Geoff Geary News

Every December, teams decide they don't want to pay some of their players the going rate.

Now, he is a slick-fielding Gold Glove candidate, National League stolen bases leader and the Astros ' most consistent player.

Jeff Fulchino spent much of the first six weeks of the regular season burning up the road between the Astros' Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock and Houston.

This has become utterly ridiculous at this point. Carlos Lee has cost this team so much that it's completely inexcusable for him to dog it down the line in late game situations.

In an otherwise poor-performing rotation for the Astros' Class AA affiliate in Corpus Christi, the 24-year-old Dominican, Polin Trinidad, is emerging as one of the team's and the Texas League's top pitchers.

In what is becoming an increasingly familiar occurrence, Astros center fielder Michael Bourn was again surrounded by reporters following Sunday's game.

Geoff Geary #29 of the Houston Astros pitches during the Opening Day game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 13, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

THE team's win over the Pittsburgh Pirates set the cheery mood last weekend at the kickoff reception for the Astros Wives 20th annual Black Ties & Baseball Caps Gala.

There will be no more visits by Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers' clubhouse during media access periods for the remainder of his 50-game suspension.

Lefthanded reliever Wesley Wright, who was on the club's opening-day roster, rejoined the Astros from Class AAA Round Rock on Friday for what likely was going to be a one- or two-day stint.

Righthanded reliever Geoff Geary, who expected to come off the disabled list soon, was outrighted to Class AAA Round Rock and must decide if he'll accept the demotion or become a free agent.

The Astros outrighted pitcher Geoff Geary to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday after he cleared waivers upon being reinstated from the 15-day disabled list.

ON DECK: CHICAGO Cubs at Astros When/where: 7:05 p.m. today and Wednesday; 1:05 p.m. Thursday; Minute Maid Park.

Astros second baseman Kaz Matsui, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, will start a four-game rehab assignment with Class AA Corpus Christi tonight against Midland.

Some of you aren't too impressed with the Astros' current stretch, as if wins against bad teams don't count in the standings.

Jose Valverde will throw rehab outings for Class AA Corpus Christi on Wednesday and Thursday to finish his rehabilitation from a strained right calf muscle that has kept him out since April 26.

As catcher Ivan Rodriguez, left, listens, Astros starter Roy Oswalt, middle, receives encouragement from pitching coach Dewey Robinson during a rocky second inning.

Astros third baseman Geoff Blum, though admittedly not 100 percent healthy, returned to the starting lineup Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies for the first time since he was removed from a game with a strained hamstring May 24.

Geoff Geary was back out on a mound at a Major League ballpark for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks Sunday.

"Next week I'm going to throw bullpens and then live batting practice," said Valverde, who had about 60 cc's of fluid drained from his right calf over April 30 and May 1. "Then the week after that I'll go to Round Rock or Double-A. That's what I'm expecting." Valverde plans to play catch and sprint at PNC Park.