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08:12 AM ET 01.03 | What to make of the Astros offseason? It takes a mighty level of commitment to be as bad as the Houston Astros expect to be in 2013. It's not just halving their payroll, which already was among the five lowest in the major leagues, to what may be the most paltry. Nor is it dealing away most of their effective major league players. ... More than the deeds, it's the ethos that drives this franchise: If you are not going to be good, be bad. Be really bad. Be spectacularly bad. Clean house, bottom out for a couple years, draft well, make some decent trades and emerge better for it. Baseball bankruptcy, it should be called, because that's what it is: hitting the restart button and hoping fans will understand.

Jose Altuve, Icon Sports

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January 3, 2013 08:57 AM ET

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....jim crane is in it for the money and will drive most of what remains of stros fan base into eager arms of rangers....

StupidMoron

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January 3, 2013 09:45 AM ET

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It has only been 7 years since the Astros were in the World Series. Then comes all of the bad decisions, trades, free agents, and bad draft picks, which all adds up to a bad team now and at least 5 years down the road.

toad

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January 3, 2013 10:31 AM ET

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QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:45 AM ET 01.03 by toad

It has only been 7 years since the Astros were in the World Series. Then comes all of the bad decisions, trades, free agents, and bad draft picks, which all adds up to a bad team now and at least 5 years down the road.

It took 9 years between the Brownies only W.S. and demise. Just a thought on a story about bankruptcy.

yagottabekiddin

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January 3, 2013 12:36 PM ET

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QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:45 AM ET 01.03 by toad

It has only been 7 years since the Astros were in the World Series. Then comes all of the bad decisions, trades, free agents, and bad draft picks, which all adds up to a bad team now and at least 5 years down the road.

In Philly, they call that the Ed Wade Effect... He can put some of the pieces together, but he can never quite seem to see the big picture...

Brutal

Ashburn , VA

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January 3, 2013 02:46 PM ET

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We hit the restart button every year in Cleveland.

CLE fan

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January 3, 2013 03:17 PM ET

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I hope not,they arenow in the Angels division. ((-:

Geeechiman

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January 3, 2013 05:52 PM ET

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I hate seeing Houston like this. Some of my favorite years were when Houston and Saint Louis were slugging it out in the early 2000s. That was some great competition.

CardsFan2

Saint Louis , MO

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January 3, 2013 06:05 PM ET

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QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 05:52 PM ET 01.03 by CardsFan2

I hate seeing Houston like this. Some of my favorite years were when Houston and Saint Louis were slugging it out in the early 2000s. That was some great competition.

They're like a first year expansion team now.

THE BISHOP!

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January 3, 2013 06:52 PM ET

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Houston may be back in a few years. They need pitching, lots of it. Draft well, guys.

...the best policy

Harrodsburg, KY

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January 3, 2013 06:53 PM ET

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Honestly, when they traded guys such as Oswalt, Berkman and the rest, they didn't get much for them.

...the best policy

Harrodsburg, KY

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January 3, 2013 08:01 PM ET

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QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 06:52 PM ET 01.03 by ...the best policy

Houston may be back in a few years. They need pitching, lots of it. Draft well, guys.

the astros need to draft well, but at the same time they do need to stop given away quality players just for fun though,,,

alacran

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January 3, 2013 08:03 PM ET

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QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 06:53 PM ET 01.03 by ...the best policy

Honestly, when they traded guys such as Oswalt, Berkman and the rest, they didn't get much for them.

bad decision drive the team down into the drainer,, but who should get the blame?? the past GM screw the astros farm system really well,,,

alacran

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January 3, 2013 08:04 PM ET

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QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 06:05 PM ET 01.03 by THE BISHOP!

They're like a first year expansion team now.

much alike the miami marlins now,,,,

alacran

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January 3, 2013 08:05 PM ET

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QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 05:52 PM ET 01.03 by CardsFan2

I hate seeing Houston like this. Some of my favorite years were when Houston and Saint Louis were slugging it out in the early 2000s. That was some great competition.

old times, something that its too hard and difficult to repeat in the big leagues though,,,

alacran

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January 3, 2013 09:32 PM ET

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QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 05:52 PM ET 01.03 by CardsFan2

I hate seeing Houston like this. Some of my favorite years were when Houston and Saint Louis were slugging it out in the early 2000s. That was some great competition.

Yeah! The 'Stros were pretty damn good back in the day.

Oswalt. Clemens. Pettitte. Wagner. Lidge. Biggio. Berkman. Bagwell.

And they had always had good pitching before that. JR Richard. Nolan Ryan. Mike Scott. A bunch of top guys.

Hate to see them with that staff they have now.

...the best policy

Harrodsburg, KY

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January 4, 2013 05:56 AM ET

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Houston has the fifth largest metro area in the US and has shown it will support a good team. They will recover with good ownership and a nice fat TV contract.