Baseball is a game of ups and downs.  Baseball is back and things are looking up and BAM, Mike Hampton has an irregular heartbeat and Jose Valverde has a forearm infection.

Astros.mlb.com’s Alyson Footer is reporting that a EKG on Mike Hampton earlier today revealed an irregular heartbeat.  Hampton flew back to Houston to undergo a procedure to correct his heartbeat with the application of electrical current. (yikes)

According to Footer, Wade appeared unalarmed by Hampton’s condition.  Wade had this to say:

“From what I understand, it’s not an uncommon condition and it’s not an uncommon procedure he’s going to go through.  They cleared him to work out today without problems. Other than travel time back and forth between here and Houston, we don’t expect him to miss any time.”  Sounds like Hampton should be fine.

Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle  also reported from the Astros Spring Training home in Kissimmee, Fl.  Jose touched on Astros closer Jose Valverde and his condition as of today: “Dr. Michael Link examined Valverde on Monday and prescribed antibiotics to fight an infection that caused severe irritation, swelling and bruising on his forearm.”

Valverde: “I was a little nervous because I wake up in the morning and I see my arm like this and I said, ‘I have to go check with the doctor or trainer (so they can) let me know what happened, what happened.  And the doctor said everything’s good.”

According to both Footer and Ortiz, both players should both be fine and continue their spring training regiment as planned.