What is Houston thinking?  The Astros are 13-1/2 games out of first and in a dogfight with the Reds and Pirates for last place.  Sounds like a scenario for selling off players, not buying, right?  Wrong, apparently.

GM Ed Wade, following the orders of owner Drayon McLane, is actually adding salary and "talent," first dealing for starting pitcher Randy Wolf, then trading for reliever LaTroy Hawkins.  And he actually gave up players, albeit probably insignificant prospects, to acquire these two while taking on their salaries.

Can someone please inform the Astros brass that they don't have a prayer of contending this year or, at this rate, any year in the near future?  Some teams get it, some don't.  It's pretty obvious which camp Houston falls into.