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I tried to lightly defend the Astros as NOT a reasonable candidate for "worst-team-of-all-time" and pretty much was told I didn't know what I was talking about because I haven't SEEN them play.
I didn't see them squash the Ms twice, either. My opinion on the Astros is unchanged.
2011: 89 OPS+ -- 83 ERA+ -- 56 wins
2012: 83 OPS+ -- 88 ERA+ -- 55 wins
They were the worst team in baseball the last two years. They won 1/3 of their games the last two years.
There is no reason to believe they are demonstrably WORSE than the last two years.
There are reasons to believe they might make some "slight" improvement this year.
The Astros are marked down severely because they have zero name cache to boost perception. Carlos Lee (and his 103 OPS+) is gone from the offense, making Carlos Pena the closest thing to a recognizable name on the team. Erik Bedard is the closest thing to a "sexy" arm.
But, Houston has a bunch of guys that are near league average ability - most very young, (meaning potential for improvement).
A great day can happen AGAINST anybody. The Rangers 21-run debacle last season came against the Mariners - not the Tigers. It happens.
Coming into 2013, there was reason to be concerned about the rotation, (even before Maurer made the cut). After Felix, there is a LOT of who-knows. Even Iwakuma is no sure thing. Plenty of import arms have managed a great start followed by a collapse to mediocrity (or worse).
Saunders is the closest thing to a sure bet as Doc so accurately pegged - as far as pitchers go, there are few with so little upside OR downside than Saunders. But, everyone understood there was a lot of risk in the rotation. But, there's a lot of near-ready help on the farm. That's precisely why the risk was warranted, (versus sticking with another safe pick like Garland).
I'm optimistic about Ackley and Maurer and pessimistic about Beavan and Smoak. Others have exactly opposite opinions. Nobody knows the outcome until its ... well ... outcome.
Baseball is not the NBA. Yankees - Houston is not even REMOTELY comparable to Heat - Bobcats. Houston is also likely going to kick Yankee butt and smack Detroit around several times this season.
But, lost in all of the length and noise of a baseball season are little tidbits like:
In 2012 Seattle head-to-head outscored BOTH Texas (87-72) and Anaheim (85-84)
Oh, yes there are occasional lop-sided team-v-team results. Most make little "sense", because they are a result of catching the right team on the wrong day or vice versa.
Some 2012 Seattle details:
v Baltimore 1-8 (Seattle almost singlehandedly earned the Orioles a playoff spot)
v Detroit 5-1 (the Tigers had to come from behind to beat ...
v WhiteSox 1-8 (Seattle nearly flipped baseball on its head, crushing Tigers while wimping out against the pale hose).
In baseball, the best team doesn't always win. In baseball the best team is lucky to win 60% of the time.
Give Montero or Shoppach a few games to get comfy with Maurer ... maybe he settles down.
If Smoak or Ackley or Montero has ONE good game - that could ignite a six week hitting streak.
That's baseball.
Before the 2013 season, the Oakland As were dismissed as a contender just like 2012. Why? No "sexy" names. Guess what? Pujols watched the playoffs on TV last year - and so did Hamilton.
Me? I still see a Mariner team with .500 (ish) talent ... but with enough flexibility where the right addition or the right player blossoming could push it to becoming a .550 team. It is waaaaaay early - and this team SHOULD have problems early. But, this team SHOULD also improve as the year unfolds ... be that because Smoak and Ackley and Montero and Maurer finally click ... or because guys like Romero and Zunino and Hultzen come up to replace them.
It's gonna be a long, bumpy ride.
I for one, am looking forward to it.