CINCINNATI -- As a kid growing up in Galveston, Texas, Brandon Backe attended his fair share of games at the Astrodome. He idolized Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, and he has vivid memories of watching Biggio when he first came up to the big leagues as a catcher.

Nearly 16 years have passed since Biggio last caught in a Major League game, but that streak will end this weekend when Biggio crouches behind the plate for one inning, maybe two, to catch Backe on Saturday.

Biggio originally had planned to catch Roy Oswalt on Friday, but after the right-hander shut it down for the year, Biggio turned to Backe, for two reasons. He doesn't throw too hard, and he figured Backe would get a kick out of pitching to someone he admired as a young Astros fan in the late 1980s and '90s.

Biggio was right on both counts.

"I guess it's kind of fitting for someone that grew up watching him as a catcher, and basically throughout his career," Backe said. "To be able to pitch to him ... that would be in a way pretty special to me. I don't know who's getting the better end of the deal, him or me, but it should be pretty interesting and I'm excited."

"After they said [Oswalt's] not going to pitch anymore, it was, all right, who's next?" Biggio said. "Brandon's perfect, he grew up near Houston, he's from there, he cheered for us back in the Astrodome days. I hope he's excited. I'm excited about it. Hopefully it'll go well."

Biggio and Backe had a quick practice session in the bullpen on Wednesday, and Biggio indicated he's ready, or at least, as ready as he's going to be.

"It went well yesterday," Biggio said. "But once the game gets here and you have a hitter and an umpire behind you, it'll probably be a little bit different. After what we went through yesterday, I think we'll be OK. I hope so."

Berkman scratched: Lance Berkman was originally in Thursday's lineup, but was scratched a few hours before game time. The reason given was "knee soreness."

The ailment is not remotely serious, and Berkman is expected to play this weekend when the team returns to Houston for its final homestand.

"It's probably just a one-night soreness," he said.

In other news, catcher Eric Munson is scheduled to have an MRI on his lower back on Friday. Cody Ransom left Thursday's game with a strained right oblique muscle, and Humberto Quintero will be away from the team in order to tend to family issues.

Houston's finest: Cult favorites Bill Brown and Jim Deshaies, better known in Astros circles as Brownie and J.D., were named the best Play-by-Play Announcer and Best Commentator, respectively, in the Houston Press's annual "Best of Houston" Awards.

Also receiving an approving nod from the Press is longtime Minute Maid Park public address announcer Bob Ford, who was named Best Stadium Announcer.

Brown and Deshaies have been calling Astros games on television together since 1997 and in 10 years' time have developed a popular following among fans of all ages.

"It might seem that Brown does little more than play straight man to Deshaies' shtick, but that's not the case at all," the Press writes. "True, he doesn't try to one-up Jimmy D on obscure music references [thankfully]. But he keeps the viewer informed, offers cogent and concise analyses of his own and knows the rules of the game like he knows his own phone number."

Even when the Astros aren't very good, the Press added, "viewers on Fox Sports Southwest or Channel 51 can thoroughly enjoy the game listening to these guys."

Brown and Deshaies usually take a low-key approach when given praise, and this time was no different.

"It's an honor just being nominated," Deshaies said. "They like me! They really like me!"

Memento: Prior to Thursday's game, outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., on behalf of the Reds, met Biggio at home plate to present the soon-to-be-retired second baseman with a framed second base from Great American Ball Park.

Thursday represented the final road game of Biggio's career. At his request, the Astros wore their gray road jerseys, which long ago were phased out in favor of the brick red version favored by club owner Drayton McLane.

Autograph signing: Astros pitchers Dave Borkowski, Chad Qualls and Chris Sampson will sign the just-released 2008 Astros Player and Pet Calendars on Saturday at the Saving Animals Pet Adoption Center at the Northwest Mall, located a 9800 Hempstead Highway at Loop 610.

The autograph session will last two hours, beginning at 10 a.m. CT. The 14-month pet calendars are $15.00 (plus shipping and handling if ordered on-line) and are available at most Texas Petco stores.

Calendars are also available at The Shed souvenir store in Minute Maid Park, in the ballpark souvenir stores in Round Rock and Corpus Christi and at www.astros.com/petcalendar and www.savinganimals.org.

Odds and ends: Thursday marked Biggio's 133rd and final game in Cincinnati, along with his 268th game overall against the Reds. Biggio is one of three players in history have at least 1,000 at-bats against the Reds. The others are Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. ... Standing room only tickets are available for the first two games against the Braves this weekend but Sunday's season finale is completely sold out.

Coming up: The Astros will return home for their final homestand, a short three-game set with the Braves. Friday's game will feature right-hander Matt Albers (4-10, 5.88 ERA) and Braves lefty Jo-Jo Reyes (1-2, 6.75).