RyanED wrote:
James, I would like your expert opinion about something...

What's it going to take for the Astros to become a winning baseball team again? Is it the farm system that simply needs to improve by drastic measures, because if that's the case then I'm guessing it's not going to be for another four or five years before the Astros are any good?

Better yet, let's assume the Astros keep this year's roster in tact for next season ( re-signing Miguel Tejada most notably ), but they add a good-hitting catcher, one good starting pitcher and two good relievers in the upcoming offseason... Would those four upgrades be enough to possess a serious contender in 2009?

RyanED-

There are two issues that must be addressed if the Astros expect to be legitimate contenders again. They absolutely have to commit to developing young and talented pitching. To do that, they must rebuild their farm system. There was a time when the Astros farm system was so effective in developing good potential major league pitchers that it was referred to as "The Arm Farm".

The other issue that needs to be addressed is strength up the middle. The Astros currently have no catcher that is capable of hitting major league pitching. Matsui is a waste of money at second base. He can't hit worth a flip and his defense is suspect and Bourn has turned out to be what a lot of us feared. He is not ready for the big leagues yet. He too can't hit major league pitching.

One other issue that I personally think needs to addressed and that is Carlos Lee. The guy has turned into an over-paid one tool ballplayer. His defense is absolutely atrocious. He has no arm and he can't run. His hitting has also become mediocre. McLane painted himself into a corner with this one. Lee needs to be in the American League as a DH.

Oh..and by the way, unfortunately Cooper needs to be replaced. He is in way over his head as a major league skipper. This doesn't mean the Astros will turn things around with Cooper gone but he makes so many basic fundamental mistakes that it has to be seriously worrying Wade and Tal.