While most teams will probably make more call-ups in the next week as minor league seasons end, I want to begin covering roster expansion today, beginning with the Astros. If there is a particular angle to September call-ups that you would like me to explore, feel free to drop me a line.

Houston has added four players to their roster to date, including C-R Raul Chavez, RHP Brad Lidge, RHP Brandon Puffer, and LHP Jeriome Robertson.

Chavez originally signed with the Astros as a nondrafted free agent out of Venezuela in 1990. Houston traded him to Montreal in 1996, the Expos dealt him to Seattle in 1998, and he returned to the Astros in 2000 as a minor league free agent. In brief call-ups in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000 he's had a combined total of 75 AB. Although he probably would have performed well as a major league back-up catcher last season at 27, his peak seems to have been wasted in AAA. He declined somewhat this year, hitting .228 with a .278 OBP and .279 SLG on 85 H, 10 2B, 3 HR, a 21:50 BB:K and 3/7 SB% in 373 AB with AAA New Orleans in the Pacific Coast League. However, he should provide Houston with a more effective third catcher than many teams' backups this month.

Although he'd not pitched above AA before 2002, Lidge was with the Astros as a reliever earlier this season at the end of April. However after a little less than two weeks, Houston decided they'd prefer he work on his starting skills in AAA. At New Orleans, Lidge compiled a 110:47 K:BB with 83 H and 9 HR allowed in 111.2 IP for a 3.39 ERA over 19 starts in 24 appearances. He should be a quality addition to the Astros' pen down the stretch. The 25-year-old also should remain in Houston's pen next season, as they don't need him in the rotation, and his most significant accomplishment this year was remaining healthy after extensive injury problems in the past. Perhaps after a few years of building up his arm strength in the bullpen he'll be ready to start, but in the meantime he should combine with Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner to make the Astros' bullpen quite scary for opposing hitters.

Puffer spent much of the season on the roster, but as we recently discussed, he was demoted to clear room on the roster after Tom Gordon's acquisition. The Astros should probably avoid using him during important situations, but teams always want to have a few extra arms available in September.

Houston drafted Robertson out of high school in the 24th round of the 1995 draft, and he might have been ready for the big leagues last season if he hadn't been sidelined by injury in 2000. According to an article by Alyson Footer of MLB.com, "Prior to the 2000 season, the 25-year-old lefty was diagnosed as having a pilonidal cyst, which meant he had an ingrown hair on his tailbone." He could have attempted to treat the condition with antibiotics but instead chose the more direct surgical route, leading to a season of rehab, when he otherwise likely would have advanced to AAA after an impressive 1999 season at AA.

Although the Astros moved him to relief at AA Round Rock last season, he returned to his original role as a starter this year. Fortunately, the detour of health problems and role changes didn't interfere with his skills. At AAA New Orleans, Robertson compiled a 114:45 K:BB with 160 H and 13 HR allowed in 180 IP for a 2.55 ERA, earning the title of Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year. He's now set to start today in Houston's make-up game at Texas. If he performs well, Robertson may replace Pete Munro in the rotation next Sunday.

Robertson was not on the Astros 40-man roster, so they designated Keith Ginter for assignment in order to clear a spot. Despite Ginter's decreasing upside, I don't understand why Houston didn't make an alternate move. Ginter will be a nice acquisition for whichever team picks him up on waivers, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him join the Brewers since they should own the first waiver pick.

Richard Hidalgo went on the DL with a right hip strain last week and doesn't expect to be ready to return when he's eligible to leave the disabled list on Friday. However, I expect that the Astros will activate him sometime soon to have him available whenever he feels ready. Teams aren't inclined to keep or place players on the DL in September, since they don't need the roster flexibility.

Even before he suffered his injury, the Astros began to decrease Hidalgo's playing time as he suffered another drop in production this season. Following his career year in 2000, Hidalgo decreased his flyball tendencies and corresponding power numbers. He suffered a simultaneous drop in his batting average, perhaps due to a combination of his less than stellar batting eye and pitchers learning his weaknesses, but regardless of a specific cause, he's left fighting a losing battle for a starting position.

The Astros recalled Jason Lane to fill Hidalgo's roster spot. Lane debuted in May but remained in the majors for less than a week. He received another call-up in early August but Houston sent him down in order to clear a roster spot for the activation of Brian L. Hunter from the DL four days before Hidalgo went on the disabled list. Due to manager Jimy Williams' aversion to youth, Lane didn't receive many of the at-bats opened by Hidalgo's slump before his injury. I don't expect he'll play much more in September. While he still needs to work on his plate discipline, he demonstrated in AAA this season that he's ready for the majors and will deserve regular playing time next season.

Houston's 40-man roster is fairly full of prospects rather than journeyman, but they already possessed a strong bench so they didn't need to call up a bunch of AAAA pinch hitters. The call-ups they've made should improve the team for their stretch run. However, they're currently closer to the division than the wild card, and I don't expect them to overtake the Cardinals despite St. Louis' seemingly continuously disintegrating team.