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. The only issue up in the air from 2006 was the return of Roger Clemens, who was pondering retirement for a third…
