From astros.mlb.com:

“Closer Jose Valverde was hoping to miss only the 15 days required after he went on the disabled list earlier this week, but it looks like he’ll be on the shelf longer than that.

Valverde had approximately 20 cc of fluid drained from his right calf at the Methodist Hospital on Thursday by team physician Dr. David Lintner. There is still approximately 60 cc of fluid remaining that will have to be removed on Friday, at which time doctors will make a small incision in order to drain the remaining fluid.

Valverde is expected to miss up to three weeks after the final procedure on Friday. ”

Bad news for Valverde but at least they got him when they did. Hopefully they can get this knocked out and he will be fine for the remainder of the season.

Astros.com: ” Lance Berkman hit in the cage and did some light throwing on Tuesday, but he’s still not ready to play in a live game.”

Sounds like Lance is improving.  Light throwing definately means progress. 

“Berkman may receive an at-bat Wednesday, but he won’t be playing in the field. If that goes well, he’ll DH on Thursday when the Astros play the Double-A Hooks in Corpus Christi. ”

Hopefully Lance will keep improving and be in good shape come opening day.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Here are some tasty links for today:

Injury Update on the Big Puma from Alyson Footer over at astros.com. It’s looking like Lance is going to be ok…eventually.

Astros County takes a look at the players from Houston’s 2005 world series team. Where for art thou Morgan Ensberg?

MLB Trade Rumors gives their review of Houston’s offseason.

And Finally, Jose Lima is back! Lima Time!!

Slow day today as Houston as their last day off before the season starts.  A couple of links for today:

Miguel Tejada gets probation.

Aaron Boone’s heart surgery successful!

Alyson Footer from astros.mlb.com reports that all is well for the Magic Wandy and Chad Paronto:

“By the end of the workday Wednesday, two Astros pitchers had breathed sighs of relief — Chad Paronto, after discovering his shoulder injury isn’t as serious as he first thought, and Wandy Rodriguez, after pitching four innings without feeling any lingering effects from a fingernail issue that hampered him in his last outing.”

Although Coop wont come right out and say it, it looks like Wandy will be the clubs number 2 starter while Paronto will probably start the year in Round Rock.

JJO on Wandy at chon.com: “Although Cecil Cooper has been coy about how he will line up his rotation, it appears evident that the Astros want to at least have Rodriguez lined up as an option to start the second game of the season.

Barring a setback, Rodriguez will start Saturday on three days of rest instead of the usual four. That would put him in line to start an exhibition game again on April 2 and then April 7 against the Chicago Cubs on the second day of the season.

“We’re going to bring him back a little sooner so we can try to line him up a little bit,” Cooper said.

Asked what he was lining Rodriguez up for, Cooper retreated back into his recent stance.

“I’m lining it up,” he said with a chuckle. “You can figure it and fumble all you want.”

Cooper was pleased after watching Rodriguez throw four scoreless innings to beat the Mets 8-0 Tuesday at Osceola County Stadium.”

Here is your Houston Astros Media Round Up for today:

Alyson Footertalks to Houston Astros Pitching Coach Dewie Robinson about what he sees in this years pitching core. “Robinson likes the quality of this group more than the pitchers the Astros had in camp during Spring Training last year.”

There is a nice article on veteran infielder Jason Smith over at Chron.com

Brian McTaggartmakes his projection for Houston’s opening day roster and I gotta say, I think he is pretty much right. I might swap Capellan for Otiz but neither is Brandon Backe which is probably the way it is going to work out. Sorry Brandon.

Astros first round draft pick and catching prospect Max Sapp has suffered two Seizures.  For more info, check out the article at Chron.com.

Finally, Jose de Jesus Ortiz has a few columns you need to check out; De La Vara Impresses, Berkman Hits Road for Game in Sarasota, and Keep Astros Sapp in your Thoughts.

In non Astros related media, there is a good video on spring training autographs that I came across at Big League Stew that will remind you why you love baseball, just in case you forgot.

Your Houston Astros media round up for today:

Brian McTaggart of chron.com reports on Jason Castro and his experiences in big league camp so far.

Astros.com’s Alyson Footer, talks to hitting coach Sean Berry about what he expects from Hunter Pence in 2009.

Finally, Brian McTaggart checks in on some of the injured players and prospects in his Astros notes.