Oswalt Gone... Berkman Going...Rebuilding, Yes!

Astros owner Drayton McLane, Jr. has never liked the word "rebuilding" when it pertains to his baseball team. In the past he has always felt a tweak here and a tweak there would be enough to keep his team competitive. The 2010 Astros ran out of places to tweak in large part because Father Time appeared to be catching up with some of the key players.

So, after having to do some strong convincing, General Manager Ed Wade, has been given a free hand--or as close to free as possible-- to re-make the Astros into a contender.

There is some risk, of course. If Ed cannot show progress probably as early as next season his job security would be in question. If success does not come the value of the franchise could be diminished.

But something had to be done. Give Wade credit for fighting for his position. Now what he does with that will be the key.

It won't be easy. There won't be much help from the current Astro farm system for awhile. The best and the brightest that are not still playing in the lower levels are already here for hte most part. There may be a pitcher or two who are nearly ready to get a major league shot, but that is not the case with position players. The position players with promise are already here.

While trading franchise icons like Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman saddens a lot of fans and not just the "Lil Pumas" or "O's Bros" it does cut the payroll and allows other players in the system to get a look. Oswalt is 33 and not likely to still be pitching when the Astros are ready to return to greatness. Berkman is 34 and his future appears to be as a back up if, in fact, he plays anywhere after this season.

Had both players been in the prime of their careers the return would have been greater, but the risks of dealing them much greater as well. At the present state of the franchise making the trades was not a poor move. That is even if none of the players acquired ever have appreciable value to the Astros. The 2010 edition of the club is just not very good. It has its good moments, but also has more bad ones.

A franchise can't keep plugging holes with duct tape and glue. The Astros have been somewhat guilty of that in the past. Sometimes it DOES work for awhile, but eventually the tape loses its stick.

The Astros need to build a system that provides competition for young players. Not only does that drive them to their best performance, but it provides the big club more options for the future.

The Astros seem to be stockpiling middle infielders in recent deals. Why? Just look at who is playing for Houston up the middle. Jeff Keppinger at second base has had a wonderful season. Yet, who thought that possible before the season began when he was simply a veteran utility infielder. Shortstop was "given" to Tommy Manzella because there was not other option. Now, in part as a result of his broken finger, he has competition from Angel Sanchez. And, the Astros have acquired more infielders in the recent Oswalt and Berkman trades that may be a year or two away.

One or more of those players will rise to the top. Brett Wallace was acquired to get the first shot at replacing Berkman at first base. Then there is Brian Bogusevic at Round Rock and Koby Clemens at Corpus Christi waiting for an opening at the position as well.

The Astros are building competition. May the best men win. And may the best men be capable of putting the team back in the heat of the National League Central race in 2011.