“If they could walk, they played”

Lance Berkman will undergo a precautionary MRI on his left calf on Tuesday in efforts to determine the severity of the injury sustained to his left calf during the series opener against the Dodgers last week.

“It feels terrible, but like I told Ed Wade, `If I don’t play when I’ve got bumps and bruises, I won’t play many games.’ They tried to take me out of the game in the first inning, but I wouldn’t come out.’’

Berkman is not expected to go on the DL, and plans to try to play through it.

“If I can go, I’m going to go. It’s the legacy Bagwell and Biggio left here. Those two guys played with all kinds of injuries, but if they could walk, they played. When I saw Bagwell in Los Angeles, I thought, `Hey, I have to be in there. I don’t want to let him down.’’’

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Here they go again

Buster Olney comments on the Astros surge into contention in the NL Central (excerpts from the non-Insider portion of the article only).

The Astros are 27-17 in their last 44 games, which is actually par for the course for Houston. Year after year, the Astros seem to start slowly and then just take off.

The reasons? Roy Oswalt shares some thoughts on the subject:

“I think it’s because we’ve got older players. Young guys don’t know how long the season is. They might figure there’s no way to catch up. But older guys know that all it takes is a good run, winning 10 out of 14, and you’re right back in it.”

Olney notes that “it also helps that Oswalt is throwing as well as he ever has, according to veteran scouts who’ve seen him recently.”

Over his last five starts, Oswalt has allowed seven earned runs in 38 innings, and Houston is 4-1. He attributes the improvement to the evolution of his relationship with new Astros catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

Oswalt attributes his improvement over the recent months on getting familiar with Pudge:

“We’re just learning each other. People don’t have a real understanding of how important the relationship is between a pitcher and a catcher. Every pitcher pitches different, and [Pudge] had to learn all that. A pitcher might throw four pitches, but he might have two go-to pitches, and [the catcher] has to learn that.”

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Round Rock, meet Redass

Doug Brocail began his rehab assignment Monday night with the Express. He retired all three batters he faced on 15 pitches (9 strikes), and notched one strikeout.

Brocail on where he’s at and why the rehab assignment is important:

“I feel like I need a lot of work. My fastball’s not where I want it to be. Control is not where I want it to be. You throw some fastballs that have a little bit of a giddy-up. Then you throw some that you’re trying to make the good hard fastball, and I’m actually cutting off a little bit. So as far as mechanics, I have a lot more mechanical things than I do worrying about the leg.”

“Even though I’ve been throwing bullpens, bullpens aren’t the same [as throwing to live batters]. You don’t have the same intensity level. You don’t have the same scope as far as being able to dot your ‘i’s’ and cross your ‘t’s’ as far as hitting your spots. I was glad to see [the rehab assignment] wasn’t one (game), and if you feel good, let’s come back. I wouldn’t be able to survive with not having my stuff.”

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Tunnel Vision

Richard Justice talks up El Caballo.

Lee on what makes him a professional hitter:

“I can’t explain it. I kind of get in a tunnel and concentrate and be real patient and try to get a pitch to hit. I do study the game. You search for what a pitcher does when he’s in trouble. If a guy goes to his slider when he’s in trouble, you have to be patient enough to know you’re going to get one to hit.”

Upping the ante at RBI time:

“To be honest, I concentrate a lot more when there are runners on base. I give up less at-bats. Sometimes I get away from my game with nobody on and try to drive the ball or hit a double instead of just concentrating on getting a good pitch to hit.”

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Read my lips, no new impact players

Ed Wade reiterates that the Astros won’t be making a big move prior to the trade deadline.

“We’ll have conversations with clubs. I just don’t want to raise undo expectations that we’re going to really be active at the trading deadline because that’s not going to be the case. We’re not going to be in a position to make a deal of significance. We’ve talked about where our payroll is at this point in time and we’re going to be very reluctant to give up a lot of young players. But we’ll continue to have conversations if there’s ways to improve.”

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He’s a material girl

Derrick Goold at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch conducts a ‘random’ Q&A session with Lance Berkman.

Q: What is the most embarrassing song on your iPod?

Berkman: “Material Girl”, by Madonna.

Q: I wish I knew how to …

Berkman: Sing really well. Because if I could I’d be a Country music singer. That would be a great job.

Q: What is a memorable Christmas or holiday gift you received?

Berkman: I got a .22 rifle one Christmas that was pretty nice. Bolt-action .22 to varmint hunt with.

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I’m going to let you in on a little secret

Adam Bernaccio at the Bleacher Report lets non-Astros fan in on a little secret, i.e. that “Wandy Rodriguez is having a month of July like Zack Greinke had in the month of April.”

While Zack Greinke made national headlines because of his month of April where he went 5-0 with a 0.50 ERA, Wandy Rodriguez’s month of July so far has virtually gone unknown. *** For the month of July, Rodriguez is now 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA, walked only five, given up 17 hits, and has struck out 22 batters in 22 innings. Those numbers are Greinke-esque.

The reasons for Wandys emergence this year?

I think the answer is pretty simple – maturity. *** I just think Rodriguez is a classic case of a pitcher taking a little longer than expected to figure out the league. He is 30-years old now and has been with the same team, the Astros for the last five years and has pitched in the NL Central for five years as well. I think that 100 percent helps. Rodriguez’s ERA has gone down each of the last four years (5.64, 4.58, 3.54. and 2.81). That tells me he is getting more comfortable in his surroundings and he is starting to get to know the hitters better year after year. Remember, it took Roy Halladay four year to figure out how to pitch in this league.

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Maybe they don’t suck as bad as folks said they would

Jeff Schull at the Bleacher Report thinks the Astros are far exceeding expectations.

He still thinks the Astros are lacking some key components to compete though:

If the Astros want any chance of competing in the second half, much less the playoffs, they will need to make a move before the July 31 trade deadline to bring in a solid starting pitcher… Ranked only 10th in the NL and 21st in the entire league, they should go out and get another strong bat for the lineup.

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It’s the end of the (sports) world as we know it?

Lester Munson (writing for ESPN.com) thinks that the case of American Needle vs. NFL could result in “Armegeddon” for professional sports players, coaches and fans.

Background:

American Needle, Inc. (ANI) had made caps and hats bearing NFL logos for decades. In 2000 the NFL entered into an agreement in which Reebok would be given exclusive rights to supply all NFL caps and hats, thus edging out ANI (and a number of other companies) from the business. ANI filed an antitrust action against the NFL in late 2004 “claiming that the league was using its monopoly powers illegally to deprive the company of its share of the market for caps and hats bearing logos of NFL teams.” After losses in the District Court and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, ANI filed for review by the U.S. Supreme Court. In what Munson describes as a “stunning development,” the NFL endorsed ANI’s request for review before the Court.

Arguments:

Gabe Feldman at the Sports-Law blog lays out the parties’ arguments as follows:

American Needle’s argument is simple—the Supreme Court should hear the case and reverse it because the Seventh Circuit’s holding conflicts with over 50 years of case law in other circuits. The NFL’s argument is more complex. Because it won the case before the Seventh Circuit, the NFL is seeking an expansion, not a reversal, of the decision. The NFL is thus arguing that professional sports leagues are single entities for all purposes, and thus should be completely exempt from Section 1 scrutiny. In the alternative, the NFL claims that professional sports leagues should be deemed single entities with respect to all of their “core venture functions.” Of course, the NFL will then claim that virtually every decision they make constitutes a “core venture function.”

‘Legal bombshell’:

It is the ‘single entity for all purposes’ component of the NFL’s argument that sounds off alarm bells for Munson.

The league’s action was a legal bombshell. Instead of standing on its lower-court wins over American Needle, the league told the Supreme Court that it wants the justices to consider an issue far beyond the caps-and-hats contract. It wants the court to grant the NFL total immunity from all forms of antitrust scrutiny, an immunity that would then apply to the NBA, the NHL and MLB, [and potentially the BCS] as well. *** If the NFL is a single unit, it cannot [violate the Sherman (Antitrust) Act]. It would be immune to the antitrust cases that have allowed player unions to establish and to protect free agency and other benefits.

Potential Ramifications:

Munson lays out some of the potential ramifications should the NFL prevail before the Court.

With their new powers and freedom from antitrust concerns, [the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and potentially the BCS] would enter a new reality. Owners could attack free agency, using their new bargaining power to restrict player movement from team to team and impose a salary schedule… Leagues could easily establish a similar salary schedule for coaches and managers, who are considered a part of management and cannot legally form a union. *** If the NFL can find five votes for its single-entity concept, it will transform the industry. Leagues will enjoy unfettered monopoly powers. Salaries for players and coaches will drop. Free agency will wither away. Sponsors will pay more. Fans will pay more for tickets, television and Internet broadcasts and for paraphernalia. And owners’ profits will soar.

While I agree that a ruling in favor of the NFL would have significant ramifications for not only the NFL, but also the NBA, NHL and MLB, I am inclined to agree with Feldman’s prediction (in his piece taking some exception to Munson’s article) as follows:

Prediction: If the Court holds that the NFL (and by logical extension, all other professional leagues and probably the BCS) is a single entity for Sherman Act purposes, given the dramatic consequences for players and fans described in the article, Congress will act to undo the decision very quickly and across party lines.

Whatever the decision, American Needle is sure to garner plenty of attention between now and Spring/Summer of 2010, when a decision would presumably be reached.

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Just because…

Blame it on Musial

Deadspin explains why the Feds going so hard after Barry Bonds (it’s because Stan Musial smoked, of course).

So there you are, folks: the intellectual underpinnings of the government’s pursuit of Barry Bonds. Stan Musial and his Chesterfields didn’t do anything to deter little Joey Russoniello from smoking. Sheesh. Between this guy and failed athlete Jeff Novitzky, our war on steroids is beginning to feel more and more like a very long, very expensive therapy session.

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Stat overload?

The Couch Slouch thinks so.

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Mr. Popularity

Carlos Lee makes some new friends in left field.

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Tweet of the Week

From Footer:

“I can assure you I will never care what La Russa thinks of my tweets…”

(You can follow Alyson Footer, Brian McTaggart, Fox Sports Houston (Greg Lucas), Zach Levine and Richard Justice on Twitter for ‘real time’ information on the Astros).

Injury news, along with updates from notes posted earlier today.

Lance Berkman is not in the starting lineup today, but Cooper says he is available to pinch hit if necessary.

Doug Brocail threw about 30 pitches in a simulated game today, and “proclaimed it a success. He will throw a bullpen on Monday and then will go to Round Rock on Monday for a rehab assignment.

Chris Sampson was put on the DL today with spasms in his right shoulder. Chad Paronto was called up and will be in LA on Thursday. Sampson had already left the team prior to being put on the DL to be with his wife, who is close to delivering their second son (a couple of weeks early).

Aaron Boone will join the Astros next Thursday to begin working towards a September comeback.

[H]e said he’d love to play again this year and mentioned a September return as a very real possibility. That would require him to spend at least a month rehabbing in the Minor Leagues, and it appears that the timetable is working in his favor. I love the idea of Booooone playing with the Astros in September, especially if they’re in a playoff race. Rosters will expand to 40, so no one would have to be sent out in order to make room for Boone, and he would be a tremendous presence in the clubhouse during the stretch run.

In other Aaron Boone news, he and his wife welcomed a new baby girl to their family on Wednesday.

“J.R. Towles broke his nose in a tractor mishap during the All-Star break, but he is still able to play.” Yet another reason to rethink the whole ‘rodeo clown thingie…

Dr. James Andrews recommended a few weeks of rest to Brandon Backe. No surgery pending. Could have it later.

Look at the guy sitting to your right and left — and get used to ’em

So says Jerome Solomon says Ed Wade says (or something like that) to the Astros before the last game prior to the All-Star break.

“If we’re going to get to the finish line first, it’s going to be with the guys in the room. I don’t think we’re short. I think the talent is here. It’s the little things we have to tighten up on and we have the guys that can do it. It’s not like we’re asking a bunch of inexperienced guys to go out and figure it out. We have veterans who have done it before.”

Other Wade tidbits from Solomon’s article:

“I like the guys we have here. There may be guys out there this year at the trade deadline that might make us better, and we won’t pass up a bargain, but not all teams that make blockbuster deals are going to be playing in October. That’s where you get back to hope. We hope we avoid the major injury to key players, and we hope we do what we’re capable of, and we hope we get to the finish line. That’s what I told the team in the meeting. ‘It’s on this group to get it done. And this group can get it done.’”

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Reflections on 10 years in the Majors

McTaggart with some more on Lance Berkman’s decade with the Astros.

Berkman on being called up from Triple-A New Orleans:

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ I had to spend the night in Arizona and fly the next morning. I didn’t get a very good night’s sleep at all. My wife [Cara] was out there with me and we flew the next day, and I showed up at the Dome at 1 o’clock, which might be the earliest I’ve ever gotten to the field.”

“It was just surreal. I was almost lightheaded from the lack of sleep, and the excitement made me almost giddy. I didn’t think I was going to play because I had just flown in, but I’m sitting there on the bench and sure enough, [manager Larry] Dierker said I was going to pinch-hit for the pitcher.”

On his first MLB at bat:

“The first pitch I saw from Justin Thompson, who was this left-hander with a great big ol’ curveball, looked like it started way up high and ended up low on the inside corner for a strike. I just remember thinking, ‘If that’s a Major League curveball, I’m going to have trouble because that’s nasty.’ I ended up hitting a sharp grounder, but I hit into a double play and killed the rally.”

On accomplishments and on winning:

“I can say I’m happy to have accomplished the things I have so far, and hopefully I have a few more good years left in me. When you’re playing you’re not saying, ‘Oh, I need to do this and end up here and I’d like to hit this many home runs or drive in his many so I can be ranked first or second or whatever it is.’ For me, when you get to a certain point in your career, the numbers individually are nice, but you’d just like to win. It’s a lot more fun when you win. We still haven’t won a championship here and I would love to do that. I’m more proud to have been part of the first World Series in the history of the organization [2005] than any of the individual accomplishments. Not that I don’t enjoy those individual accomplishments because there’s a big individual component to the game of baseball. It’s neat to be recognized and look at your name and see that in most offensive categories it’s me, Bagwell and Biggio. That’s pretty cool. But as far as doing stuff to cement my legacy, I’m not thinking about that.”

On whether he’ll continue to play after his current contract expires (2010, with a club option for 2011):

“A lot of it has to do with if I’m healthy and feeling good and still productive. I’m 33 this year, and you could play until you’re 40, but I don’t know I will. At some point it’s going to be a year at the time, and we’ll take it form there.”

On the possibility of getting into the Hall of Fame:

“I’m afraid I’m probably going to be a borderline guy if I stay healthy and continue to be somewhat productive, as far as compared to what I’ve been in the past. If you project another five or six years, my numbers will get to the point where people will be like ‘Hmm, you know, possibly.’ Then you just have to hope enough of the sports writers like you.”

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The walking wounded

Berkman left Thursday night’s game with a mild left calf strain, and is day-to-day. Per Berkman:

“It’s been bothering me for a while, to be honest with you. It’s been manageable, but that’s as hard as I’ve run in a while. It doesn’t feel great, but hopefully in the morning it will feel better.”

As for Berkman’s primary back-up, Erstad says he’s almost there.

“I’m very close. It won’t be very long if it will be. I’m fully ready to go. It’s under control right now unless something crazy happens.”

And in related news, Erstad wasn’t phased from banging his head into the foul territory warning track on Thursday night.

“There’s nothing to hurt in there.”

After being unavailable for the last three games prior to the All Star break due to back spasms, Hawkins says he’s still feeling some discomfort in his back but that he “feels better”.

Brocail will throw a simulated game today, and (hopefully) will be close to setting a schedule to rehab in the minors. Per Brocail on rehab assignments:

“I need to get in the situation of breaking to first [base]. You can’t really get that until you get in the game. As much as I hate rehab assignments, this one is going to be a necessity only because if I over-stride or if I move too quickly, I’ve got to know what it’s going to do.”

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It’s now or never

Sean McAdam, a ‘special’ to FOXsports.com, says time is of the essence for the Astros – “it’s win (soon), or else risk falling out of the race altogether.”

Somebody else — Cubs? Brewers? — was supposed to run off ahead in the National League Central. Instead, it’s the most crowded of the game’s divisions, with five teams within five games of first place. The Astros used second-half rebounds to make the playoffs in 2004 and 2005 and made late-season runs at the postseason in 2006 and 2008. Do they have the right stuff to make a fifth second-half surge in six seasons? *** Two series with St. Louis and one each against Milwaukee and the Cubs — all before Aug. 9. — will determine whether the Astros have yet another late-season run left in them.

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Manny-b-Pujols?

Cooper will approach pitching to Manny over this series like he’d approach pitching to Pujols.

“If there’s a chance to walk him when he has a chance to hurt you, you have to walk. The only way to do that is you have to get the guys out in front of him. Will he change the strategy? Not a whole lot. But you can’t let him beat you.”

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What they said (a look at what the Astros fan blogs are writing about)

Remembering the past

Chronicle fan blogger Chip Bailey has some historical reminders to share with Astros fans.

Since 1997 — that would be 12 consecutive seasons — the Astros have turned in a better winning percentage after the All Star break than in the first half, including a winning record in the second half in 11 of those 12 seasons. Using the ’97 season as a gauge again, Houston has been at .500 or better at the midway point seven times, qualifying for the playoffs six of those seven seasons.

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BP blows

As if Astros fans need another reason to hate Baseball Prospectus? AstrosAndy at the Crawfish Boxes go behind the ‘pay wall’ to give Astros fans a reminder that BP doesn’t know jack about the Astros (and seemingly doesn’t care). The BP quote over at the Crawfish Boxes is a doozey, but to summarize briefly:

Ed Wade blah, blah, blah, kamikaze run to nowhere, blah, blah, blah, equally feeble race for relevance. Blah, blah, blah, second rate relievers, blah, blah, blah, third rate bullpen. Blah, blah, blah.

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It’s (not just about) the economy, stupid

Astros County takes an in-depth comparative look at 2008 and 2009 Astros attendance figures.

Berkman celebrates 10 years in the majors

David Barron at the Chronicle thinks it has been a dandy decade for Lance Berkman.

Lance Berkman made his major league debut on July 16, 1999 in the Astrodome against the Detroit Tigers.

“[10 years is] a significant milestone,” [said Berkman]. “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.”

Puma gets some love for being in the top 20 among active players in six primary offensive categories (and in the top five Astros in every significant offensive category).

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

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that he belongs with (Craig) Biggio and (Jeff) Bagwell,” said his college coach, Rice’s Wayne Graham.

“He’s trending Hall of Fame,” said … Jim Deshaies. “It depends on how long he plays. He’s real close to being on the (Astros) mountain now, and when he’s done, he will be.”

It’s the attitude that wins ‘em over.

“The likability factor is substantial,” Deshaies said. “To say that people view him as John Kruk would be too much of a stretch, but he’s not an Adonis-type guy. If Lance can do it … he looks more like we do. “In reality, he’s in great shape and is strong. There’s just something about his look — the whole Fat Elvis thing. That, and his sense of humor.”

Said Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt, a teammate for nine years: “It’s his carefree attitude more than anything. He can be going not too good and still have an upbeat attitude. The biggest thing is that he can criticize himself before anybody else does, so people don’t know where to go once he does it to himself.”

Life under Wayne Graham.

“He makes you tough mentally,” Berkman said. “This is a tough sport in a lot of ways, particularly as you move along, and nobody has helped me more with the mental side of the game.

“He says I chewed him out, and I call it constructive criticism,” Graham said. “I did provide him with a lot of after-dinner material. He should be grateful. But he remembers some things I don’t remember. I’m not so sure he’s not inventing some of those stories.”

Berkman on the road to Damascus’

“I had a buddy [Kara’s brother] who was a strong Christian and lived his life in accordance with that. This guy was different, and the more that I was around him, I realized that I was a guy who claimed to be a Christian, yet my life didn’t look any different from someone who didn’t claim Christianity. That was my Damascus road experience, where God said either you’re in or you’re out. If you’re going to claim to be a Christian, you’d better demonstrate that. Otherwise, don’t even bother.”

And then there is the story of the nickname, but you already know that one…

* * *

Richard Oliver at the San Antonio Express thinks Berkman is still scary (10 years later).

Berkman admits that over the years, he’s battled himself nearly as much as two-seam fastballs.

After the intrinsic urgency of high school and college baseball, “You sign a professional contract, you go to the Florida State League, and there’s 10 people in the stands, it’s a thousand degrees, and there’s no intensity,” he said. “It’s just a completely different environment. So you have to learn how to manufacture concentration.

“Now that I’ve played 10 years, for me it’s a constant battle to keep my focus, keep my concentration at a level that it needs to be.”

That’s where a little terror comes in handy.

“That,” Berkman said, “is when it’s fun.”

* * *

The San Antonio Express also gives a brief comparison of other 1997 draftees that have made it to the majors.

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Midterm report

Brian McTaggart writes about the Astros season thusfar.

You have probably heard this one before. The Astros get off to a slow start in April and May before clawing their way back to respectability at the All-Star break and putting themselves in position to contend in the National League Central division. *** But if Houston is going to have another second-half surge, it’s going to need the starting pitching to hold up. *** The offense, meanwhile, needs to find more consistency.

All things considered, Ed Wade thinks the Astros are in a pretty good position.

“We’ve been inconsistent offensively, and we’ve left a lot of opportunities out there. But that being said, the pleasant part of things is the starting rotation has stepped up and done exactly what we had hoped and expected it was capable of doing, especially at the top, with Roy and Wandy.”

McTaggart’s mid-season awards: Berkman for the ‘club MVP’; Wandy for ‘staff ace’; the starting rotation for the ‘greatest strength’; the offense for the ‘biggest problem’; and Michael Bourn for the ‘biggest surprise’.

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Miscellaneous Astros (related) Links

Jerome Solomon asks you “how many games will the Astros win?”

Since 1997, the Astros have been .500 or better at the All-Star break seven times. Guess what. They made the playoffs in six of those seasons.

There’s an Astros fan in Bristol? Really? Evidently so, and Astros County has a Q&A with him.

Astros County: How hard is it to be an Astros fan in Bristol?

Robert Flores: I wouldn’t say it’s hard but it can be lonely. There aren’t alot of us up here. This is mostly Red Sox/Yankee country.

The Sporting News puts the fantasy baseball spin on Brian Moehler.

Frank Fitzpatrick at San Luis Obispo Tribune says that it was ‘control problems’ that KO’d Roger Clemens.

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Power rankings

Larry Dobrow, special to CBS sports, ranks the Astros at 20 (Cardinals at 12, Cubs at 16 and Brewers 17). He also presents a season-to-date recap in ‘precisely eight words’ and gives his predictions on the second half.

“[Recap] You can’t understand them so don’t reprimand them.” … MVP: Lance Berkman. His slow start was just that: a slow start, as opposed to the first hints of imminent decline … LVP: There’s no single worst offender — which is pretty astonishing, given that the Astros use Kaz Matsui, Brian Moehler and Russ Ortiz on a regular basis … BCS: GM Ed Wade convinces Drayton McLane that most of the players aren’t likely to replicate their darn-OK first-half performances, then trades away contract-year guys like Jose Valverde to restock the farm … WCS: Drayton McLane goes for it, like he always does, and the farm system continues to exist in a state of suspended disrepair … Prediction: Beats the crap out of me. I thought they’d win 66 games this year, tops, with that pitching staff. I have no credibility in all matters Astro.

Aram Tolegiam at Fox Sports has the Astros at 18 (Cards at 10, Brewers at 12 and Cubs at 16).

Not sure even Astros fans want Drayton McLane to make a run for it this year. But then again, Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman should only get hotter.

ESPN has the Astros at 19 (Cards at 8, Brewers at 11 and Cubs at 17).

By going 8-4 in their past 12 games, the Astros finished at .500 at the All-Star break.

Ryan Fagan at The Sporting News has the Astros at 19 (Cards at 8, Brewers at 15 and Cubs at 18).

Houston is in contention and has been the king of the second half in recent years. Don’t count out the Astros.

Anthony Stalter at The Scores Report has the Astros at 19, and labels them ‘pretenders’ (Cardinals at 10, Brewers at 12 and Cubs at 17).

The Houston faithful has to at least be somewhat pleased that the ‘Stros are making an effort to stay competitive this season. But this isn’t a very good offensive club and while the pitching has actually been pretty decent, it’s not good enough to carry Houston in the second half. At this point, I think the Cubs have more overall firepower to turn things around than the Astros do, but maybe Houston will make things interesting for a little while in the NL Central.

Jack Davis at Scouting the Sports has the Astros at 15 (Cardinals at 10, Brewers at 12 and Cubs at 16).

-Somehow, the Houston Astros remain in the race for the division crown. Maybe it’s the lack of a dominant first place team, but we gotta give it to the Astros. Miguel Tejada is having a great year, batting .329, and Jose Valverde is finally healthy. Wandy Rodriguez has been stellar, only surrendering a 2.96 ERA. I don’t expect the Astros to finish the season over .500, but after a few solid finishes, we are in for a treat.

The Bleacher Report ranks the Astros at 16 (Cubs at 11, Cardinals at 13 and Brewers at 15)

At this point, the Astros are making a decent Wild Card push, but the offense will not carry them past the Brewers, Cardinals, and Cubs.

Then again, everyone knows that power rankings are bullshit.

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The definition of mediocrity

Collin Atherton at the Study of Sports says that the Astros are the definition of mediocrity.

Are the Astros a good team or a bad team?

[T]his is not a good team, at least thus far.  But you can’t say it’s a bad team either, not when they sit at the .500 mark and in a dead heat with the preseason favorite Chicago Cubs.

At the halfway point, have the Astros been a success or a failure?

[I]f you’re grading the Astros’ first 88 games of the schedule based solely on preseason expectations, then it’s clearly been a success.  The experts in Vegas set the over/under for Houston wins at 73 ½ prior to the season.  Right now, the Astros are on pace to win 81 games and have placed themselves in prime position to at least contend in the NL Central during the second half of the season.

What are the Astros’ keys to contention?

And if the Astros do wish to contend in the second half, it’ll be these next four weeks or so in particular that will have the biggest impact on their postseason chances. *** [I]f Houston can come out of the break playing high-caliber ball for two or three weeks, then that will be a great indicator that they can really be in this thing for the entire duration.

Are the pieces there to make a run?

[A]fter analyzing his lineup, Ed Wade should not be thinking that they have the pieces to put together a productive offense in the second half.  If he is under that assumption, then he’s either in denial or very dumb.  I’m guessing Ed Wade is not dumb.  But he might be in denial if he believes this club as currently comprised has the look of a championship team.

Do the Astros stand a chance?

They’re at .500 now, and that’s probably an overachievement, taking all things into consideration. But hey, the Astros are only 3.5 games out!  And who in the National League Central right now looks to be unbeatable?  It’s the worst division in baseball, and in that, the Astros have a chance.

____________________

Win Susan

Not an Astros, or even a baseball related story, but a worthwhile read nevertheless.

Hunter Pence has a stalker, but it’s not such a bad thing… Footer follows Pence as he Beakers his way through the All Star game festivities in Hunterpalooza (all-access pass, part 1, part 2 and final installment).

More importantly though, Miggy has a private jet.

Doug Brocail is an ornery redass SOB, and is planning to pitch for the Astros again this year. He feels good, but can’t throw strikes for spit. Hopefully he’ll find his groove again when he pitches a simulated game on Friday in Los Angeles.

Zach Levine is road-tripping it to Corpus, and wants to use his press credentials to help you answer your questions about the Hooks.

Fangraphs thinks the Astros have been really, really lucky.

Rumors that Manny Acta could be joining the Astros as bench coach are false. False, as in fabricated.

The Bleacher report tells some of the J.R. Richard story.

Baseball Musings takes a look back to see what went right and what went wrong for the Astros in the first half of the season.

Justice takes a look at the numbers, and determines that the Astros are a lousy baseball team (but notes anything is possible).

The Kennebec Journal catches up with former bus rider Tip Fairchild.

Did you know? Pete Rose’s application for reinstatement “is under review” (still, 12 years after it was originally filed).

Getting a jump on the ’09 Elias Rankings

Last year, Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts was apparently able to reverse-engineer the Elias rankings. These rankings are used by Major League Baseball to determine valuations for free agents who, after rejecting arbitration offered to them by their current team, sign a contract with a new team. This year, MLB Trade Rumors (in an exclusive agreement with Bajek) has provided a preview of the 2009 Elias rankings.

The 2009 Elias rankings will be created utilizing players stats from the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Baseball America describes the relevance of the Elias rankings as follows:

Players who rate in the top 20 percent of their position group (catchers; first basemen, outfielders and DHs; second basemen, third basemen and shortstops; starting pitchers; and relief pitchers) are designated as Type A. Players who rank in the 21-40 percent bracket are designated as Type B.

If a Type A or B free agent’s former club offers him arbitration, then it will receive compensation if he signs elsewhere. Type A free agents yield the signing team’s first-round choice and a supplemental first-rounder, while Type Bs return only the sandwich-rounder. Clubs who finished in the bottom half of the major league standings can’t surrender their first-round selection, and compensation picks for failure to sign draftees from the previous year can’t change hands either.

According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the Astros have 12 players whose contracts expire this season. These players are as follows: Miguel Tejada, Jose Valverde, LaTroy Hawkins, Doug Brocail* (2010 club option), Brian Moehler* (mutual option for 2010), Mike Hampton, Darin Erstad, Ivan Rodriguez, Geoff Blum, Aaron Boone, Jason Michaels and Russ Ortiz.

*(I am unclear on how the club/mutual options work in relation to whether or not the Astros could offer arbitration / receive draft pick compensation, so am including Brocail and Moehler in the event that the are potentially draft pick compensation eligible).

According to the linked MLB Trade Rumors preview (based on statistic for the 2008 season and the 2009 season through July 11^th), the Elias rankings for potential Astros free agents would be as follows:

Name	Position Group	Type	Score	Notes
Ivan Rodriguez	NL Catchers	B	65.873	Final ‘A’: 74.008; Final ‘B’: 60.714 (3 players from ‘A’, 5 from ‘none’)
Darin Erstad	NL 1B / OF	None	42.25	Final ‘B’: 56.07
Aaron Boone	NL 1B / OF	None	28.33	Final ‘B’: 56.07
Jason Michaels	NL 1B / OF	None	—	Final ‘B’: 56.07
Miguel Tejada	NL 2B / SS / 3B	A	80.77	Final ‘A’: 72.25
Geoff Blum	NL 2B / SS / 3B	None	52.2	Final ‘B’: 58.16 (5 players from ‘B’)
Brian Moehler	NL SP	None	51.634	Final ‘B’: 58.088 (12 players from ‘B’)
Mike Hampton	NL SP	None	44.771	Final ‘B’: 58.088
Russ Ortiz	NL SP	None	33.905	Final ‘B’: 58.088
Jose Valverde	NL RP	A	80.948	Final ‘A’: 67.603; Final ‘B’: 56.612
LaTroy Hawkins	NL RP	A	67.603	Final ‘A’: 67.603; Final ‘B’: 56.612
Doug Brocail	NL RP	B	65.248	Final ‘A’: 67.603; Final ‘B’: 56.612 (5 players from ‘A’, 26 from ‘none’)

While these rankings will change as a result of performance statistics collected through the end of the season, they nevertheless provide a legitimate basis for determining potential valuations of the aforementioned Astros at this seasons end (and are relevant in determining whether or not to offer these players arbitration, as well as valuation of these players in potential trade discussions).

As it stands today, the Astros would have 5 free agents (potentially 7) who could bring back draft pick compensation if offered arbitration:

‘Type A’ free agents: Tejada, Valverde and Hawkins

‘Type B’ free agents: I. Rodriguez and Brocail (also potentially Blum and Moehler)

[Other ‘Type A’ rated Astros include: Lee, Berkman, Pence, Oswalt and Sampson (narrowly). ‘Type B’ players include: Matsui and W. Rodriguez (narrowly missing ‘Type A’ status)].

2009 salaries for these potential free agents are as follows:

Miguel Tejada: $13.0m

Jose Valverde: $8.0m

LaTroy Hawkins: $3.5m (plus up to $600k in performance bonuses)

Ivan Rodriguez: $1.5m (plus up to $1.5m in performance bonuses)

Doug Brocail: $2.50m (club option for ‘10, buyout of $250k m if not exercised)

Geoff Blum: $1.25m (plus up to $350k in performance bonuses)

Brian Moehler: $2.3m (mutual option for ‘10)

Given the salary information above, in concert with arbitration risks, organizational needs and potential to be offered contracts by other teams sufficient to entice a player to refuse arbitration, I speculate that the Astros will offer arbitration to Valverde and will decline to offer arbitration to Tejada. The others are anyone’s guess.