July 22- Baseball Blinders

Today I am going to discuss what I refer to as baseball blinders. These prevent someone from seeing the big picture and let them get wrapped into a short-term focus. As an example, I will look at the Astros the last few years.

Since the Astros made it to the World Series in 2005, they have never had a team that could contend for a title. The pitching left when Pettite and Clemens left, only to be replaced by Jason Jennings and Randy Wolf. But the last two years, the team has made runs during the year to climb back into contention and miss out at the end. I don't know why, but this makes fans happy. Granted, at the time the winning is going on, everyone has that high. But they never make it, and if they did, it would be an embarrassing result in the opening round. Think if the team made it last year. Roy Oswalt followed by Wandy Rodriguez and Randy Wolf? Not a pretty thought...

And here the Astros are this year, making a "run" to the Central lead, only two games back from the Cardinals. And the prospects for a postseason bid this year would be even bleaker. Oswalt, Rodriguez, and Hampton? Ouch. But after winning last night, the fans are already hopping on the bandwagon. Now, I am not going to dispute that it is nice to have a solid team in town. But is it enough for everyone just to scrape into the playoffs and get hammered? Personally, I think just getting there is not enough. Ask Rockets fans if it is enough when they were first round flameouts for years.

Now, I don't think this team is terrible (like the Nationals), but they are not the Dodgers or Phillies. Hell, they aren't even the Brewers, Cardinals, or Cubs. Therefore, they should start thinking about next year. The GM should have foresight and start rebuilding a terrible farm system. Tejada is an asset this year, and should be moved for prospects. Let Edwin Maysonet show what he can do at SS. Blum or Erstad could shore up a contenders bench. And we have the chance to get some decent prospects. In the long run, I think it should be title contender or regroup. This year, the Astros are not title contenders. Therefore, they should be in rebuild mode and get ready for a 2010 campaign.