With the rebuilding plan bearing fruit, at least, one year earlier than many anticipated, general manager Jeff Luhnow and the Houston Astros front office staff have begun navigating unfamiliar waters. The unfamiliar part being how to improve a suddenly contending club while not compromising the long-term objective of the organization.
Since his arrival in Houston back in 2011, Luhnow has stressed the foundation of a strong farm system. Quite often, in fact. Honestly, without a strong farm system, any organization would fail to remain healthy, for lack of a better word, over a long-term period. Of course, certain money rich franchises seem immune to this reality.