Ensberg may bat second for Astros

Astros manager Phil Garner is flirting with the idea of having Morgan Ensberg bat second in the lineup. Garner feels that Ensberg’s patience -- he posted a .411 on-base percentage after the All-Star break last year -- is ideal for the No. 2 hole. Batting in that spot could help Ensberg boost his feeble .235 batting average from 2006, as he’d see better pitches with the dangerous Lance Berkman waiting on deck. Regardless, it’s tough to figure out what to expect from the third baseman, as his numbers have fluctuated over the past four seasons.
Source: MLB.com

Astros right-field job remains wide open

Jason Lane slugged two homers and drove home four runs vs. the Marlins on Monday. Lane lost his starting right-field job with a miserable year in 2006, but he’s putting up a strong fight to reclaim it with a .286 average, five jacks and 12 RBIs this spring. Luke Scott hasn’t hit for the same kind of power (.286 AVG, 2 HR, 5 RBIs), but he hasn’t hurt himself with his performance, either, so the battle for the right-field job remains wide open.
Source: MLB.com

Oswalt: Astros Ace Ready For Season

Roy Oswalt has a couple of weeks left to get into game shape. It looks like he's already rounding into form. Oswalt allowed three runs and one hit in 5 2/3 innings to help the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Sunday. He didn't allow a hit until Reed Johnson's double in the sixth inning. "He was outstanding," Astros manager Phil Garner said. "That looked like season-ready right there." Oswalt had planned to pitch just five innings, but returned for the sixth because he had thrown only about 50 pitches after five. He finished with 71 pitches, 48 for strikes. "Pitch count is the biggest thing," he said. "I needed to get the pitch count up so I'll be ready to throw 100 pitches when the season starts."

Oswalt, who went 15-8 with a 2.98 ERA last season, will start his fifth straight opener when Houston hosts Pittsburgh on April 2. Oswalt is one of the top 10 starters in all Fantasy leagues, perhaps worthy of going in the top 5 -- especially in Head-to-Head leagues. Oswalt is now 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA and 15 strikeouts through 14 2/3 spring innings.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Carlos Lee: Top 10 Outfielder Having Solid Spring

Astros LF Carlos Lee went 1-for-2 with two RBI in Sunday's spring game against the Blue Jays. He is now 13-for-30 (.433) with four runs, four doubles, one homer and 10 RBI in 11 spring games. The Astros and Fantasy owners should be getting excited after the spring performance Lee has put on so far. That short porch in left field at Houston stadium should also get Fantasy owners excited about the potential season he might be able to put together. Lee remains one a top-10 outfielder in all Fantasy formats -- Draft him as such.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

2007 Astros Projected Lineup

2007 Houston Astros

Batting Order

1. 2B Craig Biggio
2. CF Chris Burke
3. 1B Lance Berkman
4. LF Carlos Lee
5. 3B Morgan Ensberg
6. RF Luke Scott/Jason Lane
7. SS Adam Everett
8. C Brad Ausmus


Berkman is coming off a 45-homer, 136-RBI season, and there's no reason to believe he won't get the same numbers now that Lee is there to protect him. Ensberg must bounce back after a shoulder injury started his steep decline a year after making his first All-Star appearance. Burke may leadoff, moving Biggio to the No.2. Biggio may lose some at-bats to Mark Loretta. Top prospect Hunter Pence isn't getting penciled in yet, but he's a threat to both Burke and Scott. Scott will also have to hold off Jason Lane in Spring Training. Burke, who entered the spring as nearly a sure thing to start, is just 2-for-27 after 10 games.

Rotation

1. Roy Oswalt
2. Jason Jennings
3. Woody Williams

4th & 5th spot battles:

There are huge questions toward the bottom of the rotation that have to be sorted out this spring. The candidates for the final two spots in the rotation are Wandy Rodriguez, Chris Sampson, Fernando Nieve, Brian Moehler, Dave Borkowski, Matt Albers and Ezequiel Astacio. Rodriguez and Sampson are the favorites.

Closer: Brad Lidge

Woody Williams Pitches In Minor-League Game

RHP Woody Williams, originally slated to start Tuesday's game against the Mets, pitched in a minor-league game on a back field at Osceola County Stadium. Managed Phil Garner opted to use the big league game for pitchers he wanted to evaluate. Williams will be third in the Astros rotation and is coming off a pretty strong season with the Padres in which he went 12-5 with a 3.65 ERA and 72 strikeouts. His Fantasy value is more top heavy in NL-only leagues, but could be useful as well in very deep mixed leagues.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Luke Scott: Possible Starting Gig

Luke Scott, who has the inside track to the Astros' right-field job, spent most of the offseason working with physical therapist John Carey, the professional athletic trainer who worked wonders with outfielder Matt Holliday of the Rockies.

While Scott's workout regimen and dieting demonstrate a strong degree of motivation, not once has he batted above .300 during his five years in the Minors, so don't pay for last year's .336 mark. All in all, the late-rising 28-year-old makes for a respectable No. 4 fantasy outfielder.
Source: MLB.com

Wandy Rodriquez Likely To Start

Despite a deep pool of skeptics, lefthander Wandy Rodriguez would have to flop, be injured or traded to not earn a spot in the starting rotation if the Astros' don't acquire a veteran lefthander. With that in mind, righthanders Fernando Nieve, Chris Sampson, Brian Moehler, Dave Borkowski, Matt Albers and Ezequiel Astacio are the top contenders for the other starting spot.

Regardless of the hoopla surrounding Tomball High School graduate Troy Patton, it's unlikely the lefthander will earn a major league spot this spring.

"Those guys have not had more success," manager Phil Garner says in response to fans who believe the righthanded candidates have better major league track records than Rodriguez. "Wandy's won (19) games in the big leagues. ERA can be deceptive. Some of those guys' ERAs are better. The bottom line is, do you win? If you have a 10 ERA and win more games than you lose, to me that's what counts.

"Yeah, it may put a strain, but something should be said for somebody who wins. In two years, he's won ballgames for us here."

Rodriguez was 9-10 with a 5.64 ERA last season over 24 starts and six relief appearances a year after going 10-10 with a 5.53 ERA.
Source: Houston Chronicle

Phil, that's great if Wandy gets you some wins, but his ERA kills me in fantasy baseball. Also, any guy that has a stat line of 1.1 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, K in one game (last year, June 2, 06 vs Cincy box score), I am mostly likely staying away from (Wandy got tagged). Maybe this year will be different, but no thanks for me (unless I am plagued with pitching injuries like usual).