Astros Spring Training Thread

[eagle eye]

I gotcha Big T although I really didn't seem not-calm! The Astros pitchers are working on pitches right now. Some guys, like Lucas Harrell are just trying to fine tune what they do. I get it. It's just a bit late in spring training to struggle. I'm concerned. I am more than a little more than worried at the lack of run production though. Let's look back at the last week or so of games.

 

3/16 - vs Nats 4-3 loss

3/17 - vs Braves 4-0 loss

3/18 - vs Marlins 8-1 loss

3/19 - vs Nats 2-0 win

3/20 - vs Phillies 6-3 loss

3/21 - vs Marlins 7-2 loss

3/22 - vs Cards 5-2 loss

3/23 - vs Cards 6-3 loss

 

That's 8 games and the Astros W/L record in 1-7 with a total of 16 runs. Even a remedial math student like me can figure out that's 2.0 RPG Ave. So, this past week Houston has not hit for power, for average or done a good job situational hitting. That, my friends, ain't too good! While we give our own pitchers a little leeway because "it's spring training" then why can't our hitters capitalize on other staffs doing the same thing? Houston could have won more than the 51 games they won in 2013 if they had some run support. It doesn't look like we will strike out as much as last year but we were historically bad last so we really couldn't get much worse. It's like rooting for men's basketball. You just want the guys to be good and it's so doggone hard to be patient!

 

By the way. MLB has officially begun? Don't look now but the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks kicked off the season with a 2 game set in Sydney, Australia. The Dodgers won both games and were pretty much a hit as good will ambassadors for the USA and baseball. On the field that is. I read on ESPN that the Dodgers are already pissed with 2nd year phenom Yasiel Puig. Puig didn't do squat in the first game but rebounded with a 3-5 and one RBI performance in the second game. The rub came when Puig made two bonehead base running errors getting put out both times so the 7-5 margin in the final game could have been bigger. I'm not greedy, I'm just saying. Puig is an amazingly talented player but he seems to have this "I'll do whatever the hell I want to do." sort of attitude which sort of rubs manager Don Mattingly and some of his teammates the wrong way sometimes. Not hitting a cutoff man, base running errors and an occasional lack of hustle have fans wondering if they even like this guy. If he's not a prima donna he's well on his way. I hope, for a guy who went through hell just to get to the United States, shows some appreciation of his own talent and straightens his act up. ESPN's Colin Cowherd is a big supporter of Puig and I'll be interested to here what, if anything, he has to say about him tomorrow.

[KABrother88]

Honestly, I don't like the fact that MLB is starting the season overseas...I get that they are trying to globalize the league but those people would probably show up even if it was an exhibition game...probably the worst is that both of those games counted as home games for Arizona...why not split them into 1 for Arizona and 1 for LA?

 

 

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[LetItGo]

I've got the Astros winning 91 games this year, guy. Deal with it.

[eagle eye]

Hey Guy,

91 games eh? Are you delusional or do you still believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny? In most divisions 91 games is enough to go to the playoffs if not win the division outright. So, you're telling me that a team who won 51 of 162 games last season and has 3 consecutive 100+ loss seasons (that means they've won 61 games or less) will win 91 games? Hope springs eternal in the spring, especially in baseball, but that's a little much. Frankly, I hope you're right but I just don't see it. The 90+ win seasons are definitely coming but probably not this year. I was called crazy by Big T last year when I said Houston would win 70 games. In fact, I lost a bet on that one (you're welcome Big T).

 

As for KABrother88's deal on the MLB season starting down under in Australia, I agree whole heartedly. I could sort of understand, in past seasons, MLB beginning their season in Japan. Japan idolizes USA baseball and we import players from there and other spots in the far east all the time. I've been to Japan and China and that flight is brutal. Thirteen hours to Japan so I can't imagine the flight to Sydney, Australia. I also agree that Arizona got screwed out of 2 home games. It should have been 1 and 1 unless they agreed on a coin flip. Either way is sucks. Almost as bad as NFL games in London.

[LetItGo]

Hey guy,

 

Thanks for taking my call. The deal here is that the Astros are primed and ready to dominate. They suffered last year with youth but they were salty. Salty, I tell you. Now they have experience and a can do attitude and where I come from that gets you a long way, guy. Back in the 90's I worked at Market Basket and had that very attitude... where did that get me? A job at Coca Cola, guy. 91 games.

[Big T]

I've got the Astros winning 91 games this year, guy. Deal with it.

 

That must be some pretty good shit you are smoking! If they lose 91 games I will be happy! I mean c'mon dude, get real.

[Big T]

Hey Guy,

91 games eh? Are you delusional or do you still believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny? In most divisions 91 games is enough to go to the playoffs if not win the division outright. So, you're telling me that a team who won 51 of 162 games last season and has 3 consecutive 100+ loss seasons (that means they've won 61 games or less) will win 91 games? Hope springs eternal in the spring, especially in baseball, but that's a little much. Frankly, I hope you're right but I just don't see it. The 90+ win seasons are definitely coming but probably not this year. I was called crazy by Big T last year when I said Houston would win 70 games. In fact, I lost a bet on that one (you're welcome Big T).

 

As for KABrother88's deal on the MLB season starting down under in Australia, I agree whole heartedly. I could sort of understand, in past seasons, MLB beginning their season in Japan. Japan idolizes USA baseball and we import players from there and other spots in the far east all the time. I've been to Japan and China and that flight is brutal. Thirteen hours to Japan so I can't imagine the flight to Sydney, Australia. I also agree that Arizona got screwed out of 2 home games. It should have been 1 and 1 unless they agreed on a coin flip. Either way is sucks. Almost as bad as NFL games in London.

 

Thanks for that sucker bet EE! Haha I love my hat btw.

[eagle eye]

Haha. Winners talk, suckers walk. I am summarily humble.

[eagle eye]

Houston finally scored more than 3 runs in a game tonight. It certainly helped as Houston beat the Braves 7-5 and it was encouraging to see some runs scored. Dexter Fowler and Robbie Grossman led the way with a total of 5 hits, 2 RBI's and a run scored between them. Fowler is looking like an excellent leadoff man and maybe Grossman is edging out Jose Altuve at the top of the lineup. Considering how good Altuve has been it's nice to have some potential firepower in the lineup. As for Altuve? He went 2-5 with a run scored hitting cleanup! See what I mean? Starting pitcher, Dallas Kuechel, struggled a bit giving up 5 hits and 4 runs in his 4 innings of work but 5 different pitchers had Kuechel's back and despite giving up early runs Houston hung in there an came back with runs in the middle innings to take control of the game. I should have bitched about the lack of runs days ago!

 

Here's a link to the daily notes page on Astros.com. Today Houston made some cuts, including P Josh Zeid, to trim the roster to 30 players. The Astros will be leaving Florida in a couple of days for the Alamodome for some exhibition games there before they start the season next Tuesday. GM Jeff Luhnow says the 25 man roster should be set before they leave. Did you catch that, only 7 days until the games count!

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140324&content_id=70016468&notebook_id=70016666&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou

[eagle eye]

The Astros conclude their Grapefruit league games this evening as spring training winds down. The regular season is 6 days away! Houston will be sending opening day starter Scott Feldman to the hill tonight in what will be his spring training finale.

 

The Astros are off tomorrow as they prepare for a game Friday in San Antonio vs the Rangers and split squad games on Saturday. Half the roster will be in San Antonio to face the Rangers again and the other half of the team will play at the Juice Box against Mexican League Rojos de Aguila de Veracruz. The game at the Alamodome is at 1:05 PM and the Juice Box game is at 7:10 PM. The Astros conclude their exhibition season Sunday with a game against the Rojos at 1:10 PM followed by a day off Monday and TA-DA, opening day at the Juice Box against the Yankees! I won't make the opening series but I've got tix to the Saturday game against the Angels. This game is special because there will be a pregame ceremony for the retirement of P Roy Oswalt and 1B Lance Berkman to honor their careers and they will both be saying a few words during the ceremony. Good times were had enjoying Mr's Oswalt and Berkman play. Once an Astro always an Astro.

[eagle eye]

The Astros won their last gradefruit league game Wednesday over the Mets by a score of 9-6. Yes, I really should have bitched about lack of runs scored a couple of weeks ago because since the post I made last Sunday because the two games they've played they scored 16 runs!

 

Personal notes:

> Mark Appel, Houston No 1 pick in last year's draft got the win by pitching a perfect 7th inning with 2 Ks. Appel has been limited in spring training because he had an emergency appendectomy in late January.

> Scott Feldman had a good outing, not great, good, for his last tune up for the Yankees next Tuesday. 5.2 innings 5 hits and 3 runs with no walks and 6 K's. He did give up a 2 run homer to C Anthony Recker in the 5th. The homer and a run charged to Feldman in the 6th accounted for the runs he gave up. Until the 5th he had pitched 4 scoreless retiring the Mets 1-2-3 in 3 of the 4 innings. Nice tune up for Feldman.

> Kevin Chapman struggled for the second time in the past week giving up 3 runs in 2/3 of inning of work in 8th on 4 hits with a K. Chapman has been pretty good most of the spring but the last couple outing have to worry Bo Porter some.

> I will be shocked if anyone but C Carlos Corporan is the DH on opening night. Corporan has really been good at the plate this spring. He continued his nice spring Wednesday be being the offensive star of the game. He went 2-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Corporan batted .303 through Wednesday night this spring.

> I said it earlier this week but the starting lineup on Tuesdays opener will include Dexter Fowler leading off, Robbie Grossman hitting 2nd and Jose Altuve batting cleanup. Jason Castro will likely hit 3rd. Castro and Altuve are the best hitters right now in the Astros lineup. I could easily see Carlos Corporan hitting 5th at DH or maybe RF LJ Hoes with the other hitting 6th. That leaves Chris Carter, Matt Dominguez and Jonathan Villar at the bottom third of the lineup. I want to see the opening day lineup to see how close I am.

 

[eagle eye]

As the Astros spring training winds down it's good to see Houston playing some good ball. There are some encouraging signs a Tuesday's opener against the Yankees draws closer.

 

In last night's game the Stros held on to beat the Rangers at the Alamodome 6-5. It didn't really have to be that close but some shaky pitching in the middle and late innings made the game more exciting than it needed to be. Jerome Williams got the win with three innings of 3 hit, one run ball. Brad Peacock did well in relief of Williams going 3 scoreless innings allowing 3 hits with 4 K's and no walks. After that the pitchers seemed to be trying to give the Rangers the game. Chad Qualls gave up one run in his inning of work as did Jake Buchanon in his inning or work. The closer last night was Jason Stoffel and he gave up 2 runs on a 2 run homer to CF Michael Choice giving the Rangers hope until he got the Rangers Adam Rosales to ground out to Carlos Correa to end the game. The Stros scored 4 runs in the 1st inning off Rangers starter Matt Harrison mainly on the shoulders of a 3 run dinger by Chris Carter. The Astros scored the winning run in the top of the ninth on the back of 2 Rangers errors and an RBI single by George Springer which padded a 5-3 lead at the time. It's a good thing because, as mentioned before Jason Stoffel was feeling generous last night.

 

Earlier today the Astros walloped Rangers today 13-6 in a home run fest. Dallas Keuchel got the win going 4.1 inning but he struggled today giving up 6 hits including 2 home runs. 4 of the 5 runs credited to Keuchel were earned but beside the homers he did log 5 K's and a walk. Keuchel is in the running for one of the last two spots in the starting rotation and today's game couldn't have helped his cause. The Astros had some firepower of their own today as 4 Astros went deep on the Rangers. Jesus Guzman and George Springer homered back to back in the 1st, Jonathan Meyer got a grand slam in the 5th and Nolan Fontana added a 3 run shot in the seventh. For Springer, Meyer and Fontana it was their 1st homer of the spring. It is really nice to see Houston scoring runs as the regular season approaches.

 

Tonight the Stros are facing a Mexican League team in the Rojos de Aguila de Veracruz (Vera Cruz Red Eagles) at home at the Juice Box. The home team is winning on the strength of a solo homer by Dexter Fowler and a sac fly by Matt Dominguez. Bret Olberholzer has gone six so far giving no runs on two hits and 2 K's and no walks.

 

Last summer's No 1 pick Mark Appel will get the start against the Rojos in the spring training finale at the Juice Box tomorrow afternoon.

[eagle eye]

The spring training season if over! A day to rest and take a big deep breath and the regular season begins. Not only does it begin it's a pretty high profile beginning. Last season's opener was high profile. Make no mistake about it with the Astros debut as an American League team and against their intrastate rivals the Texas Rangers. Houston stood up on a nationally televised game and beat the Rangers in a packed Juice Box. Unfortunately, the season went downhill after that. This season sees the Astros with better prospects for their season. They probably won't be challenging for a playoff spot but it's quite likely their run of 3 consecutive 100 loss seasons ends at 3. As the youth the team has been bringing along begins to filter up to the big club a ray of hope can be seen on Houston's horizon.

It's not just hope that fuels this season's opening game. No, it's a national spotlight that will be on Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night. Why? Because it's the freaking Yankees, that's why. One of the 2 or 3 most recognized franchises in sport. Even though they had a down year in last season but they have spent some of what seems like a bottomless pit of money to help reload. Has it been enough to get the Yankees back on top? Who knows. That's why they play the games but on Tuesday the young and hungry Astros have them at home. Let's home that a dominating performance is more than a flash in the pan this season. My money is it's not but I really hope we put a-hurtin' the Bronx Bombers three games in a row.

 

The Astros completed their preseason by beating the Vera Cruz Red Eagles both games. They hung on to win 2-0 last night and they completed the spring with a 6-1 win. Nice end to the spring with a six game winning streak. Last year's No 1 pick Mark Appel did a good job in his first game at the Juice Box. He went 3 innings giving no runs on two hits and 3 K's and no walks. He won't be in Houston this year but a good season in the minors and he could be in Houston next season.

 

A couple of reminders:

> Before Tuesday's opener two Houston icons will be handling the first pitch duties for the Astros. Nolan Ryan will throw out the first pitch to another Houston icon Craig Biggio. Ryan is already in the Hall of Fame and I have no doubt that Biggio will join him next year. He should be there now but for one lousy vote. A vote I'm certain he'll get and probably more the next time the tally for the HOF is taken.

> On Saturday before the second game in the series with the Los Angeles Lakers Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt with be honored with a retirement ceremony. In the following link it appears there a number of baseball icons that will be at the Juice Box this week.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_04_01_nyamlb_houmlb_1&mode=preview&vkey=preview_web_home&c_id=hou

 

This is it for me on this thread. The spring is over and the games will begin to count. This spring seemed short for some reason. I can't explain it but I am really looking forward to this week's events. Not only is baseball kicking off for real but the Final Four will begin Saturday at Cowboys AT&T Stadium. It's a big week in sports and I can hardly wait!

 

 

[KABrother88]

 

 

I said it earlier this week but the starting lineup on Tuesdays opener will include Dexter Fowler leading off, Robbie Grossman hitting 2nd and Jose Altuve batting cleanup. Jason Castro will likely hit 3rd. Castro and Altuve are the best hitters right now in the Astros lineup. I could easily see Carlos Corporan hitting 5th at DH or maybe RF LJ Hoes with the other hitting 6th. That leaves Chris Carter, Matt Dominguez and Jonathan Villar at the bottom third of the lineup. I want to see the opening day lineup to see how close I am.

 

Here is what Bo Porter has decided to turn to tomorrow evening...not sure why we are starting today like everyone else minus LAD/SD who played last night

 

1. Dexter Fowler CF

2. Robbie Grossman LF

3. Jose Altuve 2B

4. Jason Castro C

5. Jesus Guzman 1B

6. Chris Carter DH

7. Matt Dominguez 3B

8. L.J. Hoes RF

9. Jonathan Villar SS

 

SP Scott Feldman

 

 

[Big T]

 

 

I said it earlier this week but the starting lineup on Tuesdays opener will include Dexter Fowler leading off, Robbie Grossman hitting 2nd and Jose Altuve batting cleanup. Jason Castro will likely hit 3rd. Castro and Altuve are the best hitters right now in the Astros lineup. I could easily see Carlos Corporan hitting 5th at DH or maybe RF LJ Hoes with the other hitting 6th. That leaves Chris Carter, Matt Dominguez and Jonathan Villar at the bottom third of the lineup. I want to see the opening day lineup to see how close I am.

 

Here is what Bo Porter has decided to turn to tomorrow evening...not sure why we are starting today like everyone else minus LAD/SD who played last night

 

1. Dexter Fowler CF

2. Robbie Grossman LF

3. Jose Altuve 2B

4. Jason Castro C

5. Jesus Guzman 1B

6. Chris Carter DH

7. Matt Dominguez 3B

8. L.J. Hoes RF

9. Jonathan Villar SS

 

SP Scott Feldman

 

I actually like this line up! It is solid. Dexter Fowler is a solid lead off hitter, Grossman has had a fantastic spring, Altuve is coming off a somewhat down year but we all know what he is capable of, Castro was the break out star last year, Guzman is not going to blow your socks off with his numbers but is a very good MLB player, Carter is in a spot where he can drive in runs but his K's won't hurt too much, Dominguez is a 20+ HR threat, L.J. Hoes is serviceable, and Villar is chalked full of potential. No, this is not a great line up like the Rangers, but it can and will score runs and is a big improvement over last years. On top of that, we will see Springer, Singleton, and maybe Fontana at some points this year.

[eagle eye]

I'm not surprised about this lineup. I think that Bo Porter's leaning toward giving respect to a veteran player like Guzman over either Mark Krauss or Carlos Corporan even though both had a better spring than Guzman. Corporan hit .294 in 34 AB's, Krauss hit .293 in 41 AB's and Guzman hit .189 in 21 AB's. I like Carter at 1B more than Guzman too. So, I guess at this point I disagree with Big T about Guzman being "a very good MLB player". To me a good player will at least semi knock your socks off with his numbers. This is a nod to a veteran and a free agent signing. Besides, Krauss played his first season in the bigs last year and he hit only .209. I'm sure Bo Porter remembers this. Corporan is a career .229 hitter and even though he's older he and Guzman both made their MLB debuts in 2009. Guzman is a .259 hitter career so dispite their superior springs Guzman is the more logical choice to start. I'd still go with Corporan but as long as whoever is in the lineup produces I don't care.

 

 

As for KABrother88's issue with starting on Tuesday I have one word----Yankees. The biggest marquee name in baseball needs a showcase. Since it wasn't on Sunday they'll push it back a day and give the Bronx Bombers the main spotlight.

 

Also, don't forget the Dodgers and D-Backs began the season about 10 days ago with a two game set in Sydney Australia. As of last night's loss to San Diego LA is 2-1 and Arizona is 0-2.

[KABrother88]

 

I'm not surprised about this lineup. I think that Bo Porter's leaning toward giving respect to a veteran player like Guzman over either Mark Krauss or Carlos Corporan even though both had a better spring than Guzman. Corporan hit .294 in 34 AB's, Krauss hit .293 in 41 AB's and Guzman hit .189 in 21 AB's. I like Carter at 1B more than Guzman too. So, I guess at this point I disagree with Big T about Guzman being "a very good MLB player". To me a good player will at least semi knock your socks off with his numbers. This is a nod to a veteran and a free agent signing. Besides, Krauss played his first season in the bigs last year and he hit only .209. I'm sure Bo Porter remembers this. Corporan is a career .229 hitter and even though he's older he and Guzman both made their MLB debuts in 2009. Guzman is a .259 hitter career so dispite their superior springs Guzman is the more logical choice to start. I'd still go with Corporan but as long as whoever is in the lineup produces I don't care.

 

 

As for KABrother88's issue with starting on Tuesday I have one word----Yankees. The biggest marquee name in baseball needs a showcase. Since it wasn't on Sunday they'll push it back a day and give the Bronx Bombers the main spotlight.

 

Also, don't forget the Dodgers and D-Backs began the season about 10 days ago with a two game set in Sydney Australia. As of last night's loss to San Diego LA is 2-1 and Arizona is 0-2.

 

Yes I know it started back then...complained earlier on this thread that it was stupid and it was stupid when Seattle and Oakland started the 2012 season in Japan...but at least Seattle still had Ichiro so it was more of a story...and it wasn't a week and a half before everyone else started.

 

Yes I understand the Yankee factor but it's not like they are playing on ESPN for a national audience

 

To me I think the lineup looks about right...I know EE was hoping that Corporan would be in at DH...to me it scares the day lights outta me to put your back-up catcher there if you are only carrying 2...Bo Porter has shown that hell risk it and he did it several times to keep Castro's bat in the lineup but we got burned once last year and had to play Jake Elmore behind the plate

[eagle eye]

KA, I agree with you completely but I am a firm believer that you can't play scared or not to get hurt. Houston is in good shape at catcher with Max Stassi in AAA. Corporan at DH isn't the risk of injury you might think because he isn't going to be stealing bases. Corporan will catch at least once a every 4 or 5 days so getting to bat, even if it's a couple of times a week ain't exactly putting a strain on him. The best thing is if Guzman starts to hit but I'm about scoring runs. In the 5 hole and at DH I think you need better than a career .259 hitter. Corporan has yet to show the kind of production at the plate in the regular season but it's hard when you play and bat once a week. Honestly, I think Guzman, Carter and Marc Krauss will all get a lot of PT and you may be right about the issue with a catcher as a DH but I have may doubts. You can't forget Marwin Gonzalez who .443 in the spring. Gonzo may be the forgotten man but his versatility may give him a lot of PT too. BTW, isn't it nice to talk about players who can actually make a positive impact for change?

[KABrother88]

It's very nice to talk about it...base running isn't the only way to get yourself injured though...the game I eluded to where Elmore had to come in and catch was a situation where Corporan took a foul ball off the facemask with Jason Castro DHing...lots of things can happen behind the plate...luckily, when Stassi was hit in the face last season he was DHing with Castro behind the plate and Corporan on the DL...I completely understand getting your best lineup out there though...I just don't want us having to put our pitcher batting in the middle of the order for a game cause our catcher got hurt and we had to burn our DH...I'm not the one they pay to fill out the lineup so that's just gonna be my 2 cents lol...and Happy Opening Day EE and Big T...with that I guess we can wrap up this thread...look forward to another season of discussing Astros Baseball with y'all