http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/48 Recent articles about Lance Berkman en-us An interesting question this off-season is also one that hasn't been talked about much.  Should Lance Berkman be offered a contract extension?  A big gamble, to be certain, and the answer depends much upon how much confidence the front office has in the Big Puma to rebound from this year's performance. Of course, there's also the possibility that Berkman will be traded.  But let's go ahead and call that unlikely at most.  Probably next-to-imposs... Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:25:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Is_the_Puma_on_the_decline_or_was_it_just_a_down_year/1370482 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Is_the_Puma_on_the_decline_or_was_it_just_a_down_year/1370482 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Is_the_Puma_on_the_decline_or_was_it_just_a_down_year/1370482 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/9/b91c2ee40b4aa1e2b5807a1f8735ef1d1c0d0459/small/Houston_Astros_v_3fa6.jpg More photos » by Al Behrman - AP Is Lance Berkman the best Astros' post season hitter? Browse more photos » I have enjoyed watching some of the playoff games this year, even if the Astros aren't involved.  But it does lead to some nostalgia about the Astros of Playoffs Past.   The playoffs give rise to much commentary about clutch play, in terms of players rising to the playoff occas... Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:06:39 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Who_is_the_Astros_best_post_season_hitter/1354083 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Who_is_the_Astros_best_post_season_hitter/1354083 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Who_is_the_Astros_best_post_season_hitter/1354083 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/9/b91c2ee40b4aa1e2b5807a1f8735ef1d1c0d0459/small/Houston_Astros_v_3fa6.jpg We don't see enough of the Astros to know just how bad Lance Berkman is in the field, we lived with Delgado's ole style because of his power bat, could we do the same with Berkman's.According to the Houston Chronicle some officials in the Astros organization are unhappy with both his defense and offense. The 33 y/o switch hitter has a lifetime BA of .299 while averaging 35 HRs and 115 RBIs per season. This year he's hitting .274 with 25 HRs and 80 RBIs, that type of production... Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:06:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Stros_not_happy_with_Berkman/1323849 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Stros_not_happy_with_Berkman/1323849 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Stros_not_happy_with_Berkman/1323849 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/9/b91c2ee40b4aa1e2b5807a1f8735ef1d1c0d0459/small/Houston_Astros_v_3fa6.jpg Cooper Fired. Justice: Astros Waited Too Long. Talk about strange timing. The Astros waited until a season had been lost to make a move they should have made months ago. The maddening thing is, the people in charge knew there was a problem. They could see that Cecil Cooper didn't know how to run a game. They also knew he'd lost 75 percent of the players in his clubhouse. I'm not saying this season could have been saved, but if Dave Clark had been given the job at the All-Star B... Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:12:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Cooper_Fired_Justice_Astros_Waited_Too_Long/1219201 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Cooper_Fired_Justice_Astros_Waited_Too_Long/1219201 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Cooper_Fired_Justice_Astros_Waited_Too_Long/1219201 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/2/421c944657779e3eacdc8b5aafff0e94c47e3d8a/small/80537332.jpg Yeah, unfortunately, it's true. Well, that and the hitters not hitting with MOB and Coop pulling his usual assinine leftylefty thingy and it backfiring as usual. Lance Berkman hit a 400' homer righty in his first game back after missing a few with back pain (it's going around, hunh.) Lance always said he had a better righty swing and when he hits a homer hitting righty, it always seems to be a better swing and travel faster and farther. Of course, I might could be prejudiced afte... Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:08:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/The_2_Pitches_That_JR_Towles_Doesn_apost_Catch_Cost_The_Astros/1199557 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/The_2_Pitches_That_JR_Towles_Doesn_apost_Catch_Cost_The_Astros/1199557 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/The_2_Pitches_That_JR_Towles_Doesn_apost_Catch_Cost_The_Astros/1199557 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/9/b91c2ee40b4aa1e2b5807a1f8735ef1d1c0d0459/small/Houston_Astros_v_3fa6.jpg More photos » by Al Behrman - AP Browse more photos » Richard Justice asks a pretty valid question in his most recent blog post: Can Roy and Lance still be elite players? Richard cites declining power stats for Lance and a rising ERA for Roy as proof of their possible demise. Of course, there are better stats to evaluate these two players. Taking a deeper look at Lance, we can see that a lot of his numbers are similar ... Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:00:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Whats_eatin_Roy_Oswalt_and_Lance_Berkman/1193845 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Whats_eatin_Roy_Oswalt_and_Lance_Berkman/1193845 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Whats_eatin_Roy_Oswalt_and_Lance_Berkman/1193845 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/9/b91c2ee40b4aa1e2b5807a1f8735ef1d1c0d0459/small/Houston_Astros_v_3fa6.jpg Lance Berkman and LaTroy Hawkins are back!! Richard Justice provides us with this great news over twitter. Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:31:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Lance_Berkman_and_LaTroy_Hawkins_are_back/975495 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Lance_Berkman_and_LaTroy_Hawkins_are_back/975495 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Lance_Berkman_and_LaTroy_Hawkins_are_back/975495 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/2/421c944657779e3eacdc8b5aafff0e94c47e3d8a/small/80537332.jpg More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP See ya in a fortnight, Big Puma. Browse more photos » First of all, thanks to Joe for breaking this story. This is not the kind of news you want to hear heading into another tremendously important week-one that sees the Astros head on a two series road trip against both the Cubs and the Cards. Richard Justice's take on the situation can be found here. Of course we... Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:51:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Lance_Berkman_lands_on_the_DL_Where_do_the_Astros_go_from_here/858380 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Lance_Berkman_lands_on_the_DL_Where_do_the_Astros_go_from_here/858380 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Lance_Berkman_lands_on_the_DL_Where_do_the_Astros_go_from_here/858380 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/1/4156d4a1a85123bf60a7aec1641ab3feb0c20457/small/PicImg_Concentration_9ceb.jpg Astros slugger Lance Berkman has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf. Berkman has missed five starts with the injury, but the Astros had hoped he would heal quickly and could avoid a stint on the DL. He didn't start Wednesday night but got a pinch single in the seventh inning of Houston's 4-3 win over St. Louis, which moved the Astros within a game of the NL-Central leading Cardinals. Berkman had an MRI exam and met with Dr. Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:53:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Astros_put_slugger_Berkman_on_DL_with_calf_strain/858151 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Astros_put_slugger_Berkman_on_DL_with_calf_strain/858151 JJO in the Chronicle reports that Lance Berkman is on the 15 day DL with that calf strain. Apparently it was not as "mild" as first reported, When I researched Type II Strain, the material said recovery time is measured in weeks (not days).  So while I am  a litte surprised to read this announcement, it is not a shock. Since Berkman pinch hit last night,  the 15 days must start today. Any way you look at it, he'll miss the Mets, Cubs, Cardinals ... Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:20:11 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Lance_Berkman_to_DL_Maysonet_called_up/857987 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Lance_Berkman_to_DL_Maysonet_called_up/857987 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Lance_Berkman_to_DL_Maysonet_called_up/857987 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/1/4156d4a1a85123bf60a7aec1641ab3feb0c20457/small/PicImg_Concentration_9ceb.jpg More photos » by Al Behrman - AP Houston Astros' Lance Berkman slides into third base with a triple on May 26, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) Browse more photos » Nearly two weeks ago, I wrote an article challenging fans' preconception that Lance Berkman is having a bad year.  A Richard Justice blog at chron.com, which described Berkman's season as terrible, inspired me to writ... Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:13:15 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Berkman_continues_offensive_upswingand_Richard_Justice_is_starting_to_get_it/776434 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Berkman_continues_offensive_upswingand_Richard_Justice_is_starting_to_get_it/776434 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Berkman_continues_offensive_upswingand_Richard_Justice_is_starting_to_get_it/776434 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/1/4156d4a1a85123bf60a7aec1641ab3feb0c20457/small/PicImg_Concentration_9ceb.jpg More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP Houston Astros' Carlos Lee (45) congratulates Lance Berkman (17) after his two-run home run on Thursday. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) Browse more photos » My answer to that question is, "yes, that appears to be the case."  Lance Berkman started off the season with a disappointing couple of months.  However, Berkman's offense was nearly normal in May... Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:03:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Berkman_Moving_Back_to_His_Normal_Offensive_Numbers/744718 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Berkman_Moving_Back_to_His_Normal_Offensive_Numbers/744718 More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP Browse more photos » To say that this series has been frustrating to watch doesn't begin to do it justice.  The Astros squandered great pitching efforts with anemic offense and sloppy defense, until Lance Berkman decided to take matters into his own hands today.  It started with cranking home-run number thirteen of the year to drive in Carlos Lee and surpass the 1000 RBI ... Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:57:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/With_Berkman_surpassing_1000_RBIs_the_Astros_down_the_Royals_5_4_Thoughts_an_a_maddening_series/740205 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/With_Berkman_surpassing_1000_RBIs_the_Astros_down_the_Royals_5_4_Thoughts_an_a_maddening_series/740205 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/With_Berkman_surpassing_1000_RBIs_the_Astros_down_the_Royals_5_4_Thoughts_an_a_maddening_series/740205 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/1/4156d4a1a85123bf60a7aec1641ab3feb0c20457/small/PicImg_Concentration_9ceb.jpg Once you read this article you'll realize, Yankee fan or not, that A-Rod is a bit selfish for not participating in the home run derby. A-Rod, just do it. You know how disappointing it is not to have any Yankees in this years home run derby. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:46:11 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Only_wiffleball_at_bats_will_screw_up_your_swing/288859 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Only_wiffleball_at_bats_will_screw_up_your_swing/288859 We look at the recent slowing of Lance Berkman. Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:35:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/The_Slowing_of_Lance_Berkman/10313 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/The_Slowing_of_Lance_Berkman/10313