Astros need to rebuild now, not later

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in town this week for a three-game series against the Astros. The 2011 Pirates are almost 20 games better than the Astros. For 17 years the Pirates were a laughing stock. For 17 years they could not manage a winning record and virtually every time a quality player came through the organization, he was dealt before he could command a huge contract. It's been perpetual rebuilding for the Bucs, which brings me to my current fear with the local club: Is this just a down cycle or is it the beginning of a painful and everlasting rebuilding job? Even if you believe that some of these young Astros can be the foundation of a future contender, remember -- the Bucs had talent, too. Want names? Here is a list of some of the talented players the Bucs have let go over their years of futility: Jason Schmidt, Aramis Ramirez, Brian Giles, Xavier Nady, Jason Bay, Nate McLouth, Jack Wilson and Jose Bautista. The point is, here's to hoping that if Jose Altuve and J.D. Martinez become core players for the Astros, the goal will be to retain them and add pieces to round out a contending roster. Rebuilding is fine, but it doesn't take a decade unless you want it to take a decade. This is what it's come to. We're making comparisons to the Pirates for God's sake. The trade of Hunter Pence was defendable, the one that sent Michael Bourn to Atlanta not so much. But, bygones are bygones and the issue going forward is whether the organization is truly re-loading. If the trades of Pence and Bourn were truly worthwhile, then it won't take long to find out the answer. Because if those trades did, indeed, land legitimate prospects, then it's a two to three year window before the signs of respectability return. Not every prospect will blossom. It doesn't work that way. But the Astros by now should have enough numbers that the core should materialize in the near future. Whether the next group includes the aforementioned names or other ones like Paul Clemens or George Springer, the moment of truth will surface two or three years from now: does the organization add to the young core via free agency or is the rebuilding still in progress? It should not take 17 years.