Rick Ankiel was gone, and Carlos Pena was left alone.

On the road, the veteran duo often sat, dressed, prepared, talked and laughed side by side inside the Astros' cramped clubhouse.

At Minute Maid Park, Ankiel and Pena would pull their chairs close together, backs to the media, quietly picking apart another loss by a rebuilding team and trying to figure out answers to long-term problems they had little control over.

During nearly two months' worth of spring training in Florida, two players with 67 combined years on the earth and 24 in the major leagues regularly spoke of sticking together, defying experts predicting end-of-the-world gloom and starting something special during Bo Porter's first year managing the Astros.

Through 33 games, the Astros are 9-24. The organization's overhaul is an ongoing concern - an unending series of minor league call-ups, in-team promotions, tweaks, changes and alterations, all designed to create something presentable at the major league level in 2013.

Ankiel and Pena were added at low cost during the offseason to help guide and direct the young talent - most of which will be replaced by the time the real prospects arrive in the next two years. But after Ankiel and his .194 batting average and 35 strikeouts in 62 at-bats were designated for assignment Monday, Pena was the only recognizable veteran position player left wearing an Astros uniform.

His reward: two empty lockers to the right and just-called-up outfielder Jimmy Paredes' Class AAA Oklahoma City travel bag to the left.

Ankiel's locker already had been stripped of his name. Nine bats, a cardboard box bearing his No. 28 and a black baseball glove were all that remained of a pitcher-turned-outfielder who became the team's go-to voice and most trusted mind before the first month in Florida was complete.

Reserve catcher Carlos Corporan, closer Jose Veras, No. 1 starter Bud Norris and second baseman Jose Altuve have strong voices on the Astros. But Pena is the lone remaining player who carries real major league clout.

"It hurt me; it crushed me. And I think it crushed everybody, because everybody loved (Ankiel). He's awesome. Everybody just loved him, man," said Pena, prior to the Astros' 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night at Minute Maid.

Encouraging words

The duo exchanged messages several times Monday. They talked while Ankiel was still part of the Astros and after his name hit the transaction wire. While Twitter timelines filled up with Ankiel news, the man who had reinvented his baseball career told Pena to hold on and stay the course.

"He was like, 'Don't worry. Keep on pressing. Help those guys.' That's him," Pena said. "I'm like, 'I'm going to miss you.' He's like, 'No, just go. Don't worry about it. I'll call you. We'll go fishing. But now, go bust it.' "

Ankiel was the cool, wild, free vet. Perfect for a young Astros club playing with increased spark under Porter. Outfielders Robbie Grossman, Brandon Barnes and Paredes - who entered Tuesday with a combined 147 MLB games - will carry the wavering fire.

"Rick took me under his wing and took care of me while he was here," Barnes said. "We talked baseball. We talked life. It's tough to see him go. … I love him like a brother."

Pena's the quiet, wise, zen-like vet. Everything in perspective. Nothing in excess.

He sat out Tuesday's contest while Chris Carter (137 games) played first base and J.D. Martinez (181) served as designated hitter. But Pena was the most active athlete pregame in the Astros' locker room, surrounded by microphones, recorders and media while questioners wondered how he'd deal with Ankiel's absence.

Pena has spent 1,418 games in the majors. He has played for eight teams, racked up 280 home runs, driven in 800 runs and struck out 1,510 times. He was briefly a part of the "Moneyball" Oakland Athletics. Now he's the second-oldest player on the Moneyball Version 2.0 Astros.

Fighting the good fight

Pena likely will follow Ankiel's path before the 2013 season is complete, erased from an ever-changing roster and joining another team that's a better fit.

Pena was still one of 25 Astros on Tuesday, though. And he'd already picked up Ankiel's weight.

"We are going through … a tough moment in the story of this franchise," Pena said. "But I take pride in being able to endure it and to transcend it and get to the point where we want to get to. Because that's when it's really going to feel good at the end, because of this. Because it wasn't handed to us. It was earned with sweat and pain and blood - and now we're here."