Darin Erstad will play the majority of the games in Lee's absence. Lance Berkman will be an option, as will Ty Wigginton. Reggie Abercrombie is also a backup option.

I love Erstad's defense, and I'm glad he's going to be out there most of the time.

Berkman sure looked scared during that lightning storm against the Cubs. What's the deal with that?
-- Steve B., Beaumont, Texas

Berkman was scared, as he should have been. He was also the only one who used any common sense at all when he ran off the field after the, oh, 20th or so clap of lightning and thunder before the umpires finally cleared the field for good.

I have no idea why the umpiring crew was lauded by Cubs executives for their handling of that night. After the first rain delay, the umpires never should have resumed play. Let's be clear about one thing -- the lightning didn't stop, ever. Even when the rain subsided, the lightning continued, which, as we all know, means more rain is on the way.

Here's the bottom line: People get struck by lightning, and people die. This isn't some genius revelation on my part. It's something everyone knows. We learn about it at an early age. Wrigley Field is filled with thousands of metal seats. Players wear metal spikes. It's a dangerous place during a storm.

Thank God no one was hurt that night. And I hope the powers that be were paying attention. When there is lightning anywhere in the vicinity of a ballpark, clear the field. When the lightning seems to be close enough to touch it, clear the stadium. When lightning strikes a fire station less than a half a mile away, run for cover.

But don't play a baseball game.

Do you think the Astros should sign Barry Bonds for the stretch run?
-- Brent L., Houston

Not really, but not for the reasons that teams didn't want to sign him at the beginning of the season. I'm not worried about his legal issues or his bad attitude in the clubhouse, because quite frankly, for two months, I don't think either will be a major factor. I just don't think he'd be very good anymore. Sure, he'll knock a few out of the park here and there and would provide protection for Berkman. But defensively, the guy is pretty much a non-factor. He can barely move in the outfield, and on the basepaths? Forget about it.

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Bonds isn't Bonds from several years ago. I remember Astros pitchers actually challenging him last year, whereas in past years they wouldn't give him anything remotely hittable. He hit some balls really well -- and they died at the warning track.

Right now, owner Drayton McLane and general manager Ed Wade are firm with their stance that they're not interested in Bonds. If the Astros are within four games of the Wild Card in another week, will their opinion change?

And a side note on Cecil Cooper's "if he would come, I would go" quote, referring to the possibility of the Astros signing Bonds, that ended up in a wire report. I feel somewhat responsible for that because I started the line of questioning. Here's what happened: We were in Cooper's office, talking about Bonds, and Cooper gave the standard "I don't think we would be interested" line. I said, "If you sign him, you'll have 75 reporters in the clubhouse at all times and Barry won't talk to the media, so the other players are going to carry the burden. It'll be a zoo." Cooper thought about that, chuckled, and said something along the lines of, "Oh boy, I don't want to deal with that. Tell you what -- if he comes, I go. How about that?"

He said it in jest. He wasn't threatening to quit if Bonds were to come to the Astros. It was an off-the-cuff throwaway quote that meant nothing. Except it meant something to a local wire reporter who doesn't know Cooper, doesn't know the team and literally walked into Cooper's office for no more than seven minutes during his pregame meeting with the media and walked out before it was over.

You'll notice the local beat writers, myself and Brian McTaggart, didn't use that quote. That's because to print it would be to take it completely out of context. Which it was.

What are the chances that the Astros signing the Comeback Player of the Year candidate Brian Moehler to a contract extension for next year or beyond?
-- David M., Austin, Texas

I'm not sure an extension is in the works, but certainly, if I'm the Astros, I'm thinking about more for Moehler than just bringing him to camp as a non-roster Spring Training invitee. He's accomplished enough to deserve a real contract, probably a one-year deal. I'm sure a handful of other teams will be interested, too.

I really like our team this year, except for the pitching. Is there any chance of keeping the position players we have intact next year while just improving the pitching?
-- Matt H., Seabrook, Texas

I don't know what Wade has planned for the offseason, but I imagine he'll concentrate on pitching, and more specifically, starting pitching. I imagine he'll explore some of the free-agent options, minus CC Sabathia, who will be way out of the price range of not only the Astros but at least 23 other teams as well. Ben Sheets could be a possibility, although he's looking for a huge payday and has been injury-prone the last few years. Paying high dollars to someone who is really, really good when healthy, but isn't always healthy, is worrisome.

Other free agents-to-be: Paul Byrd, Ryan Dempster, Derek Lowe, Jon Garland, Braden Looper, Pedro Martinez and Randy Wolf . Any of these catch anyone's fancy? (Andy Pettitte isn't coming back to the Astros, so let's not consider him a viable option.)