Giles’ opening pitch: befriend teammates
Reliever Ken Giles didn’t know a soul on the Astros’ roster when the team gave up some of the organization’s top prospects to acquire him from the Philadelphia Phillies last month, so he didn’t hesitate when invited to spend time with his new teammates this week.
The hard- t hrowing righthander met Dallas Keuchel briefly at Minute Maid Park before his introductory news conference, but that chat could hardly
be described as anything more than an introduction.
It’s no secret Giles, 25,
is expected to serve as the closer this season. But before making that announcement, Astros manager A.J. Hinch wants the New Mexico native to get to know his teammates and earn their respect during spring training.
Giles jumped on the invitation to participate in the annual Astros Caravan so he could build the bonds that prove crucial in a sport in which athletes spend more time with teammates than their own families during the season.
“It’s a great experience,” Giles said after working a drive-through restaurant window with second baseman Jose Altuve. “That’s probably the (biggest) reason why I took the chance to be in this caravan, so I can get to know guys like Keuchel and Altuve and get to know the fans and how they like to interact.”
An improved bullpen was a major reason the Astros went from a 70-win team that finished fourth in the American League West in 2014 to a team that went 86-76 to earn a wildcard spot in 2015.
Bolstering bullpen
The addition of AL Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa, Lance McCullers and Luis Valbuena also bolstered a club enhanced by the additions of closer Luke Gregerson and setup men Pat Neshek and Will Harris.
Gregerson, Neshek and Harris improved a bullpen that was rated as the worst in the AL in 2014.
But the bullpen cratered as the club stumbled out of first place in the AL West with a nearly disastrous September.
Astros fans won’t soon forget that the Kansas City Royals pounced on Harris, Tony Sipp and Gregerson while scoring five runs in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the division series to erase the Astros’ four-run lead. With the team six outs away from reaching the AL Championship Series, the bullpen could not close out Game 4.
The Astros lost the series in Game 5, prompting general manager Jeff Luhnow to search for a lateinning reliever this winter.
Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, didn’t hesitate when asked what he wanted to accomplish in 2016.
“That next win,” he said. “We were one win away from the championship series. I think we made an addition to the bullpen, which helped us out. Maybe we can get another starter. I think we’re good to go right now. Hopefully, if we don’t make a move right now maybe (one is made) in July when we’re in contention.”
Most of the roster returns from the team that gave the Royals their stiffest test in the 2015 postseason. Giles was the team’s biggest offseason addition, and the price for high-end relievers isn’t cheap.
The Astros sent former top overall pick Mark Appel, fellow righthander Vince Velasquez, lefthander Brett Oberholtzer and minor league righthanders Harold Arauz and Thomas Eshelman to the Phillies for Giles and shortstop Jonathan Arauz.
You don’t have to be a baseball expert to realize teams don’t give up such a large booty for a set-up man. Nonetheless, Giles isn’t claiming the role at this point.
“As of right now, I’m just focused on making sure I get to know the guys and stuff like that,” he said. “Making sure I can get their respect and they know who I am as a person and as a player and what I’m able to do. Any situation to help the team take the next step, that’s what I’m going to be able to do.”
A good first impression
Giles (6-2, 205) converted 15 of 20 save opportunities last year for the Phillies while posting a 6-3 record and 1.80 ERA with 87 strikeouts over 70 innings in 69 appearances.
He is 9-4 with 16 saves over two seasons in the majors, striking out 151 over 1152⁄ innings. Giles is
3 the first Astros reliever capable of overpowering hitters with 100 mph fastballs since Billy Wagner was traded to the Phillies after the 2003 season.
Giles appeared charismatic and playful while flashing his smile as he interacted with fans on the caravan. Equally important, he made solid first impressions with his teammates.
“Nice guy,” Altuve said. “It’s good.” Keuchel agreed. “It seems like he’s going to fit in just fine,” Keuchel said. “It’s not like we got a bunch of seasoned veterans that kick the rookies to the curb. But we got a good group, a good mix of veteran-laden guys but young