KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA (AP) -- Down in the Florida sun, Houston's offense has been anything but sizzling.
The Astros' team batting average has been hovering around .220 with some members of the starting lineup hitting under .100.
Spring training statistics don't count, but it's still tough for manager Cecil Cooper to watch.
"I've never seen anything like this in 41 years in baseball," he said. "It's not easy to sit through."
Houston's manager, who is in his second full year in charge of the team, holds the stat sheet and ticks off the dreadful numbers which recently included two .067s and an .080.
"How often do you see that at spring training?" he asks after placing it aside with a disgusted look on his face.
Star slugger Lance Berkman scoffed at the thought that the poor batting is reason for concern.
"I'm not worried about anything, because it doesn't count," he said.
The Astros had hoped the return of shortstop Miguel Tejada from the World Baseball Classic would spark the offense. It hasn't worked so far with Tejada going 0-for-3 in his return Saturday.
He, too, noted that spring training statistics aren't important, but knows the team should start looking better as opening day inches closer.
"I worry," he said. "Everybody should worry because we should start doing some good (in) spring training," he said.
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BACKE STILL OUT:@ Injured pitcher Brandon Backe met with doctors about the strained muscles in his left side, but his condition remains virtually unchanged.
The only treatment for the painful ailment is rest and Cooper doesn't have an exact timetable for his return. Cooper said it could keep him out another 8-10 days, but no one is sure when he'll return.
"It will be a while," Cooper said. "Not a whole lot of progress."
Backe was expected to compete for a spot in the rotation, but as his absence continues, Cooper is concerned it could compromise his shot. That long a layoff will make it difficult for Backe to build up arm strength with opening day less than a month away.
"So you've got 12 days to get ready and if you're a starting pitcher, I don't know," he said. "If you're counted on to go some innings, I don't know ... he's only gone two innings, 40 pitches or something. So there's a little concern there."
Backe is frustrated with the injury and said it's more difficult because there isn't any rehabilitation that will make it heal quicker.
"So I'm just hoping that when I wake up one day in the next couple of days it will be pretty much gone and I can do all the activities I need to do to get back on the mound," he said.
Still, he laments getting hurt and knows it could keep him out of the rotation.
"That's inevitable that it does," he said. "That's pretty obvious. (But) I'm not worried about anything like that. I'm more concerned about the injury thing than what the injury's actually done for my situation."
Backe was 9-14 with a 6.05 ERA last year in his first full season after having Tommy John surgery on his elbow in 2006.
With Backe out, the Astros were pleased Wandy Rodriguez and Chris Sampson felt good on Sunday, a day after pitching upon return from their injuries.
Rodriguez had struggled with the same injury as Backe and Sampson was recovering from offseason elbow surgery.
"They had no problems," Cooper said. "I'm very happy. It makes you feel good to know that."
Also, pitcher Alberto Arias should be OK after bruising his right hand when it was hit by a line drive on Saturday. An examination Sunday morning by Dr. David Lintner found he did not need an X-ray on the injury.
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EXTRA BASES:@ The Astros sent five players to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. RHP Samuel Gervacio, LHPs Tyler Lumsden and Polin Trinidad, outfielder Yordany Ramirez and infielder Drew Sutton were sent down. Infielder Mark Saccomanno, a non-roster invitee to camp, was reassigned to minor league camp. Cooper said he saw good things from all the players moved Sunday, but most of them need some time until they'll be ready to play in the majors. "Sammy (Gervacio) is a guy that's going to open some eyes real soon," Cooper said. "His stuff is good."
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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