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, Adios from Kissimmee
Monday, March 22: STL at HOU, L 6-4
Starter Wandy Rodriguez was touched up for five runs in the top of the first inning as visiting St Louis held on for a 6-4 win. Despite the ugly first inning there was plenty to like in this game. Wandy had no life on his fastball in the first and could not throw his curve for a strike at all. But in the three subsequent innings he looked like the pitcher we all hope he’ll be, finding some zip on the fastball and, more importantly, spotting the curve for strikes.
Sammy Gervacio worked some Dominican voodoo in two more scoreless innings, striking out the side in his final frame. I love seeing him pitch earlier in games rather than later so that he has the chance to face some of the major leaguers who have made the trip. But it doesn’t seem to matter whom he faces, he’s been infuriating batters all spring. He’s effectively wild, and the pitches he throws for strikes all have serious movement. Wilton Lopez followed and was equally effective if not quite as entertaining. Lopez and Gustavo Chacin are two pitchers who are both quietly having excellent springs and should give the team some bullpen help along the way.
Geoff Blum got a rare start at SS and treated fans to a couple of very nice plays. He dove to his left to steal a base hit and sprung up to throw the runner out easily. Another inning he timed his jump perfectly to snare a sure base hit. Pedro Feliz smashed a homer in the second and his eventual replacement Chris Johnson was busy at third looking more and more comfortable defensively.
Finally, Carlos Lee easily had his best all-around day at the plate going three for three. He sharply lined a single up the middle but fought out a pair of hits on two-strike flares to the opposite field, one of which went for a double.
I wish I could have remained in Kissimmee for the entirety of the spring. I know that those of you who will attend the upcoming games will have an outSTANDing time.