Every Astro fan left and right is screaming about Jose Valverde and why he should not be the closer. Everybody is angry about the 2 blown saves and he hasn't pitched well in other games. The problem is we are not even out of the 1st month of the season. Closers go through struggles. Mariano Rivera has struggled for long stretches before. Cecil Cooper has to keep him in there for now to see if he can figure it out. Doug Brocail is not the answer. Maybe down the line we'll see Felipe Paulino get a shot a closing after his return from his injury. Hopefully that won't be necessary and Valverde will be pitching like he did last year. Despite what some say, he has the stuff to be a closer. Let's just hope he can figure it.
On the bright side, the starting pitching has been amazing. I was a big supporter of signing Shawn Chacon and putting Chris Sampson in the rotation and both have not disappointed. Wandy is looking like an ace (at least at home) and Backe has looked great as the #2. If Roy can get back to being himself, what was a perceived weakness could be a strength.
Also I'm curious how things will change once Ty Wigginton & Kaz Matsui come off the DL. I like Loretta at 2nd base and batting 2nd. I'm not sure if I want his bat out of the lineup. Maybe there will be a platoon at 2nd. Ty Wigginton picked the wrong time to get hurt because Geoff Blum may have stolen his job. He has played much better defense than Ty and is producing at the plate.
