Astros Want Enron Gone

The Houston Astros don’t want the name “Enron Field” atop their ballpark.

In a motion filed Tuesday with the New York court overseeing Enron’s bankruptcy, the Astros want the court to force Enron to make a decision on whether to honor the 30-year, $100-million naming rights agreement signed in 1999.

Enron, which filed for bankruptcy protection in December, is refusing to give up the naming rights. So far, Enron has made three annual payments totaling $10.25 million and is current on its payments, the Astros said.

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Chicago Cub prospect Ben Christensen settled a lawsuit filed by Anthony Molina, the batter standing in the on-deck circle when hit in the left eye by a Christensen warmup pitch in a college game three years ago. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed.

Molina, who had sued Christensen for $2 million in damages, suffered skull fractures and numerous eye injuries. He alleged Christensen threw at him on purpose.

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Pitcher Glendon Rusch, obtained by Milwaukee from the New York Mets in the Jeromy Burnitz trade last month, agreed to a $7.3-million, two-year contract with the Brewers....Right-hander Jose Jimenez and Colorado agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,937,500.