Morgan

Ensberg

You’d think those stats would earn Ensberg more playing time, or make him more attractive for 2005, but the Astros, regardless of manager, just don’t seem to trust him as an everyday player.

Ensberg said there hasn’t been much change in how his back feels. There’s nothing to be accomplished by putting him on the DL, but with the Astros winning nine in a row without him they won’t be in any hurry to return him to the lineup. Go another direction.

Ensberg hasn’t started since Aug. 27 because of a back injury, and appears to have lost his job to Mike Lamb for the rest of the season.

Ensberg is day-to-day. Given the random nature of his starting assignments anyway, this might be a good week to leave him reserved.

At least it’s improving. Ensberg says his back is just “tight” now, as opposed to having “a knife” in it.

“Today I’m going to try not to do anything and give that a shot,” he said. Mike Lamb is smoking, so Ensberg shouldn’t be counted on down the stretch in fantasy leagues.

His back injury is improving however, and Ensberg should be able to play later in the week.

Manager Jimy Williams plans to split time between Geoff Blum and Ensberg at third, but so far it hasn’t been much of a split.

It never would have happened if Ensberg had heard the shouts of coaches and teammates. With the bases loaded and no outs, he fielded a grounder and stepped on third for the first out. Instead of throwing home to cut down the runner on a tag play at the plate, he went around the horn to complete the triple. The play inspired the team to come back from a five-run deficit to even their record at 60-60. At the plate, Ensberg went 1-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.

''He needs to hit doubles and home runs, because that’s the way you drive in runs,’' Garner said. ''We need him to be a big run producer, and he’s swinging the bat good this spring.’' It’s not inconceivable that Ensberg could even open the season as Houston’s cleanup hitter behind Jeff Bagwell with Lance Berkman injured.