Sure Footer, Fallas, McTaggart and Levine provide plenty of Spring Training coverage from Kissimmee, but if you want to hear about the real happenings – SnS style – the buck stops with Chuck. Chuck is a long-time SnS’er and has been an Astros Spring Training season ticket holder for the past four years. This year we’ve conned and cajoled him into periodically writing about his Spring Training observations for us here at TRWD. Enjoy!
Chuck, Live from Kissimmee (pt 5)
Sunday, March 14: ATL (ss) at HOU, W 8-5
The Astros beat the Braves Sunday afternoon. Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence both homered. Carlos is having a tough spring, not hitting many balls hard, and it’s good to see him find his swing. He’s hit more weak pop-ups than I can ever remember. Myers got the start and had trouble with his command. It looked like he threw his entire range of pitches but he has real trouble locating his fastball. Lots of hits, lots of walks and lots of strikeouts.
You may remember my hoping that Pedro Feliz would bring some of the leadership that departed with Tejada. In workouts I noticed that Feliz seemed to have the capacity to provide on-field leadership. I was impressed when Feliz called time out and jogged to the mound for a quick word with the pitcher – Byrdak, I think – when he was having trouble.
Tuesday, March 16: BOS (ss) at HOU (ss), W 3-0
The Astros shut out the Red Sox in front of a large crowd Tuesday. It was the Sox’s first trip to Osceola County since I’ve been attending Spring Training. It was a special game for many involved as new Astros skipper Brad Mills served as Red Sox bench coach under Terry Francona prior to joining the Astros. Francona brought a very unusual number of top-line players to a road game, treating fans to an up-close view of Dustin Pedroia, Jason Varitek and Kevin Youkilis. The large contingent Red Sox Nation went home disappointed as Roy Oswalt and five teammates gave up just four hits over nine innings. Roy was especially sharp, locating his fast ball well and fooling lots of Sox with his slow curve. Matt Lindstrom has really started to lean on his breaking ball and to excellent effect. Gervacio continues to mystify batters with his sidearm delivery and bizarre pre-pitch ritual.
Ron Johnson, Red Sox first base coach and father of Astro third baseman Chris Johnson, was moved to third base for the game so he could be close to his son. Prior to the game Chris brought the line up out to the umpires meeting his father at the plate. I’m very impressed with Terry Francona, from little things like this to larger things such as pushing the Astros to hire his invaluable bench coach away he’s proven himself to be a quality person.
Wednesday, March 17: WSH at HOU, W 11-2
The Astros tagged Jason Marquis with five runs in the first and a pair in the second, cruising to an 11-2 win over the Nationals. Wandy got the start for the good guys giving up a pair of solo homers on careless pitches but otherwise looking very good. The game was a laugher from the opening frame, but it was good to see Tim Byrdak get back on track with a solid inning after a couple of rough appearances and Gustavo Chacin, a tough left hander, really got my attention with a pair of excellent innings and three Ks. The team really wanted to give him two innings of work because he actually notched a rare at bat as a Spring Training reliever.
Thursday, March 18: HOU at DET, L 5-4
Gary Majewski gave up three singles and the winning run in the bottom of the ninth at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland as the Tigers beat the Astros 5-4. Jason Bourgeois got the start in center over a gimpy Michael Bourn and wasted no time in collecting a couple of hits and stealing a pair of bases. I really like this kid. He’s not tall and a little stockier than you’d imagine but he as a ton of speed and seems to be an instinctive base runner. He’s been hitting the ball better than the box scores would indicate, he has some power, and I think he can contribute more to the team than other fast fifth outfielders have such as Charlton Jimerson and Reggie Abercrombie. For one thing, he has far more plate discipline than either of the two I mentioned and he definitely seems to have a plan at the plate that goes beyond ‘swing as hard as I can.’ He does not have Bourn’s laser-like ability to track balls deep in the outfield, but he’s good. The conventional wisdom is that Bourgeois is fighting with Cory Sullivan for the final OF spot. Sullivan had a nice day at the plate as well, he’s also fast and also hits for power. It’s a fun battle to watch.
Felipe Paulino started and went three frustrating innings. He is having terrible problems with his command. I suppose if anyone can get this straightened out it’s Arnsberg, but for now it’s tough to watch. Chris Sampson has looked sharp all spring and turned in another crisp inning. It was my first look at Brandon Lyon. Lyon looked tentative and scuffled through an inning giving up a run and had some help from a double play. Unlike the other new Astro at the back of the bullpen Matt Lindstrom, Lyon is not a fireballer but his fastball looked especially meaty today. He has both a curve and a slider and from what I’ve seen he really leans on the slider. I hope to be able to watch him a few more times this spring to get a better idea of what he brings. Right now I can’t see Lyon closing. He hasn’t been pitching and has a lot of ground to make up where Lindstrom looks stronger and stronger each outing.