Happy Birthday - 3/24

RHP Josh Zeid (25)
Drafted by the Phillies in the 10th round in 2009 from Tulane, Zeid came to Houston as part of the Hunter Pence trade in July 2011.  Zeid was bumped from Low A in 2010 to AA in 2011 by the Phillies and the result was a little rocky as his strikeout rate dipped and his walk rate climbed.  Following the trade, Zeid pitched in 14 games for the Hooks and, although he managed to improve his strikeout and walk rates somewhat, his home run rate (and subsequently his ERA) took a hit.  In the Arizona Fall League, Zeid seemed to find his groove with a 5.00 ERA (3.65 over his final 10 appearances) and 10.5 SO/9 (although his walk rate was still a bit high).  Going into the 2012 season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB has pegged Zeid at #19 in the Astros system, citing a plus fastball and a good slider that will serve him well if he can harness his command.

LHP Brad Dydalewicz (22)
Drafted out of Lake Travis HS in the 8th round in 2008, Dydalewicz spent most of the 2011 season on the DL or rehabbing at the GCL.  After completing his rehab, he made 3 appearances at Lexington at the end of the season, posting a 6.75 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP over 2.2 innings pitched.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

OF Jesus Alou (70)
Alou originally came to Houston as a part of the Rusty Staub trade with the Expos in January of 1969 and spent 1969 through part of the 1973 season with Houston and returned to the team for the 1978 and 1979 seasons as well.  In 553 games for Houston, he hit .282/.313/.366.  He spent all or parts of 15 seasons in the major leagues playing for four different teams, including the 1973 and 1974 World Series champion Oakland teams.  He is the brother of Felipe and Matty Alou and uncle to Moises Alou.

RHP Jose Cabrera (40)
Acquired in a trade with Cleveland in May of 1997, Cabrera pitched in 93 games over four seasons for Houston with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.302 WHIP before being claimed off waivers by Atlanta in April of 2001.  He had his most successful season in the majors for Atlanta that year, going 7-4 in 55 games with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.298 WHIP. After one final season in the majors with Milwaukee in 2002, he kept playing in the minors, in independent ball and in Mexico.  In 2011, at age 39, he pitched in 43 games for Monclova in the Mexican League, going 9-5 with 13 saves, a 2.76 ERA and a 1.286 WHIP.

RHP Jose "Papa Grande" Valverde (34)
Acquired in a trade with Arizona for Chris Burke, Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls in December 2007, Valverde pitched for Houston for two seasons, going 10-5 with 69 saves, a 2.93 ERA and a 1.159 WHIP.  A three-time All-Star for Arizona and Detroit, he has been the league leader in saves three times as well.  In 2011, he converted 100% of his 49 save opportunities for Detroit during the regular season.