Center-field makeover not turning players’ heads
For all the commotion and nostalgia stirred up by demolishing Tal’s Hill last season, the Astros are indifferent about the center-field renovations.
The iconic 90-foot wide slope with a 30-degree incline had thwarted potential home runs and challenged fly ball routes for nearly 20 years. The Astros moved the fence in from 436 to 409 feet and built out concessions and plush seating. In a sense, the Astros normalized Minute Maid Park by removing its signature but odd embankment.
“It’s playing as if it was never there. Like every other stadium,” said George Springer, who is shifting from right field to center this season.
“We play in normal fields all the time without a hill,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “So we’re pretty used to it. The attention will be a lot more from the outside, from the stands. The players will be fine.”
Hinch is more focused on getting newly acquired outfielders Nori Aoki, Carlos Beltran and Josh Reddick accustomed to playing left field in front of the Crawford Boxes.
The manager and his players sounded forced when asked for their opinions on the outfield makeover.
“The H star is cool,” Hinch said with a shrug, peering behind center field at the imitation ivy that shapes the batter’s eye with the team logo.
“It’s really nice,” Alex Bregman said of the renovations. In an 8-6 win over Chicago on Thursday night, the Astros combined with the Cubs for 22 hits and four home runs, promoting suggestions that the new, dark green batter’s eye helped hitters see pitches better. The sample size of two preseason game makes any conclusions seem premature. Springer tested out the playing surface when Kris Bryant hit a warning track fly ball. Springer caught it by backpedalling and banging into the center-field wall.
“It’s a little different because it’s closer and there’s a wall there,” Springer said of the changes from last season. “Other than that, it was pretty good.”
Musgrove happy with latest outing
Joe Musgrove threw 58 pitches and four easy innings in the Astros’ spring training finale against the Chicago Cubs at Minute Maid Park on Friday afternoon. The Cubs won 6-3.
“That was the I’ve felt all spring,” he said.
Musgrove, 24, struck out four batters, surrendered three hits and did not allow a run. His off-speed pitches were particularly effective. With two outs, two on and a full count, Musgrove deployed a changeup to strike out Kris Bryant, reigning N.L. Most Valuable Player. Musgrove navigated Chicago’s lineup of the same sluggers who led the franchise to its first World Series in 108 seasons.
Musgrove had battled Mike Fiers for the fifth starter spot, but they both will begin the season in the rotation because Collin McHugh will start on the 10-day disabled list.
“I was most pleased to command the top of the strike zone, which is huge for me,” Musgrove said. “If I can control those balls that are right at the top or just above and not those waist pitches that are any higher than that, that they don’t want to offer at.”
Although his pitch counts have been low this spring, Musgrove said he “still felt like I had some in the tank” during a recent outing and will be prepared to throw more when the games count.
In the fourth, Musgrove got out of his worst jam thanks to Alex Bregman. With two outs and two on, Albert Almora Jr. pulled a grounder that Bregman fielded while running into foul territory and fired to first in time on a spinning throw.
Musgrove hooted and swung his right arm into an emphatic low-five with Bregman.
“I was fired up,” Musgrove said. “It’s down the line, so if that ball gets by him, they’re scoring. He’s really solid in the corner. I like him over there even more than I like him at shortstop.”
Sipp’s struggles raise questions
Tony Sipp lost Friday with his worst outing in 2017.
The lefthanded reliever allowed three of the four batters he faced to reach base on two hits and a walk.
Sipp exited and was charged with three earned runs when Ken Giles walked in a run, allowed another with a wild pitch, and gave up two more on a single.
Sipp pitched poorly in three of his eight spring training appearances. He allowed 11 hits, seven walks and an 8.10 ERA through 62⁄3 innings pitched. This ineffective stretch follows a careerworst 2016.
The ramifications leave righthanded reliever Chris Devenski likely as the team’s best option to contain lefthanded hitters to begin the season Monday against the Seattle Mariners.
Sipp, 33, is in the second year of a three-year, $18 million contract.
Former scout Amaro dies at 81
Ruben Amaro Sr., 81, who scouted domestically and internationally for the Astros from 2010 to 2016, died Friday.
Amaro, the father of former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., was a Gold Glove shortstop, first-base coach and scout for the Phillies.
He is a member of both the Mexico and Cuba Baseball Halls of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Lilia, his five children and seven grandchildren.
Odds and ends
The Astros have Saturday off. Aside from holding practice Sunday, manager A.J. Hinch will not host team activities. “These guys need to spend less time together in the next 48 hours,” he said. “To say we’re over cooked and ready for the season is an overstatement.” … Seattle Mariners southpaw Drew Smyly will miss his start against the Astros on Thursday because of a flexor strain in his left elbow. Lefty Ariel Mirandan will pitch instead. … The Braves sent claimed lefthander Kevin Chapman to their Class AAA affiliate.