Houston Astros lose at the tables

Ed Wade must have known.

Trading for Miguel Tejada a day before the Mitchell Report came out, gutting the team that took the Houston Astros to their first World Series appearance in 2005, betting on Michael Bourn to prove that the Lidge trade was the best thing for the team; he must have known the risks that he took. Unfortunately for him and the city of Houston, lady luck was not on his side.

At the time of this article, the Astros just lost 10-0 against the Washington Nationals, a team that is missing just about all their starting offense.

Not only did they lose the game, Roy Oswalt left in the first inning after re- aggravating his left hip. Pairing these events with the current record of 42-51, it is hard to believe that the Astros will be anything but sellers this trade deadline.

The Astros have, in the author's opinion, one of the strongest benches in the NL with Darin Erstad, Mark Loretta and Geoff Blum all options. But with Erstad and Loretta being the veterans they are, it should be in the best interest for both parties to trade both to a contender.

Loretta has been regulated to the backup second baseman, and although he has gotten more playing time than expected, Kaz Matsui is the main man for the next 2 years. Trade Loretta, let him play for a team that has a chance, and get value for him. The Astros' farm system is dead, and a good way to revive it is to get quality players for veterans.

With Erstad, it is a much different story.

There is the other option of trading Bourn, a speedster with tremendous talent, for either another bullpen option or a starting pitcher that can help improve the Minor roster. WIth Bourn's current struggles, it is hard to see him valued more than that. Trade Bourn and move Pence back to center field, leaving right field open for Erstad. Yes, speed would be lost, but with Pence leading off lately, that wouldn't matter.

All these scenarios are based on the assumption that the Astros don't throw the MLB for another loop and make an incredible run for the Wild Card or even the NL Central title. The past few years have shown that anything can happen in Houston.

With these Astros, one never knows.