Barmes to miss 4-6 weeks with fracture in hand

The Houston Astros were already faced with stinking in the 2011 season, and now their outlook looks a little bit worse. They’ll have to start the season with a backup shortstop as Clint Barmes will miss 4-6 weeks with a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal in his left hand.

Barmes initially thought he’d be fine after he got hit on the hand by a pitch in a loss on Friday to the New York Yankees. Based on what we wrote in the first paragraph, he won’t just be fine and rubbing dirt on it probably won’t help.

“It’s definitely pretty frustrating to hear I’m going to have to miss time,” Barmes said. “After last night, talking to the doctor and going through some of the tests he was giving me, it looked very promising. There was a small fracture in the X-ray, and they’re saying it needs time to heal before we push it and try to get back to doing baseball activities.

“I’m hoping and am going to be trying to get back as soon as possible, but I can only push it as much as they’ll let me.”

Barmes is expected back some time in May, and with Jeff Keppinger also sidelined, look for Angel Sanchez to open the season at SS.