Astros' Closer: Cursed or Just Bad Luck?

Well, maybe not cursed. But it does seem like it.

After failing to nail down two out of three save chances, Astros fans are already cringing at the thought of having another "broken" closer.

And who can blame them? After last season's drama with Brad Lidge, it almost seems like Billy Wagner put a curse on the Astros when he was traded to the Phillies before the 2004 season.

It is hard to have faith in a closer when Valverde, coming off an amazing year with the Diamondbacks, fails to convert two early-season save chances.

Astros fans saw this same thing when Brad Lidge converted 42 saves in 2005 but then suffered post-traumatic Pujols disorder and never got back to his normal form, self-imploding last season.

But Brad Lidge is in the past. Let's take a look at Jose Valverde.

Valverde was brought to the Astros because Lidge had fallen out of the front office's confidence, and after trading another closer to the Phillies (do they ever keep a closer?), Ed Wade figured that Valverde was the best to fill the big clown shoes that Lidge left.

After the big season last year, Valverde was poised to become a premier closer.

Problem? Hitters adjusted just like they did to Lidge. Valverde is having trouble keeping the ball in the park. He has four homeruns in 7.1 innings this season. He let up just seven in 64.1 innings all of last season.

This is the main weakness of a good pitcher. After one good season, hitters adjust and the pitcher doesn't know how to come back because he's never had this problem.

But Roy Oswalt did it. He had three horrible starts, followed by a gem against the Phillies, ironically.

As an Astros fan, I am confident that Valverde will return to his previous form that made him the NL saves leader in 2007.

If he doesn't, well, there is always Doug Brocail to help out.