http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/645 Recent articles about Jose Valverde en-us More photos » by Al Behrman - AP 6 months ago: Houston Astros' Lance Berkman slides into third base with a triple in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, May 26, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) Browse more photos » My original plan for this was to write this on my hour long layover in Dallas, en route to Houston.  Unfortunately, those plans wer... Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:20:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Thanksgiving_Astros_etc_Round_Up/1636214 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Thanksgiving_Astros_etc_Round_Up/1636214 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Thanksgiving_Astros_etc_Round_Up/1636214 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/2/421c944657779e3eacdc8b5aafff0e94c47e3d8a/small/80537332.jpg More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP Before you can criticize a man, you have a to walk a mile in his shoes. Here's your chance to have free reign with Eddy in the future. Browse more photos » We're pretty much at the first of two nadir's for the baseball offseason (is that possible in the logical sense?).  This week and then those two of purgatory before pitchers and catchers report.  ... Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:46:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/GM_for_the_day_What_would_you_do_if_Ed_Wade_handed_you_the_key_to_the_Astros/1630120 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/GM_for_the_day_What_would_you_do_if_Ed_Wade_handed_you_the_key_to_the_Astros/1630120 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/GM_for_the_day_What_would_you_do_if_Ed_Wade_handed_you_the_key_to_the_Astros/1630120 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/1/61be763630e72f3ed1744c5072fd36afac1bba3e/small/MLB_MAY_14_a8e5.jpg The real offseason is about to arrive. The one in which studs like Jose Valverde have decisions to make. Ken Rosenthal explains. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:39:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Real_offseason_intrigue_is_about_to_begin/1628232 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Real_offseason_intrigue_is_about_to_begin/1628232 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Real_offseason_intrigue_is_about_to_begin/1628232 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/9/2998dcbe58a3a5a224eeeae58f350d4c483b0feb/small/Houston_Astros_vs_83c2.jpg In his most recent blog post, ESPN's Buster Olney says that besides their outfield needs their main focus will be their bullpen and in all likelihood will look to land two relievers. Olney also said that "it's unclear whether New York GM Brian Cashman is going to be willing to give up his first-round pick in the draft for a set-up man."Names Olney mentions as possible targets were Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez, Jose Valverde and Brandon Lyon.To me getting the starting rotati... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:12:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Olney_Yanks_Looking_To_Land_Two_Relievers/1624808 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Olney_Yanks_Looking_To_Land_Two_Relievers/1624808 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Olney_Yanks_Looking_To_Land_Two_Relievers/1624808 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/d/1d28e437607748baa92816b34baca4cb2261916f/small/New_York_Yankees_13e5.jpg by David J. Phillip - AP Will the Hawk be back in Houston? View full size photo » We already covered the basics of the reliever market with Jose Valverde's profile, so I thought the most illuminating thing to do with Hawkins is to see which teams might actually need a closer this winter. That, of course, is going to be the difference in him signing for 5-7 million and 2-3 million. Hawkins has saved almost exactl... Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:49:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_Profile_LaTroy_Hawkins/1594824 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_Profile_LaTroy_Hawkins/1594824 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_Profile_LaTroy_Hawkins/1594824 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/9/2998dcbe58a3a5a224eeeae58f350d4c483b0feb/small/Houston_Astros_vs_83c2.jpg More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP Just give us a sign, Ed. Browse more photos » I just got finished reading this piece by Brian McTaggart.  I read it; I read it again, and then I thought, "Sonofabitch." Why? Because I can't discern a single line of thought from McTaggart's interview that would indicate there's any kind of plan for the Astros.  I don't need a b... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:02:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Plan_Schman_What_is_the_Astros_front_office_thinking/1588037 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Plan_Schman_What_is_the_Astros_front_office_thinking/1588037 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Plan_Schman_What_is_the_Astros_front_office_thinking/1588037 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/a/bab8c14e08ee30e01704222776dbeaad1ce5aca5/small/Miguel_Tejada_4_ac1e.jpg More photos » by Alan Diaz - AP Browse more photos » Why are we fretting so much about Jose Valverde and LaTroy Hawkins? I mean aside from the fact that they're talented pitchers with above average ability.  Closers, and the set-up men whose shoulders they stand on, enter games in situations where we as fans have our stomach in knots.  In someone like Valverde's case, he toes the rubber and pumps 97 MP... Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:39:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/The_Astros_most_impressive_performances_in_2009_The_relievers/1581536 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/The_Astros_most_impressive_performances_in_2009_The_relievers/1581536 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/The_Astros_most_impressive_performances_in_2009_The_relievers/1581536 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/9/2998dcbe58a3a5a224eeeae58f350d4c483b0feb/small/Houston_Astros_vs_83c2.jpg by Pat Sullivan - AP Valverde found out how much money he could save with Geico... View full size photo » I recently read these two posts on Sabernomics by JC Bradbury about free agency. They got me thinking about how the Astros crop of free agents fits into the market, what kinds of deals comparable players got last season and what we could expect the (former) hometown boys to get this winter. Thus, another mini-ser... Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_Profile_Jose_Valverde/1536840 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_Profile_Jose_Valverde/1536840 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_Profile_Jose_Valverde/1536840 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/9/2998dcbe58a3a5a224eeeae58f350d4c483b0feb/small/Houston_Astros_vs_83c2.jpg No matter where Valverde winds up this offseason, this 9th inning intro needs to live on. Classic, classic stuff:So how about Jose Valverde, the free agent? Let's take a look:The Case for Valverde-DominantAside from a rough April (5.63 ERA), Valverde has been lights out this season for the Astros. From May through September, Valverde's ERA never exceeded 2.16. In addition, batters only hit .207 against Valverde this season, which is right in line with his career .208 BAA. Those are so... Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:45:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Free_Agent_at_the_End_of_the_Season_Jose_Valverde/1317711 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Free_Agent_at_the_End_of_the_Season_Jose_Valverde/1317711 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Free_Agent_at_the_End_of_the_Season_Jose_Valverde/1317711 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/9/2998dcbe58a3a5a224eeeae58f350d4c483b0feb/small/Houston_Astros_vs_83c2.jpg My old (blog) buddy Tim Dierkes writes mlb trade rumors. I was looking through it the other day at an entry discussing Jose Valverde's impending free agency and noticed that he stated that Jose is 32. I thought - Tim mis-typed, I'd better send him a note. You see, Jose's birthday is July 24, which is Barry Lamar Bonds and Barry Lamar Dog's birthday, so I PARTICULARLY remembered that, and I also remembered the talk about him turning 30 this July. (I also noted that it was more... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:50:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/What_Is_Jose_Valverde_aposs_Real_Birthday/1138746 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/What_Is_Jose_Valverde_aposs_Real_Birthday/1138746 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/What_Is_Jose_Valverde_aposs_Real_Birthday/1138746 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/9/2998dcbe58a3a5a224eeeae58f350d4c483b0feb/small/Houston_Astros_vs_83c2.jpg More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP Browse more photos » With Fox Sports reporting that the Astros had to pull Jose Valverde off of waivers today, so ends whatever pipe dreams some of us may have harbored about landing some worth while talent via his trade.   I can't say that I am overly surprised by this turn of events, but also I can't say that I am not a little bit saddened.  The ability t... Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:51:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Astros_pull_Valverde_off_waivers_after_claim/1018242 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Astros_pull_Valverde_off_waivers_after_claim/1018242 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Astros_pull_Valverde_off_waivers_after_claim/1018242 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/4/449303ac373f54f492ce77d5055b059d369bef80/small/PicImg_MLB_April_17_2937.jpg Every now and then, I think back on a trade the Astros made in the past few years and it either makes me angry, sad or depressed. To torture myself more, sometimes I comb through the archives to come up with an analysis on exactly how badly a particular trade hurt. This is the first in what may become a recurring series of Trade Reviews. First up, the December 14, 2007 trade of Chris Burke, Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls for Jose 'El Papa Grande' Valverde. I want to be up front a... Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:12:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Trade_Review_Jose_Valverde/974423 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Trade_Review_Jose_Valverde/974423 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Trade_Review_Jose_Valverde/974423 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/4/449303ac373f54f492ce77d5055b059d369bef80/small/PicImg_MLB_April_17_2937.jpg More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP Jeff Francouer was thrown out by Hunter Pence while attempting to score a run in the eighth inning. Browse more photos » As Jose Valverde took the mound to begin the ninth inning, the Mets' offense hadn't gone down in order since the fourth. A shaky effort by starter Mike Hampton was followed by Jeff Fulchino, Alberto Arias and LaTroy Hawkins walking the tightrop... Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:23:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jose_Valverde_and_his_red_glove_dont_falter_Astros_extend_winning_streak_to_four/869251 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jose_Valverde_and_his_red_glove_dont_falter_Astros_extend_winning_streak_to_four/869251 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jose_Valverde_and_his_red_glove_dont_falter_Astros_extend_winning_streak_to_four/869251 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/4/449303ac373f54f492ce77d5055b059d369bef80/small/PicImg_MLB_April_17_2937.jpg More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP You're too big to hide in your jersey, Jose. Browse more photos » For those of you keeping score at home, the Astros are now 19/34 in save opportunities. Their fifteen blown saves ties them, surprisingly, with the Dodgers for second worst in baseball. Defending NL saves leader Jose Valverde is only 6/10 in converting save opportunities this season. A win yesterda... Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:35:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Good_Valverde_Bad_Valverde_Ozzie_rips_Cubsfan/752892 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Good_Valverde_Bad_Valverde_Ozzie_rips_Cubsfan/752892 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Good_Valverde_Bad_Valverde_Ozzie_rips_Cubsfan/752892 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/4/449303ac373f54f492ce77d5055b059d369bef80/small/PicImg_MLB_April_17_2937.jpg