INSIDE PITCH

Posted on 2010 under Astros | Comments are off

6 Mar

It could not be spring training for the Astros without an injury scare. The Astros got their first -- and arguably the biggest of all -- when Lance Berkman complained of pain and swelling in his left knee during the first week of March. Berkman, the Astros' biggest bat, was diagnosed with a contusion that forced him to miss a workout and the team's Grapefruit League opener. He was back in uniform March 5, getting two at-bats as the designated hitter against the Tigers. "(The knee) is OK; it's not perfect, but it's definitely playable," Berkman said. "It doesn't necessarily feel a lot better, but when the doctor told me I couldn't hurt it any worse, why not go back out there? "I need to get ready for the season." With Miguel Tejada gone and two prospects vying for starting jobs, the Astros are counting on Berkman to stay healthy and return to All-Star form if the team is to be competitive. Berkman, 34, missed a month last season with a calf injury en route to posting some of his lowest numbers since becoming the Astros' marquee player. "We need to get off to a good start this year, and a big part of that is going to be me being ready on opening day," Berkman said. "So I don't want to miss any time." WHERE: Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee, Fla. This year marks the Astros' 26th spring training in the town dubbed the "Heart of Florida," which is also home to the Gulf Coast League affiliate. One famous mouse resides nearby. AUTHORITY FIGURES: Brad Mills enters his first spring training as a major league manager after spending the past six seasons as Terry Francona's right-hand man in Boston. He provides the clubhouse with a much-needed breath of fresh air, a leader who comes from a winning organization and an expert communicator. Success this season will depend heavily on pitching, so new pitching coach Brad Arnsberg will have his work cut out.