Crooked Pitch

Apparently unhappy with the prospect of going into the 2009 season with a depth chart that starts with Geoff Blum and bounces to Aaron “f*&$in’” Boone at third base, the Houston Astros have invited 24-year-old minor leaguer Chris Johnson to Spring Training where he’ll battle for the position.

In 330 Double-A at-bats last year, Johnson hit .324/.364/.506 with 24 doubles and 12 home runs. He was promoted to Triple-A where he floundered for 101 at-bats with a .218/.252/.287 line and two doubles and a home run.