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8/3 Ben Zobrist, welcome to the majors. Ben was 2-2 with 3 BB and 3 RBI. Unfortunately, the bullpen coughed up the game in the bottom of the ninth.

8/4 Eric Munson hit his Major League leading 30th HR, but it wasn’t enough as C.C Sabathia lost another close game.

8/8 Ben Zobrist was 3-4 with 2 runs and 5 RBI in an 8-2 win over the hapless Cards. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

8/9 If you can’t trust your bullpen, don’t use them. C.C. Sabathia went the distance, scattering 4 hits and 1 run along the way. Grady Sizemore hit his 20th and Eric Munson hit his 31st, but it was Ryan Ludwick’s grand slam in the first that put the game out of reach.

8/13 Newly acquired Joe Dillon hit his 2nd home run for the Astros, this one a grand slam. His homer helped pace the Astros to an ugly 9-7 win against the pesky Cubs.

8/14 Ben Zobrist went 2-4 while walking once and scoring 2 runs, to help beat the Cubs 8-6.

8/27 Joe Dillon hit another grand slam as the Phillies got beat 5-2. Roy Oswalt pitched a stellar game, and got more than enough offense for the Astros to prevail.

8/28 Eric Munson finally hit his 32nd homer, but it wasn’t enough as the Astros fell to the Phillies 9-5.

And so the downhill slide continues. The Astros finished August with a terrible record of 59-74. I think it is time to spend some money on free agents next offseason, provided I am still with the team.

Down on the Farm
• 1B Delmon Young – Delmon’s is hitting .291 with 11 HR in AAA. I still think he will probably need another year at AAA. That is part of the reason I made the trade I did.
• 2B Lee Lamberton – Lee struggled a bit in August, and is now hitting .269 with 8 HR and 46 RBI in 88 games at AAA Round Rock. He is not a spectacular player, but should develop into a solid Major Leaguer.
• SS Benjamin Zobrist – Since being called up, Ben is hitting .225 with 5 2B and 14 RBI.
• CF Jordan Parraz – And it just continues. At AA, he is hitting .378 with 14 HR and 59 RBI in 82 games! His OPS in AA is 1.057.
• CL Jamie Merchant – Jamie has a solid 0.80 ERA with 25 saves in 55 games. He has struck out 117 while walking 24 in 90.2 innings.
• CL Chad Reinke – Chad has 31 saves in 48 games, has given up 27 walks while compiling 60 strikeouts in 54 innings of work.
• CL Juan Hirt – Juan has had a solid start to his career, with 21 saves in 30 games. He has collected 37 strikeouts in 31.1 innings.

Around the League

Awards:
AL Pitcher of the Month: Wes Littleton (TEX), 4-0, 1.11 ERA
NL Pitcher of the Month: Julian Mariscal (COL), 4-0, 1.73 ERA

AL Batter of the Month: David Ortiz (BOS), .336 AVG, 29 RBI
NL Batter of the Month: Aramis Ramirez (CHC), .373 AVG, 24 RBI

Performances:
8/2 Randy Winn (SEA) socks six hits
8/3 Texas has no chance in a 2-hitter by Johan Santana (MIN)
8/3 Rich Harden (OAK) dominates Tampa Bay, gives up just one hit
8/5 Eric Chavez (OAK) pounds five hits
8/15 Tim Stauffer (NYY) pitches his 1st shutout of the season
8/24 Alex Rodriguez (NYY) ropes 2000th career hit

Injuries:
8/9 Edwin Jackson (LA), Pulled Rotator Cuff Muscle, Out 8-9 Weeks
8/11 A.J. Burnett (ARI), Strained Rotator Cuff Muscle, Out 5-6 Weeks
8/13 Rocky Cherry (CHC), Pulled Rotator Cuff Muscle, Out 5 Weeks
8/16 Russ Adams (TB), Torn Thigh Muscle, Out 5 Weeks
8/16 Jim Bullard (CHW), Bone Chips in his Shoulder, Out for the Season
8/18 Zach Duke (PIT), Ruptured Elbow Ligament, Out 9 Weeks
8/20 J.C. Romero (MIN), Strained Rotator Cuff Muscle, Out 4 Weeks
8/26 Clint Barmes (COL), Pulled Calf Muscle, Out 6 Weeks
8/30 John Grabow (PIT), Torn Bicep Muscle, Out for the Season

Notable Transactions:
None