No I am not kidding.  They have regressed to the mean and need to do something. 

There are quite a few obstacles to overcome to make this work but it can happen and can make the Astros a better team in the long run. 

The first things we have to do is get rid of the owner or change his mind set.  The Astros have one of the worst owners in professional sports who does not get that fans know what we are looking at – especially those on message boards like this.  Do not offer us a line about how the Astros are going to win and then feed us bullshit.  We know the difference. We are smart enough to understand that depending on the market and personnel rebuilding may be necessary some times.  Tell us that is going to happen and we will still come see the games.  That way when the winning starts we will brag that we have been there all along.  Drayton does not get this.  Up to this point he has stuck with what Billy Wagner said and just tried to compete and not win.  All Uncle Drayton wants is fans in the seats.  He got lucky early with Hunsicker as the GM.  Now he has Drayton Junior as the GM and everybody follows the line given to them by the Old Boys Club led by Bud Selig.  Stay in rookie contract slot, open the roof for the WS…  What would an owner like Mark Cuban have done if somebody told him to do that?  So assuming we can’t get rid of Drayton let’s break out the two by fours and change his way of thinking. 
Second we need to find a GM who can figure out that no matter how good your bullpen is if your starters suck then it does you no good.  All the Astros did was a hire another member of the Old Boys Club who would tow the line.  Drayton Junior needs to go. 

Next move is to get rid of Carlos Lee.  The reason I say trade Lee are that he has the longest and largest contract.  Ok the guy can hit but he is getting older, slower, and fatter and his contract is getting bigger and has four years left after this season.  The food bill alone will be worth the trade.  Find an AL team who will give up a couple solid prospects and dump El Caballo. 

Next…Everyone not named Pence and Towles is available.  Yes I mean Berkman, Oswalt, Valverde, and the rest.  A few would have to waive their no trade clause but what do you think the Indians would give for Berkman or the Yankees for Oswalt if they would go?  Not quite a kings ransom but not far from it either. 

OR…Drayton can open up the pocket book big time this off-season and sign Sabathia and a Wolf/Burnett/Penny type and try and buy a winning team. 

Of course they could just keep giving us the same bullshit and try not to come in last.