Doug Brocail News

Closer Jose Valverde was the only Houston Astros free agent to get offered arbitration Tuesday, meaning he can accept the offer and return to Houston in 2010, or reject arbitration to sign with another team.

The Astros might not be in position to sign any marquee names when free agency begins in earnest Friday, but general manager Ed Wade is still confident he can improve the club in the coming weeks through either trades or free agency.

When it comes to free agency, the Astros are going to keep an eye focused on bullpen help, especially considering closer Jose Valverde and setup man LaTroy Hawkins are both free agents, and Doug Brocail's option for 2010 has been declined.

Sure, this one wasna TMt up to the Tigers, but boy, did it work out. Randy Smith wanted to keep Gonzalez in Detroit.

As expected, Astros closer Jose Valverde officially filed for free agency on Monday.

The Astros have made a handful of moves through the first month of the off season.

The new owner of the Chicago Cubs didn't wait long to make a promise: Tom Ricketts said the Cubs are going to win the World Series.

According to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, the Houston Astros have named Brad Arnsberg as their new pitching coach.

On this date 24 years ago, I married Karen Thompson. We had met 11 weeks earlier -- yes, 11 weeks -- at a concert and proceeded through a whirlwind romance that seems like only yesterday.

Even though Wandy Rodriguez's final start of 2009 will go down as a loss, the left-hander's breakout campaign was arguably the biggest bright spot in a season dominated by black clouds for the Astros.

The Astros will be the last National League team to get their first look at new Citi Field this weekend.

TV: Comcast SportsNet. Radio: WPHT ; WUBA Spanish. Ticket info: The Phillies have about 1,500 tickets remaining for tonight's game.

Doug Brocail usually has his mind made up at this time each year if he's going to play another season, but the veteran right-hander remains indecisive entering the final week of the 2009 campaign.

When the regular season ends next week, LaTroy Hawkins will pack up his car and make the four-hour drive to Prosper, Texas, and wait for his next opportunity.

Well, why not start off with what little good news there was from this embarassing game: 1 - Michael Bourn hit 2 changeups and, in fact, hit the second off the RF wall.

Cincinnati Bottom 6th - Brandon Phillips grounded out second to first scored Paul Janish with one out.

I honestly don't know why I bother to watch any more, except to hope that Coop makes even more stupid decisions so he'll be fired, because I'll tell all yall straight, if he is not gone, along with the crappy other coaches, I'm quitting until Drayton wises up.

News: Brian Moehler was good, not great on Tuesday. He allowed three runs on six hits over 5.1 innings, but was handed his tenth loss of the season as the Astros fell to the Cubs 4-1. Michael Bourn News: Michael Bourn went 3-for-4 and stole his 49th base in the Astros 4-1 loss to the Cubs on Tuesday night.

"It's just remarkable that he's come this far," manager Cecil Cooper said of Boone, who underwent open-heart surgery March 26.

Four days after Aaron Boone, Doug Brocail and Wesley Wright were activated from the disabled list when rosters were expanded, catcher J.R. Towles will become the Astros' first true September call-up today.