Blue Jays Urged to Open with Brett Lawrie at 3B

After hitting a torrid .409 with .714 slugging in his first 21 at-bats, 20-year-old Blue Jays prospect Brett Lawrie went 2-3 with a homer and walk to see his average plunge to a mere .381 in a 7-4 victory over the Twins.

Despite the -- er -- slump, fan pressure mounts for the young third baseman to make the team out of spring training as starting third baseman, moving slugger Jose Bautista to right field and newly acquired, marginal Angels veteran Juan Rivera to the bench.

Former major leaguer Alan Ashby, broadcaster for the Blue Jays, told Radio 590 talk show host Bob McCown in a telephone interview from spring camp in Duneeden, Fla., that it "makes sense" for Lawrie to make the team immediately, even though it would accelerate his arbitration clock.

The Blue Jays are widely thought to be rebuiders rather than playoff contenders for 2011, but Ashby warned that the team has the capability of surprising, and may emerge as a candidate for the post season. Suppose the team loses Lawrie's bat for two months after sending him back to the minors, then finally brings him up only to miss the post season by a game or two?

"Do you want to sit there and say, what if?" Ashby asks.

The situation is reminiscent of the 2006 Phillies, who kept slap-hitting Placido Polanco as the starting second baseman while holding back gamebreaking rookie Chase Utley as well into May, then watched the season go down the drain by missing the playoffs by one game.

"When you've got a talented young player...you can get fooled, and we've been fooled before, but this looks like the real thing," Ashby said.

Lawrie (pronounced LOW-ry) , acquired from the Brewers in the deal for starting pitcher Shawn Marcum, has major league ready defensive skills, can play third, second or the outfield and projects as a power hitter with an excellent eye at the plate.

Ashby agreed with McCown that Lawrie taking over third base not only improves defense on the infield, but in the outfield, as well, where Bautista is regarded to be virtually as capable as any outfielder in the major leagues. Moreover, Lawrie's making the team should leave him more developed for a playoff push in 2012, McCown added.

A former catcher with the Astros, Ashby also offered a vaguely positive but uncertain outlook for rookie catcher J.P. Arencibia, a leading candidate to open the season as starting backstop but whose bat has yet to come to life in 32 at-bats last September, nor so far this spring, though he hit 32 homers last year at Triple A.

A key to his success will depend on his ability to call major league games, Ashby indicated.

"I have not heard one single (note of) trepidation from any pitcher about J.P, so hopefully he is okay on that count," Ashby said.

Tim Lincecum, Tim Byrdak Share Same Body Type

Other than the fact that he is right-handed, owns two consecutive Cy Young awards, is 10 years younger and throws about 10 mph faster, the Giants ace Tim Lincecum and Astros situational lefty reliever Tim Byrdak are identical twin brothers by different mothers -- at least where body type is concerned.

Yes the two Tims are each 5 feet 11, and there's not 20 pounds difference between them, with Lincecum weighing in at about 170, Byrdak at 190. Both are exquisitely smallish men in a game where the average major league pitcher's stature now approaches 6 feet 4, and the tallest exceeds 7 feet.

But does it necessarily follow that either one or both are more prone to breakdowns simply because they compete against men generally more than a half a foot taller and 30-50 pounds heavier?

No, not necessarily, Byrdak told mlbnewsonline.com. It's merely a matter of mechanics and form, not necessarily size, explained the 36-year-old veteran, who has survived more than eight years of sometimes gruelling major league service.

"The reason they keep saying Lincecum is going to break down is because of the way he throws the ball, winds, releases and finishes," Byrdak said. "That's what that is all about."

So if Lincecum, 26, had more fluid mechanics like the soft-tossing Byrdak, would he be more likely to survive as long as Byrdak? Conversely, if Byrdak had adopted Lincecum's relatively violent, hard-throwing style; would they be picking up Byrdak's body parts all over the field by now?

Byrdak, whose lengthy periods of disabled time have been linked to repeated bouts of elbow tendinitis, removal of bone fragments and ligament replacement, declined to guess: "They already picked up my body parts all over the field," he said.

Astros Catcher J.R. Towles To Try Doing It His Way

Having established himself in the minors as a .300 hitter with power, it had been a simple progression for former 20th round draft pick J.R. Towles to win the coveted "catcher of the future" mantle three years ago for the soon to be rebuilding Astros.

But somewhere along the line, Towles became overwhelmed, hitting only .149 over the past two seasons in what has become more and more limited playing time.

"I just listened what a lot of people said and I got overloaded," Towles told http://www.mlbnewsonline.com/. "I'm just going to go back to what got me here. Go back to the basics."

At 26, Towles can consider himself lucky, for most players with his track record would find themselves demoted to the minors again, perhaps permanently. But with the Astros still rebuilding, and super thin at the catcher position, Towles has been blessed with yet one more opportunity to impress.

Competition at the team's Grapefruit League camp at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., has pitted him against fellow backstop Humberto Quintero, with whom he will share time either as the starter or the backup.

Barring injury or a total breakdown in performance, neither player appears to be destined for the minors just yet, which buys time for Towles. He must rediscover himself soon, for Stanford product Jason Castro, 22, is waiting in the wings.

Astros GM Ed Wade Warns No Player Untouchable

Astros General Manager Ed Wade has begun his newly extended, three-year tenure by straddling a fine line between the importance of competing for a 2010 playoff berth and the need to reduce costs by dealing players to build for the future.

With a more than $100 million annual payroll to trim and a near bankrupt farm system to replenish, Wade told MLBnewsonline.com in an exclusive interview that no player is safe from the trading block, whether a prospect or a star of the caliber of Lance Bergman, Roy Oswalt, Carlos Lee or even the future of the franchise Hunter Pence.

Not that the team is actively seeking out looking suitors, but all offers will at least be considered, especially if value is to be acquired, Wade told MLBnewsonline.com.

"It's not so much that everybody's on the trading block," Wade explained. "But you can always say 'yes,' if sombody wants to do something stupid. The beauty is, you can always say 'no.' "

Wade, formerly general manager in Philadelphia, came to Houston in 2007, and has won the confidence of owner Drayton McLane despite a losing record. McLain opened Grapefruit League camp in Kissimmee, Fla., by announcing that that Wade's contract has been extended through 2002.

Astros Will Let Hunter Pence Be Hunter Pence

Any number of analysts, scouts and various other prognosticators have foreseen a potential big, big production spike coming for Astros outfielder Hunter Pence as he approaches the prime of his career, but will 2010 be the year?

Don't put it past him; any player of Pence's talent can have a career season not only any year but maybe even every year, says newly appointed Astros manager Brad Mills.

"With him you don't have to worry about peaks and valleys," said Mills during the first day of baseball activities at Astros spring camp at Osceola County Stadium in the Orlando Fla., suburb of Kissimmee.

"We just have to let him be Hunter Pence," Mills said.

And Pence, who in 12 days will observe his 27th birthday, is doing just that, establishing himself as the prototypical first player to arrive in the morning and the last to go home at the end of the day. With position players not expected to arrive until next week, Pence is on the job already, having shown up in camp even before pitchers and catchers to put in a full day of stretching, running and other drills, including some two hours of hitting in the cage.

Is he working on his swing?

"Right now I'm working on the World Series," Pence said lightheartedly yet hinting he thinks the sky's the limit.

Though Pence put up an arguably career best season last year with 25 homers and a .282 batting average, he seems to feel he can reach the next level by putting greater emphasis on his mental approach.

In addition to training all winter under the tutelage of strength and conditioning coach Gene Coleman at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Pence studied various baseball manuals, managers' memoirs, how-to books and even such philosophical essays as "The Art of War," by Sun Tzu, whose thoughts have influenced military leaders from Napoleon to Douglas MacArthur with an emphasis on conditioned responses in fluid situations.

"It's only 100 pages but a I read it twice," said Pence, a former honors student at University of Texas at Arlington.

The six-foot-four, 205-pound phenom, who added about five pounds of muscle during the offseason, wants to cultivate what some trainers have called "muscle memory," in which the body's response is not so much a consequence of the brain's premeditation as it is an automatic reaction, something achievable through repetition.

Pence hopes to counteract his propensity to tinker with his mechanics so that he may "build a foundation for my swing." Whether that means he is approaching a magical career year he won't predict.

"I do feel good about myself coming into this season." Pence told MLBnewsonline.com. "...I'm coming into this year more prepared than I've ever been."

Heyman Maneuver: Pudge, Orlando(s)

SI.com's Jon Heyman passes along a few tidbits in today's Daily Scoop:

• Catcher Ivan Rodriguez is drawing looks from the cash-strapped Astros and Marlins. Pudge's power is pretty much gone (it went with the steroids?), although is batting average remained respectable - at least until he got to the Yankees (.219 in 33 games) last year.
  
  
• The possibilities for 2B Orlando Hudson look to be the Dodgers or Nationals. But Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times earlier claimed in a column that Hudson was more interested in the Dodgers than the other way around.
  
  
• The Athletics want to sign shortstop Orlando Cabrera, but for no more than $5 million and preferably closer to $3 million.
  

Ex-Slugger Jeff Bagwell Suggests Astros Stand Pat

Former All-Star slugger Jeff Bagwell -- speaking to the San Antonio Express-News during an Astros promotional tour at Lackland Air Force Base -- said his former team has enough talent to successfully compete in the National League's Central Division without acquiring additional talent.

"The most important thing is pitching and health," Bagwell said. "I don't think anyone in this division has stepped up and done anything to make itself a clear-cut favorite."

He singled out the Cubs, however, as being especially strong.

"Hopefully they don't get (former Padres ace Jake) Peavy -- so we just have to hope for health and we'll be okay."

Rays Need Jason Bay, Other Right-Handed Bats

With 30 major league general managers in the process of leaving New York after the All-Star break, the town is abuzz about clandestine gatherings for unprecedented, behind-the-scenes trade talks -- no small thanks to upstart Tampa Bay Rays operations chief Andrew Friedman and his top executive Gerry Hunsicker.

Fresh off a seven game losing streak and what may be a precipitous fall from first place, Friedman has an urgent need for a right-handed bat, especially with outfielders Jonny Gomes underperforming and Rocco Baldelli still quesionable after a series of injuries and illnesses.

Friedman must be considered a leading contender for the services of Astros outfielder Carlos Lee, and Pirates outfielders Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, not only because of Friedman's dire need for a more balanced offense but because more than any other rival he has stockpiled enough high draft picks which whom to barter.

In addition to Lee, Bay and Nady, switch-hitting Rangers All Star Milton Bradley might be acceptable, as Bradley is strongest from the right side of the plate.

Among Friedman's potential bargaining chips are coveted pitchers David Price and Jeff Niemann, both first rounders; Chris Mason, a second-rounder; and Wade Davis, a third rounder, all of whom at one time or another have been variously described as off limits or too cherished. However, all bets are off now that the Rays have suddenly emerged as serious contenders for a playoff berth.

All things considered, the Rays hardly can be expected to come away empty-handed after the July 31 trading deadline.

Houston Astros Set to Fly the White Flag

Having taken sole possession of the National League Central cellar after losing 10-7 to the lowly Pirates, the Houston Lastros have made it clear the team is ready to run up the white flag.

Though a poll of fan sentiment is running at about 50-50 as to whether the team should continue to try for a playoff berth, manager Cecil Cooper made it clear in today's editions of the Houston Chronicle that no one should get hopes up. Be assured that --in light of Cooper's announcement -- struggling youngster Michael Bourn will soon return to the lineup with surrender terms.

Some fans had been hopeful that Houston still had some fight left when Bourn -- currently in 0-19 slump with a .218 average -- was benched in favor of veteran Darin Erstad, who is hitting better than .300 and playing All-Star caliber defense in center field.

Not to worry: Cooper told the Chronicle that Erstad soon will retake his seat in the dugout, as Bourn has merely been given a few games off to work in the batting cage to ready himself to once again stink up Minute Maid Park.

After all, the Lastros must have something to show for having acquired Bourn in the trade of closer Brad Lidge -- who is currently 2-0 with 19 saves and a 1.00 ERA with the first place Phillies.

Darin Erstad's Playing Time Gauges Astros Plans

The playing time of veteran Astros infielder-outfielder Darin Erstad is as good a gauge as any to determine whether the Astros are converting to a rebuilding mode, or continuing to fight for a playoff berth even though the team is a dozen games out of contention.

Erstad -- now playing highly effective baseball after years of health difficulties -- will likely be given more plate appearances if the team desires to win. But if the team decides to focus on the future, Erstad must be benched or traded in favor of acclimating younger talent at the big league level.

Sabathia Deal Spotlights Lance Berkman Trade

A vague and ephemeral MLB rumor that the Astros have been contemplating dealing All-Star slugger Lance Berkman to the Angels for rising first baseman Casey Kotchman has been thrown into sharp relief in the upheaval following the Brewers acquisition of ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia from the Indians.

Though the validity of the rumor has never been established, the prospect of the trade becomes much more probable now that the Brewers have emerged as the prohibitive favorite to win the National League Central Division, or at least secure a wildcard berth, at the expense of the Astros as much as anyone.

Key to the proposition will be the team's determination of whether the Astros can remain competive this year, or should begin peeling off pieces such as Berkman, Carlos Lee, Roy Oswalt, Miguel Tejada and others in exchange for prospects and younger talent. If it was not already a clear choice with the Astros a dozen games off the pace, the Sabathia deal should make it painfully obvious.

Just exactly what the Astros are thinking will be recognizable in the play of veteran infielder-outfielder Darin Erstad, who after a number of years of difficulty staying healthy is playing excellent baseball offensively and defensively and should be heavily relied upon if the Astros expect to climb back into the pennant race.

If Astros owner Drayton McLane is inclined to punt, however, then Erstad will probably lose playing time to younger players whom the team will attempt to further acclimate to the big-league environment.

Ironically, an ongoing team poll of fans had nearly half of the participatants urging the Astros to carry on rather than reconfigure.

Shawn Chacon Diagnosed with NPO Affliction

One should think that it would take more than a 2-3 win-loss record and a 5.04 ERA to excuse even a million-dollar athlete for a two-point, by-the-neck, take down of his own general manager in which he hurled him to the floor of the team's dining room during the pregame meal.

That is generally not the proper decorum one would expect to be observed by an employee being paid $2 million a year, who has had only checkered success on four different teams in four years.

No, it's not at all what you expect, unless perhaps the individual is Shawn Chacon, who suffers from NPO -- what psychiatrists have defined as Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Evidently the 30-year-old, former Astros right-hander was indignant about being removed from the Rangers starting rotation last week and being relegated to the job of long reliever or -- less generously -- mop-up man. So much was he insulted that he refused to see the team manager in his office; so much so, that he refused to see the general manager, Ed Wade, in his office.

So, Wade decided, regrettably, to admonish the player, at virtually Chacon's own insistance, in public in front of the team. The rest is history.

Chacon is in the unemployment line and rightfully so. It is axiomatic that -- no matter if you are a U.S. senator, chairman of the board of IBM, or a burger flipper at Mickey-Ds -- you never grab the boss by the neck.

This story will be filed in the annals of famous sports anecdotes (read: gaffs) which fans and sportswriters will talk about for years.

The compelling question remains, why would a player snap? Why would an athlete with such tremendous talents, gifts and abilities, a millionaire, at the top of the sports pyramid, commit such a boneheaded ands egregious move?

Riddle me this: what does Shawn Chacon, Milton Bradley, Elijah Dukes, Julio Lugo, and Delmon Young all have in common? Yup, they all play baseball and have trouble responding to authority. Add into the mix a few other notorious sports figures like Latrell Spreewell, Terrell Owens, Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Adam "Pac-man" Jones, Dion Sanders, Allen Iverson, Jermain O'Neil, Andre Rison, Michael Vick, Warren Sapp, Bill Romanowski, Brian Bosworth, Dennis Rodman...the list goes on and on, a group colloquially labeled with a certain eight-letter word beginning with the letter 'a' and ending with the word-root 'holes'.

All are terrific athletes with enormous athletic talent and potential for winning titles for their teams, breaking individual records, and entering the Hall of Fame, but for some reason elect a different path; path of controversy, contentiousness, trouble with management, trouble with the law, trouble with substance abuse, domestic violence; and, trouble with the fan base as well as the front office.

It's very sad, very sad. It's very disquieting. It's also very normal.

Here is verifiable proof of the paradoxical reality that horses asses outnumber horses, with all these guys simply representing a subsegment of the normal population (with traits to some extent shared by each and every one of us) burdened by some degree of personality disorder.

We all have something. Most of us can keep the lid on it, some of us cannot. In particular, the crowd herein, we believe, actively display the narcissistic type of personality disorder. According to Moore & Jefferson (Handbook of Medical Psychiatry, 2nd ed. 2004 Mosby, Inc.) people with a narcissistic personality disorder see themselves as superior to others, regardless of their actual achievements in life.

They feel entitled to admiration and expect that others will defer to their wishes. Relationships are valued only insofar as they enhance these people’s self-esteem; they have little capacity for empathy or any true interest in the well-being of others.

These individuals tend to be very sensitive to criticism, or even a hint of criticism. If humiliated, they may react with overt rage; more often, however, they mask their reaction with an attitude of lofty indifference, as if what others think actually makes no difference to them. Narcissistic traits may first occur in childhood; during adolescence they gradually coalesce into a stable symptom complex.

Individuals such as Shawn Chacon have a lofty opinion of themselves; they see their accomplishments as admirable and often indulge in daydreams or fantasies of glory, power, or idealized love.

Personal defects are not tolerated. Grooming, dress, and makeup capture large amounts of time and must be impeccably done. The grand gesture is preferred, and entrances and exits are preferably done with a flourish.

These people regard themselves as omniscient and omnipotent; they rarely permit themselves to stoop to ask others for assistance. Narcissists tend to gravitate toward those whom, in one way or another, reflect their grandiose image of themselves. The company of other “ideal creatures” is often quite satisfactory, yet if any fault is found within these acquaintances, they are discarded as unworthy.

Admirers are tolerated, perhaps even welcomed at times, but are quickly discarded should any criticism be offered. Others are exploited for what they can do for the narcissistic person; of themselves they seem to have little value. Narcissists do not have truly reciprocal relationships with others. They may be socially correct, even polite, yet they are perceived as frosty and distant.

They seem to lack a capacity for sympathy or intimacy. Should an acquaintance be in need, their only motive for offering help would be to demonstrate their own power. These people do not make “anonymous” gifts of time or money and are rarely willing to sacrifice anything of their own.

People with narcissistic personality disorder do not tolerate unfavorable comparison with others. Should another’s achievements seem to shine more brightly, these people may become intensely envious, even enraged, and often attempt to belittle or devalue the accomplishments of others.

Should this fail to salve their wounded self-esteem, they often seek revenge. If any degree of criticism seems to touch them to the mortal quick; a vicious counterattack may occur, or, if that appears unlikely to succeed, they may withdraw from the field with a cold regal disdain and contempt for their opponents.

Others often feel exploited and manipulated by a narcissistic person. They feel as if they are regarded as mere pawns in the narcissist’s life and, often in short order, come to regard the narcissist as abrasive and arrogant.

Unfortunately, this disorder is chronic and lifelong; with age, however, the clinical picture may change. They are often intolerant of the inevitable decline that comes with age and often develop lingering, mild depressive symptoms. Social and occupational complications follow inevitably from the symptoms of this disorder. The inability to love another or to form a friendship leaves these people with a sense of loneliness and isolation.

Work may or may not suffer. If the narcissistic person happens to be talented, then the drive for admiration and praise may lead to brilliant success. However, should the narcissist happen to have only a normal complement of abilities, the inability to ask for or accept help leaves the narcissist stumbling and failing to accomplish what others, who can work cooperatively, are able to do.

Although theories abound, nothing is known with certainty regarding the cause of narcissistic personality disorder. Moreover, four other personality disorders may at times enter into the differential diagnosis: antisocial, histrionic, obsessive-compulsive, and borderline -- each with it's own set of characteristic beliefs and modes of conduct, well beyond the scope of this report.

Patients with narcissistic personality disorder have been treated with individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, and family therapy, and each method has anecdotally been reported as successful. However, no controlled outcomes studies have been carried out. Apart from treating intercurrent disorders, especially depression, pharmacologic treatment is of no avail. It is as such for Chacon and the rest. They lack the capacity to see themselves as others see them and have a penchant to flush their teams, their careers, and livelihoods down the loo. There is little anybody can do about it.

Shawn Chacon Insane, Unemployed

After batting practice Wednesday, now former Houston Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon confronted GM Ed Wade and attacked him, throwing him to the ground twice.  Needless to say, the team placed him on waivers today.

It's never a good idea to attack your boss, especially if you suck at your line of work.  But there are some B-list celebrities in Malibu that would probably hire him to fend off some frenchmen with cameras for the rest of summer.

Morgan Ensberg Enters Yankees Crowded Infield

A little competion in camp is always healthy, but this is rediculous.

New York GM Brian Cashman's signing of former Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg to a potential $4 million contract brings to four the number of players expected to vie for playing time at first base for the Yankees in 2008, the others being Jason Giambi, Wilson Betemit, Shelly Duncan and maybe even Jason Lane.

Of the four, Ensberg is likely the weakest sister, as he has suffered from a loss of confidence and linger injuries since putting up big numbers for Houston three years ago. Still, there's nothing wrong with his fielding, so why not take a chance?

At 33 Ensberg will have to prove he has something left if he expects to come north with the team in April. It will be quite a comedown, but don't be surprised if Ensberg opens the season at Scranton.

Red Sox See Wily Mo Pena's Value Tumble

There was a time when the Astros might have seriously looked at an offer to trade troubled closer Brad Lidge to the Red Sox for a prospect package with outfielder Wily Mo Pena as one of the centerpieces.

Those days are gone.

The Red Sox decision to sign veteran J.D. Drew and play the once highly regarded 24-year-old Pena only intermittently has reduced Pena's effectiveness to the point that he can barely keep his batting average above .200, and his trade value has plummeted respectively; a rather expensive move, considering that starter Bronson Arroyo was dealt to acquire him.


Lidge -- who has trouble pitching in pressure situations -- would have been an ideal fit in Boston, where he could have pitched with less pressure setting up Jonathan Papelbon.

Now it looks like the Astros will keep Lidge rather than endure a search for a replacement closer, while the Red Sox look to pedal Pena elsewhere.

Astros Chad Qualls May Hold Key to AL Pennant

Look for Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein to compete to win the Chad Qualls sweepstakes, not because the hard-throwing Astros reliever is so desperately needed in Boston, but because he may be needed in Detroit.

Pressure continues to mount for the Tigers to find bullpen help, perhaps even replacing closer Todd Jones, who has allowed baserunners like fleas on a dog. Because the road to the pennant runs through the Motor City, it's critical not to find bullpen help but to block teams like the Tigers from acquiring it.

The more obvious it becomes that the Astros are going no place, look for Qualls to be traded for prospects or up-and-coming youngsters. Whomever loses out on Qualls will be under even greater pressure to acquire his teammate, Brad Lidge, or perhaps Rangers closer Eric Gagne.

Qualls is the cheapest of the three, and to get him the Tigers will not hesitate to flip one of several unnamed player possibilities recently acquired from St. Louis in the Mike Maroth deal. Established hitters such as Craig Monroe or Marcus Thames also are expendable in Detroit.

Craig Biggio: You've Come a Long Way, Baby

As Astros veteran Craig Biggio, 41, continues on his Hall of Fame trajectory -- now having crossed the 3,000-hit plataeu -- it seems hard to believe that it was 19 years ago when he arrived in Houston as a rookie catcher -- with his top priority to have his picture taken in uniform with staff ace Nolan Ryan.

Biggio, then 21, wanted irrefutable photographic evidence to prove to everyone he had actually been a major leaguer once he was sent back to Tucson -- in all probability never to return.

That said, it's no secret now that Biggio -- whose late season meltdown last year saw his season batting average fall to a near career low of .246 -- will morph more and more into a part-time reserve and pinch hitter. Chris Burke, 26, stands to pick up a lot of the slack if only he can get on base.

Meanwhile, Biggio is playing cagey as to when he will retire. The sooner he does, the more likely he will go to Cooperstown at the same time as career-long teammate Jeff Bagwell, 39.

Hunter Pence, Leading Rivals, Faces Cut by Astros

The loudspeakers at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., blared "This May Be the Last Time" by the Rolling Stones between innings of the Astros 9-8 loss to the Marlins Thursday. It was an especially poignant tune for upstart phenom Hunter Pence.

Pence -- hitting .667 with a homer every 10 at-bats -- leads not only the Astros but the rest of the league in a half dozen offensive categories, yet is virtually assured to be among the final cuts before camp breaks March 29, a clubhouse insider told www.MLBnewsonline.com.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source said the decision to cut the former second round pick has yet to be made, but Pence will almost assuredly be named to the roster of Nolan Ryan's Double A Corpus Christi Hooks or Triple A Round Rock Express, both in South Texas. Only extraordinary circumstances such a series of injuries to the projected starters would save Pence from being cut, it was predicted.

If correct, that's good news for center fielder Chris Burke, who stands to lose playing time to Pence.

Though his bat has recently shown some life, Burke came into Thursday's game hitting .111 and has been the focus of critics considering him a possible candidate for demotion to the bench or the minors. But the team is committed to Burke, who is an outstanding bunter and showed decent leather while hitting a respectable .276 with a .347 OBP and nearly a dozen bags last year.

Meanwhile closer Brad Lidge continued to struggle in Thursday's loss. Lidge's ERA ballooned to 13.50 as he gave up two hits, two walks and three runs while facing just seven batters.

Pence, 23, was presented with his ring this week for his part in leading the Hooks to the Texas League championship last year. Pence is seen as a mid- or late-season callup, and is envisioned as an ultimate replacement for Burke in center field when Burke moves to second base. Second base will open up after veteran Craig Biggio, 40, reduces activity after reaching the 3,000-hit plateau, then ultimately retires.

Pence is regarded as a competent fielder with a strong arm and has little to prove with his bat, having hit .339 in the Arizona Fall League, plus .283 with 28 homers last year at Corpus Christi. Coaches, however, want him to work to stop chasing outside pitches out of the zone.

Astros Luke Scott Plays to Pick Up All the Marbles

Minor leaguer Luke Scott was supposed to be a mere stopgap when the Astros called him up for what was planned as limited action last July, but he immediately hit for the cycle with five RBI on the way to a .406 average in his first 11 games, forcing manager Phil Garner to keep him in the lineup.

Though Scott, 28, finished the year with a .336 average, hitting a homer every 20 at-bats, he apparently failed to make a believer of Garner, who now plans to limit him to platooning in right field with Jason Lane, 30.

As a lefthanded hitter, Scott stands to gain 65-70 percent of the playing time under Garner's plan. But if Scott continues to build on his impressive stats last year, look for him to take over full-time once Lane falls into another of his extended swoons. Lane, who hit only .201 with 15 homers in limited action last year, has been among the worst hot-and-cold hitters in the majors, with slumps lasting for six weeks or more throughout his major and minor league career.

Playing so infrequently, even a constant diet of lefthanded pitching likely won't help the righthanded Lane develop into anything remotely like a regular, let alone to transform into the star he had formerly been projected to become.

Astros Unable to Pull Trigger to Trade Brad Lidge

Astros GM Tim Purpura appears to be willing -- for now -- to go into spring training with Luke Scott as the potential starting right fielder, as he cannot bring himself to part with closer Brad Lidge in an exchange for offense, most notably a standing offer for Red Sox slugger Wily Mo Pena.

Richard Hidalgo, 31, whom the Astros originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Venezuela in 1991, will provide competition for the job, along with the hot and cold (mostly cold) Jason Lane, 29. But Scott, 28, clearly has the inside track, having hit .336 with 10 homers in 214 at-bats last year.

Until a more attractive offer comes along, Lidge remains the closer, though he could get an early hook in favor of Dan Wheeler or Chad Qualls. The availability of Wheeler and Qualls continue to make Lidge -- whose ERA ballooned to 5.28 last year -- tradeable. But the club has yet to receive an offer deemed worthy of Lidge's value.