Red Sox 10
Astros 0
I like going to the Exhibition Game before the Season Opener. It’s an appetizer to the start of the season for me. I did not go to Spring Training this year, so it was my first view of the team I love. My observations, take them, or leave them, for what they are, are below.
First observation, I will need to remind myself about all season is keep my expectations lower and I’ll go home happy. This team is not great by any means. I cannot even pretend otherwise. This team does have a lot of players to watch and enjoy.
Second observation, I will need to remind myself about all season is the defense up the middle is SLOW. They are not going to get to baseballs like I will expect them to do. At least, not with the current roster.
Third observation, I will need to remind myself about all season is to enjoy the players for what they are and not what I expect them to be. I will admit I do have expectations for a lot of the players.
1B – Brett Wallace – first full season starting in MLB. I don’t expect Albert Pujols numbers, but if that is what he wants to give me then I’ll just suffer and take it. Another thing about Wallace that I like is the fact that he seems to care about people. Footer reported during the off-season how he went to the Children’s Hospital on his own, not a scheduled promotional visit. Any kid with that kind of character deserves good things to happen.
2B – Bill Hall – first season as an Astro. I have to say I hope he hits better than he fields. He looks SLOW in the field.
3B – Chris Johnson – hopefully this season is a healthy and prosperous season for Mr. CJ. The team is going to need his bat. I think he’ll settle down in the field. He doesn’t seem like a Hall of Fame player at this time, but he seems like a good serviceable player.
SS – Angel Sanchez – another SLOW infielder. I do not remember him being that SLOW last season. This will be interesting to see during the season. I think he will be one that gets to become the utility player on the bench.
LF – Carlos Lee – dude just needs to play and work hard and good things will happen for him and the Astros. I have a feeling Mills told him what he expects and the consequences of not getting what he expects.
CF – Michael Bourn – SBB has a lot to maintain. Being represented by Borass means he is going to have to do well to get the big money. He’s also going to be making a lot of highlight reel catches.
RF – Hunter Pence – Ugh. I for the life of me cannot understand why fans love him. He looks HORRID in the field. I have a feeling Hunter will do enough to maintain the FotF tag he’s been given but I really think it needs to go to someone else.
C – Humberto Quintero – I refuse to believe that a clown is going to be his back-up. Great opportunity for Q. We know what we are getting here and should have no illusions of grandeur. It does suck that Jason Castro got injured, but what can we do about it? I was asking about Chavez last night, whatever happened to him.
In regard to Pitching, well…., we will just have to sit back and hope the balls find a glove quickly.