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Who should the Astros whack first?
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Is Cecil Cooper the first one to go?
Yes, it's early. Yes, the Astros have a history of second-half bursts to mediocrity.
Yes, they get drilled by the Rangers every year.
But Drayton McLane is not stupid. He sees empty seats. He sees that he has to do something, or there will be even fewer fans as the season wears on.
A last place team. A two-man starting rotation. An overworked bullpen. It would be folly yo panic, but there is much to be concerned about.
Cecil Cooper was given a contract extension earlier this season. We thought it was a bad idea at the time. It looks worse now.
Would firing Cooper change much? Probably not. But it might renew some hope for the fan base.
The Astros are on the verge of becoming irrelevant in the Houston sports landscape. The Rockets should be threats to win the West again next year. The Texans will almost certainly have their first winning season.
The Astros are an old team that has nothing waiting in the wings in the minors. Their biggest stars are starting to show signs of wear and tear. The future looks more bleak than the present.
If not Cooper, who? Pitching and hitting coaches? The Astros have a big history of that.
Ed Wade? His flurry to rebuild the roster last season resulted in gutting what was left of a bad farm system. The Tejada trade was a disaster.
But Wade is also operating under McLane's directives, so it's hard to know who has been responsible for what. Tal Smith is probably not blameless in this, either.
So what should they do?
Rather than start firing people, they should make some moves. It's time to start selling off some parts and building for the future. It's time to admit that these patchwork fill-ins aren't going to work.
Blow up the roster and start over, and be in better shape for next season. Admit this is a lost year and move on.
Get what you can for Miguel Tejada. Kaz Matsui. Jose Valverde, if he comes back healthy. Wandy Rodriguez should bring some nice prospects. Ivan Rodriguez has shown enough to have some trade value.
Carlos Lee has a no-trade and no interest in moving. Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt have the most value, but you would hate to see them go. It would take a "Godfather" deal, but the Astros should consider everything.
Add some more key pieces in the off-season and bring us a younger, fresher, more exciting team next year.
Yes, it could be too early to blow things up. I am the same person who put a tombstone on the Astros in 2005.
But something needs to be done, and rest assured, it will get done.
Will it be the right thing? Probably not. Instead, someone will likely get fired.
If I am Cecil Cooper, I put the "for sale" sign on my house now.
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