What's going ON?

I’ve sort of been at a loss for new articles to write. Stephen and I attempt to keep things as relevant as possible on here, and hopefully you all like the results. Obviously, Shawn Chacon is the biggest headline of the day. From everything I’ve read, Ed Wade is a man who is honest and forthright with his players, and I can only assume that he and Cecil Cooper were going to try and handle this situation as professionally as possible. Chacon lost his spot in the rotation, and since this didn’t sit well with the multiple Cy-Young winner and two time MVP, the right hander asked to be traded. (Edit: Chacon actually has had a rather undistinguished career, despite his acting like he a pitcher who deserves more respect). After hearing about this, it dawned on me, not like stray sunlight peeking through the clouds during a rainstorm, but rather like stale, fluorescent lighting in a K-Mart- this is actually news concerning the Houston Astros. An organization that has been among the most successful and well run of the past fifteen years has hit a speed bump. An extended, plateau like speed bump, but it’s caused the breaks to be applied nonetheless.

Maybe, just maybe, it’s not a bad thing. Perhaps Drayton McLane will look around at his organization and begin to take an objective inventory of his resources. He wasn't the one assaulted, but this could in fact be a wake up call that spurs dialogue between Wade and McLane as to future plans. First round draft pick Jason Castro is already involved with negotiations with the club, and insiders are optimistic that he will be signed and ready to start his professional career soon. This is a positive step for a team that was not able to do much of anything in the player development front in the past season. A sense of entitlement has effectively destroyed the career of Shawn Chacon.

The Astros would be wise to look at Chacon's actions and realize that they too have suffered from an organizational wide sense of entitlement. Resting on back to back post season appearances in 2004 and 2005 led the team to two non descript seasons, and 2008 is quickly succumbing to the same fate. An overhaul in philosophy is what is needed, as the Astros' minor league affiliates have ceased producing the talent necessary for a team to compete in the luxury tax era of efficient baseball spending. There can be a happy medium- spending money wisely on free agents who offer services that younger players cannot, and promoting a healthy minor league system through prudent financial and personnel decisions. One step would be to promote those with the most expansive knowledge of baseball to manage at the lowest levels. Too often coaches and managers are selected form a restricted pool, their credential being centered around having "played the game". Rather, a hybrid of statistical based analysis with the experience of scouts and long time baseball professionals offer the best of both worlds in player development. To me, there is no other option for success in Major League Baseball.

The Yankees can spend more than anyone, but the rules have been shifted against them to the point where even George Steinbrenner isn't so apt to open his checkbook for any free agent that expresses interest. Luxury taxes, revenue sharing and the like all work against those teams that have high payrolls. The Astros do not spend near what the upper echelon clubs do, but they can learn from the experiences of other teams. Spending wisely on veteran free agents on the major league level, and promoting a minor league system that functions in order to sign, develop and promote young talent does not necessarily guarantee success, but it does create a synergy with which success is more likely.

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