The expectations for the Houston Astros this season are beyond low. Most national sportswriters are predicting another worst-in-baseball season and many are suggesting the team, now in the tougher American League West, will make a run at a record setting losing season.

I’m not completely sold.

I don’t think the 2013 Houston Astros are a foregone conclusion. Now, before you bust out the straight jacket and have me committed, hear me out. I don’t think anyone can possibly know what to expect of the Astros this season. Yes, if you look at the roster in attendance at Spring Training you’ll do a lot of  ”who?” and “really?” before you hit a name that you think has long term, big league potential. But there’s a factor that I believe will be more influential than a list of unknown’s on the roster – Bo Porter.

Bo Porter at Spring Training in Kissimmee, Florida

Don’t get me wrong, Bo Porter’s not the second coming, but I think he’s exactly what the doctor ordered for the Houston Astros. Remember last year as we all laughed and groaned and cried as the Astros made silly error after silly error, so much so that the .gifs of their antics were in the running for awards of worst plays on some fan sites?

Of course you remember all of that. What those behaviors and plays come down to is reactions. When the pressure is on, human beings react instinctively, they don’t think, rationalize, weigh the pros and cons and consequences of their actions – they just act. The past few seasons fans have witnessed some really poor actions on the field at Minute Maid Park. The ranting on twitter is comical – the base running errors, the throwing errors, the little league mentality of a major league team.

Not all the name calling has been fair, but some of it was certainly well earned. I expect to do less of that this season. I expect to see fewer silly errors. I hope to never say “little league” and “Astros” in the same sentence. What’s all this expectation and hope riding on? Bo Porter.

I’ll admit it, he charmed me a bit, with his jovial personality and nice-guy smile, Bo Porter knows how to win someone over. But more importantly, Porter’s got good things to say about his approach and why it will be different. I asked him a while back if he’d be addressing those fundamentals that so often failed to produce good reactions in the past few years.

“As a team, we will be prepared differently than they have been prepared in the past.” The way in which Porter conveys thoughts like that one make you just know he’s passionate and believes what he’s saying heart and soul. To listen to him explain the 5 P’s (Proper Preparation Produces Peak Performers) is akin to listening to a Southern Baptist preacher on Sunday morning.

Porter’s hand slaps the table for emphasis, he leans into his statement and enunciates every word. The man means business. And reports from Spring Training camp say he’s hands on, more so than any other manager has been.

All of this makes me smile at the thought process behind Bo Porter’s hiring. I already thought Jeff Luhnow was a pretty bright guy, but his best move thus far may just be the jovial and passionate manager that brings a background of not just baseball knowledge, but a hard core football love as well. When your team is made up of young guns and no names, I think the guy you want leading the pack is someone like Bo, a little bit southern charmer and a little bit old school strict  father. He’ll give you all the love you want, but you better have picked up your room and respected your mother that day. Yes, just what the doctor ordered, indeed.

So if you want to count out the Houston Astros, feel free, but I just can’t do it -not with Bo Porter at the helm.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

Perhaps as a blogger I became too attached to the Houston Astros. Perhaps. But I think that when it comes to fandom, any fandom, change is hard. It broke my heart when Rob Lowe left The West Wing. I didn’t like it when the Twilight Series replaced the actress who played Victoria. And when Jerome Bettis retired from the Pittsburgh Steelers, I felt as if it was a foreign team. Change, it seems, is hard to swallow when you’re a fan.

I guess then it shouldn’t have been too surprising when, at the end of the 2012 season, I’d had enough. I was watching the Houston Astros make change after change after change and I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to step away, get a little perspective and find a way to love my favorite baseball team again.

I haven’t written anything about the Astros really since the World Series. I took my own off season of sorts. I didn’t stop paying attention. I know about the coaching changes, the trades, the signings, the firings, the logo, the Spring Training schedule and everything else. I just didn’t talk about it.

Those of you who follow me on twitter have seen a comment or two, some of them sarcastic and bitter, some of them just happy for the things that are starting to take shape. I’m not back here talking to you about the Astros because the Astros did something to make me happy. I’m back here because I’m finally over it.

I am a Houston Astros fan.

I’m not a fan of one particular person in the organization or one particular player. I’m not a fan of a GM or a Manager or an owner. I’m a fan of a team. I cheer for the Houston Astros because I grew up watching them play and somewhere around age 11 they found a way to become a part of my life, like family, but in uniforms. And like family, I don’t always agree with their choices or how they treated me or talked to me, or that they didn’t ask my opinion before committing to something. But like family, when push comes to shove, I have their back.

So here we are, just a few short weeks away from the first players reporting to Spring Training. It’s the first time in 51 years that the Astros will field a team in the American League. They’ll do it under a logo that is new and yet familiar. They’ll take the field with a crop of players that likely won’t make the Hall of Fame someday and likely won’t be All-Star selections. But they’ll take the field knowing that the decisions of 2012 and 2013 were and will be necessary in order to make me smile in 2014 and beyond.

2013 will be a historic season in more ways than one for the team from Houston. Not every way they make history this year will make us cheer, but I’ll be there, in orange and blue, cheering, because that’s what you do when your family is going through a hard time. Yep, change is hard.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

With all 63 guys having reported to camp -it’s a full house in Kissimmee. The Pitchers have live hitters to throw to and the guys are all working on getting game ready for the start of the Spring Training Schedule.

Astros fan Carole Oetke Townsend has been in Florida this past week and was kind enough to share some photos. Take a look at what fun the guys are having! (and thanks, Carole!)

General Manager, Jeff Luhnow, takes in the bullpen action. Photo courtesy of Carole Oetke Townsend

Pitching Coach, Doug Brocail, and Brett Myers watch Jordan Lyles throw a bullpen. Photo courtesy of Carole Oetke Townsend

Throwing bullpens. Photo courtesy of Carole Oetke Townsend

George Springer, one of the few pairs of short pants in ST. The Astros need more short pants. Photo courtesy of Carole Oetke Townsend

Bud Norris doing sliding drills....glad they kept those hands full. Photo courtesy of Carole Oetke Townsend

Wilton Lopez doesn't want to do the sliding drill. Hang in there Wilton, in 2013 there will be no reason. Photo courtesy of Carole Oetke Townsend

Yes, there really is that big of a height difference! Jose Altuve chats up Jason Castro. Photo courtesy of Carole Oetke Townsend

Look who's come to Kissimmee! Carlos Lee takes a few swings before facing live balls. Photo Courtesy of Carole Oetke Townsend

Burt Hooten, AAA Pitching coach, watches Lyles take on a group of hitters. Photo Courtesy of Carole Oetke Townsend

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

I need baseball.

I really really need baseball.

The offseason, the hot stove, the waiver wire, the hirings and firings are all fine for a while, but now…I’m pretty much sick of it all. I’m ready for baseball. I’m so desperate for baseball that I actually watched a basketball game (I was trying to distract myself from the fact that there is not baseball and for the record, it didn’t work).

As I type this, there are 19 Days, 2 Hours and 30 Minutes until the Houston Astros pitchers and catchers have their first workout in Kissimmee, Forida. It can’t come soon enough for me.

Everything is right with the world when there are boys on ballfields in Florida and Arizona because it means there are about to be guys on ballfields all over the country. *sigh* My happy place.

You’d think as a Houston Astros fan, I wouldn’t necessarily be excited for another season. It’s not like the ‘Stros will be contenders this year and it’s not like there will be strings of wins that fill weeks of time during the long lazy days of summer. I’m going to get mad, I’m  going to yell and scream. I’m even going cuss a little….okay, a lot.

But I will love every minute of it. You see, I’m a fan of baseball in Houston and, for now, that comes packaged in a dented up, taped together package. But there’s something about the sunshine and the grass and that white ball, scuffed with dirt that makes everything okay, so for now you can find me sitting on my front porch, waiting for the postman to deliver my dented up, taped together package. *sigh*

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

Christmas? Done.

You might be counting down to 2012, but not me. Next on my agenda is counting down to Spring Training. Kissimmee, here I come.

The Astros have not yet released their reporting dates, but if they’re in line with the few that are already on the calendar then we’ll expect Pitchers and Catchers to report in about 55 days, 3 hours and 2 minutes. Yes, I’m that anxious for baseball again.

What can we, as Astros fans, expect from Spring Training this year? I think it will be an exciting one. I say that simply because just about every starting position is up for grabs.

The young guns that made their MLB debuts last season will be in the mix with the few veterans that are still around. I don’t believe that anyone’s position is safe. If a player proves themselves in Kissimmee in this ball club right now anything is possible.

I know that many people shrug as they think, “Meh, the Houston Astros will stink again this year, so why bother?”

Not me. I know the Astros will stink again this year, but at the same time I think now is the PERFECT time to get excited and interested in this team. The hope of change and the discovery of new talent that rebuilding can bring is fun and that’s what I’m looking forward to watching. We’ll get to see the start of some potentially amazing careers.

So while you count down to 2012, don’t mind me, but I’ll be counting down to Kissimmee.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

Taking "Diehard Astros Fan" To A Whole New Level

Okay, so the Houston Astros have a new ownership team now, led by Jim Crane. They know that in 2013 the team will move from the National League Central Division to the American League Western Division.

Half of Houston is pissed off. Some of Houston doesn’t know anything happened. And then there are the diehards. We just want baseball back.

So now I’m getting back to baseball. Not the business, but baseball. Today’s the deadline for teams to have their 40 man roster set before the Rule 5 Draft and Houston’s been making some moves.

Here are the transactions that the team’s made in the past week:

Signed OF Brad Snyder to a Minor League Deal - He has been invited to Major League Spring Training Camp.

Signed IF Joe Thurston to a Minor League Deal – He has been invited to Major League Spring Training Camp. (For the record, it KILLED me not to call him Thurston Howell III when I typed that!)

Outrighted Catcher Carlos Corporan to AAA Oklahoma City – He has cleared waivers and has the right to elect free agency.

Purchased Contract of RHP Paul Clemens - He has been added to the 40-man roster.

Signed RHP Lance Pendleton to a Minor League Deal - He has been invited to Major League Spring Training Camp.

Houston’s 40-man roster is 38 men at the moment. Let the fun begin!

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.

Wow…it’s quiet now that no Astros are getting arrested. It’s spooky quiet this week. Maybe it’s the club’s way of prepping for Halloween? Who knows.

There are still a few things going on in and around the Astros organization. To join in the conversation, check out these stories.

- There are LOTS of discussions still happening about the Astros possibly moving to the American League. Steve Campbell at the Chronicle has gone so far to set up a poll to see what the true sentiment is among fans. Go vote!

- There was a rational argument made by John Royal, of all people, for why the Astros should stay in the NL. I know that emotions are high when it comes to this issue, but he raises a few good points that should be considered when this decision is made. Go read The Astros to the American League: The Logical Argument to Stop the Move.

-And if you feel as strongly as I do and want your voice to be heard about this potential Astros-to-the-AL deal then you can find all the contact info for all the right people on my previous post - Just Say No To The AL!

- The Astros announced their Spring Training Schedule for 2012 this week! Woohoo! If you’re like me and thinking you may head out to Florida come March, you can take a look and start planning now. It should prove to be a fun ST this year as just about every position on the field is up for grabs and we should see these guys really fight for starting spots! I can’t find the schedule on the Astros homepage, but all of the Grapefruit League can be found at the Spring Training Online Website. Thanks to WhatTheHeckBobby for that tidbit!

- There were a few transactions recently on the 40 man roster. On the 5th of October Houston out righted Blake King to the Corpus Christi Hooks (AA) as well as Lance Pendleton and Xavier Cedeno to the Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA). In addition on Thursday, JR Towles, Alberto Arias and Jose Valdez were all also out righted to the OKC Redhawks.

- Last, but not least, the man who closed most games for the Houston Astros this season, Mark Melancon, is one of many MLB players who will be participating in a Tour of Taiwan in November and play the Chinese Taipei National Team in the 2011 Taiwan All-Star Series. They MLB team will be playing 5 games in 3 cities between November 1-6, 2011. To see a list of all the player so far who will be playing you can check out Brian McTaggart’s story on Astros.com.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can read her Astros blog at www.talesfromthejuicebox.com, email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.