Brian McTaggart gives injury updates on Moehler and Kaz as well as some info on the stros, all in a negative light as Tag tends to do.

Jose de Jesus Ortiz officialy opens up the “negative free zone,” or as I like to call it, the anti-McTaggart zone. He does his best to shed some positivity on the Astros‘ current situation, from the major-league to the minor-league level.

Finally, head over to Astros County and join the debate on whether or not the Astros should move to the AL West. I say no way Jose.

Jose de jesus Ortizof the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Astros have renewed outfielder Hunter Pence’s contract for 09 for $450,000. 

It sounds like the front office is trying to work out a deal to pay Pence more and that the deal may be worked out by March 11th.  He definitely deserves more than that.

If Pence stays in the majors the whole year, which lord help us if he doesn’t, he will be eligible for arbitration in 2010.

According to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle, Miguel Tejada may reconsider his bid to play in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic.

“At the same time, I have to realize that this is the last year in my contract and I need to work hard because I want to show all the other teams that there’s still a lot left in me. God willing, I want to start the season well to see if Houston wants me to stay here, which would be my desire.”

With Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins and Jose Reyes of the New York Mets playing for the Dominican squad, Tejada is looking like the odd man out at short.  Because he may have to play a different position than that of the one he plays for Houston, Tejada is reconsidering. 

“I think it’s more important for me to prepare to play short, because that’s what I’ll play here,” he said. “But as I’ve said, I’ve always been honored to represent my country. It doesn’t matter how I represent it, I have always loved to wear my country’s jersey and hold my country’s flag.”

Tejada said that with the Astros’ approval, he would still play in the WBC at a different position, but only if they OK’d it.

“I can’t go to the Classic to play another position when I have a team where I work and then I’d go play another position. I think for Houston it would be an honor for me to go there and play my position. Even if it wasn’t every day, but at least I’d be playing the position I’d be playing here the whole season.

“If the team accepts that I go and play another position, I’d even be a catcher. I’d play any position they’d tell me to play. But first I have to check with the team. I don’t know what decision the team will make.”

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.

Richard Justice discusses first round draft pick Jason Castro’s playing time this spring.

Jose de Jesus Ortiz talks to Cecil Cooper about his contract status with the team.

And finally, Dan Shaugnessy relives some great Spring Training moments while making me wish I had his job…well, if he covered Houston.

Roy Oswalt was looking good today Jose de Jesus Ortiz reports from Spring Training.  On Roy Oswalt throwing BP to Reggie Abercrombie and Lance Berkman.

“Two pitches later, Oswalt and the rest of the group broke out laughing at the unmistakable sound a ball makes when it breaks a bat.

“Man,” Abercrombie yelled. “That’s a brand new bat. That’s brand new.”

Not anymore. Berkman followed Abercrombie, and Oswalt broke one of the perennial All-Star’s bats, too.”

Here is what Cecil Cooper had to say about Roy :

“Roy actually threw the ball really, really well,” he said. “He seemed to have a lot of life on his ball. His ball was moving. He worked on his changeup a little bit. Roy looked pretty good. He actually threw some breaking balls too. The slow one and the hard one. He threw the ball well. It was good for him to see that up and down (five-minute break between throwing).

“Today he threw five (minutes) and then sat down for five and went back. We’re trying to simulate a little bit of what will happen in games to try to get them ready for games. It was good. I thought he threw the ball really well. He’s on pace to be able to do his pitching for the WBC. He’s good.”

Check out his post for more.

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.