Houston Astros 2009

[B.A.M.F.]

Well, I know I am starting this thread the weekend AFTER the All Star break, but this is usually when the Astros go on a hot streak and try to force themselves into the playoffs.

Hopefully they win today to take 3 of 4 from the Dodgers.

That would make them a 27-16 since the start of June, which is a lot better than 31-40 to start the season.

I just hope ownership doesn't think they are in any shape to compete for the World Series and acts as a buyer like they did last year (Randy Wolf anyone?).

[Alfordron]

Yes they have always been a second half team and i like what I'm seeing so far since the break. The only concern is that Berkman went out iin the first game with Dodgers with some kind of calf tweek and then his replacement Ersted went down last night with a hammy and they are running a bunch of no-names out there at the moment.

[B.A.M.F.]

Yes they have always been a second half team and i like what I'm seeing so far since the break. The only concern is that Berkman went out iin the first game with Dodgers with some kind of calf tweek and then his replacement Ersted went down last night with a hammy and they are running a bunch of no-names out there at the moment.

Recall Maysonet.

He played great the short time he was up and can play all over the place.

Or maybe just bring up Chris Johnson and let Blum play at first.

[JesRey]

oh man what a bad inning for that pitcher, 2 errors in one inning, but the Astros have looks good this entire series.

[Alfordron]

Recall Maysonet.

He played great the short time he was up and can play all over the place.

Or maybe just bring up Chris Johnson and let Blum play at first.

I woul agree with that move!...I am still trying to figure out Ed Wade..I think his reasoning is that the no-names have been around longer and have more experience that Maysonet. I don't know?

What a blown game today!..That's not how you want to go into a series with the Cards.

[B.A.M.F.]

Indeed it is not.

****, I don't understand Wade either.

I still don't understand the Tejada and Wolf signings last year and I don't know why they won't try to trade Carlos Lee. I know his contract is huge, but if they agree to pay part of it, I am sure they will find a taker.

I know we could use a dearth of SP and prospects. Someone's gotta be in the market for a consistent .290-90-30-100 outfielder out there.

[Alfordron]

Indeed it is not.

****, I don't understand Wade either.

I still don't understand the Tejada and Wolf signings last year and I don't know why they won't try to trade Carlos Lee. I know his contract is huge, but if they agree to pay part of it, I am sure they will find a taker.

I know we could use a dearth of SP and prospects. Someone's gotta be in the market for a consistent .290-90-30-100 outfielder out there.

I agree they should try and move Lee and all the above is correct except the outfielder part. That guy is a liability in the field and although fat boy stole a base today he ain't much better on the bases. I don't think they want to eat even half of that huge deal...just mo.

[Alfordron]

The All-Star break is supposed to be a time for players to take a respite from the game and recharge their bodies for the second half. But the Astros are dealing with a rash of nagging injuries less than a week after the Midsummer Classic.

First baseman Lance Berkman was out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive game Sunday against the Dodgers with a mild left calf strain suffered Thursday. Infielder/outfielder Darin Erstad couldn't play Sunday because of a strained left hamstring, and second baseman Kaz Matsui is nursing a sore left hamstring.
What's more, relief pitcher Chris Sampson was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with muscle spasms in his right shoulder.
"It is a little strange, but you have to remember we're an older team and we're approaching 100 games," Houston manager Cecil Cooper said.
Berkman, who walked in the ninth inning Saturday as a pinch-hitter, said Sunday his calf hadn't improved enough for him to play. He said he could feel the injury when he walks and is eager to rejoin the lineup, especially with the first-place Cardinals coming to Houston on Monday.
"Cardinals or not, they're paying me a lot of money to play, so as soon as I think I can get out there, I'm going to get out there," he said. "Certainly, that's an important series for us and I'd like to be able to play."
Berkman has never had an injury like this before and was more than willing to take trainers' advice not to play Sunday. He said if the injury doesn't improve by Monday he would like to get some tests run to help gauge the severity of the problem.
"They haven't told me that, but I'm going to request it," said Berkman, who leads the team in homers, RBIs, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. "If it doesn't start feeling better, I want to know what's going on."
Erstad, who strained his hamstring in the eighth inning Saturday, could be headed for the disabled list. He met with Cooper and general manager Ed Wade after Saturday's game to talk about the severity of the injury.
"We asked him to be candid with us, and if he thinks it's something that's going to linger then we can shut him down and address it," Wade said. "We have to monitor and ask him to be up-front with us."
Erstad called the injury "very frustrating."
"I'm just going to get treatment and get the swelling down and see how it is Monday and go from there," he said.
Matsui, who has four multiple-hit games in his past five starts, was out of the lineup Sunday in part to get him some regular rest but also because of his hamstring. Matsui missed 18 games on the disabled list earlier this year with a left hamstring strain.
"It's a little bit odd coming out of the All-Star break," Wade said of the rash of injuries. "There were days of airline travel and more airline travel and honey-do lists, so I'm not sure anybody spent three days in a horizontal position resting up. But it's nicks and dents and nothing profound."
Meanwhile, relief pitcher Doug Brocail will begin his Minor League rehab assignment Monday at Triple-A Round Rock. Brocail, on the disabled list since May 4 with a left hamstring strain, will throw twice at Round Rock and four times at Double-A Corpus Christi before hopefully rejoining the team.
"I feel I need a lot of work," Brocail said. "The fastball is not where I want it to be, control is not where I want it to be. You throw some fastballs that have a little bit of giddy-up and throw some where you try to make a good, hard fastball, and I'm actually cutting it off a little bit. As far as mechanics, I have a lot more mechanical work than I do worrying about the leg."
For Brocail, 42, the next two weeks will essentially be like Spring Training. "Even though I've been throwing bullpens, bullpens aren't the same," he said. "You don't have the intensity level, you don't have the same scope as far as being able to dot your I's and cross your T's as far as hitting your spots. It's a lot easier with a guy in there. You have something to throw to."

[wrswinney]

I agree they should try and move Lee and all the above is correct except the outfielder part. That guy is a liability in the field and although fat boy stole a base today he ain't much better on the bases. I don't think they want to eat even half of that huge deal...just mo.

Lee wont agree to be traded anywhere. he has a full no trade clause until the end of next season. Even if they wanted to try to move him he would block it. Oswalt would be the only one really willing to go anywhere but if they are close in the race they will not pull the trigger

[Alfordron]

I think Carlos would much rather be working cattle on his ranch outside Houston in Wharton or on his multi-thousand acre ranch in Panama, where he employs over 100 people.
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