Houston Astros

Richard Justice has good piece up about how horrible the Houston Astros minor league system has become. I don't care so much about their system, but Justice did publish Bill James rankings of each teams younger stars. Kind of interesting.

a poll i hoped i would never see.

50 games for an amphetamine means this was the third time he was busted, correct? This is the minor league program so I could be wrong. I Googled it but there is not a lot out there on the minor league program. I know Mike Cameron got caught twice, and he did 25 days his second time around, so 50 games should mean this is the third positive .. I believe.

I figure over the next two or three seasons, there will be a bunch of players getting handed these kind of suspensions as two and three time offenders. The players only get tested a couple of times each season, and the first failure is kept private. Of course once you pee positive, you get tested even more.

Predicting who will get busted is impossible, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a run of infielders. Call it a gut feeling.

162 games is a grind.

Cleveland Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach is 28 years old already. I find that some what shocking. I guess he has always had his career path blocked by two of the best in the game, Victor Martinez, and Jason Varitek, so I don't know if it is fair to say that Kelly Shoppach is a late bloomer or not, but it is sure a beautiful flower isn't it.

I snagged Shoppach up in two leagues when Victor Martinez went down. I'd even say that Shppoach is the reason for my rebound in the H2HWS. On that same Inglewood team, I also own Victor Martinez, who is currently residing on the DL with zero homeruns on the year. Martinez is going to have to show me a little something, once healthy, just to get a ride at utility. No way I am moving Shoppach. Eric Wedge could bench Kelly Shoppach, and I am not moving him.

Chad Reineke's k/bb is nothing special, not even 2.5/1, and he seems to give up the longball (which Petco should suppress some). Plus he is 26 years old. Houston has been using him as a starter in the minors, even though he was a reliever in college, so it should be interesting to see where the friars slot him. I am guessing the bullpen.

I can't believe the padres couldn't get anything better for Randy Wolf.

Closer is the new running back by committee.

I had a feeling this was blown out of proportions from the get go. I don't condone Shawn Chacons actions, but the bottom line is Chacon lost his cool, and when you lose your cool, stupid things happen. The major media was making Shawn Chacon out to be this bad man, and I have not seen or read anything over the years to suggest that. Should he get paid for his services this year? Yes. Should he work in baseball again? Yes. Should he work in baseball again this year? Yes. Should be allowed to finish his lunch without a man screaming in his face? Absolutely!

I want a glove like that!.

Lance Berkman is having an amazing season so far. Berk is currently in the middle of a fourteen game hitting streak, and is just crushing the ball to the tune of .391/.472/.808

Atlanta's Larry Jones seems to be getting all the love from the mainstream media so far, but don't underestimate Big Berk when it comes time to handout the hardware at the end of this season. I know he has my vote. :)