Express Home Opener

The first 3,000 fans Saturday at the Dell with get one of these babies, free of charge

The Round Rock Express began their season with seven games on the road and were able to garner wins in three of those. No need for alarm there. The Express start their home campaign tonight, Friday, April 11 at 7:05pm vs. the New Orleans Zephyrs (the Mets AAA affiliate). The Astros once-dominating farm system has been depleted of late due to trades and call-ups (including head coach Jackie Moore being promoted to the Astros staff) so there are no Troy Pattons, Jason Hirshes, and Hunter Pences on the roster this year. But they have managed to reload with some young talent as well as several players with big-league experience and should look to compete for a division title in the PCL American South. See below the fold for a closer look at a few of the players taking the field for the Express this season and immediately below for their opening homestand series schedule, promotional and otherwise.

Vs. New Orleans Zephyrs:
Friday, April 11, 7:05pm: 2008 magnet schedules for all fans
Saturday, April 12, 7:05pm: Express home caps for the first 3,000 fans
Sunday, April 13, 2:05pm: HEB Kids Day with Express souvenir posters for the first 5,000 fans
Monday, April 14, 7:05pm: One dollar hot dogs and sodas

For tickets call 512/255-BALL (2255) or go to their website.

Here are a few players (with Major League Baseball experience) to watch in '08.

Speedy outfield Reggie Abercrombie narrowly missed making the Astros season-opening roster after Jose Cruz Jr. had a phenomenal spring training landing him a spot in the Minute Maid home-team locker room. (Cruz isn't the only Astros legacy in the organization. Express infielder Lance Niekro is the son of knuckleballin' Joe and was acquired following a stint with the San Francisco Giants organization. If he stays healthy, he could have the chance to show what he's capable of.) Abercrombie's tasty combo of speed and power should make him an exciting player to watch in the leadoff spot, something of a AAA Alfonso Soriano.

Fittingly, Victor Diaz attended school at the Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago where he started his illustrious baseball career. Diaz has 446 career major-league at-bats with the Mets and the Rangers racking up 24 HRs, 73 RBIs, and a .256 batting average. Diaz is off to fast start with Express batting .400 with an awesome 1.020 OPS. It'll be tough for Diaz to make it to the Show with the Astros outfield pretty well set, but if Cruz Jr. gets off to a slow start, either Diaz of Abercrombie should get the call.

Right-hander Runelvys Hernandez's career may be heading toward an end but he's definitely worth taking a look at. Hernandez pitched 453 innings for the Kansas City Royals between 2002-06 but is off to rough beginning to his stint with the Express. As of today, he has one start where he made it through all of 2.1 innings allowing four earned runs and five hits. Nowhere to go but up from there.

See ya at the Dell.