 2013. We're all anxious to see which low-power, .320-OBP scrapper will emerge as this team's regular DH, but that will have to wait. The Astros must first slog through the 2012 season as lame-duck National Leaguers. This group finished dead-last in the senior circuit in ERA last year (4.51) while scoring the third-fewest runs (615) and ranking next-to-last in total homers (95), so it can be reasonably argued that they don't do anything well.

The questions surrounding this team are many, although mixed league fantasy owners probably wouldn't describe any of them as "pressing." These are more like festering questions...

Mark Melancon was traded to Boston during the off-season. Please tell me that doesn't mean Brandon Lyon will get another chance to close. Please.

We can make no such assurances at this time. Sorry. Lyon is in the mix for the closer's role, coming off a disastrous, injury-shortened season (labrum, biceps). He was a mess over 13.1 innings last year before hitting the DL (11.48 ERA), but recall that he delivered back-to-back respectable campaigns in 2009 and 2010. Lyon will earn $5.5 million this season, the final year of his deal, so he'll likely find himself on the trade block if he can demonstrate that he's regained competency."