Darin Erstad News

For a group of big-name baseball free agents over the age of 35, last year was a winter of serious discontent.

Believe it or not, pitchers and catchers report to spring training in about 90 days.

Two of the Astros' best performers -- shortstop Miguel Tejada and closer Jose Valverde -- are among a group of Houston players expected to file for free agency during the filing period that began Thursday.

Ed Wade has made what may be the defining move of his tenure as Astros' general manager.

With the Houston Astros on the verge of hiring a new manager, the free-agent market will soon heat up upon the conclusion of the World Series.

Brian Moehler began the season pitching on a bum knee and ended it on a bum knee.

When Astros third baseman Aaron Boone arrived at his locker following the Astros' 4-0 loss to the Mets in the season finale Sunday, teammate Geoff Blum was standing there to present him with a token of appreciation.

Astros first baseman Lance Berkman was out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive day with back problems.

The Astros have suffered a lot of injury blows this season, but losing Roy Oswalt has to be the scariest because nobody will know until next season whether his back can still handle the grind of a 162-game season.

Chris Coste and Darin Erstad are Houston Astros teammates. And they're North Dakota natives.

"It's just the middle of my back," he said. "It's either a spasm of some kind or a tweaked muscle." Berkman's back locked up on him after Monday night's loss to Cincinnati .

Lastings Milledge has not won a Gold Glove and is not known for his fielding prowess.

Houston Bottom 7th - Carlos Lee flied out to center. Runner on first with one out and Miguel Tejada due up.

Philadelphia 2, Houston 3 Houston Bottom 7th - - Kazuo Matsui lined out to center to end the inning.

Has it been two months since we've had a Free Blog Weekend? The idea of the Free Blog Weekend is a few years old, but it's intended to allow you to name your subject.

It's been a while, so let's chat tomorrow during the Astros-Cubs game. Follow the game if you can't get in front of a TV, or just talk Astros majors or minors tomorrow here at 1 p.m. As part of their offseason shopping spree at the dollar store, the Astros came away with a potential Hall of Fame catcher who fizzled late in the season and was ...

Been in Austin for a week. I didn't miss anything, did I? Apparently not with the Astros.

Soon after Darin Erstad lined out to right field to strand the bases loaded, Wandy Rodriguez took the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning wondering why nothing can go right for the Astros.

Completely healthy or not, Reynolds helped the club deliver one of its best offensive performances of the year.

Astros third baseman Geoff Blum, who was scratched from the lineup Wednesday, headed back to Houston to have his shoulder spasms evaluated Thursday.