Spring Training is beginning to wind down, and the beginning of the season is ever so close, with Opening Day for the Astros taking place on March 31 against the Padres, with Jake Peavy taking on Roy Oswalt in a preview of what could very well be two Cy Young Candidates at the end of the season. This past week, I ventured down to Florida for the first time to watch the Astros play in Kissimmee, Florida and take in some of the sights. I was lucky enough to watch two very good games, as the Astros played the Dodgers on Thursday the 13th, and the Braves on Saturday the 15th.
Here are some of my thoughts about the whole experience:

Osecola County Stadium is a beautiful little stadium, modeled after Minute Maid Park with the same color scheme and feel. There wasn't a bad seat in the park, and the temperature was just right for some afternoon baseball on both days.

Most of the Astros regulars, including Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence, Lance Berkman, Miguel Tejada, Michael Bourn, Ty Wigginton, Brad Ausmus, and Geoff Blum looked to be in solid shape and were hitting the ball well. Berkman hit a home run in the Braves game, and Tejada had several doubles while I was there. It makes you feel good knowing that this team is going to be scoring a lot of runs this season, and we may need it.

Pitching-wise....Eh. We may be in for a rougher season. I saw Shawn Chacon on Thursday pitch fairly decently for a few innings before giving up 5 runs in the fourth inning. Maybe he wore down a little bit, but he definitely had a hiccup in that inning. The good thing is that he kept the ball on the ground well, which is a must at Minute Maid Park.

Doug Brocail also didn't look too solid in his relief appearances. He gave up several runs to the Braves on Saturday, which was mostly comprised of minor-leaguers and Javy Lopez. he gave up 5 runs in one frame. However, Oscar Villareal is looking mighty fine after pitching an inning on Saturday without giving up a run. His spring ERA? 0.00. He is definitely the lead man for the 8th-inning role.

Some other solid relievers? Chad Hines and Geoff Geary. Both have pitched decently this spring, and show merit themselves with a couple of bullpen spots. Expect Welsey Wright to also earn himself a bullpen spot.

As for the starters...It's really a toss up. The one, two and three slots in the rotation have all been filled, with Roy Oswalt, Brandon Backe, and Wandy Rodriguez all earning those spots. After that, it's pretty much slim pickins, with your choice of Chris Sampson, Shawn Chacon, Jack Cassel, and Woody Williams vying for the four and five spots. My guess is that Chacon and Sampson will get the last couple of spots, with Woody Williams having an abysmal spring. It may come down to whoever can perform best in their last couple of starts in the spring.

The Astros should be in good shape. The offense, defense, and relief pitching seem to be shaping up, and one can hope that the starting staff will get it together soon. Overall, I was impressed by the Astros play over the weekend, and I think that if we can execute in certain areas, then we'll be set to go for the season.

Hey everyone,
Its been a little bit hectic these past couple weeks, and I've neglected the blog, so I thought I'd right the wrongs and post a few of my thoughts on Spring Training. Here goes nothin'!

Spring Training is one of my favorite times of year, not just because it's the beginning of the baseball season, but because it's the ONLY time of year that the score at the end of the game doesn't matter. Heck, if the Astros decided to go 0-30 in Grapefruit play, I wouldn't care less. Save the winning for when it matters!

Spring Training is the time to look at all the players as individuals, not the final team product. It's a good time to evaluate who is ready for a shot in the Majors, and who needs a little more seasoning in the minors. This season, I'm especially interested in how our pitchers seem to fare at the end of the games, and see if any players are really standing out on the mound. While it's still early, here is a little list of who I like/ don't like for the 2008 Astros roster.

Don't Like:

1) Woody Williams. This guy hasn't had a decent start this spring, and I just can't see him improving at his age. I really hope we decide to move him to the pen, or just flat out drop him. I think the Astros have much more promising young arms that merit a shot in the rotation.

2) Stephen Randolph. As of Friday, I believe he had a 48.00 ERA in Spring Training. I think he's given up a run in every appearance, save for one 0.1 IP appearance, in which he did allow one hit. Oh yeah, and he's another Astro that was in the Mitchell Report. Just not ready for any Major league work, and I'm beginning to wonder if he ever will.

3) Doug Brocail. He's our supposed setup guy, but he's allowed 7 runs in only 4 innings of work. That needs to be turned around, or he won't be around very long with the Astros.

Who I Like:

1) J.R. Towles. Man, this guy is tearing it up out there! 7-15 this spring, with 1 HR and 5 RBIs. He is picking up where he left off in September for the 'Stros, and I sure hope he carries this into April.

2) Carlos Lee. While not playing so much, El Caballo has notched 2 HR's, along with a pretty .500 average. Not too shabby, Carlos!

3) Jose Cruz. Jr. Cruz has been making his case for the fourth outfielder spot by posting some decent numbers early in Spring Training. He would be a solid addition to the bench.

4) Mike DeJean. A righty whose only given up...3 hits in 4 innings. No runs. Could he possibly make the bullpen and be our new set-up man?

I'll be heading down to Florida later this week to take a look at the Astros in Kissimmee, as well as tour the area a little bit. I'll be sure to blog on my random rumblings from Central Florida. Until then, take care!

J.R. Towles

Mike DeJean

I was doing a little baseball reading and found some interesting things about Barry Bonds. Apparently, he is driving around Florida trying to persuade different GM's into signing him for the season. Most teams don't want Bonds, and that's understandable considering that he carries a lot of "baggage." His agent claims that Bonds will play in 2008, even if no major league team will take him. Yup, that means he would consider playing in Japan. Some teams Bonds has been linked to include: The A's, Rangers, Rays, and Yankees. Even if Bonds is involved in all of this steroid business, he does have a good bat on his shoulders and some team desperate for power could use a boost in their power numbers. I'm guessing that someone will sign him sooner or later, but who? Feel free to leave your thoughts on the subject.
A few Astros notes:

Lance Berkman and Brandon Backe both have been sidelined for a few days because of minor muscle strains and a bruised foot. Both are expected to be back within a week. Killer B Injuries.

The first spring training game is this Thursday, as the Astros will take on the Indians in Kissimmee. I'm very excited about everything getting started!

Barry Bonds

Next up in my rundown of the NL Central: The Houston Astros. The Astros were on of the busiest teams in the offseason, as new GM Ed Wade wasted no time cleaning house and overhauling one of baseball's worst teams in 2007. Let's take a look at the revamped Houston Astros:

Players Added:
Miguel Tejada, shortstop. The controversy begins here, when Tejada was acquired for five players the day before the Mitchell Report came out. He is currently under FBI investigation, and no one knows if he'll play a full season or not. However, the acquisition of Tejada gives the Astros a vastly improved offense and a valuable upgrade at shortstop (at least offensively) than Adam Everett.

Jose Valverde, closer. The Astros traded away Brad Lidge promptly to the Phillies, ending number 54's rocky stay with the club. The Astros then sent Chad Qualls, Chris Burke and Juan Guiterrez to the D'Backs for Valverde. He had his best season last year, posting a 2.66 ERA with 47 saves, and should provide much needed stability at the end of the pen.

Michael Bourn, centerfielder. Bourn was the Astros' main motivation for trading away Brad Lidge. He will take control of Minute Maid's vast centerfield, which requires a speedy and skilled defender. Bourn will also be the "igniter" of the Astros offense, batting leadoff and setting the table for the big guys in the middle. It will be interesting to see if Bourn can be productive at the plate, and steal bases.

Kaz Matsui, second-baseman. With Biggio's inevitable departure, Matsui was signed to take over for the retired Astros icon. He posted his best numbers last season with the Rockies, hitting .288 in the 2-hole. He's projected to hit second, and will be counted on as a reliable glove in the field.

Doug Brocail, reliever. Brocail was signed to replace the reliable Chad Qualls as a set-up man for Valverde. He had a successful career in San Diego, but then again, so did Woody Williams. Hopefully he can throw strikes and be a shut-down reliever in the set-up spot.

Geoff Geary, reliever. Geary also comes from the Phillies in the Brad Lidge trade. He posted a 4.41 ERA in 2007 for the Phillies.

Oscar Villareal, reliever. The Astros traded away Josh Anderson to the Braves for another potential set-up man in Villareal. He posted a 2-2 record with a 4.24 ERA last season.

Shawn Chacon, pitcher. Chacon was signed just yesterday for 2 million. He will compete for a spot in the rotation, and potentially will pitch out of the bullpen if he can't crack the rotation.

Players Lost:

*Note* For the sake of brevity, I'm going to list a bunch of guys the Astros lost (there were a lot) instead of going in depth on every single guy. It would be easier to say who we didn't lose to trades, free agency, etc. But I will mention in more detail the guys that will be missed.

Troy Patton, pitcher. This lefthander was traded to Baltimore for Miguel Tejada, and he will be missed. He had a promising career through the minors, and was a September call-up for the Astros. He was shut down after experiencing tendonitis. He should provide the Orioles with a successful young lefthanded arm.

Chad Qualls, reliever. Qualls was good at throwing strikes and getting guys out, and was very successful as the Astros set-up man for Lidge. He was prone to bad streaks, but would always rebound to post ERA's in the 3's.

Brad Lidge, closer. Lidge was traded to the Phillies, ending his turbulent times in Houston. This is one guy I was glad to see go, not because I didn't like him, but he just sorely needed a change of scenery. He is replaced by Jose Valverde.

Adam Everett, shortstop. He was released by the Astros and pick up by the Twins. He is a terrific defender, but is a wet noodle at the plate. Great for a team looking to improve it's defense.

Mike Lamb, third-baseman/ first baseman. Lamb was a good lefthanded power bat off the bench for the Astros, and should thrive with the Twins. He will definitely be missed.

Luke Scott, outfielder. Scott had only two seasons with the Astros, and proved to be very streaky. He has great power, but is hampered by durability and strikeouts. If he can straighten those areas out, he should be a good outfielder for the Orioles.

Other guys leaving the 'Stros: Trever Miller (Rays), Josh Anderson (Braves), Matt Albers (Orioles), Dennis Safarte (Orioles), Chris Burke (D'Backs), Jason Jennings (Rangers), Eric Bruntlett (Phillies).

Team Strengths:
Lineup. The Astros boast a tough offense, sparked by Michael Bourn and Kaz Matsui, and followed by the big guns of Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, Miguel Tejada and Hunter Pence. J.R. Towles will also provide a big upgrade at catcher over Brad Ausmus. A team that reached the World Series a few years ago on pitching now is centered on the offenses' ability to score runs.

Defense. The Astros will also boast a much better defense now that Michael Bourn will take over in center, allowing Pence to move to right. Bourn can cover more ground, and bail out Carlos Lee on those gap shots. Kaz Matsui also provides better range at second base than Craig Biggio.

Closer. Jose Valverde is much more stable than Brad Lidge was, and should be able to turn the lights out that were frequently left on by Lidge.

Team Weaknesses:
Starting Pitching. Obviously, the Astros have been hounded for the lack of anyone in the rotation other that Roy Oswalt. Behind him, there are just a bunch of question marks. Brandon Backe hasn't pitched a full season in his career, Wandy Rodriguez is very inconsistent in his pitching, Woody Williams was just plain bad in 2007, and the fifth spot could be anyone from Shawn Chacon to Felipe Paulino or Chris Sampson.

Chemisty. This is just a potential weakness, as it could be a non-factor. But with all the new faces, it's not unfounded to think that this team may take some time to gel together.

Bullpen? Maybe? The bullpen is related to the chemistry issue. While there is a plethora of arms in the 'pen for the Astros, the right combination will need to be found so the Astros can get from the starters to Valverde. With Woody Williams only able to go about 6 innings, and the young pitchers rather inconsistent, the pen will need to be able to come in and shut down the opponents.

X-Factors:

Will Miguel Tejada play a full season? Will he return to his old form with a short porch in left?

Can Brandon Backe, Wandy Rodriguez, Shawn Chacon, Felipe Paulino and Chris Sampson step it up for the Astros rotation and provide some stability for the rotation?

Can Michael Bourn take over the leadoff and centerfield duties for the Astros and produce results?

Will Geoff Geary, Oscar Villareal, Doug Brocail and the rest of the bullpen be able to lock down the game from the 6th inning onward?

Will this team gel as a whole?

Can Kaz Matsui keep his resurgence going and provide a stable presence in the lineup and in the field?

Can Lance Berkman have a big year in response to last year?

Can Hunter Pence keep in going after last year's breakout season? (And not get hurt).

That about does it for my Astros. They were a busy team this offseason, and I'm sure this will translate into results onto the field. The 2007 team just wasn't good, and this team should provide some building blocks in order to construct the championship team the Astros were in '05. I predict the Astros to finish third in the division, behind the Brewers and Cubs. However, I think that they will play decent enough baseball to finish above .500 this season.

Comments are welcome! Next team up to bat: The Cardinals.

Jose Valverde

Carlos Lee

Lance Berkman

Miguel Tejada

The news came in today that Shawn Chacon and the Astros agreed to a 1-year, 2 million dollar deal. So the Astros saved some money in the process, as I had thought that all of the winnings (or savings, rather) from arbitration hearings would go towards signing Chacon. Anyways, Chacon will compete for a starting spot in Spring Training, or will move to the bullpen as a long reliever. Chacon Signs Deal

While I was reading this article on chron.com, I saw that Justin Timberlake will be playing an Astros farmhand in one of his upcoming movies. Check this one out for yourselves: Timberlake a Hook?

Timberlake's New Team

In some random Astros news this Tuesday...

The Astros got their second win of the offseason, as the Arbiters granted the Astros their second arbitration victory over Mark Loretta. (Previously, they ruled for the Astros against Jose Valverde). The Astros will pay him $2.15 million instead of the $4.7 million he was seeking, which seems a bit high for a utility infielder who wouldn't be starting. (That would be a little less than what Kaz Matsui would make in a season, and he's the starting second-baseman.) [Astros Win Loretta Decision]

With victories over Valverde and Loretta, the Astros may have saved some cash for a free agent starting pitcher. Rumors point to Shawn Chacon, who is apparently close to signing a deal with the Astros. Chacon Nears Deal Click on his name to get the stats on Chacon. He had a great year for the Yankees in '05, but has struggled as a starter recently. He was used in relief for the Pirates last season, and went 5-4 with a 3.98 ERA. Not too shabby for a guy that gave up a home run to Roy Oswalt. Above all, he should give the Astros another veteran arm to consider for the rotation, or for the bullpen if nothing else.

Some scary news from Florida: Apparently Hunter Pence fell through a sliding glass door and ended up with cuts on his hands and knees. He said he was going outside to hang out with a friend in the hot tub, when inside for something and left the door open, but his friend closed it while he has inside and Pence went through it. While he will only miss a week of Spring Training, you have to be thankful that he didn't get hurt any worse. Read the whole story here: Pence Injury.

Also in Florida, Tejada reports to camp. Nothing much to say here, but it sounds like he is ready to focus on the season and not on FBI investigations or reports. That's good news, as we need him to be focused in on scoring some runs. Tejada Reports.

That's all for today, as Spring Training is now fully underway! I'll be posting another NL Central team outlook, this time for the hometown Astros. Expect it by Friday. Until then, stay safe.

Mark Loretta

Shawn Chacon

Hunter Pence

The Milwaukee Brewers were one of the surprising teams in the NL last season, boasting a potent lineup led by the bats of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. While the starting staff was plagued by injury and inconsistency, the Brewers were able to battle the Cubs for most of the season before finally conceding the NL Central Crown. Can the '08 Brewers take the crown? Let's take a look at their roster.

Players Added:
Eric Gagne, closer. Gagne played last season for the Rangers and Red Sox, posting decent numbers with the Rangers before having a rough stretch with the Red Sox during their playoff run. He is tapped to replace Francisco Cordero who signed a deal with the Reds in the offseason. Gagne is a gamble. Can he stay healthy? Can he post good numbers with the Brewers?

David Riske, reliever. Riske comes from the Royals, where he pitched very well last season in 65 games, posting a 2.45 ERA. He gives the Brewers a solid right-hander who could compete with Turnbow and Torres for the set-up position.

Mike Cameron, outfielder. Cameron is suspended for the first 25 games of '08, but should provide a defensive and power lift to the lineup. This will allow Bill Hall to move to third, and Ryan Braun to left field.

Salomon Torres, relief pitcher. Torres pitched last season for the Pirates, and came to the Brewers in a trade this offseason. He posted a 5+ ERA for the Pirates in 55 innings. He should be a decent acquisition for the Brewers bullpen, if he can return to pre-2007 form.

Jason Kendall, catcher. Kendall signed a deal with Brewers in the offseason, and will take over for the departed Johnny Estrada. He provides good defense and calls a good game for his pitchers, but don't expect much at all from his bat. He will be a downgrade from Estrada in that aspect.

Players Lost:
Francisco Cordero, closer. Cordero was probably the Brewers' biggest offseason lost, as he had 44 saves and an almost 3 ERA. He will be replaced by Eric Gagne. The Brewers may miss his consistency at the end of the games.

Scott Linebrink, set-up reliever. Linebrink signed a deal with the White Sox in the offseason after a sub-par tenure with the Brewers last season after being traded from San Diego. He will be replaced by Torres and Riske.

Johnny Estrada, catcher. Estrada was signed by the Nationals as a replacement for the injured Paul Lo Duca. He provided decent offense and defense for the Brewers, and will be replaced by Jason Kendall behind the plate.

Geoff Jenkins, right-fielder. Jenkins was a long time Brewer before signing with the Phillies in the offseason. He provided good power and offense for the Brewers, but was prone to long slumps and striking out.

Kevin Mench, outfielder. On a lower note, Kevin Mench was signed by his old team, the Rangers, to a minor-league deal.

Strengths:
Lineup. The Brew Crew goes into the season with a potent lineup boasting Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Corey Hart and Mike Cameron. They should be able to score a lot of runs and support the starting staff. I see this as their strongest part of the team.

Bullpen. I think the combination of Derrick Turnbow, David Riske and Salomon Torres will provide for a strong set-up combination. They have three people capable of stepping up and shortening the length of the game for the starting pitchers.

Weaknesses:
Closer. The Brewers go into the '08 season with the unpredictable Eric Gagne, who has been plagued with injury problems and inconsistency. If we can see the Eric Gagne of the Dodgers, then the Brewers got a steal off the market, but if he struggles, then Francisco Cordero will be sadly missed.

Experience. The Brewers have a couple of rookie starters in Carlos Villanueva, Manny Parra and Yovani Gallardo. Ryan Braun is a sophomore this season, and hasn't played in a full 162 season. While this could be a non-factor, it could also hamper them in the stretch run.

Injury-Bug. While this isn't anything the Brewers can control, the health of Ben Sheets is highly important as the anchor of the staff. He will need to be healthy if the Brewers will win the Central.

X-Factors:

Can Ryan Braun post those insane stats over a full season?

Can Bill Hall return to 2006 form?

Will Yovani Gallardo continue his good numbers?

Will Rickie Weeks take the next step in his development?

Will Ben Sheets stay healthy and pitch 200 innings?

Will Gagne be the stopper the Brewers need?

Can Chris Capuano and Dave Bush have a better '08 season?

Well, that does it for the Brew Crew! I predict them to be second in the Central, losing the crown to the Cubs in a close race that will likely be decided in the last couple weeks of the season. While they are very good on paper, I think that the starting staff lacks experience to take them over the hump, but I could very well be wrong. Please feel free to leave in comments and help me to fill in any holes in the team. Have a safe weekend.

Ben Sheets

Yovani Gallardo

Ryan Braun

Prince Fielder

Eric Gagne

It's time to get a good look at the NL Central in terms of what the Astros have to compete against in 2008. What teams got better? What teams stayed the same? Who got worse? Let's examine the strengths and weaknesses of each team, plus the unknowns and x-factors that could affect this season's outcome. This will be a multi-part post, with one or two teams per post.
Cubs

Who they added:

Kosuke Fukudome, a right-fielder from Japan He posted good numbers in the Japanese Leagues, but it's hard to tell how well he will do in the US. This season will be a good litmus test in terms of not only Fukudome's worth, but the quality of the Japanese League as a whole.

Jon Lieber, pitcher. He was signed as a free agent this offseason, and previously played for the Phillies. Could potentially be back-end of the rotation guy, or a spot-starter/ bullpen arm. I see this as a low-risk signing.

Who they lost:

Mark Prior, the oft-injured pitcher, to the San Diego Padres. Since he hasn't pitched any significant amount for years, I won't call this much of a loss.

Jacque Jones, outfielder. Replaced by Kosuke Fukudome, so we'll call this a wash for now.

Cliff Floyd, outfielder. I won't go much into this but to say that the Cubs are better off without him. Let Pie and Murton get a shot in the outfield.

Team Strengths:
The Cubs seem to be poised for another good offensive season. They have solid lineup with Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Kosuke Fukudome.

Team Weaknesses:
The Cubs lack a proven closer at the end of their bullpen. They have options, though, in Carlos Marmol, Kerry Wood and Bob Howry. We'll have to see how it pans out in Spring Training.

The Cubs also lack stability in the back end of the rotation. They enter spring training with lots of options behind Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill. Sean Marshall, Jon Lieber, and Ryan Dempster are all candidates for the final spots in the rotation.

X-Factors:

How will Kosuke Fukudome play in the Majors?

Will Felix Pie's bat show up in '08?

Will Carlos Marmol or Kerry Wood give the Cubs stability in the 9th inning?

If the Cubs acquire Brian Roberts, how will the team look for '08?

How will young catcher Geovany Soto play over a full season?

I think the Cubs are poised (as much as I hate to say it) for another good season. They haven't lost much to free agency, and unless '07 was a fluke in terms of some players' statistics, then I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cubs at the top of the division at the end of the season.

Next team up: The Brewers. Check back later for this analysis.

Was there anything of importance I left out? Feel free to leave any feedback in the comments, as I would love to be able to discuss some more of each team with some fans.

Kosuke Fukudome

Alfonso Soriano

Carlos Marmol

It's been pretty quiet throughout baseball this week, so let's look forward to the season at hand. Here are some of the good and bad stories running through the media.
Good News:

Spring training is only five days away! Pitchers and catchers report to Kissimmee, Florida on February 13th for the Astros, meaning that the Major League Preseason is underway. Astros Packing Up

Erik Bedard has finally been traded to the Mariners for four players. A lot of people thought this deal would never get done, considering the "conservative" nature of Peter Angelos and the Baltimore front office. Now they are trying to sign him to a long term deal. Bedard is currently signed through '09. Bedard and M's Long-term Deal. With Erik Bedard out, does that mean Brian Roberts will be traded?

The Fightin' Texas Aggie Basketball Team beat the **** outta the Missouri Tigers 77-69 in Columbia today, extending the win streak to five. The 18th-ranked Aggies head home to play Oklahoma State on Saturday, and I'll be there to watch.

Bad News:

This Roger Clemens saga just gets weirder and weirder. Apparently Brian McNamee, Clemens' trainer, has revealed that the injected Clemens' wife with HGH too. No joke. Read the story here: The Wife a User. When this all is over, someone is going to look like a fool. Let's just wait and see if McNamee claims to have injected their dog with steroids before the local dog show too.

Curt Schilling has a shoulder injury, and has been diagnosed as a partial rotator-cuff tear. He has chosen to try and rehab the tear instead of undergoing surgery, and should be out until at least the All-Star Break. Remember when Ed Wade aggressively pursued Schilling at the start of the offseason? I'm glad we didn't ink him to any sort of contract now.

Any other stories of interest that I missed? Let me know, all! Have a great weekend.

The Astros have a slew of capable sluggers entering the 2008 season. Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence are joined by incoming shortstop Miguel Tejada and speedsters Michael Bourn and Kaz Matsui. Add in a new young catcher in J.R. Towles (.375 average in 40 AB's last season) and mid-season acquisiton Ty Wigginton, and the Astros have a powerful and multi-dimensional offense.
However, the main question is where will everyone bat in the lineup? Michael Bourn and Kaz Matsui seem to lock up the top two bats in the order. But after that, it's anyone's guess as to who will bat where. Hunter Pence, a rookie sensation in 2007, had his bid for Rookie of the Year squashed when he hit the DL. Hoever, many think he would be very productive in the 3-hole, using his speed and power to get on base for the rest of the lineup behind him. However, Cecil Cooper is rumored to have Miguel Tejada batting third in his lineup. (Read the article on astros.com: Lineup Questions)

What about Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman? Both are extremely good hitters with lots of pop on their bats. Will Lance be batting 4th, and Lee 5th? Or will Berkman bat third, pushing Tejada, Pence and Lee down in the order? Only time will tell, but Cecil Cooper seems like he will be testing different combinations in spring training (only one week away!) to try and find what works best for the Astros offense. One thing is for sure, the Astros are poised to score a lot of runs in '08.

What do you think the Astros lineup will look like in 2008?

Other rumors and tidbits:

Nolan Ryan accepted a role as the Texas Rangers new president. While it's sad to see Ryan leave the Astros, I'm glad to see that he's getting a position he deserves.

In the Roger Clemens saga, Brian McNamee has apparently given Congress "hard evidence" that Clemens used steroids, in the form of used syringes. My question for McNamee: What are you doing with these almost decade old syringes lying around?

Feel free to post your thoughts on the blog. Have a great rest of the week, and stay safe.

Lance Berkman

Hunter Pence

Miguel Tejada

Carlos Lee