Houston Astros Update

In what can only be described as a positive upswing in a season full of disappointment, the Astros have quietly strung together three consecutive series victories while posting a 7-3 record for their past ten games. Prior to this latest surge, the Astros had lost seven straight games, prompting a whirlwind of rumors that the organization would be willing to trade its two most prized players, Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman, in an effort to begin a renaissance in Houston.

Astros owner Drayton McLane quickly put any rumors regarding Oswalt or Berkman to rest and even went so far as to say that he would be willing to add a few pieces at the trade deadline, in an effort to make another late season run to the post-season, if the price was right. McLane is adamant about not trading away the faces of the organization and has built a reputation as an owner who has a “win now” attitude regardless of the cost, whether it be monetary or organizational.

During McLane’s tenure as owner, the Astros have had the third highest win total in baseball, behind only the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees. The cost to the organization during that time has been high. The Astros organization was once regarded as one of the best in baseball, yet over the past couple of seasons, the Astros ranked last or near the bottom. So how can a team with a penchant for winning have one of the worst minor league talent pools in baseball?

The Astros have utilized free agency to their benefit, adding one high-profile veteran after another to fill in the gaps around players like Berkman, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell to keep the wins coming, and keep the fans wanting more. But in reality, the price of a high-profile free agent is high. The Astros have almost totally depleted their farm system in trades and have lost quite a few compensatory draft picks because of free agent signings through the years, thus causing major gaps in developmental time for younger players brought in through the draft. Since the 2004 first-year player draft, Hunter Pence has been the only player to make it to the big league team and make a significant impact.

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Regardless of what some may think, the Astros farm system is ripe with talent and possibility. Here lies the problem: with high-priced veterans like Kazuo Matsui, Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada staking claim at the starting spots on the team, younger players are missing out on opportunities to develop. Young players like Ross Seaton, Collin DeLome, Chris Johnson, Brian Bogusevic, Tommy Manzella and Andrew Locke are waiting in the wings for their turn at Astros glory. If Drayton McLane and general manager Ed Wade really want to rebuild, they have players in place now with which to do so.

So, what should the Astros do? Trades, trades, and more trades. Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada are at their peak and the team is still not winning at a consistent clip, so trade them to contenders that will give you prospects with which to rebuild and restock the farm system. Roy Oswalt, long coveted by many teams, is showing signs that he is no longer the ace he once was. He is still one of the best in the league, but if Roy Oswalt can bring you three or four top prospects, you have to make the deal. Baseball is a business, and many fans forget that part of the game. As a longtime Astros fan, I understand that teams have to rebuild from time to time, and with that facet of the game, there comes the understanding that sometimes, certain players once deemed “untouchable” can become expendable (think Nolan Ryan).

Regardless of what I may think, though, I’m only a sports writer. I’m not the Astros GM, so I can’t tell the organization to do anything it isn’t willing to do for itself. One thing is certain, though: the Astros are still one of the best organizations in baseball from top to bottom, and as fans we need to appreciate that.

The Astros will finish their current ten-game home stand with a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs. The Astros are looking at extending their current series win streak to four in a row and could move out of the NL Central cellar with a series sweep. The Cubs have not been playing good baseball as of late, and the storm clouds beginning to gather around Chicago skipper Lou Piniella are beginning to intensify. If the Cubs continue to underachieve, those storm clouds will quickly whip themselves into a fury, causing Hurricane Lou to resurface.

By: Jordan Fleck
MLBcenter.com Houston Astros correspondent

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