MLB

Author: Daniel Kline The Houston Astros are getting into a hole at this stage of the competition. They still have an average of over . 500 but they need to win a game soon or the team won't be very motivated. They got sweep by the Giants with out Barry Bonds in Houston. That wasn't a good series for the Astros they let slip away important victories at home that would've helped them a lot to improve their record. They're third in the NL Central, just behind St. Louis and Cincinnati. They need to get back on track because this division is very tough and they need to shorten some distance in the standings and try to go for the first place. They just need to start playing like they did at the beginning of the season and everything will just fall into place once they find their rhythm and the continuity needed. "This is about as bad a series as I can recall," Houston manager Phil Garner said. Lineup 1. Craig Biggio, 2nd B. 2. Willy Taveras, CF. 3. Mike Lamb, 1st

Boras was put in a no-win situation by representing Matsuzaka, as they basically had to take the Sox’s best offer, or Matsuzaka would’ve had to toil in Japan until the 2009 season (he wouldn’t have become a free agent until nearly midway through MLB’s 2008 season). But, Boras may have really hurt himself by taking too much time with Matsuzaka. Boras seemingly has spent little time working on the contracts of free agent pitchers Barry Zito and Jeff Weaver. While Zito will have several suitors, a number of the teams interested in him, such as the Rangers and Cubs, have already spent significantly for other needs, and will now either be out of the running (Cubs) or not as interested as they were at first (Rangers). Meanwhile, Weaver, already a challenge to sell, has seen interest wane from his primary suitor, the Cardinals. While those free agents will be monitored, several other moves were made in the past few days, including a notable trade.

The Tigers lead MLB with a 3. 36 ERA, with the White Sox a distant sixth at 4. 13. The Detroit rotation has compiled a 3. 39 ERA thus far, led by Justin Verlander's 2. 55 ERA and 7-3 record. Nate Robertson is enjoying a breakout year with a 5-2 mark and a 3. 02 ERA. Former 20-game loser Mike Maroth is faring much better in 2006 with a 5-2 record and a 3. 56 ERA. Kenny Rogers is 7-3 with a 3. 76 ERA. Jeremy Bonderman rounds out the young rotation (other than Rogers), going 5-4 thus far with a 4. 61 ERA. In the bullpen, Todd Jones has shown he remains the solid closer he proved to be in Florida last season, saving 16 games with a 3. 12 ERA. Joel Zumaya is proving to be the closer of the future, putting up a 3. 22 ERA and averaging 10. 88 strikeouts per nine innings.