Incredible that ESPN showed a spring training game between the Astros and Braves, but hey, I’ll take it. I’d take bout anything, right about now.
I’m glad I got to see Roy pitch because this was his only game before he takes off for the WBC (and Carlos is playing for Panama – Miggy TeRoider has sensibly decided not to play.) I’m just praying it doesn’t screw him up badly as it did Brad Lidge and Dan Wheeler back in 06.
Roy was awesome – made 1 mistake – let a FB catch too much of the plate and David Ross hit it out.
Backe was very sharp – pitched 2 very good innings, giving up only a single. He didn’t walk anyone, didn’t even get to a 3-2 count.
Sergio Perez had a bad BAD day. He threw strikes and unfortunately, they were all down the middle – or at least let me say any breakers didn’t. He faced 6 hitters, gave up 1 walk, 1 ROE and 4 hits and 4 runs, 2 earned. Hopefully, he was just nervous.
I wasn’t particularly impressed by De La Vara, who faced 7 batters, gave up a walk, a double, a homer and 2 runs in 1.2 IP. He didn’t have good stuff – not sure what kind of breaker he was supposed to be throwing, but it didn’t catch the strike zone very well.
What makes me very interested is that unlike previous years, a lot of young guys are getting looked at, not just offered a few AB for the heck of it. It’s great to be getting a look at Chris Johnson, who is hitting and fielding VERY well – and this is a guy who had a bad rep as a defensive fielder. And Drew Sutton likewise is lookin good.
They had a guy named John Gall as DH – thought I recognized him, and I did – he spent a few games in a Cards uni. He’s one of those AAAA type guys – hits like a house afire at AAA, but doesn’t impress in the 12- 20 sporadic ABs he’s given to prove himself in the majors (reminds me of J.R. House.)
Maysonnet played short after Miggy left after the 4th innings – made a critical error by booting an easy GB. I wish I could have watched Tommy Manzella field.
The “experts” all have this year’s Astros team as one of the 5 worst teams in the ML – down there with the Nats. If they happen to be right, which they might could be, youneverknow, seeing as how they always insist that the Astros are gonna be BAD and one of these years they BOUND to get it right – anyhow, I’d sure rather watch this team lose with Johnson at 3rd and Sutton at second (yeh, I know Kaz is getting paid the Big Bucks, but we all know he’s a hothouse flower out there) with Manzella backing up Tejada, Towles and Palmisano catching.
It would be kewl if the team with the worst farm in the majors actually put more rookie major leaguers on the field than all the supposedly good farm teams.
Tags: Houston Astros
