According to Alyson Footer of astros.mlb.com Miguel Tejada will not play in the World Baseball Classic.

“Tejada is apparently low on the shortstop depth chart for the Dominican team, behind Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez. It’s likely he would have been asked to play first base, a position he has never played in the big leagues.

“I heard from somebody that they’re going to make me play first base or another position,” Tejada said. “I don’t want to do that. I feel I’m a good enough shortstop for me to be playing my position. If they think that I’m not, it’s good to let somebody else play.

“I love my country and I respect my country. I don’t want to do something where I can hurt my country. If I play another position that I’ve never played, I might hurt my country. I might make an error, because I don’t know how to play first base. I don’t know how to play another position. I could do something wrong, and I don’t want to do that.”

Cecil Cooper had this to say about Tejada:

“He’s a key component to what we do defensively,” Cooper said. “He’s got to do his work. You take a person out of that comfort zone, it makes it tough for him. He’s not 22 anymore. He needs to work on things he needs to work on.”

Some media links for today:

Richard Justice makes 15 “rock-solid” predictions for the Astros’ 2009 season including Roy Oswalt winning the Cy Young and Lance Berkman winning the MVP.

Jose de Jesus Ortiz gives a look-in to Houston’s intra-squad game today.

Alyson Footer writes in her Spring Training blog about her day today at Spring Training, including her having to ask Darin Erstad about his face injury.

Finally, former star of Teen Wolf Tim Kurkjian posts an Astros video on his Spring Training blog.  The way the video finishes will make any Stros fan smile.

According to Alyson Footer of astros.mlb.com Toby Hall has a torn labrum. 

“Catcher Toby Hall received bad news Saturday morning when the MRI taken on his right shoulder revealed “an unstable shoulder and a torn labrum.”"

Hall was one of the many catchers vying for a spot on the roster out of Spring Training.  Hall will be sidelined for at least a month.

According to Alyson Footer of astros.mlb.com, the Astros will not be signing Pudge Rodriguez.  When asked about the free agent catcher, this is what Ed Wade had to say:

“We’re not signing Pudge,” Wade said. “Put that one to rest. We have no expectation to sign Pudge.”

Can’t get much clearer than that.

A few links for some interesting columns of today:

Richard Justice looks at both sides of the Astros possibly signing Pudge Rodriguez.

Brian McTaggart gives his take on the risk of Roy Oswalt pitching in the World Baseball Classic.

Alyson Footer reports that Roy Oswalt will stand by Miguel Tejada.

Jose de Jesus Ortiz talks to Hunter Pence about the dangers of glass doors and the benefits of stickers on said glass doors.

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.