Hope this isn't a sign of things to come. Monday April 2 7:21 PM ET Astros OF Alou Placed on DL HOUSTON (AP) - Moises Alou was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday by Houston because of a right calf strain, and the Astros recalled pitcher Scott Linebrink from Triple-A New Orleans. Alou missed the 1999 season recovering from reconstructive knee surgery and he was sidelined part of last season with a strain in his right calf. He played in 126 games last season, hitting .355 with 114 RBIs and 30 home runs. Daryle Ward likely will replace Alou in the starting lineup for Tuesday's opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. ``If he played the whole year, he'd probably hit about as many home runs as Moises and cover almost as much ground,'' manager Larry Dierker said. ``But when one or two wins can be the difference I wouldn't want to go the whole year without Moises even though we did it two years ago.'' The Astros also purchased the contract of infielder Orlando Merced from New Orleans and designated pitcher Jose Cabrera for assignment. Alou was put on the DL retroactive to last Thursday. ------------------ "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."- (Aldous Huxley)
