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Astros 2-4
Cubs 2-3

POTG: 1B D LEE (2B, HR, 4 H, 2 R, 2 RBI, E - which really should've been on Marquis for his horrible throw)
Runner Up: RP Kevin Hart (1.2 IP, H, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 R, W [1/1])), CF Reed Johnson (2 H, 2 RBI), RF FU KU DO ME (clap clap clapclap, 2B, H, R, 2 RBI), 2B Mark DeRosa (2B, 2H, RBI)

That went well. I mean, the game - Fukudome continues to be the greatest baseball player in the history of the world (the fans are treating him like Kung Fu Jesus), Lee had a superb day, and Kevin Hart can't get enough credit for his reliving performance. It'll take more than one bad Jason Marquis start to get rid of him, but he's going to go at some time and while Lieber is probably deserving off that spot, I hope Hart gets a look at a bigger role sometime during the season, he's got serious ability.

I was going to say Soriano or Marquis was the worst part, but that was easily beat by the 1h00m trip home somehow turning in to 2 hours and really needing to use the bathroom for about 1h55m of it. Also, what the heck is with the new policy of ushers checking your ticket when you try to go up a ramp to the upper deck? I didn't think I needed a ticket to buy a pretzel, that's ridiculous (and now I'm going to paranoia-ly keeping my ticket on me at all times, so I guess it worked.)

Cecil Cooper appears to be a horrible game strategist. Oswalt looking at the pen in between pitches was a good indication he was good to go much before he actually did, and every move to the pen went worse and worse.

I think it took them five games to give up on Felix Pie. This is why we can never have prospects.

Ken and Ken's Wife and Larry were all great people and much better than the empty seats. I don't believe I gave a ticket to Crazed Older White Guy, but his presence was also appreciated. The weather was also awesome for the first week of April, and I wished I had believed it a little more and worn a less layers. It was a good time.

I would like to say more, but these NCAA Final Four games have put me into a coma. I sure hope this isn't really The Best Final Four Ever.

below the fold, the attempt at scoring the game. I think I'm still in spring training form. Also, in my defense, Soto did play but the PA screwed up a lineup substitution at some point and I had no chance after that. Between Berkman, Wigginton, and Soto, it was quite the day for random unseen injuries.

I missed Pinto and Vazquez being sent down last time. Richard Lewis, Geovany Soto, Michael Fontento, John Koronka, Russ Rohlicek also have bent sent down, while Danny Klassen, Peter Bergeron, Jimmy Anderson and Eddie Oropesa are NRI's no longer, being sent to minor league camp.

Kinda surprised Pinto isn't been considered for the replacement starter spots, veteran bias or not. Can't find his spring stats, but I figure the answers might be in there. Anderson and Koronka might get cycles back when the second lefty plans fail.

Carlos Vasquez actually got out righted off the 40 man roster, passed thru waivers. That creates an open spot (without moving Kelton) which will probably be be filled with Chad Fox and/or Scott Williamson.

We're down to 38 players for 25 spots. You can split them up into three groups.

Guys Who Aren't Actually Around Right Now
Dave Hansen (appendix)
Scott Williamson (wife's illness)

Guys Who Are Spring Trianing Filler
Angel Echevarria
Calvin Murray
Cody Ransom
Ronny Cedeno
Jermaine Van Buren

Guys Who Are Fighting For Jobs
Angel Guzman
David Kelton
Sergio Mitre
Stephen Randolph
Michael Wuertz
Chad Fox

It seems like we'll have Joe close, Dempster spot start, and Rusch as the second lefty. Which means my guess of Ohman making the roster is probably wrong - I just don't know who's taking his spot. Probably an extra guy out of the pen. They might have been thinking Hansen before he got got hurt. Might be Kelton just because they have no ideas.

Bruce Levine (ESPN1000) said the Cubs are still working on a deal for A-Ram in the 4 years/$40-$45mil range.

I think I'm going to track the Iowa roster, but we've got to get that far first.

40 Man update follows

Updating while watching the game. Bob and Len sound okay, but they're still far away from sounding like My Guys. It may take a while to get there. I keep waiting for Brenley to make a dumb managing move and it working out anyway.

I noticed Hollandsworth has incentives, but can't out the specifics. I've got it on my spread sheet but I'll wait to post it till there's an update

Cut downs were made Saturday (reported everywhere so I'll go with bcb). Mostly, it was all the minor NRIs being reassigned to minor league camp. The only exception was Jermaine Van Buren, (aka Joe v2.0).

Also sent down were the two pitchers they picked up in the trades, Roberto Novoa and Dave Crouthers. You kinda worry they might have not gotten much if those guys are the first guys out of the major league camp, but then again they might just want longer looks at them then some of the guys they've had around for a while. They still do have about a billion pitchers with the big club, so the innings have to be running a bit thin.

Chad Fox is the most talked about NRI at the moment. If he made it, they'd need a 40 man spot (Kelton?) and he'd take Leicester's spot with the Cubs (because he's got options.)

They don't seem happy with any of the second left handed options out of the pen.

tCR prays they're readying Hairston to take Macias' spot. I'm guessing that's the only way Kelton sticks; the bench hits a little better for it. (You lose Jose's switch hitting, but does it really matter if you switch hit if you don't actually hit?) Life would be so much better for Dave is he only got the hang of 3B himself.

Hendry just put over Ronny Cedeno and Angle Guzman. And another Chad Fox mention.

Holy smokes, they've got a Blog. Blogs are now offically over. (Contracts follow after the link)