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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                Matt Dulin                  Chris Elliott                        Robyn Morrow 
                                Johnny Peña                  Kristen Young

Report card loves baseball moves, is afraid to criticize 

MexicoMexican freedom of the press: F

It looks like our neighbors to the south have taken a page out of the Russian playbook, and it--s not the page that describes vodka martinis.

Instead, it--s the page that says it--s OK to kill journalists who speak out against the government. 

Jose Manuel Nava, a former editor of Excelsior, one of Mexico--s oldest newspapers, was found murdered in his Mexico City apartment a week after he went public with a book that criticized the federal government, the business community and newspaper employees, The Associated Press reported.

Sure, the fact that he actually got to say something critical before he was killed is something, but he didn--t get to live all that long after he said it.

Please don--t tell anyone in Mexico that we said anything.

Houston Astros: A

When it comes to offseason moves and free agent signings, Carlos Beltran gave the Astros a bad name. 

But this year it looks like Houston--s boys of summer have learned their lesson. The team has made offers to the two top sluggers on the market this winter Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee, who will command about $17 million and $15 million per year, respectively.

And though General Manager Tim Purpura probably did learn something from the Beltran fiasco, the Astros anemic .255 batting average in 2006, the worst in the National League, probably played a part in the decision to make those offers.

Purpura has also had discussions with Houston native Woody Williams, a 40-year-old pitcher who would add depth and experience to a rotation that may have to do without Roger Clemens or Andy Pettite in 2007.

Of course, making offers is only the beginning, but it--s a good beginning. 

Here--s hoping this winter has a happy ending for the Astros.