Houston Astros

You think you had a bad day?

Staff ace Roy Oswalt, along with relievers LaTroy Hawkins and Wesley Wright, all came down with ailments Tuesday, with the full extent of any yet to be announced.

Oswalt strained his lower back in the second inning of Houston's 11-6 victory against the Cubs. Hawkins was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game because of a shingles and Wright went to a Chicago hospital after the game with a possible case of appendicitis.

Oswalt, who is flying back to Houston so team docs can check him out, said he has felt discomfort since his previous start on July 22. Now, Oswalt says, he "can walk but can't do anything strenuous." Such as pitching.

Yahoo! Sports

oh this sooo bites!

the Chronicle reports that Lance Berkman is on the 15 day DL with that calf strain. Apparently it was not as "mild" as first reported, When I researched Type II Strain, the material said recovery time is measured in weeks (not days). So while I am a litte surprised to read this announcement, it is not a shock. Since Berkman pinch hit last night, the 15 days must start today. Any way you look at it, he'll miss the Mets, Cubs, Cardinals and Giants series.

While he will be missed for sure, losing Lance is easier to take seeing how well Coste has played in Berkman's absence and seeing how well the team has responded this week.

The Crawfish Boxes

Lance Berkman was out of the lineup Tuesday and expects to be for a few games as an MRI has revealed a Grade 2 strain of his left calf. Berkman saw team physician Dr. David Lintner Tuesday after struggling through Monday's game and was given a boot to wear for protection.

“I'm glad it's not torn, which is what I was concerned about,” Berkman said. Berkman will be available to pinch-hit, but won't play the field for an estimated 2-3 days, though it will remain day-to-day from that point. “If this is the playoffs or the World Series, which, given the opponent and our standings, I feel like it's kind of a playoff-type game, I would certainly be in there,” he said.

Houston Chronicle

What is it with the Houston Astros and their inability to play meaningful baseball in the first half of the season? It seems like every season, the Astros don't get hot until late July.

Could the 2009 Astros be destined for something special? I believe so. I think they might. Think about it for a second. They've dealt with everything short of death this season, yet they've survived and are now just two games away from the NL Central-leading Cardinals.

With Lance Berkman hobbling, they split a four-game series they could have won against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team with the best record in baseball. Then, they arrive in Houston to face the Cardinals, who own the best record in the NL Central. And with Berkman back on the bench nursing a Grade 2 left calf strain, the Astros put up 11 runs Tuesday night.

The Astros have had turmoil in the clubhouse, major injuries to key relievers, a player out because of open-heart surgery and a coach out for nearly a month after having a cancerous kidney removed. Still, with a rotation that many so-called baseball experts ridiculed, the Astros are on a roll. These players have a ton of pride, and you can bet that many of them are playing with chips on their shoulders, including Miguel Tejada and Ivan Rodriguez.

Houston Chronicle

We have a couple of great National League match-ups today.

Both the Giants and Braves are fighting for their bid at the National League's Wild Card, and today we'll get the Freak versus Jair Jurrjens. Call me crazy, but I think Jurrjens takes this one. Why? Well not because he is the better pitcher, but because Jurrjens has faced better competition recently, (Boston twice, Philly, Chicago, and @Coors) and the San Fransisco bats will be no match for his talents.

You have about a one in five chance of correctly predicting the winner in the National League Central. Carpenter and Oswalt look to change those odds today. Should be a fun matchup, no?

Giants (50-43) @ Braves (48-46), 7:00pm
  SFG: Tim Lincecum (25, RHP, 10-2, 2.27)
  ATL: Jair Jurrjens (23, RHP, 8-7, 2.77)
Cardinals (51-45) @ Astros (48-46), 8:05pm
  STL: Chris Carpenter (34, RHP, 8-3, 2.26)
  HOU: Roy Oswalt (31, RHP, 6-4, 3.65)

Baseball-Reference.com

Astros first baseman Lance Berkman will undergo an MRI on Tuesday to gauge the extent of the mild left calf strain that has slowed him in recent days. Berkman, who returned to the starting lineup in Monday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals for the first time since straining his calf Thursday in Los Angeles, went 1-for-2 with a double, on which he gingerly rounded the bases. He stayed in the game and played all nine innings.

astros.com

It's no surprise that the Astros started clicking as Lance Berkman began to heat up, and now the star first baseman must wait to see how his strained left calf responds. "I definitely strained it, so I'll see how it feels tomorrow," Berkman said Thursday night after exiting the 3-0 victory over the Dodgers in the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium because of a strained left calf.

"It's been bothering me for a while, to be honest with you," he said. "It's been managable, but it's as hard as I've run in a while. It doesn't feel great, but hopefully in the morning it will feel better."

"It's a left calf," Cecil Cooper said. "I'm going to say strain for now. I don't think it's bad. We just have to wait and see tomorrow. He's got ice on it and we'll just wait and see."

Houston Chronicle

Berkman reaches 10-year mark of major league career

On this Thursday, July 16, 2009, Lance Berkman, the fresh-faced phenom of the late 20th century, is officially a grizzled geezer — or, if you wish to be respectful to your elders, a tenured veteran. The Astros' 2009 season resumes tonight in Los Angeles, and Berkman, 33, will take the field on the 10th anniversary of his major league debut on July 16, 1999, at the Astrodome against the Detroit Tigers.

“It's a significant milestone,” Berkman said. “When you start as a young player, what you hear about is getting your 10 years. It's sort of a special thing. I don't know how many people get to it, but more guys who start out don't get there than those who do.”

Berkman begins the second half of the 2009 season trending below career numbers in some categories but still in rarefied air — top 20 among active players in six major categories, top five among Astros players in every significant offensive category .

“There aren't many better in this generation ,” said Red Sox consultant and baseball historian Bill James.

Houston Chronicle

Paulino doesn't sound to happy about it ..

A day after giving up four runs and, at one point, three consecutive home runs, righthander Felipe Paulino was optioned back to Class AAA Round Rock on Sunday. Paulino was asked to work on “his command,” manager Cecil Cooper said. “That's what we told him and that's what I would tell you, command and mainly using his off-speed stuff.”

“I'm going to go down and do my work, as usual,” he said. “They told me I have to work more, but I don't understand. I have all my pitches right. They have their decisions, and they have their side of it. “I just want to do what's best for the team. Truly, if there's an opportunity to come back, I want to come back when they want. I feel good and healthy. But they think I'm missing some pitches, so I have to go down and do my job.”

Houston Chronicle

On this the 233rd anniversary of this country's independence from the tyrannous British (current company of Englishmen here excused, of course), my gift to the American people is simple, simple I say. I give you the gift of Quality. Quality Starts, that is. Quality Starts backed by research, tireless hours, and wearing my fingers down to the bone. So America, here is the gift I give you to as we celebrate our freedom. Who would've thought that in July we'd have a Yankee and Red Sox pitcher who both qualify for this? Not I...

Russ Ortiz (R), HOU (8% Owned) @ Tim Lincecum (R), SF