The Red Sox do everything right though...

They spend a lot of money on free agents.

They'll never let money factor into their decisions when drafting players, and they'll even "overpay" a draft pick just to guarantee a signing.

The Red Sox also make "excellent trades" in which they're receiving an All-Star caliber player in return, even when they're trading away an All-Star caliber player.

In fact, the Boston Red Sox are the total opposite of the Houston Astros.

The only reason the Astros stumbled into an excellent team that went to two straight National League Championships ( 2004 and 2005 ) and one World Series appearance ( 2005 ), was only because Andy Pettitte ( Deer Park ) and Roger Clemens ( Katy ) had hometown ties with the city of Houston.

Realistically speaking, the Astros still have a lot to prove as an organization.

The Red Sox, they've already "been there and done that."

If the Astros want a quick fix and a possible World Series contender in 2009 next year, then they'll have to improve their starting rotation, and by that I mean adding another legitimate ace as their number two starter. Somebody along the lines of C.C. Sabathia or Jake Peavy who can take the mound every fifth day ( after Roy Oswalt ) and shut other teams down.

I don't even mention Ben Sheets anymore, because his injury concerns are so severe, I'm not even sure you can afford to throw all of your eggs into his basket this off-season.

Albeit, due to his injuries, perhaps he'll sign for less, or at least an incentive-based deal.