I'm an Astros fan but not so much the MLB as a whole. I'm myopic in my fanship and there is way too much going on to worry about baseball when baseball isn't being played.

So please answer these three things for me to catch me up:

1) Have they done ONE thing to upgrade the team this year?
2) What does McLane see in Ed Wade?
3) Will we ever get back to 2004-2005 quality?

[This message has been edited by Zoog (edited 2/9/2009 2:51p).]

1. Nope, unless you consider signing a bunch of guys who will only be good in the minors good signings.
2. This is one of the universes greatest mysteries
3. it will be several years before we get back to being that good.

signed mike hampton to a low salary, incentive based contract.
signed aaron boone to platoon at third base with blum.
re-signed relievers hawkins and brocail.
signed pitcher russ ortiz to minor league deal, not expecting much from him
let go of wigginton, randy wolf
resigned valverde

expected line-up:
1. Kaz Matsui, 2b
2. Hunter Pence, rf
3. Lance Berkman, 1b
4. Carlos Lee, lf
5. Miguel Tejada, ss
6. Geoff Blum/Aaron Boone, 3B
7. Michael Bourne, cf
8. Humberto Quintero, c

SP
1. Roy Oswalt
2. Mike Hampton
3. Wandy Rodriguez
4. Brian Moehler
5. Brandon Backe/Chris Sampson

We let loose on Wigginton because word was he was going to get 7 million in arbitration, signed aaron boone a few days later for 1 million to compensate, then wigginton ended up going to baltimore for 2 yrs, 6 million

Astros are trying to cut payroll to under $100 million, looks like its going to be closer to $105 million

quote:

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2) What does McLane see in Ed Wade?

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I think Wade is getting a bad rap. I think he's doing a pretty good job considering the hand he was dealt. Purpura left the Astros with one of the worst farm systems in baseball, and a payroll at the top of the budget. It's hard to improve a team when you can't sign free agents and you have no tradable commodities. And forget about trading Berkman and Oswalt for prospects. Drayton won't let Wade rebuild. IMO, last year's 86 wins were as good as anyone could have hoped.