A while back we had a question about Brandon Backe's status regarding the possibility of his being sent to Round Rock. Alyson Footer answered in her mailbag:
"In order to send Backe to Triple-A, he'd have to clear waivers and agree to go. He'd also get paid the full $1.55 million he signed for this winter. So a Minor League assignment probably isn't in his future. If he doesn't make the team because one of the veterans you mentioned pitched well enough to merit a roster spot, the Astros could trade Backe, or they could release him by a certain date late in Spring Training and only be responsible for a portion of his salary."
So that may not happen.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
