While there is no disputing how dismal the brand of baseball the Astros are playing these days, I will dispute your characterization of the organization as "we don't give a shit what we put out there" bad. For the first time in several years, the direction of the team seems contrary to that philosophy. The new management does give a shit, and, to show they give a shit, they are making drastic changes to the organization. They are willing to eat salary to infuse younger talent into the organization, and they seem seriously committed to the stated philosophy of rebuilding through drafting and developing talent internally until the right moment to add free agent acquisitions.
I guess in some sense, there is a distinction in the willingness to eat salary, but I see that as marginal. In a broad sense, there is little distinction between the last two years of Drayton and this year, as all of them are characterized by trading off major leaguers for prospects.
I think where I differ from some around here is how I characterize the recent trades. I don't see them as swinging high, getting high-ceiling prospects who you might later build around, but instead targeting prospects that are most likely minor league filler or replacement level major leaguers. I realize that might be all the Astros' talent was worth, but even with that understanding, I don't buy into trading major league talent for minor league filler. It is every bit as disrespectful to the fans, IMO, as what you describe about Drayton's signing of Matsui, Feliz, etc.
However, I realize I have no idea how good the acquired talent is and am hopefully dead wrong on my assessment that it is most likely filler.
