Cardinals in "a pretty good position"

So Cards Chairman Bill DeWitt said the Cards were pretty much set. Does this mean they're not interested in giving us a boatload of prospects for Tejada?

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/jun/13/bc-bbn-cardinals-dewittsl-_-sports-850-words/?sports

Carlos Lee. Cramps?

Remember in high school when the goth girl said she had cramps, and no matter what, she got out of anything?

Not the same thing. Carlos Lee left in the 4th with leg cramps.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/126/2009/6/13/484361.html?title=Astros’%20Lee%20leaves%20game%20with%20leg%20cramps

Blum/Keppinger hurt.

Blum: Strained hamstring
Keppinger: Hurt back

Says Blum: "It hurts."

And Bizarreness and Hilarity in the Clubhouse ensued before Valverde was "made active." Let's look in:

Valverde: (enters Coop's office)
Coop: "You okay?"
Valverde: "I'm good." (dances in a circle)
Coop: "Okay, you're active."

Want to know the funniest part? That actually happened. Read:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6477584.html

Men Among Goats: G59 - Astros at 'iam'ndbac's

Man of the Match: Lance Berkman. 300th homer of his career, just the 7th switch-hitter in MLB history.

Goat of the Game: I thought about Chris Sampson, who gave up 3ER without retiring a batter, but he needed help to do that. So the Goat goes to Darin Erstad: 0x5. Now hitting .119 on the year.

http://wap.mlb.com/scores/box/2009_06_13_houmlb_arimlb_1?state=f

Valverde activated from DL

Yep. The post title pretty much says it all.

Minor League Ball's thoughts on the Astros' 09 draft

It's not all good, predictably.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2009/6/12/906567/national-league-central-draft

Sporting News says "Hold on to Roy"

The Sporting News broke down the buyers and sellers in the NL and respectfully suggest the Astros not trade Roy.

"You need to hold on to your superstars."

That apparently doesn't include Miggs, saying he can be a Cardinals target, but only if he moves to third base. And they predict LaHawk as the best bet to be moved.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=559736
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The consistency of Miggs

Interesting article in the New York Times:

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/13/the-consistency-of-miguel-tejada/

Meet your 1st place Round Rock Express

With a 1-0 win over Albuquerque thanks to six scoreless innings from Mark McLemore, the Express found themselves in 1st place.

Astros County is trying to confirm if playing for a team in first place is why Geoff Geary accepted his assignment to Triple-A. Ha!

http://statesman.qwapi.com/site?t=OyExp-pucbEuvU9uTfL53Q&sid=statesman

Astros sign 5th round pick

The Astros have signed University of Illinois shortstop Brandon Wikoff to a contract, and he expects to head to Tri-City in the New York-Penn League.

Astros sign 11th round pick

We get word from the Kansas City Star that 11th round pick catcher David "Bubby" Williams from Crowder College signed with the Astros.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1249680.html

And just so you know...

That's six runs in the Astros' last four games.

Men Among Goats: Astros @ D'amo'dbac's

Man of the Match: Carlos Lee, I guess. The Astros only got two hits, and Lee provided the only run on a solo shot.

Goat of the Game: Besides the other eight guys on the team who did nothing? Brandon Backe. Five runs in thfee innings? It's hard to put it all on him, as he isn't getting regular work, but his ERA is 12.00.

Geary to get some innings in Round Rock, anyway

So I guess Geary is going to get that rehab start, after all. Courtesy of a tweet from Alyson Footer, Geoff Geary accepted the minor league assignment and will report to Round Rock.

Red Sox interested in Tejada

Peter Gammons mentions the Red Sox as interested in Tejada. The Cardinals are mentioned, but Gammons doubts Drayton would move him to a division rival.

http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?id=4253365

When does the sell-off start?

"We're not there yet," Ed Wade told Buster Olney. Olney mentions the Astros "reaching beyond their financial parameters" to acquire Pudge and Keppinger, two players who make about $2m combined.

Wade did say that, if the turnaround happens, it's going to be with the players they have. So the Astros aren't selling, but they aren't buying, either.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4253240&name=olney_buster&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d4253240%26name%3dolney_buster

Valverde a Yankees target?

Ken Rosenthal seems to think it's a possibility:

The Yankees, in dire need of a setup man, eventually will target the best available late-inning relievers — the Rockies' Huston Street, Diamondbacks' Chad Qualls and Astros' Jose Valverde...Valverde has been on the disabled list since April 26 with a right calf strain. The last thing the Yankees would want is a health risk, so other relievers such as the Orioles' Danys Baez also could appear on their wish list.

I would think that a calf strain is less of an injury concern, than say, shoulder problems, or another injury that involves structural damage. The calf strain comes as a result of taking a liner off the leg, so once it's healed, there wouldn't be much lingering damage.

Draft Day Update: Ben Orloff

9th round draft pick Ben Orloff is expected to sign, according to UCI coach Mike Gillespie.

Draft Day Update: Greg Peavey

It looks as though 32nd round pick Greg Peavey may be headed back to Oregon State.

Peavey:
I have some decision making to do. I don’t know with this. As of right now I’m ready to be a Beaver next year. It was going to take more (money) for me to head on out. I didn’t have the season I wanted. And I’m a sophomore and in a rare situation. I’m just happy to be drafted again, and I can come back and go higher next year.”


This is the second time Peavey has been drafted; he was selectd in the 27th round by the Yankees in 2007.

Draft Day Update: Travis Smink

We can all be Travis Smink's friends. Dude was home alone with his parents at work when the phone call came that he was a 31st round pick by the Astros.

Smink:
"I talked to (the Astros) once in the fall and then a scout called me this morning to clarify some things. I was relieved. Late in the day (Wednesday) was a little stressful just waiting. It's just been overwhelming. It's exciting. This is what I wanted to do ever since I thought it could be an option. I have a degree in hand and now I get to go play some ball."