We're in a position where we have to start moving forward. We can't give (at-)bats to players because they have been in that spot before. We have to get production and performance out of our players.
-Astros General Manager Tim Purpura: July 13, 2006
Months removed from their World Series run in 2005, the Astros returned key components of the pennant-winning roster. Berkman was coming off a .293/.411/.524 season in 2005. Ensberg hit .283/.388/.557. Jason Lane hit .267/.316/499. And that's beside the return of Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt, plus Dan Wheeler, Chad Qualls, and Brad Lidge.