Armani Answers
Armani Sanchez has a never ending love for the game of baseball
Edward McFarland
Feb 20, 2018, 8:52 pm
Armani Sanchez, Heights shortstop Vype
Armani Sanchez is the most dominant high school baseball player in Houston, Texas.
He plays shortstop for the Heights Bulldogs and he just recently fulfilled a lifelong dream by committing to play college baseball for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Sanchez is coming off a season where he had a batting average of .432 including 13 RBIs and 22 runs for himself.
“What makes me good at baseball I believe is my baseball IQ,” Sanchez said. “I know where I’m supposed to be at all times. I stay ahead of the play and I’m very coachable.”
In addition to his IQ, Sanchez is a “never too high, never too low” type of guy.
No matter how successful he is on the field, he feels there is always room for improvement, and even when he fails at something, he tries to remain positive.
Sanchez has been holding a bat in his hand since the age of four, and he credits his mother with having the biggest impact on him being the dominant player he is today.
“My mom has been my #1 supporter since day one,” Sanchez said. “There are no words to describe my mother mainly because she’s a single mother which to me is the toughest job in the world.”
VYPE Q&A
VYPE: What led to your decision to commit to OU?
Sanchez: Oklahoma has always been a dream school to me. As soon as I got to campus they made it feel like home. I love all sports and I love to see all of Oklahoma athletes succeed.
VYPE: What got you into playing baseball?
Sanchez: I’ve been holding a bat since I was four years old and it has stuck with me thanks to my family. I’ve fell in love with the competitiveness also.
VYPE: What’s something your coach always tells you?
Sanchez: “Learn how to take failure cause failing is a part of life.”
VYPE: If you could play a different sport, what would it be?
Sanchez: Baseball is what I live for.
VYPE: Favorite quote and/or bible verse?
Sanchez: F.F.L which means “FAMILY. FOR. LIFE”. That’s stuck with me since I was a young kid. I also have it marked on my cleats.
VYPE: What’s your dream job?
Sanchez: My dream job is to be a professional baseball player.
VYPE: What’s your favorite hobby?
Sanchez: I would say designing clothes for my friends and our brand. The brand is called Spiffy which means “fresh” and we have 3 crosses on the back cause my friend Alex Botello and I are strong believers in God. We let Him lead our paths.
VYPE: What’s your biggest fear?
Sanchez: Biggest fear would be planes, but not because of how high they go, but because of the movie, “Snakes On A Plane”.
VYPE: Favorite Artist/Song
Sanchez: Bad Bunny
VYPE: Favorite vacation spot?
Sanchez: Columbia: It runs in my blood.
VYPE: Favorite brand of shoes?
Sanchez: Vans
VYPE: Favorite athlete?
Sanchez: Fransisco Lindor
VYPE: Favorite food or snack?
Sanchez: Mexican food
Sunday night matchups don't get much exciting than this, as the Houston Texans host the Detroit Lions in prime-time at NRG.
The Lions come into this game on a six-game winning streak looking every bit of the best team in football. Houston on the other hand has lost two of their last three games with a struggling offense unable to protect their quarterback.
CJ Stroud has only one passing touchdown over this span, and is clearly having trouble adjusting to life without Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins.
If Houston is going to come away with an upset victory, they will need big performances from Tank Dell and Joe Mixon. After catching 4 passes against the Colts two weeks ago, Mixon not only failed to catch a single pass against the Jets, but he wasn't even targeted.
Considering the Texans' offensive line issues, choosing not to use Mixon as a pass catcher is hard to fathom. Especially since he and Dell are the team's top 2 playmakers.
What's working in the Texans' favor?
They play this game at home, where they are undefeated this season. A lot of the team's protection issues have popped up on the road, so communication should be easier for the offense on their home turf.
Bulls on Parade
We have good news and bad news about the defense this week. On the positive side, Azeez Al-Shaair and Jimmy Ward have returned to practice. If they're able to contribute on Sunday night, that would give the defense a lift.
And now for the bad news. Will Anderson has yet to practice this week after rolling his ankle in the Jets game. If he is unable to practice on Friday, it's hard to imagine he'll be active against Detroit.
X-factors
The Texans have to show some improvement on the offensive line this week.
Houston must lean on Joe Mixon again, as Nico Collins isn't expected to play.
Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best receivers in the league, and he does most of his damage from the slot. If the Texans continue to deploy Jalen Pitre against premier receivers in man coverage, St. Brown is going to light up the scoreboard.
What would a win over the Lions mean to Houston?
The Texans are no longer considered a true championship contender because of their losses to the Packers, Vikings, and Jets. In fact, the Bills are the only team with a winning record that the Texans have beaten.
An upset win over the streaking Lions would change that narrative.
What does Vegas think?
The Lions are currently favored by 3.5 and the total is set at 49 points.
Don't miss the full preview of Texans-Lions in the video above!
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