The week that was
Jim Rodriguez: Pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training; a welcome distraction to what is going on in the “real” world
Jim Rodriguez
Feb 15, 2018, 6:27 am
Never forgetting a chance meeting with Tony Soprano. Gandolfini.com
While many think of the opening of camps around Arizona and Florida as the start of something new; I always take the time to remember an encounter with someone that had nothing to do with baseball. Someone who every spring makes me smile and remember that life is a gift that needs to be unwrapped every day. Especially in times like these.
I was in Sanibel Island, Florida about a half hour outside of Fort Myers. It was March of 2000. I had a day off covering Minnesota Twins camp and decided to lay out by the hotel pool and enjoy a nice cigar.
As I finished lighting my Montecristo #2, I noticed him. How could you not!
The Sopranos was relatively new to viewers. The show debuted in January of 1999, but I was already hooked. He had a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. A towel wrapped around his neck and an unlit cigar in one hand.
Maybe it was the smoke from my cigar, but he quickly shuffled over to my area by the pool. There was an empty seat not quite next to me, but near enough to me.
As he approached, I found myself rehearsing what, if anything, I would say to my new favorite TV star! It was Tony Soprano! I read he was painfully shy and I certainly didn’t want to disrupt his quiet time in the sun.
Thankfully he spoke first: “Is this seat taken?” he said. “No… enjoy” I said.
He nodded and sat down. Now what? What was I going to say.. if anything? He then took off his shirt. and it hit me. A couple of big fellas sitting by the pool, both badly in need of as much sunscreen as humanly possible.
After he lit his cigar, I looked at him and said… “between you and me.. ain't nobody gonna get any sun today at this pool.” He laughed.. shook his head yes.. and reached out to shake my hand. “James” he said. “Jim” I said. Nothing more was said and at least for me.. that was plenty.
James Gandolfini left us far too soon. A heart attack struck him down in 2013. He was 51 years old. He’s a cautionary tale. Take better care of yourself. Mix in a salad. Lose some weight. But never stop enjoying life.
Even in times like these.
You can listen to my radio show, The Sports Bosses , weekdays at 10 a.m. ET on SB Nation Radio. Follow me on Twitter @mediarodriguez
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Late fireworks flip the script in thrilling All-Star showdown
Jul 16, 2025, 10:57 am
The Houston Astros entered the 2025 MLB Draft with limited capital but a clear objective: find talent that can help sustain their winning ways without needing a full organizational reboot. With just under $7.2 million in bonus pool money and two forfeited picks, lost when they signed slugger Christian Walker, the Astros needed to be smart, aggressive, and a little bold. They were all three.
A swing on star power
With the 21st overall pick, Houston selected Xavier Neyens, a powerful left-handed high school bat from Mt. Vernon, Washington. At 6-foot-4, Neyens is raw but loaded with tools, a slugger with plus power and the kind of bat speed that turns heads.
He’s the Astros’ first high school position player taken in the first round in a decade.
If Neyens develops as expected, he could be the next cornerstone in the post-Altuve/Bregman era. Via: MLB.com:
It’s possible we’ll look back at this first round and realize that the Astros got the best power hitter in the class. At times, Neyens has looked like an elite hitter who’d easily get to that pop, and at times the swing-and-miss tendencies concerned scouts, which is why he didn’t end up closer to the top of the first round. He was announced as a shortstop, but his size (6-foot-4) and his arm will profile best at third base.
Their next big swing came in the third round with Ethan Frey, an outfielder/DH from LSU who was one of the most imposing college hitters in the country.
He blasted 13 home runs in the SEC and helped lead the Tigers to a championship.
Filling the middle
In the fourth round, the Astros grabbed Nick Monistere, an infielder/outfielder out of Southern Miss who won Sun Belt Player of the Year honors.
If Kendall likes the pick, I like the pick. https://t.co/NQKqEHFxtV
— Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) July 14, 2025
He doesn’t jump off the page with tools, but he rakes, hitting .323 with 21 home runs this past season, and plays with a chip on his shoulder.
They followed that up with Nick Potter, a right-handed reliever from Wichita State. He projects as a fast-moving bullpen piece, already showing a mature approach and a “fastball that was regularly clocked in the upper-90s and touched 100 miles per hour.”
From there, Houston doubled down on pitching depth and versatility. They took Gabel Pentecost, a Division II flamethrower, Jase Mitchell, a high school catcher with upside, and a host of college arms, all in hopes of finding the next Spencer Arrighetti or Hunter Brown.
Strategy in motion
Missing multiple picks, Houston leaned into two things: ceiling and speed to the majors. Neyens brings the first, Frey and Monistere the second. And as they’ve shown in recent years, the Astros can develop arms with late-round pedigree into major league contributors.
The Astros didn’t walk away with flashy headlines, they weren’t drafting in the top 10. But they leave the 2025 draft with a clear direction: keep the farm alive with bats that can produce and arms that can fill in the gaps, especially with the club managing injuries and an aging core.
If Neyens becomes the slugger they hope, and if Frey or Monistere climbs fast, this draft could be another example of Houston turning limited resources into lasting impact.
You can see the full draft tracker here.
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