Declining Doug Brocail's $3.2 million option was a smart move by Ed Wade and the Astros.

Unless Doug Brocail is willing to come back for no more than $1.5 million, I would say goodbye to him and seek other options. And even that would make me second guess the Astros, because that could be money well spent on other areas of the team

Truth is, I can live without Doug Brocail in 2009.

I don't think he's a "make or break" type of ballplayer at this point in his career. He can have value to a team when he's well rested, but given a heavy workload or even a normal workload, he'll show signs of fatigue, bad pitching and he's also a loose canon with his emotions on the mound.

I like what we already have with Jose Valverde, LaTroy Hawkins, Wesley Wright, Geoff Geary and Chris Sampson. I think we can convert Brian Moehler and Brandon Backe ( if he's kept ) into long relievers next season, spot starting if there's any injuries to our new look starting rotation.

I mean eh, I'm not really losing any sleep one way or another, regarding Doug Brocail.

I don't sleep much anyway, but still...