Astros won 6-3 today, behind a solid 5 inning / 2 ER / 5K performance from Backe, and Luke Scott going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI's. If Scott doesn't make the team as at least a reserve OF out of spring training, it'll be a travesty.

Other than that, not too much to report. The Kaz Ishii - Jason Phillips trade went through; now that I think about it, Phillips might not be that great: he's 28, already at the age when many catchers start to decline, and Tim Redding still has some potential. I'd like to see them try and trade him for bullpen help now - Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler both pitched well today, but Franco / Harville has sucked, leaving us with 3 solid relievers: Lidge, Qualls, Wheeler. You'd sure like to have more than that. Redding + ? = Urbina? As far as catchers go, I made a post a while back about possible free agents, and the only really good one this coming offseason is Ramon Hernandez, whom the Padres are trying to sign to an extension. Hope they don't, or we may be stuck with someone worse (!!) than Brad Ausmus next year.