"The premium bats go early," said Wade earlier this week. That says alot. Even though this organization needs pitching depth at every level ......Wade and his staff think they need to get a hitter early. With the 10th pick overall ....they should be able to do just that. After that .... they need pitching ....and more pitching.....but the Astros will not draft specifically for a "need" position that they feel like they have at the major league level. The reason is simple..... about the time you think you're set for years at one position ....and pass a young prospect up .....that veteran player you were counting on can get hurt ....and your plans get ruined.

The Astros will look for pitching ... no doubt about that .....but when I asked Wade about his feelings about local kids he definately knows the Houston-area prospects. Wade said,"Number one ....we're looking for talent ..and we'll be drafting on talent first and foremost ....but all things being equal ....we'll look for local talent, yes." Wade says he has several youngsters from the Houston area on their draft board ...and he expects to pick some on Thursday. "Playing for a team you grew up cheering for is a factor definately .....I look back to the 2005 season (when Wade was the GM in Philadelphia) If Andy Petitte and Roger Clemens would have grown up in Ssouth Philly .....we would have been in the World Series instead of the Astros." So, Wade knows well about the local baseball talent .....here's hoping we don't let anymore Carl Crawford's slip away from us. I'll never forget the day the Rockets passed on Clyde Drexler in the first round.
Thursday should be a fun day for Astros fans ....and also for a number of Houston area players.