SAN DIEGO -- Houston reliever Doug Brocail is not a big fan of the view from the visiting bullpen at Petco Park. Other than that, the former Padre said Tuesday he's content after signing a $2.5 million contract with Houston this offseason.

Earlier in the week, Brocail learned he was the team's setup man, and would be handing the ball off to former division rival, and new teammate, Jose Valverde.

"When we were on the other side of the fence there was no love lost there and you come to spring training, new friends, new teammates and now you're pulling for the guys you were at war with," Brocail said of the former Arizona closer Valverde. "He's a great, fun guy. He's a good teammate and he's got incredible stuff."

Heath Bell complimented Brocail -- who was 5-1 with a 3.05 earned-run average in 67 games -- for being a great teammate and for playing the role of mentor to the Padres' young relievers last season. He said the lessons Brocail taught the unit were invaluable.

"He definitely took me in," Bell said. "He's just a great guy to have. It was nice to have somebody there to take you under (their) wing. He was supportive, and he always got things done."

Unfortunately, as a visitor, Brocail is no long all-powerful -- especially when it comes to the visiting bullpen conditions.

"It's a little more (rotten) than the one out in center," Brocail said. "They have it so you have to face right field and look in."

Blum is back

Geoff Blum is glad to get his return home over with immediately. And though he would have preferred to stay with the Padres, Blum feels fortunate to have landed in Houston once again.

"If we had a chance to play somewhere, Houston would be a good place," said Blum, who signed a one-year deal for $1.1 million with a club option for 2009. "I wanted to stay in San Diego as long as I could for obvious reasons, family and things like that, but they moved on and I moved on and here we are. …

"It's not one of the things you want to let linger and dwell on. You just want to get in town and say hit to your friends and move on. It's just the nature of the game."

Grounds rule change

The yellow line signifying a home run on the porch in right field was moved up two feet from the top of the fence to above the railing.

Short hops

Former Chargers QB Drew Brees took batting practice on Tuesday. The New Orleans Saints quarterback was the fourth NFL player that manager Bud Black has thrown BP to. The others are Buffalo OL Duke Preston, a Mt. Carmel High graduate, Washington TE Chris Cooley and New Orleans TE Billy Miller. … RHP Clay Hensley (shoulder) threw a bullpen session in Peoria on Tuesday and RHP Mark Prior (shoulder) pitched batting practice. RHP Tim Stauffer (shoulder) and LHP Justin Hampson (shoulder) played long toss but RHP Carlos Guevara (groin) still isn't taking part in baseball activities. None of the pitchers is within 10 days of pitching in a game, according to Black. … 1B Tony Clark said he was "a kid in a candy store" after getting an RBI single in his first official at-bat as a Padre.