4/4 Mark Prior and Roy Oswalt faced off to start the year. It was a close fought game, with Brad Lidge slamming the door on a 3-2 win.
4/8 Carlos Lee hit two homers, and C.C. Sabathia pitched 8 strong innings as the Astros beat the Pirates 6-2.
4/12 Eric Munson hit a two out two run double to win the game 8-7 over the rival Cubs.
4/15 We won an excellent game. Eric Milton and Roy Oswalt faced off, and both pitched complete games. Roy Oswalt allowed 2 runs on 4 hits, but was in line to lose the game until the Astros scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to give him a 3-2 win.
4/18 C.C. Sabathia pitched another strong game, allowing 5 hits and 1 run while compiling 11 strikeouts over 8.1 innings. Backup catcher Dave Ross, starting while Humberto is injured, hit a 2-run homer in the 2nd to provide more than enough offense.
4/19 Carlos Hernandez tossed a three hit gem, and Carlos Lee hit an RBI triple to provide all the runs needed to win the game.
Well, this was the best month I have had since I started this career. The Astros finished with a record of 15-8, with a 1 game lead over the upstart Cards.
Down on the Farm
1B Delmon Young Delmons is on fire to start the year. Thru 24 games, he is hitting .425 with 6 HR and an OBP fo nearly .500. He is also improving his defense considerably, and is no longer a liability at 1st.
2B Lee Lamberton Lee is off to a very slow start, but I am not worried yet.
CF Jordan Parraz Jordan has cooled off a bit from last year. Thru the first 22 games, he is hitting a paltry .309. That said, he is still a huge prospect, and should take over the starting CF job from Mateo next season. His OPS is sitting at a terrible 0.805.
CL Chad Reinke Chad is struggling in AAA, but he has a while to figure things out. I expect him to become a solid middle reliever, or perhaps even a closer.
CL Juan Hirt Juan is doing very well this year. So far, he has 5 saves and an ERA of 0.00. He has also struck out 13 in 8 innings.
Around the League
Awards:
AL Pitcher of the Month: Joel Zumaya (DET), 3-0, 0.79 ERA
NL Pitcher of the Month: Bartolome Fortunato (NYM), 3-0, 1.63 ERA
AL Batter of the Month: Lance Berkman (KC), .356 AVG, 21 RBI
NL Batter of the Month: Sergio Santos (ARZ), .424 AVG, 5 HR
Performances:
4/13 Ken Griffey Jr. (CIN) knocks lights out with three homeruns
4/17 Mark Buehrle (CHW) pitches 2-hit shutout against Kansas City
4/27 Chipper Jones (NYM) gets 2000th hit
4/29 Sidney Ponson (ANA) blanks Tampa Bay with a 2-hitter
Injuries:
4/4 Akinori Otsuka (SD), Strained Elbow Ligament, Out 5 Weeks
4/13 Mike Sweeney (WAS), Ruptured Achilles Tendon, Out for the Season
4/15 Carlos Beltran (NYM), Torn Abdominal Muscle, Out 7-8 Weeks
4/15 Michael Tucker (SF), Torn Back Muscle, Out for the Season
4/18 Odalis Perez (LA), Ruptured Tricep Tendon, Out 5 Weeks
4/28 Ryan Rowland-Smith (SEA), Pulled Rotator Cuff Muscle, Out 5 Weeks
4/29 B.J. Ryan (NYM), Torn Rotator Cuff Muscle, Out for the Season
4/29 Esteban Loaiza (LA), Bone Chips in his Shoulder, Out for the Season
Notable Transactions:
None