OK. Now its Time to Wait and See

The Astros have a new manager. Brad Mills is the man. From all accounts he certainly is qualified to run a major league team. How well he can actually do it won't be known for maybe a year. So now it is time to settle back and see what the club can do about filling open spots on the roster and what the quality will be like when the season opens next April.

Skipper Mills needs to fill up to four coaching vacancies first. The most important of them are pitching and bench coach. Third base is set. Dave Clark will return to that spot. And Sean Berry will remain as hitting coach. Someone for first base who would also double likely as a position coach. A bullpen coach who might also be qualified to serve as assistant pitching coach wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Whatever the makeup becomes it will be vitally important in Mills' success as a manager.

That and good enough players.

Obviously, that is the rub. The Astros may be almost forced to put some "not ready for prime time players" from the farm system in the lineup to begin 2010. To keep a handle on costs during what likely will be a transition season (I didn't use the word "rebuilding") some young players will have to get first call on some spots.

Otherwise, there would have to be more money spent than the club wants use at this point in its development.

There is one way, however, they can cut costs and perhaps still have some cash available to fill the left side of the infield with experienced major leaguers. Spend less on the backups and bench and go with younger players there.

Normally, major league teams don't like to go that route. They prefer to have vets available to pinch hit. They also prefer to have players who have been around fill the part time roles with the belief that they are more capable of having success when used sporadically than younger players who have never been bench players.

Perhaps the Astros have to change that in 2010.

If the Astros bench in 2010 consisted of players like J.R. Towles, Edwin Maysonet, Tommy Manzella, Brian Bogusevic, Reggie Abercrombie, Mark Saccomanno or Yordani Ramirez that would save a lot of money over the Blums, Boones, Erstads and Michaels of the world. At times the vets would be missed, but if it meant a stronger starting lineup it might be worth the gamble.

Furthermore, none of those in the Astro high minors are considered sure bet major league stars or even starters. Moving to a backup role to get to the majors would not likely harm their development.

Spring training will be interesting no matter what free agent players are signed to return and what deals may be made. Whether the Astros turn out to be worse, improved or even the surprise team of the NL Central in 2010 is still many months away.

We have only begun the 2009 World Series and I, for one, am eager to see what Brad Mills and Ed Wade have put together to work with next spring...good or bad. Hey, its baseball!