Wendy City

With Wood and Williamson, I feel like our bullpen might be OK without a trade - though it's tough to depend on Wood. Nomar is an instant upgrade at short, that leaves us with LF. I'm open to any move at that position. We have to be buyers.

We just need to keep taking care of business. Other than one extra loss to Cinci that we should have won, we've been lights out since the AS break. Without that loss, where we had the 5-1 lead and blew it, we would have won every series and been playing at the same pace as the Stros. As it is, the Stros have been hot, but it's only translated into a one game difference since the AS break when they led us by one.

Today, the Stros can definitely lose. Aziekiel Astacio vs. Pedro. Tomorrow, Wandy Rodriguez vs. Kris Benson. That's most liekly a loss as well. Backe got hurt, which makes their bottom two in the rotation extremely beatable. However, the top three are un-hittable right now.

I would say the Stros might make a run at him - but they need an OFer that can hit. Otherwise, he's from Houston, played college ball at Rice in Houston and his dad is the 1B coach for the Astros. They do love their home-grown boys down there. If they don't pull the trigger on a Dunn (doubtful) or Alou (possible) they might be able to pick Cruz up for a song - if he's still around.

It's not so much that Hendry didn't want Alou as he couldn't offer him a deal without knowing if Sammy was staying or going. Sammy's contract tied his hands. By the time he unloaded it, Alou was gone and Beernutz was our only option (Not a bad last option, considering) As for Schmidt and Alou, I'd love to have them this year. I don't think it will take as much as has been stated on this thread to get them in the fold. Though I doubt it will happen.

I agree. Let Nomar work the kinks out with the Djaxx. We've handled Nefi starting for this long, what's one more week?

I agree...just shut him down. We can get a look at Hill tonight to see how he's coming along and we'll get a look at Schmidt too.

The real question isn't should we trade Wood, it's should we shut him down right now and have him have the surgery. If the surgery will help, why wait until the off-season? Right now, as much as I like Kerry, I can't trust him out there. I'd rather we were fixing the problem and getting him completely ready for next year. Why sell low now? I think the Schilling comparison is spot-on. I could be wrong, but isn't it worth waitng to see for sure?

Gooney is the only person I know who can so clearly be proven wrong and still go on fighting. Call it what you will, but it's always fun to watch. Keep fighting Goon, don't let the facts get in your way.

The Astros had underachieved all year. Then, Kent, Berkman and Bagwell got hot - Beltran did more for them defensively than offensively. They had been a weak defensive team in th OF with Biggio and others out there. He solifdified it and had a decent half season att he plate. But really if you look aty his numbers he was never an offensive jugernaut until the playoffs. In fact, in September when the Stros made the majority of their great run, he hit less than .200. That said, i thinkt he Cubs are capable of a pretty strong run themselves. A trade would help, but Nomar coming back could add a lot also and I like the way ew're hitting and pitching right now.

Neither does Alanis Morisette

I love it when people give their medical opinions.

Wasn't trying to jump on you. My smartass detector has been out of whack all season. I'm just hoping we can get those kinds of numbers out of Nomar.

Can anyone tell me how scouts or others have ramked Murton as a prospect? How does he compare to Dubois and others?

I agree - the dominoes are beginning to fall. Kotsay is off the market, who's next? Preston Wilson?