'Stros Play w/ Themselves, Rockets Hardly Play and more

- From the Associated Press...The Astros held an intrasquad scrimmage on Tuesday. Garner was most impressed by closer Brad Lidge, who threw 13 pitches and struck out two batters. "Lidge was perfect," Garner said. "If he maintains his mechanics like he did today, he'll be in perfect shape." ... OF Hunter Pence homered off RHP Ezequiel Astacio. Pence hit .283 with 28 homers and 95 RBIs at Double-A Corpus Christi last season. ... SS Adam Everett went 3-for-4 with two doubles.
And this straight from the Astros outstanding PR staff....In an intrasquad game held today at Osceola County Stadium, the “Colt .45’s” team defeated the “Buffs” team, 6-2...SS Adam Everett was 3x4 with two doubles and a run scored...CF Hunter Pence homered off RHP Ezequiel Astacio (1,1,1,1,0,1)...1B Mike Lamb contributed a two-run single...for the Buffs team, Cody Ransom was 2x2 with a double and an RBI...others who pitched in the game include: RHP Brad Lidge (1,1,0,0,0,2), RHP Fernando Nieve (1,6,5,5,0,0), RHP Paul Estrada (1,1,0,0,0,0), RHP Felipe Paulino (1,1,0,0,0,0), RHP Jimmy Barthmaier (1,0,0,0,0,1), LHP Wandy Rodriguez (1,1,0,0,1,0), RHP Matt Albers (1,0,0,0,1,0), RHP Dave Borkowski (1,1,0,0,0,0), RHP Chris Sampson (1,1,0,0,0,0), and LHP Mark McLemore (0.2,2,2,2,2,0)...the team names had a historical slant, as the Colt .45’s were the original name of the Houston Major League franchise, and the Buffs were the nickname for the Houston minor league team from 1888-1961.

- Pure insanity last night at Toyota Center with the Rockets and Celtics played the most offensively inept basketball that I've ever seen. I spent most of the game rifling through media guides and record books to see what records were about to fall for the ungodly shooting display. Wins are all that matter and they should have still won despite played the way they did. Up 12 with 8 minutes to go, up 8 with 5 minutes to go. The Celtics play no defense. This was all on the Rockets, they had no clue what to do. What the hell were they doing launching 22 three-pointers against a team that is so weak in the paint??? I said it last night on the Fan Feedback and I'll say it again here, I know the other team is trying and I know this is the NBA, but no way can you give the Celtics credit for this performance - it's on the Rockets, plain and simple. Still someone gives some love to JVG as coach of the year. just scroll past the garbage about the ballplayers hoping to get into the Hall of Fame thru the veterans committee.

- Free Agency opens Friday, but you can cross QB Damon Huard off the list. He re-signed today with Kansas City for 3 yrs, $7.5 million.

- The Cowboys won't be the only game in town at their new stadium. Here comes the Cotton Bowl, it's on the move from the State Fair to Arlington.

---- WEX