World Cup, Astros Moves

World Cup
The World Cup is winding down to the knock out rounds. I can't really say it's been the most exciting World Cup. In opening games, teams played tentative and appeared happy with a draw.

The second games provided a little more entertainment as teams started to think about points and goal differentials for advancement. Today is the first day of third games. FIFA mandates that the last games are played concurrently to avoid game day shenanigans.

South Africa earned the distinction of first host country not to advance. It's a shame to say the least. They acted as great hosts and there hasn't been much negative said about the venues. The worst thing that can be said is the sound of vuvuzelas making the stadia sound like beehives. I have no problem with it but some "traditionalists" have complained about it. Deal with it. If the fans didn't like it they wouldn't keep bringing them into games. It appears the foreign travelers to South Africa are enjoying making the noise as much as the natives.

The traditional European powers have played less than impressive. France ends the tournament in disarray. England hasn't managed to win in playing two lackluster games against the United States and Algeria. Spain lost a mild upset to Switzerland. Germany lost a stunner to Serbia after an opening 4-0 rout of Australia. Portugal managed a 0-0 tie versus Ivory Coast but embarrassed North Korea 7-0. France goes home with no wins and one scored goal. England is on the bubble to advance. Right now the name of the game is just to get the next round and start anew.

Team USA faces Algeria and with a win USA goes through. Conceding early goes has been USA's flaw. Algeria pressed impressively against England. USA needs to assert themselves early and not play from behind. The defense must play strong in the back third. Landon Donovan needs to impose his will on the game. They cannot come out flat and worry about getting help. They just need to go in and handle business.

Astros Call Ups
The Astros made five roster moves calling up three players and designating two players for assignment.

Astros 2008 top pick Jason Castro, 3rd baseman Chris Johnson and outfielder Jason Bourgeois join the Big Show from AAA Round Rock. Catcher Kevin Cash and outfielder Corey Sullivan received the designation for assignment tag.

Ed Wade probably convinced owner Drayton McLane that the season is in the tank. McLane is a stubborn blind old man. I think the scores of empty seats helped convince McLane to approve the moves. McLane always believes the Astros are one or two players away from contention. I believe he also thinks fans love the team so much they will show up on game day no matter what. Fortunately Astros fans are smarter than Cubs fans. Cubs fans show up no matter what and for years gave ownership no incentive to improve the team. Astros fans won't show up to watch a lousy team. McLane build up a lot of goodwill over the years with winning teams. His mismanagement of the team has driven it into the ground. Fans finally see McLane for the snake oil salesman that he is.

If McLane has finally given Wade full run of the team then that is a major step in the right direction. The call ups aren't meant to salvage a season but to give the players major league experience in a lost season. Castro needs the experience calling games from behind the plate and the sooner the better. Pedro Feliz has been a disaster at 3rd. Johnson is expected to split time with Feliz. I think if Johnson outplays Feliz, not a difficult task, then Feliz will be given his outright release.

Of the call ups, I think Bourgeois is the most interesting and might be a signal to a future move. Or not. With an outfield of Carlos Lee, Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence, Bourgeois will languish on the bench. I think the Astros will look to move Lee's bat in return for a prospect or two and try to get as much of his salary off payroll. They probably won't be able to trade Lee without agreeing to absorb part of his salary. Pitcher Roy Oswalt and first basemen Lance Berkman may also end up in other uniforms before the trade deadline.

Yankees go home and take your fans with you

I lifted my sports moratorium briefly to attend the Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees game on Saturday night. I've seen the Yankees play. In fact I was there to witness Phil Niekro pitch his 3,000 career strikeout. It's just they've never come to Houston to play a regular season series and are here due to inter league play. So for me it was a minor historic event.

Sitting there in the nose bleed section overlooking third base reminded me why I don't enjoy baseball. I like it better on TV where I can change the channel once the Astros go into self destruct mode. Last nights game was a prime reason of why I just don't enjoy going to see them play.

Starts out great with Carlos Lee slamming a three run homer to stake Wandy Rodriquez a three run lead to start off the game. For the first three innings, Rodriquez lets the first batter he faces get on base. He gave up two lead off doubles. In the course of events, he allowed the Yankees to score 5 runs in the first three innings. He settle downs after a while but the damage is done. The batters finally make some noise but the pen can't hold down the Yanks and soon it gets out of hand.

When Drayton McClain bought the team I thought he would make it a top flight organization that would compete year in and out. Occasionally there would be the years where they struggle. What's been going on instead is McClain is doing just enough to try to keep the team competitive and market the team to get the fans in the seats. He lulls them into thinking the Astros can win ball games and keep them returning to the stands. He'll go out and sign players like Carlos Lee, trade for Miguel Tejada and Kazuo Matsui to create buzz for the fans. He doesn't throw mad money at them. They are enough moves that create the illusion that the team will be competitive. Fans buy into this and come to the games. McClain gets the payroll he wants, the fans show up and he gets the bottom line of money he wants at the end of the year.

In the mean time, the farm system is in complete shambles. It's an utter disaster. Hunter Pence is the only player to have come up recently. One looks down at the farm and the pipeline is empty. I read one scouts take in Sports Illustrated that the Astros farm system ranks 30th of all major league systems. That's 30 out of 30. McClain's system of signing players to keep the fans in the seats and the trades for the likes of Randy Johnson and Carlos Beltran have hurt the farm system. By signing Andy Petite and Roger Clemens to go along with star Roy Oswalt, the farm system has been neglected. Since they had the veteran arms, the Astros failed to draft and develop young arms to move up the system to be ready to hit the majors when Clemens and Petite finally move on. The trades for Johnson and Beltran were three for one trades. So over the years, the Astros traded six top prospects for two players to make the playoff run. Worse off, the Astros were unable to retain Johnson or Beltran after the post season push was made. So by making two three for one trade and not developing players to move up to the majors, the Astros are looking at years of mediocrity or worse until someone starts paying attention to the minor league teams again.

A major philosophy shift is needed in the organization. The Astros need to draft and develop players through the minor league system. They especially need to develop pitchers. Of course, free agent signings are still going to take place. It's part of the puzzle to remain competitive but not at the expense of decimating the farm system for players that will be here only part of a season to make a playoff push.

I hope one day soon McClain realizes this and puts a strong product on the field in a few years.