The Astros took advantage of the Padres losing three outfielders over the weekend for the remainder of the season. The Astros will receive a player to be named later for a player they were likely going to get rid of anyway. An outstanding move for the Astros new GM.

The Houston Astros have shut down rookie starting pitcher Troy Patten due to severe tendinitis in his left biceps. Patten has pitched in 3 games (2 starts) last season and he was 0-2 with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He worked 12.2 innings this season and he allowed 10 hits, walked 4 batters and whiffed 8. Patten will have a good chance to make the Astros starting rotation next season out of Spring Training.

The Astros should find a way to just pitch lefty starter Wandy Rodriguez at home. At home, Rodriguez has started 15 games and he is 6-3 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. On the road however Rodriguez has been horrible. In 14 road starts, Rodriguez is 2-10 with a 7.31 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. Overall, Rodriguez has started 29 games and he is 8-13 with a 4.83 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. With baseball getting specialized so much the Astros should find a way to limit Rodriguez to starting home games. The Astros are still in last place in the National League Central with a 65-86 record which has them 13.5 games behind the Cubs & Brewers. The more important thing for right now is that the Astros are still 1 game behind the Pirates for fifth place.

It’s quite unbelievable that the Astros have sunk to the bottom of the National League Central. The Astros are currently 63-81 which has them 11 games out of first place. But the more shocking thing is that they are 1/2 a game behind the Pirates and 2 games behind the Reds! That’s definately why heads were rolling in the front office and in the dugout. The Winds of Change will be blowing hard in Houston this off-season.

Jason Lane followed up a dismal 2006 season with an even worse year in 2007 which all but ensures that he will be playing somewhere else next season. Lane has played in 66 games this season and he is only 30 for 167 (.180 avg, .612 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 8 homers and 26 RBIs. The Astros have been patient the last couple of seasons with Lane because of the year he had in 2005. In 2005, Lane hit played in 145 games and he hit .267 (.815 OPS) with 26 homers and 78 RBIs. But with Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Luke Scott manning the outfield Lane will likely have a new address in 2008.

The Astros have been having a horrible season for them as they are tied for 4th place in the National League Central with the Reds at 62-76, 9 games behind the Cubs. The Astros offense is basically a three man show. Carlos Lee is giving the Astros bang for there free agent bucks as he is hitting .301 with 78 runs scored, 27 homers and 104 RBIs. Lance Berkman has also been solid as he is hitting .278 with 84 runs scored, 28 homers and 89 RBIs. Rookie Hunter Pence has also been outstanding as he is hitting .327 with 51 runs scored, 14 homers and 55 RBIs in only 86 games this season. The starting rotation has been awful on days that Roy Oswalt doesn’t pitch as he is 14-6 with a 3.35 ERA this season. Brad Lidge also seems to have overcome some mental issues as he is 3-2 with 14 saves and a 2.97 ERA this season.