Rockets Get Lucky

As much as I've been trying to enjoy my vacation, its just not the same without Astros games in the background. Of course after the heart breaking three game sweep by the Cards, I might have been better off. That being said there are several sports and non-sports related things I wanted to touch on. Prolly not all in this post, but in a series of posts over the next few days.

First, the Rockets got the PF of their desire yesterday when Stromile Swift agreed to sign with Houston for the mid-level exception (worth around 28Mil/5yr). There was some speculation that Swift would be too expensive for T-mac's team (Yao is too kind to be the teams leader), but as the rumor that Shareef Abdur-Rahim (this years most sought after PF) was nearing terms with the Nets, setting the marketprice at 38Mil/6yr, Swfit seems to have choosen the situation that was best for him instead of the place that could offer him the most amount of money. This is huge for the Rockets becuase it adds badly needed athletic ability and frontcourt depth.

The Astros, after getting simply outplayed by St. Louis for three games, bounced back with an 11-1 win over the lowly Pirates. Sparked by the bat of Brandon Back (2-3, 2B, 3B, 2RBI) in what would have otherwise been another control-less start(6BBs, 6Ks), the Astros snapped a 3 game losing streak. Offensive production had been as scarce as morals in Washington, but the addition of Humberto Quintero to the starting lineup seemed to kick start the offensive production. The fact that Quintero and Backe were the two most feared batters in the lineup last night still does not bode well for the 'Stros.

Bringing me to the next point of discussion. As the trade deadline approaches the Astros are rumored to be in the market to acquire another bat (OF). As of right now the top target seems to be hometown slugger Adam Dunn; however, the Reds continue to ask for three of the Astros top pitching prospects (Fernando Nieves, Taylor Buchholz, and Zeke Astacio). In addition Dunn is eligible for arbitration after the season and will probably have a strong case to double his pay before commanding serious coin the following year. Ideally, and I have to believe that Purupa is thinking the same way, the price will drop as the trade deadline approaches. Either way, the Astros need another bat in the outfield. As much as I believe that Jason Lane will eventually sprout, we need another bat if we are gonna contend for the Wildcard (since the Cards made it pretty clear they ain't givin up the division lead).

Alright, future posts will include music snobbery, the drug tainted lives of American soldiers, Hot-Karl-Rove: sexual activity or CIA groupie, and an update of the house odds for The SCOTUS appointment.

Tonight: Reds/Cubs
Note: There are few attractive women in Cincinnati, but a helluva a lot of mustaches (on men and women). I propose Sinker's Theorem of Physical Attraction: The number of attractive women in a given area is inversely proportional to the percentage of men who have mustaches.

Finally: Lance Armstrong is still in the lead...go figure.