A fast, explosive start that would defy critics and prove to disbelievers a team with a $20 million payroll could compete in 2013? A strong initial run in the loaded American League West that would shock the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics? The visible promise of youth and the production of enough buffer room in the standings so the expected brutal baseball days of July and August wouldn’t feel so depressing? That was the Astros’ plan before April began. But 15 games into a new season, 2013 has started worse than 2012, when they went 5-10 – and wound up with a franchise-record 107 losses. The Astros [...]