The 2005 version of the Houston Astros kick off their campaign to return to post-season play with a home series versus the rival St. Louis Cardinals. Opening Day 2005 officially starts on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 6:05 pm. It was these same Co-ards who knocked Houston out of the playoffs in game seven of the 2004 NLCS to end what was at that point the most magical baseball ride in the history of the team. The Jake team was exhausted after the Astros series that they were taken down by the World Champion Boston Red Sox in four games and thus became a footnote in history. So both squads look to get back to where they were last year and do just a tad better this time. But differences in each team exist that it may not be as easy done as it is said.
For the Co-ards, they lost their middle infield of Tony Womack and Edgar Renteria, plus a loss of Woody Williams from the rotation and Mike Matheny behind the dish. They have replaced those players with the likes of David Eckstein, Mark Gruzabunchofalphabets, Mark Mulder and youngster Yadier Molina. The Houston Astros lost two key offensive players in Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran and will be without the services of Lance Berkman for about a month. Houston has looked within their organization for the replacement players and found Willy Taveras, Luke Scott and Chris Burke as their answers for now. So both squads look a little different from last year, but if form holds true to the many years of competitive baseball between the two organization, nothing will change insofar as the on the field play. Expect some excellent play on both sides and exciting games. Opening Day should be no different as young guns Roy Oswalt for the Astros and Chris Carpenter for the Jakes take the hill to begin the season.
Opening Day lineup for the Houston Astros:
1. Adam Everett - SS
2. Craig Biggio - 2nd
3. Jeff Bagwell - 1st
4. Morgan Ensberg - 3rd
5. Luke Scott - LF
6. Jason Lane - RF
7. Brad Ausmus - C
8. Willy Taveras - CF
9. Roy Oswalt - P
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