Richard Justice has some words for Ed Wade that just might bring a tear to your eye:
Did you see that catch by Michael Bourn in the ninth inning? Have you checked out his batting average? He has turned out to be everything Ed Wade hoped he'd be, and a little more...Wade got it right on Jeff Keppinger, too. And Matt Lindstrom. And Brett Myers. The Brandon Lyon signing might turn out all right, too. He was right about Randy Wolf and Latroy Hawkins as well...Some of his under-the-radar moves have worked out well, too. Tim Byrdak is one, Jeff Fulchino another...
...These Astros aren't yet Wade's Astros. He acquired just 12 of the 25 players on tonight's roster and inherited the front of the rotation and Carlos Lee. Slowly, though, they're reflecting his beliefs in pitching and defense.
This is true. The huge contracts with the no-trade clauses were Tim Purpura's decisions, and the Astros continue to pay that price (and in Lee's case, will continue to do so until the end of 2012). Of the decisions that have impacted Wade's Astros, Justice points out Bobby Heck, Brad Mills, Brad Arnsberg - the new Killer B's. It's happening, we just have to wait. Maybe not that long...
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
