... the mention of anal fissures returns http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/5853983.html Injury lands Astros' Matsui on 15-day DL Kaz Matsui was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an injury in his right hamstring, and the Astros recalled infielder-outfielder David Newhan from Class AAA Round Rock to take Matsui's place on the 25-man roster. Matsui injured the leg while running out a ground ball in the sixth inning Sunday's win over host Tampa Bay. Mark Loretta will start at second base for Tuesday's series opener against the Texas Rangers and will bat second. While Loretta will get most of the playing time at the position, manager Cecil Cooper did not rule out the possibility that Geoff Blum or Ty Wigginton would get a start at second. There's not a big drop in batting from Matsui, who is hitting .271, to Loretta, who is hitting .264, especially considering that Loretta has a .372-.342 advantage in on-base percentage. But the Astros will be less likely to steal bases with Matsui's 15 steals in 18 attempts out of the lineup. The 15-day disabled list assignment leaves open the possibility that Matsui will return by the All-Star break, but there's no definite timetable beyond that. "He's getting treatment today, and we'll just go from day-to-day," Cooper said. It is the second DL stint of the season for Matsui, who missed the team's first 16 games with an anal fissure. The injury also kept him out for much of spring training.
