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RDKapp, I didn't mean to upset you with my comment.
Clack, you didn't upset me. Flastrohs is right. I was/am pissed at how the Astros just have a glut of players that just can't perform even to their own standards. And you've heard this from me before......there is something else going on here to cause an entire team (save Berkman) to go into these incredible offensive funks for extended periods of time. Repeated failure after repeated failure, over and over again, whether its leaving RISP, situational hitting, or whatever term you want to use. MLB clubs just don't experience those kinds of slumps multiple times a year for extended periods each time. I like Garner, but I have a feeling that he just doesn't have the motivational skills or the smarts to be successful with this club. The past 2 seasons just may have been aberrations.

I started my earlier post out wanting to engage you in some intellectual thought about how Purpura should not even be considered in your comparison, and it just progressed into a major venting post on my part. I don't do that very often, but I guess I just had to let it go last night. However, I still don't see how Purpura can get the blame for the Astros' woes. Yes, the Reds' GM made some moves to improve their club and they've worked out so far, and Krivsky deserves the credit, but the Reds were in an entirely different position than the Astros. The Reds finished 5th in the 6-team NL Central and could not get even a sniff of the playoffs last season. They had to do something. The Astros OTOH went to the WS last year. Why would they need to do anything, but some minor tweaking here and there, which Purpura did by adding a 2nd tier bat in Wilson and a lefty in the bullpen in Miller. In addition, the Astros (and their fans, I might add) expected improved offensive performances from Lane, Ensberg (from the end of 2005), Taveras, and Everett this season, and have gotten none of it. In fact, Lane, Ensberg, and Taveras' performances have declined from last season. You know Purpura has thought, at least up until recently, that those guys, as well as the underperformers on the pitching staff (namely Pettitte, Lidge, and to a lesser extent, Qualls and Wheeler) would eventually come around. So, you really can't fault him (at least I don't) for counting on the reigning NL champions to turn it around and at least perform up to their norms.

Is it time to do something now? Probably, and if the reports are correct, Purpura is really putting forth the effort. But Purpura is limited in what he can do, because the improvements must come at either the SS or C position, because any other move will still result in having those 2 offensive black holes in the lineup, and apparently (according to others), they are enough to drag this entire offense (save Berkman) to a screeching halt.

Is it too late? Probably not, but for this current team, maybe. I personally don't think a bat will help this team this season, because whatever condition this offense has is contagious and that added bat will likely underperform just like the rest of the Astros (save Berkman). Just look at Huff, so far. As a result, I tend to agree with you, Clack, that any move this season, ought to be done with an eye towards 2007. That way, we wouldn't be mortgaging our future for the next 2 months.