Hold yer horses, this should get you through till lunchtime when we'll hit you with the TCB Players of the Week and Astros Stock Watch. Until then, here's stuff you should know...
As bad as the signing of Pedro Feliz looks, how bad would it be if the Astros had committed to Mark DeRosa? The utility player is out for the season after opting to have wrist surgery. Injuries are unpredictable at best, so I can't really fault the Giants for signing him, but there were probably better, younger options out there.
We'll be talking more All-Star mess later this week, but here's a national writer attempting to draw up the 2010 NL All-Star team. The three Astros in contention for one spot are Roy Oswalt, Matt LIndstrom and Hunter Pence. Brian McTaggart thinks that Hunter deserves the spot, but Matthew Pouilot went with Oswalt. I can't really blame him, either.
The Greeneville Astros won their first game of the season 7-3 over Burlington. Former Houston Cougar and 16th-round pick Chris Wallace hit a home run in his pro debut, while 2009 third round pick Telvin Nash was 2 for 3 with two doubles. 2010 draft pick Bryce Lane played center field and was 1 for 4.
The Gulf Coast League Astros also won 4-3 in a game completed one inning early (for undisclosed reasons). 11th round pick Kyle Redinger was 1 for 2 with a double and a run scored while pancake aficionado Joshua Magee was 1 for 1 after entering the game as a defensive replacement at second base. The much maligned bat of catcher Roberto Pena had its revenge as the seventh round pick went 1 for 2 with a double and two RBIs.
Jay Austin was 0 for 1 with a strikeout in as the California League All-Stars beat the Carolina League's best. Austin was the lone representative from Lancaster.
In the South Atlantic League All-Star Game, Jose Altuve was 0 for 3 with an RBI and an error. J.D. Martinez was 1 for 4 and Kody Hinze was 1 for 5. Reliever Kirk Clark threw one scoreless inning, giving up two hits while striking out none and walking none.
Also, in case you missed it from the hordes of Astros fans, writers and websites who talked about it Tuesday afternoon, Jordan Lyles was chosen to pitch for the US Team in the Futures Game. The event will give Astros fans something more to watch for during All-Star week. Last year, Jason Castro was in the Futures Game, hitting a 3-run home run and throwing out two base runners.
One last roster note: When the Astros activated Chris Sampson from the DL, they optioned Wesley Wright back to Round Rock to make room on the roster. It makes sense, as Wright wasn't getting much time and the Astros already have two lefties in the bullpen. I wonder if Wright will go back into the rotation with the Express?