I had to use Google translator so the English isn't that good and when I cut and pasted the story, it only translated the first line but it's good enough to understand Tommy's got issues.  You can  read the full story here http://www.aguilas.com.do/noticias/item/187-águilas-despiden-a-tommy-manzella.html

SANTIAGO: The Cibao Eagles fired to shortstop Tommy Manzella, who did not fulfill the expectations set in the first eight games of the baseball championship autumn-winter 2010/2011. <!-- Item fulltext -->

Manzella, agotó 22 turnos, en los cuales solamente logró conectar 4 imparables para un pobre promedio de bateo de 182 puntos, sin pegar extras bases, ni anotar ni remolcar carrera, por lo que las Águilas se vieron en la necesidad de prescindir de sus servicios. Manzella, ran 22 turns, in which only managed to connect 4 hits for a poor batting average of 182 points, no extra base hit or score or drive in runs, so the Eagles were faced with the need to dispense with their services .

Aunque Tommy Manzella es el torpedero titular de los Astros de Houston en la Liga Nacional, no pudo dar el grado con el conjunto mamey, que tiene urgencia de comenzar a sumar victorias en el torneo. Although shortstop Tommy Manzella is the owner of the Houston Astros in the National League, could not make the grade with all mamey, whose urge to start adding victories in the tournament.

Por el momento, el manager de las Águilas, Tony Peña, no ha anunciado quien sustituirá a Manzella en las paradas cortas, aunque tiene candidatos como Christ de la Cruz, Elián Herrera y Omar Luna y el primer pick del sorteo de novatos Jonathan Villar. For now, the Eagles' manager, Tony Peña, has not announced who will replace Manzella at shortstop, but has candidates as Christ of the Cross, Elian Herrera and Omar Luna and the first pick of the draw rookie Jonathan Villar.

Webster's defines lackadaisical as lacking spirit, liveliness, or interest. 

That sounds like the 2010 Astros up until the All Star Break.  After the ASB, the impending trade deadline seemed to put a little bit of life into those that were rumored to be on the trading block.  After all, everyone likes to be wanted by others and if you're a player wanting out of town and think you're being scouted, you'll want to put your best foot forward.

For the past several years, I think the "old, aging, veteran Astros" were just too experienced to be bothered with some of the little things that make a good ball club.  I'm not blaming them as I would have probably been doing the same things that come with making millions of dollars and being held on a pedestal in hopes of bringing a Championship to Houston.

Speaking engagements, endorsements, financial planning, investements, cattle ranches, charity work, and the like start taking one's time as a player once you make it to the big leagues, especially if you're a perennial All Star. 

• Who wants to be bothered with showing up at Spring Training early, especially when it's your 10th season and you've got a guaranteed contract and a guaranteed starting position? 
• Why show up to Spring Training on time when you have a coaching staff that accepts your lame excuses about forgetting what day it started or the pilot of your private jet had an expired license or you're showing a bull at the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo?
• Who wants to work on their hitting skills in the off-season especially when there's 162 games, you're starting job is safe, and you know you'll get your timing eventually? 
• Who wants to take those long bus rides in Spring Training to play a game when there's some young guys that need to pay their dues and get their work in?

Well, I think I can honestly say that the guys on the team right now could answer "I do" to every one of those questions (except Lee).  Hardly anyone is guaranteed to make the team right now and nobody knows what's going to go down during free agency.

I think CJ, Castro, Sanchez, Hernandez, Wallace, Bogey, Bougeois, et al will be EXCITED about Spring Training and will be working their butts off in the off-season in order to be prepared for Spring Training to win a job.

I think Bourn and Pence will feed off of that excitement and come to Spring Training ready to play (I hear Pence has colored sliding glass doors at his Spring Training home now).

I think Kepp, Blum, Michaels will work hard and be ready in Spring Training since they have all these young guys trying to take their jobs.

I think the pitching staff is pretty solid as we've seen lately and I HOPE they're ready to go.

Mills now has a full year under his belt and should have a much better plan moving forward.  I assume he was operating off what he has always seen done - now he knows what he'd like to do for his own reasons.

Carlos Lee is the only player who may still prefer to rope cattle, chill in Panama, and not have to worry about his job because of his contract.  He's getting paid no matter what.

Take all the above into account, add a FA acquisition or two in the off-season, and that translates into an energetic team that wants to play in the Majors, is ready to play on Opening Day, and we won't have to endure another slow start that we've been accustomed to the past few years.

I think this team has a new attitude and the ability to go a long way next year and be very competetive. 

What do you think?
 

It's tough to figure out what the actual payroll is now, especially not knowing the particulars of the trades, how much cash was eaten, etc.  However, as near as I can figure, the Astros have reduced their payroll to $50-$60M?  Even if I'm off on the calculation, the Astros have clearly dropped their payroll significantly from where they started the season, which is really my point.

That begets the question, what do the Astros do now that they have a rookie infield, an offense missing a consistent big bat, a lead-off hitter with an undesireable OBP, and some extra money for payroll?

As discussed on the other threads, the pitching staff looks to be solid enough to win games next year, full of #2 and #3 pitchers but missing an "ace".  The Astros appear to be solid defensively (yes, even with Lee).  The glaring problem is the lack of consistent HR power. 

Do you hope that Lee turns it around next year, that Wallace and CJ develop power, and just be content with solid pitching, good defense, and "small ball" next year?

Or, do you spend some of that money that was saved by trading Oswalt, Berkman, and Feliz and bring in a bat or two.  If so, where do you put them?

It's a great problem to have but am interested in hearing some opinions.

It appers that the hard choices have been made, the Astros can now field an all-rookie infield, and the payroll has been reduced significantly.

With the young players in place, the outfield set, and beyond a couple of off-season free agent pitcher signings, are we looking at the 2011 Astros? 

It would be nice to see the Astros add a bat to the lineup but the way they've been playing since the trade deadline, they may not need it.  Maybe they keep playing small ball until the power develops.

They've been very competetive and a lot more enjoyable to watch.