Houston.Astros.MLB.com

By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

The Astros purchased Jared Fernandez's (right) contract Saturday. (Tony Dejak/AP)

Actually, they were probably hoping to make it through a five- or 10-minute period without anyone in a position of authority with the Houston Astros walking over to them to have "the talk."

Hours before the midnight deadline for clubs to set their 25-man Opening Day rosters, two cliches fit the situation in the Astros clubhouse perfectly: silence is golden, and no news is good news.

Ricky Stone sat motionless in his chair, fully dressed in his street clothes, waiting.

Jared Fernandez stayed by his locker, waiting. Same for Brandon Duckworth and Eric Bruntlett.

And no one said a word to them.

Meanwhile, left-hander Mike Gallo was engaged in a lengthy closed-door conversation with general manager Gerry Hunsicker, manager Jimy Williams and pitching coach Burt Hooton, who broke the news that the club optioned him to Triple-A New Orleans.

Combined with the pregame announcement that right-hander Brandon Backe was headed for New Orleans, that brought the roster down to 25.

The Astros' 11-man pitching staff consists of starters Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Wade Miller and Tim Redding and relievers Dan Miceli, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel, Duckworth, Fernandez and Ricky Stone.

The extra roster spot went to infielder Bruntlett, who will serve as a second backup option behind utility man Jose Vizcaino. The other infielders are Jeff Bagwell, Jeff Kent, Adam Everett, Morgan Ensberg and Mike Lamb.

The club will carry five outfielders: starters Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio and Richard Hidalgo and backups Orlando Palmeiro and Jason Lane.

Two catchers, starter Brad Ausmus and backup Raul Chavez, complete the roster. Lamb, who can play all four infield positions, can also serve as an emergency third catcher.

The Astros wanted to retain Gallo, the only left-handed candidate for a bullpen spot. But they were concerned with Gallo's struggles against right-handed hitters, and they did not want to allot a precious roster spot to a one-batter specialist.

The club felt there were more benefits to using Fernandez, whose knuckleball enables him to throw every day, giving the bullpen more flexibility when pitchers need rest.

"With 11 pitchers, it's virtually impossible to go with a situational guy, because of the depth," Hunsicker said. "We just don't have that extra arm where every time you bring a situational lefty in, you've got to go get somebody else a couple batters later. It's just a luxury we didn't think we could afford. Plus, in a guy like Fernandez, you've got a guy with a rubber arm who can pitch every day."

Gallo was disappointed but determined to give the Astros what they want when he starts the season with New Orleans.

"I'm going down, and I'm gong to work on the fact that I need to be as aggressive to righties as I am to lefties," he said. "I know I can do it, but I think I put so much emphasis on getting lefties out that I neglected that side of the plate.

"I've had success here, and I know I can pitch here, I've got to take this as a bump in the road, but an educational bump."

Meanwhile, as time progressed, the other pitchers were beginning to realize that the silence from the coaching staff meant they made the team.

It was not until then that they were willing to admit just how nerve-wracking the past week has been.

"I have a wife and two kids," Fernandez said with a slight chuckle. "She says, 'Where should we get an apartment?' I don't know. 'Should we go to Houston?' I have no idea. But, that's the life of a baseball player. You never know where you're going to be day to day or season to season."

Added Duckworth: "You didn't know what was going to happen. It's always tough going down to the last day with nothing cut and dried. The last day, when there are that many spots up, you don't know what the deal is, and they can go any number of ways."

Prior to Saturday's announcement, the Astros gave no indication whether they would go with an 11- or 12- man pitching staff. Williams traditionally likes to have the extra pitcher rather than a position player, but unlike last year, the Astros' starting staff will likely be the strength of the club. It would be difficult to justify the need for an extra long reliever when all five starters are expected to be able to pitch deep into games.

Bruntlett, who is versatile at a number of positions, ensures the club will not be short-handed on the bench.

"We have a switch-hitter like Vizcaino, and if you get into a situation where you might feel you're going to use him earlier in a game, you still have Bruntlett available," Williams said. "With that in mind, it maintains the strength of your club. It also gives you an individual in Bruntlett's case who can play first, second, short and third and also played in center and right field during Spring Training."

Just as they took nothing for granted during the tryout season in Florida, those who made the team know they have to produce results to remain in Houston.

"They made their decision," said Fernandez, who has played in parts of seven seasons in the minor leagues. "But I know the situation. If guys don't perform, they'll make another decision."

Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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