2013 Spring Training

Nowhere in my post did I advocate replacing him with a 30yr old retread. In fact, I didnt say we should replace him at all.

But the point I meant to make was that as the months and coming few years go by, more and more guys will be at the higher levels. And when this happens, bouncing a guy back and forth to AAA wont be as easy an option. Perhaps not an option at all.

 

Look out for Robbie Grossman!

 

agree! He's been looking good out there! Pena on the other hand blows.

Hopefully Carter can play LF so we can get Frieman more playing time at DH & 1st. Dude looks legit . I could do w/o Pena.

 

Seriously man, Pena has 6 at bats. If he gets a hit in his next two at bats he is hitting .375, which in my opinion won't make him a batting champion candidate.

It's cool if you don't like him, we all have guys we like and guys we don't. But to say he "blows" after 6 at bats . . . . .

 

Brian McTaggart: Jose Martinez speaks about the most horrifying event of his life

I had first heard about this story (courtesy of Astros County) when Martinez was seemingly taking the Astros system by storm early last season. This is definitely a guy that you've got to root for.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Playing through the pain

 

I'm sure Pena blowing has to do with the last 3 years worth of at bats more than anything. Freiman OTH, I think is quite premature to say he is anything. Good minor league players often have good ST as pitchers are working on things, and many of them are minor leaguers as well.

I personally think he is worthy of a spot on the roster right now. He's just a victim of the team not needing to have him on the 40-man.

 

Brian T. Smith brings you George Springer tweets.

@ChronAstros: Bo Porter sees some Torii Hunter in #Astros' George Springer.

@ChronAstros: #Astros prospect George Springer said he's making his first legit spring training start today against #BlueJays. #MLB

@ChronAstros: #Astros are very high on George Springer right now and his start isn't a random occurrence. Club wants to give him a full look during ST.

@ChronAstros: There are several options for Springer in 2013. Could start at AA CC and move to AAA OKC. But if he's ready for AAA, he might begin there.

@ChronAstros: #Astros are going to let Springer dictate his immediate future and aren't going to hold him back. When he's ready, they're ready.

 

I can see that. Both bring a lot of energy and come off very likeable.

 

Would Springer still be groomed for center field? Maxwell apparently doesn't have an arm for right after early career surgery. Would love to have Springer see time at AAA to start the year.

 

Maxwell isn't a long-term option. Too much swing and miss (1/3 of his PAs). Springer will likely start as a CF, but eventually be moved to RF when another CF is ready (possibly Andrew Aplin).

 

Should be interesting. And speaking of RF... I would love to see Domingo Santana get a chance out there one day. Such a power potential, but that k rate is Maxwellian.

 

Hope Grossman keeps this up. Another double!

 

They'll play Springer in CF as long as he can handle it, then move him to RF. Right now he's purported to have GG defensive skills in CF. There's no need, no sense really, to move him off CF for a player like Aplin. I love Aplin as an underdog prospect, but he's probably not even as good a defender in CF as Springer and brings a lot less to the table otherwise. It'd be like moving Beltran off CF because Robbie Grossman is ready.

 

It doesn't matter if Springer is a better CFer than Aplin. He's projected to be a much better RFer. Springer has the better speed and better arm. Aplin has the better instincts.

Your comparison to Beltran and Grossman makes no sense. Grossman is somebody scouts feel would be best served playing LF, while Aplin's best tool is his defense.

 

It's not like one of them has to man RF. I like Aplin as a player but if the team is better served with him not starting then that's what they should do. CF/RF combo of Springer/Santana or Springer/FA masher sounds a lot better than Aplin/Springer.

 

Alex White held his own against a pretty stout Blue Jays lineup.

 

You are focusing too much on Aplin and his projection as a backup OF. I'm talking about the first real starting caliber CF that comes to Houston. Right now the top true CF prospect after Springer is Aplin, that is why it I mentioned him.

If we happen to have 2 good hitting corner OFs that are better than any CF we have, Springer would stay in CF until later in his career, but I don't expect that to happen.

 

Speaking of Springer, he just sent a 3-run shot out of the park.

 

Springer with a 3 run opp. field HR? I'll take it.

If Lyles can "struggle to find his way" in the big leagues at 22, so can Springer at 23.

 

And DeShields legs out a bunt single!