McTaggart has a new inbox up. What can we learn?
Berkman probably isn't going anywhere, but Oswalt...?
But I'm sure if the Astros are struggling in July, there will be a few suitors calling general manager Ed Wade to ask about Oswalt. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Oswalt ask for a trade at some point if he feels the window on winning is closing and he could go to another team with a better chance at a ring. Astros owner Drayton McLane wants Oswalt and Berkman to finish their careers in Houston, but I'm sure he's sensitive to both men's desire to get a ring, too.
There may be something to this "Round Rock to the Rangers" thing:
Texas' Triple-A club is in Oklahoma and the Double-A club is in Frisco, just outside Dallas, so those make better sense geographically for the Rangers than Round Rock and Corpus Christi. But I wouldn't be surprised to see some affiliate changes next offseason.
Paulino could be the next Wandy:
I'm excited to see what Arnsberg and a new set of eyes and beliefs can do with some of these young pitchers, and Paulino is at the top of that list. If he stays healthy and can turn it around, the Astros could have themselves another Rodriguez.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
