Looks like the Astros will go with much the same unit as last year.  Aaron Boone signed a 1 year deatl for $750,000.  The Astros signed Clay Hensley to a Minor League and is invited to Spring Training. If he makes the team  he’ll get over half a million dollars.

The Astros continue to pour it on as they swept the Giants on 8-14. The Wild Card slot is starting to look more & more feasible. Everything seems to come together when the Astros are all but counted out. Hitting, pitching and defense is firing on all cylinders.  Berkman put on a good show as he provided the tiebreaker in the bottom of the 8th with a 2 run homer. Earlier in the game he provided a double to bring a run home in the 3rd inning.

The Astros gave up 7 runs on 6 hits in the 9th to seal their fate against the Pittsburgh Pirates last night.  Jose wasn’t doing well giving up 6 runs on 5 hits & 2 homers trying to close. Tim Byrdak did even worse giving up a 3 run homer.

That means the Astros really have to pour it on the rest of the season.

Lance Berkman went to bat left-handed after batting practice and it worked out well for him. After a slow start he knocked out 8 home runs to advance to round 2. He knocked out 6 home runs in the 2nd round but was eliminated by Twins‘ Justin Morneau who hit 9. It was a good performance by Berkman but not as good as his run in 2004 when he knocked out 21 home runs to claim the #2 spot behind Miguel Tejada.

I agree with Trophey. There is no where to go but UP.

Every year at the All-Star break we Astros fans are crowing “it’s over” or “woo-hoo! division lead for the rest of the season.”   Anything is possible… Welcome to the rest of the season.

well here we are… in last place in the Central division.  This is where you hear a bounce as we hit the bottom and start the long ascent to the playoffs. right…?

Berkman and Mohler got a touch of the pink eye this week. It would be ironic if they had to wear a patch just as they started the series against the Pirates. Yarrrrrgghhh!

You know he deserves it. just look at the stats. And as an added bonus you can vote as many times as you want. You could watch “Celebrity Circus” on TV instead but think of how many times you could vote in that hour and send a great Astros player to the All Star Game.

You have to give the Astros credit for coming back and playing hard in overtime. In the end though they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The bats of Brad Ausmus, Geoff Blum and Michael Bourn were silent at the end of the 11th inning. There were a number of chances for the Astros to bring this one home but alas it was not to be.

Seems like Shawn Chacon has been demoted to the bullpen to allow Runelvys Hernandez a chance to show his stuff. His tantrum on the mound in Milwaukee did nothing to improve his situation that’s for sure. He was the logical choice at 0-3 in the last 4 starts and he has the most bullpen experience. It’s not like they would want to move Roy Oswalt, Brian Moehler, or Wandy Rodriguez to the bullpen. Brandon Backe just doesn’t have much relief experience and he did pull out a series on 6-22.