Is Spring for Getting Ready...or Getting Hurt?

As the Astros continue to win more than they lose in spring training (with too many of the wins led by players who won't even be on the 2010 team), other players continue to fall like bowling pins in a PBA tour event.

The latest is ONLY Roy Oswalt--Opening Day's scheduled starting pitcher and the one pitcher who MUST be healthy and strong through the whole season if the Astros have any chance.

After pitching four good innings on Friday Roy was diagnosed with a slight hamstring strain. Now everyone says putting him on the sidelines for a short period is purely precautionary and there is no real concern.

That may be easy for Astro medicos and officials to say, but plenty of fans are concerned. They are not worried just because of this minor hamstring thing, but rather because Oswalt and injury are becoming linked. The same can be said for Lance Berkman who still is unable to fully participate while his balky left knee calms down. Oswalt and Berkman are simply too important for them to miss games or be hampered at all once the season begins.

Now, if it will make Astro Fan feel any better the home team is hardly the only club with concerns. Albert Pujols has a lower back problem that has been keeping him out of action. And just yesterday it was revealed that 2009 NL Cy Young Award winner, Tim Lincecum of the Giants, has a cut finger on his pitching hand. Lincecum is scheduled to face Roy Oswalt in the Astros home opener on April 5th. Wonder if either team is considering a backup plan just in case?

Back to the locals... Michael Bourn is about ready to start playing full time again. He needs it. Before his quad strain he had not shown much. Now is the time for the regulars to really concentrate on getting ready for game competition. That is one reason why having Tommy Manzella sidelined right now hurts. He needs to be facing pitchers who are trying to get hitters out and not just throwing a lot of fastballs to get arms in shape. The last two weeks of the spring is where the concentration level is greatest.

It has been great the Chris Johnson has had such a good spring. Unfortunately, it doesn't really matter to the 2010 Astros since they had already committed to Pedro Feliz at third base this year. It certainly has helped Chris in the eyes of the organization--maybe even to the point of him getting a shot later this season. However, Astros fans should not want that. It would likely mean either Feliz was injured or the club had totally failed and the decks were being cleared for 2011. Still, it has been encouraging to see the success of Johnson, Jason Castro and J.R. Towles. All three will be needed as some point down the line for the Astros. There is hope.

NCAA HOOPS NOTES

How about the dominating win for the Baylor Bears over St. Marys at Reliant Arena Friday? I did play by play for five Baylor games this season and while they only lost one of them-- a 76-74 loss to Kansas State-- they never played as well as they did Friday. Remember, though, this was the same Baylor team that struggled to beat Sam Houston State in the first game of the tourney. Still, coming off their best game of the year, don't sell them short against Duke on Sunday.

Speaking of Sam Houston State, coach Bob Marlin is leaving. I don't know all the ramifications but presumably for a large raise in salary, but moving to Louisiana-Lafayette is not much of an upward move. Apparently, Marlin did interview for the Houston job, but when an offer was not forthcoming right away he opted for ULL.

This would indicate that Billy Gillispie may be the favorite for sure in Houston, although Houston Chronicle Cougar beat writer Steve Campbell indicates Tim Floyd is still in the running as well if he doesn't accept the open job at UTEP first. The door is not shut to any of the names or applicants yet. The decision process still has some way to go.

Having seen what Billy did in building the Texas A&M program I am in his corner providing he can prove the demons that took over during his stint at Kentucky have been excised and that he would honor a contract--that HE WOULD SIGN!

COLLEGE BASEBALL ON FSHOUSTON

The regional college baseball season opens Sunday at noon on Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports Southwest and others in the FSN family nationally. It will be Texas at Texas Tech. Jack Lazorko will join me on the call. Texas features righthanded pitcher Brandon Workman, the defending Big 12 pitcher of the week, on the mound. Tech is in a re-building mode this season, but Texas is already built. Ranked among the top teams in the country again, the Longhorns-thanks to superb pitching- can't be counted out from winning yet another national title in June.

It is a long way until then, but they are on the right road and it all starts on our air Sunday.