After what was a very promising start to the season, the Houston Astros are in a current nose dive after splitting a four game series with the San Diego Padres, being swept by the basement dwelling Chicago Cubs and not unloading the very expensive Carlos Lee. Things haven’t seemed this depressing since this time last year.

Shall we talk about the Cubs? Nope? Good, because I’d really like to pretend that series didn’t happen. It was downright embarrassing to lose not just one, not just two, but three games to these Cubs. *sigh* By the way, has anyone seen the Houston offense? It seems to have gone on summer holiday.

But I do want to talk about the Carlos Lee non-trade. The Los Angeles Dodgers, in what can only be a moment of desperation, put an offer in for a trade deal with Lee the other day. There was a lot of buzz on twitter and online about whether Lee would waive his no-trade clause and take the opportunity to spend the next three months with a team that is a contender.

Alas, the thrill of winning is not nearly as appealing as the agony of defeat.

I think Carlos Lee needs a psychologist.

This can’t be shocking to any Astros fans as we’ve watched Lee over the past three seasons not really care about whether the team won or lost…he’s making the big bucks regardless of the outcome of a game or a season. It’s been said that Lee didn’t want to leave his Houston home, closer to his prized Texas ranch than the City of Angels, but I call that complete bunk.

What does the ranch have to do with it? He’s not making daily or even weekly trips to his ranch to ride a horse and check on things…he’s a little busy playing baseball. So, why is that even considered a factor? I don’t believe it is a factor. I think it’s simply something people have found as a possible excuse.

The reason Carlos Lee didn’t want to be traded? We’ll never really know since we can’t read his mind, but truth be told, I don’t care. His contract runs out at the end of this season and the fact that Jeff Luhnow was willing to send him packing gives me hope that he has NO desire for Lee to return to the Astros at the end of this season.

I’d rather watch baseball being played by a bunch of kids who play full out, balls to the wall with heart and soul every game than watch an overpaid, older baseball player never run full out to first base.

Bitter? You bet.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.