Houston Astros Set to Fly the White Flag

Having taken sole possession of the National League Central cellar after losing 10-7 to the lowly Pirates, the Houston Lastros have made it clear the team is ready to run up the white flag.

Though a poll of fan sentiment is running at about 50-50 as to whether the team should continue to try for a playoff berth, manager Cecil Cooper made it clear in today's editions of the Houston Chronicle that no one should get hopes up. Be assured that --in light of Cooper's announcement -- struggling youngster Michael Bourn will soon return to the lineup with surrender terms.

Some fans had been hopeful that Houston still had some fight left when Bourn -- currently in 0-19 slump with a .218 average -- was benched in favor of veteran Darin Erstad, who is hitting better than .300 and playing All-Star caliber defense in center field.

Not to worry: Cooper told the Chronicle that Erstad soon will retake his seat in the dugout, as Bourn has merely been given a few games off to work in the batting cage to ready himself to once again stink up Minute Maid Park.

After all, the Lastros must have something to show for having acquired Bourn in the trade of closer Brad Lidge -- who is currently 2-0 with 19 saves and a 1.00 ERA with the first place Phillies.

Darin Erstad's Playing Time Gauges Astros Plans

The playing time of veteran Astros infielder-outfielder Darin Erstad is as good a gauge as any to determine whether the Astros are converting to a rebuilding mode, or continuing to fight for a playoff berth even though the team is a dozen games out of contention.

Erstad -- now playing highly effective baseball after years of health difficulties -- will likely be given more plate appearances if the team desires to win. But if the team decides to focus on the future, Erstad must be benched or traded in favor of acclimating younger talent at the big league level.

Sabathia Deal Spotlights Lance Berkman Trade

A vague and ephemeral MLB rumor that the Astros have been contemplating dealing All-Star slugger Lance Berkman to the Angels for rising first baseman Casey Kotchman has been thrown into sharp relief in the upheaval following the Brewers acquisition of ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia from the Indians.

Though the validity of the rumor has never been established, the prospect of the trade becomes much more probable now that the Brewers have emerged as the prohibitive favorite to win the National League Central Division, or at least secure a wildcard berth, at the expense of the Astros as much as anyone.

Key to the proposition will be the team's determination of whether the Astros can remain competive this year, or should begin peeling off pieces such as Berkman, Carlos Lee, Roy Oswalt, Miguel Tejada and others in exchange for prospects and younger talent. If it was not already a clear choice with the Astros a dozen games off the pace, the Sabathia deal should make it painfully obvious.

Just exactly what the Astros are thinking will be recognizable in the play of veteran infielder-outfielder Darin Erstad, who after a number of years of difficulty staying healthy is playing excellent baseball offensively and defensively and should be heavily relied upon if the Astros expect to climb back into the pennant race.

If Astros owner Drayton McLane is inclined to punt, however, then Erstad will probably lose playing time to younger players whom the team will attempt to further acclimate to the big-league environment.

Ironically, an ongoing team poll of fans had nearly half of the participatants urging the Astros to carry on rather than reconfigure.