--2B Kaz Matsui, who had surgery to repair an anal fissure on March 17, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to March 21. He probably won't return before mid-April, general manager Ed Wade said. The team originally hoped Matsui would have been ready by the end of the season's first week.
--INF Geoff Blum re-injured his left heel when he fouled a pitch off it Monday. He left the game, but he said the ailment was minor.
--LHP Wandy Rodriguez threw an inning in a minor league game Friday in his first action since leaving his March 14 Grapefruit League game start against Detroit with a strained oblique muscle. Rodriguez is expected to be ready for his first scheduled start of the season.
--C J.R. Towles returned to Grapefruit League action Saturday and caught six innings. He hadn't played in a game since straining his right hamstring running out a groundball on March 8. Towles will be ready for Opening Day.
--RF Hunter Pence will start the year hitting second in the order because of the injury to 2B Kaz Matsui. But manager Cecil Cooper said he might keep Pence in the No. 2 hole after Matsui returns. Matsui, a switch hitter, could hit down in the order to break up the flurry of right-handers the Astros have after 1B Lance Berkman.
--LHP Wesley Wright, a Rule 5 pick, became the only lefty remaining in the competition for the bullpen when Stephen Randolph and Mark McLemore were sent to minor league camp. Wright had a 1.13 ERA in his first eight spring appearances and was likely to make the team.
--RHP Brian Moehler, a non-roster invitee who spent all of last season with the Astros, came to camp as an extreme longshot, but by the middle of March was in contention for a spot in the bullpen. The Astros even briefly considered Moehler as a starting pitcher.
BY THE NUMBERS 49 -- Wins by RHP Roy Oswalt in 99 starts from 2005-07. He was 49-27 in that span, and the Astros were 63-36 in games he started.
QUOTE TO NOTE "I think he's done amazingly well. The team is at least 50 percent different (from last year), and he's had to blend those together. This is his first year as a manager, and I'm very pleased with his attitude, his approach to it." -- Owner Drayton McLane on manager Cecil Cooper.
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The Astros are arguably the best 2nd half team in baseball this decade, does it continue? Well with good pitching, as the last 2 games have been, it will. If the pitching has some of the same 1st half inconsistencies, it could be a long season for us all. I say not however, with
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so with the Astros 9 games out of a wild card spot...i like the latest lineup with matsui leading off. why not put wiggy in the 2 hole--that would give you 2 strong obp guys for the 3-6 hitters.
we've lived with 3 outs at the bottom of the lineup for a long time, let's stick towles and bourne in the 7 & 8 holes
Honestly, does Ed Wade really think Michael Bourn is the answer. Smart move bringing Val Majewski up to Triple A, where the outfielders are still not very good. Bring him up all the way Mr. Wade. He seems to be the only guy hitting in your minor league system
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With a little recent short-term improvement, and the "no-hit wonder" Dodgers coming in for 4 games, I thought, "This is where we make our move!" No Furcal. Pierre gets hurt. No offense as illustrated by their 1-0 victory, despite being no-hit. I have reason for optimism....right?
