Big Start for Paulino Tonight

Felipe Paulino will be having the most important start of the season in Cincinnati this evening. Not only for his immediate future, but possible for the Astros as well.

If he pitches well he will very likely remain with the club and in the rotation. If he does not he may find himself on a plane to Round Rock to continue refining his skills with Brandon Backe or even Russ Ortiz moving into his starting slot.

What to do with Backe who is ready to resume his career has created a quandry among Astro brass. Can he work effectively in relief if needed? Must he return to the starting rotation to be most effective? And if he does return as a stater who gets bumped? On top of all this is Backe's mental frame of mind if he is told he is not a starter but one of those dreaded long relievers.

The definition of "long reliever" often is that is is a long time between appearances and when they do appear it is often in lost cause games.

No one wants to be one unless that is the only option to continue one's career. Backe does not think that is the case. What do the Astros do?

They don't want Paulino to have trouble tonight. Yet if he does it solves a problem. Of course, pitchers like Brian Moehler who Cecil Cooper quietly said last night would be the starter on Friday and Mike Hampton are not on long term solid ground. Either one or both could be removed from the rotation to make room for Backe to see what he has. Neither is likely to be cut from the roster. That gets us back to the usual suspects... Paulino or the Yo Yo Man Jeff Fulchino who both have options and can be sent down.

Fulchino does not deserve to go down based on his recent work. And Paulino may not either if he comes through tonite.

Odds N Ends... I am trying to attach a photo that shows I am the world's greatest "extended arm self photographer in the world." This is me across the Ohio River in Kentucky with Great America Ballpark and downtown Cincinnati in the background. If this works I will likley add more--and better shots--from around the National League in future columns.

Good luck to all teams from the FSHouston region in the NCAA baseball regionals. All can't have it of course because they will be meeting each other. Lets just get the best teams to advance and make it to Omaha.... How about the NBA action? Stars are nice to have, but having only one who seems to have to do everygthing doesnt always work. Even Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman...