Up to this point we have heard about the "needs" in the bullpen. Is this addressing a need or testifying to the fact that the rotation is so bad that we will be; once again, abusing the bullpen. I agree that a solid closer is necessary to contend in the MLB. Now; everyone who thinks the Astros will be contending next year stand on your head! The Astros need to be looking at starters not "finishers". If the offense and the starting rotation aren’t improved in 2010; there won’t be much need for a closer because there won’t be that much to close out. I believe Ed Wade is putting the cart before the horse….not that we have much of a cart…or a horse.  There are a lot of "ifs" for the Astros but the biggest is not "if" we can close out games. The biggest if is; "If we can score enough runs and if our starters can hold teams down enough for at least 6 innings." The Astros still need a 3rd baseman that’s an offensive threat and they still need a legitimate #2/3 starter. If they don’t address these two things why start the season? (Just a guess but Blum will once again hit around .250 with very low power numbers and complain about lack of fan support….but that’s just a guess.)

Every available asset should be focused on improving the starting rotation right now. I would gladly bank on some improvement in offense from Berkman, Pence and Lee if we had a solid starting 5 that would keep us in games.

Doing the same thing the same way and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. Do with that as you will.