PLAY BALL!
Here's your comprehensive 2023 Houston Astros season primer
Feb 14, 2023, 4:29 pm
It's that time of year again! Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
What the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson meant to say, or at least should have said, was … “in the spring training, a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of baseball.”
It seems like only yesterday that Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker was racing into foul territory down the right field line and snaring Nick Castellanos’ pop fly to clinch the 2022 World Series title. Time sure flies when you’re picking up trophies and celebrating another championship because …
In two short days, Astros pitchers and catchers report to the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for spring training and another season of wrecking the American League. Wow, that was fast.
Position players report for duty next week and the Astros first spring training game is Feb. 25 against, thank you Mr. Schedule Maker, the New York Mets. You know the Mets, the team that Justin Verlander left the Astros for $86 million of fool’s gold. More precisely, one fool’s gold. How’s that song go? Money can’t buy you love. Or a World Series ring.
The spring training opener will be televised on AT&T SportsNet SW. First pitch is 12:05 p.m. Houston time. AT&T SportsNet will air several spring games, including March 8 against Team Venezuela. The entire Astros TV crew is back: Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum and Julia Morales.
The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, 5454 Haverhill Road in West Palm Beach, Fla., is home to both the Astros and the Washington Nationals for spring training. The stadium will be even-Steven this year: the Astros finished 2022 with the World Series title and best record in the American League (106-56), while the Nationals were dead last in the National League (55-107). If you’re going to a game in West Palm, you might want to check the schedule to make sure you get an Astros day.
Spring training used to be a bargain for fans and families who were in Florida on spring break. Not so much anymore. Depending on the opponent, Astros tickets on the secondary market can range from $36 for the Banana Boat Lawn to as high as $151 behind home plate. This isn’t your grandfather’s spring training anymore.
This should be the calmest and most carefree spring training for the Astros. No one can deny they are the best team in MLB with their second World Series championship in six years and multiple World Series and League Championship Series appearances during that span. Their legacy is unchallenged.
The roster is pretty much set, with their last slot appearing to be filled by Matt Gage. Manager Dusty Baker is back to turn toothpicks into splinters and All-Star Jose Abreu joins the fold for another charge to the World Series. All is good, and under budget, in Astros World.
The Astros have a new general manager this season, Dana Brown. Let’s describe his job, at least for the near future, this way: he’s driving a Tesla.
Here are the rules if you’re attending a spring training hoping to have Jose Altuve sign your Astros cap. MLB dictates no autographs during a game, even if Altuve is done after three innings and heading to the clubhouse. Better to show up before the game and catch your favorite player at a practice field outside the stadium.
The Astros will play 28 pre-season games, wrapping up their Florida stay against the Cardinals on March 26, before heading north (technically north by northwest) for their first game of the 2023 season March 30 against the White Sox at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros need to beat the Pale Hose that night or they won’t be able to sell beer the rest of the season. (They will have lost the opener - thank you Highlights Magazine in my dentist’s office.)
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Astros GM Dana Brown joined the Astros flagship on Wednesday and discussed several trending topics impacting the club right now.
Are they open to changing the batting order?
It's no secret Alex Bregman is off to another slow start. But how much longer can you bat a guy at cleanup who has 5 RBIs and no home runs on the season? When asked about it, Brown sounded open to the idea of moving Bregman until he starts heating up.
“Yeah, I think at some point Joe will make an adjustment there,” said Brown. Overall though, he sounds more concerned with the team's inability to hit with runners in scoring position. He's not happy with the quality of their at-bats in critical situations. He also made it clear that Espada is in charge of the lineup, just like Dusty Baker was before him.
That didn't take long!
The Astros lineup has been released for game two against the Cubs. Notice Bregman is hitting second and Yordan Alvarez is batting third.
The Astros against Jameson Taillon: Altuve 4, Bregman 5, Alvarez 7, Tucker 9, Diaz DH, Peña 6, Singleton 3, Caratini 2, Meyers 8
Arrighetti RHP
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 24, 2024
Injury updates
Cristian Javier heading to the IL was a “cautionary” move with the team having so many days off. Brown said Javier missing only two starts felt like the smart move. Pitching him too soon in a cold environment like Chicago felt too risky. And Framber Valdez could return to the rotation after the series in Mexico City.
Jose Abreu can't be the best option at first base
Brown addressed the Abreu situation just like Espada did on Tuesday. They both talked about “mixing and matching” and how they've already done some of that this year. But Abreu was in the lineup again on Tuesday, and once again did not record a hit. You have to wonder if Espada and Brown are being pressured to start Abreu. But then again, Brown made it clear that the guys getting opportunities when Abreu sits, aren't coming through either. He's not wrong. Singleton is getting the start on Wednesday, and Dubon (who has the third-most RBIs on the team) is sitting once again.
Is there any accountability for players that don't perform?
Brown responded by saying, “I do think these guys are taking this seriously.” He also mentioned there are some players in the minors playing well, and at some point they'll have to make a move. “There's some urgency in that respect,” said Brown. This comment applied to both position players and pitchers. Which makes me think JP France better get things going. Dana said in passing several times that you're not giving your team a legit chance to win by allowing five runs in the first inning. Even if you do settle down over the next few innings.
Playing with a sense of urgency
Brown was asked if the team's approach would be the same if they were 5.5 games back with only 30 games left to play. This response was very interesting.
He said, “Dubon would sneak in there a little more” and they would play the guys that are more consistently producing. That statement made me feel much better. Brown and Espada see the same things we see. Dana pointed out that you try to give your best hitters a chance to get going early in the year. If that doesn't work, you look for other options. Clearly, the Astros aren't to the point in the season when winning each game is the top priority. The MLB season is a marathon.
“You can't start sprinting too early,” said Brown. If the Astros were in a better division, you wonder if they would feel differently. They keep saying they're only 5.5 games back in the division, which is true. But he never mentioned that the team is ten games under .500.