Be patient guys, please.

I would rather see the Astros concede 2006, clear space, and start preparing for a future with so many promising players than force a trade for some overhyped vet who doesn't have any attachment to the franchise and city and would just shoot for a bigger contract elsewhere. I hope Purpura holds his ground...other than Tejada, I don't see any deal worth making.

If we play our cards right we can be a tough, tough team in the near future. If that means we watch some other team in the playoffs this year, so be it. I'll take a year or two break from the playoffs if it means we could have a 4-5 year stretch of dominance and a championship. That's what the young arms could give us.

And it wouldn't take long...we could be the best team in the National League by 2008 if we play this right.

Oswalt
Hirsh
Bucholz
Nieve
Wandy
Albers, et al

It'll just take some patience.

Bucholz is not a joke...he's a rookie with good stuff. He's dominated some games for a reason. Why develop him in Houston and trade him away so he can win games for someone else?