Lance Berkman

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

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

Miguel Tejada and Lance Berkman collected major milestones in the sixth inning Saturday night at Chase Field.

Tejada collected his 2,000th major league hit with an RBI single through the left side in the sixth inning, tying the score at 1 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tejada, only the 29th shortstop to collect 2,000 hits, drove in Michael Bourn, who led off the inning with a stand-up triple to right.

One out later, Berkman hit a shot to right for the 300th home run of his career, giving the Astros a 3-1 lead with the two-run shot. Berkman is only the seventh switch-hitter all-time to collect 300 home runs in the majors. The shot was estimated at 399 feet.

The UK has just been hit by the worst snow storms in 20 years (apparently). Living as I do in a valley where the only way out is up a snow-covered hill (the gritters don't seem to have made it to our little town!) it's a work-from-home kind of day today! Perfect opportunity to take a break and bring out the next top 10 list: 1st basemen

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. :)

It's about this time each year where I say Christmas has come early (or late, if you've waited 90+ days for your Aunt Hortense to fork up your $100 gift). As I write this, I'll be juggling my attention span across two television screens: WrestleMania 24 and the first MLB Opener on U.S.