Teammates talk trash ahead of WBC trip
JUPITER, Fla. — The smack talk started with a simple prediction. Three of the Astros’ most prominent participants in the World Baseball Classic gathered in an empty clubhouse and packed their bags. One received an obvious question: Are you guys going to win?
“Yes,” Jose Altuve said emphatically.
Altuve’s assertion set off some side eyes and smirks. Martín Maldonado lobbed a playful insult toward Team Venezuela’s leadoff man and starting second baseman. Team Puerto Rico’s catcher then took aim at one of the brightest young stars on a stacked Dominican Republic squad. Houston’s World Series MVPwinning shortstop took it all in stride.
“Healthy trash talking,” Jeremy Peña said with a wide smile. “But I love it. That’s how it is in our countries. We live baseball, and to compete against my own teammates, it’s pretty cool.”
Altuve, Maldonado and Peña seemed downright giddy to finish their Grapefruit League obligations Monday afternoon and join their respective countries for the World Baseball Classic.
All three played five innings during Monday’s 7-1 loss to the Cardinals and departed for various parts of Florida for their country’s WBC training camps: Maldonado and Peña to Fort Myers and Altuve back to West Palm Beach.
“I feel close to myself,” said Altuve, who went 2-for-14 in Grapefruit League play before departing. “We have a few more games before the WBC, so I’ll be fine. I feel really good.”
Altuve and Maldonado are playing in the World Baseball Classic for a second time, while Peña is making his first appearance. The 25-year-old sensation called his Dominican Republic team “stacked” and looked forward to meeting many of the superstars to whom he hasn’t yet been formally introduced — specifically San Diego Padres superstars Juan Soto and Manny Machado.
“In the States, you have basketball, football, hockey, baseball, boxing. You have all these sports to look forward to all year. But over there, they look forward to the winters for winter ball baseball. That’s all we have,” Peña said.
“Every kid wants to play in the big leagues, so you feel like the whole country is playing with you. It’s a sense of pride for us to represent our country. It’s not anything else. We dream of representing our countries.”
Peña, Altuve and Maldonado’s teams are all in Florida-based Pool D. Only two teams from each five-team pool will advance into the quarterfinals. Pool play begins Saturday when Peña’s Dominican Republic team will face Altuve and Team Venezuela, which is managed by Astros firstbase coach Omar López.
“We’re stacked,” Peña said. “Hopefully we all stay healthy. That’s the most important part. We want to go play and come out healthy from the tournament.”
Closer Ryan Pressly and outfielder Kyle Tucker — both of whom will play for Team USA — left Monday morning for training camp in Phoenix. So did starter José Urquidy, who will pitch for Team Mexico. Starter Cristian Javier will anchor the Dominican Republic's rotation with relievers Bryan Abreu, Héctor Neris and Rafael Montero in the bullpen. Starter Luis Garcia is joining Altuve on Team Venezuela.
Hitting coach Alex Cintrón is on the Puerto Rican coaching staff, while bullpen catcher Javier Bracamonte is part of López's Team Venezuela staff. Catching coach Michael Collins is on Team Australia's staff, and strength coach Hazal Wessin will serve in the same capacity for Team Dominican Republic.
Brown struggles with command
A strike away from salvaging his second Grapefruit League start, Hunter Brown spun a slider. The baseball did not break, and Moises Gómez watched it fall in for ball four. He tossed his bat and walked toward first base.
Brown grabbed his glove and almost spiked it in disgust. Astros manager Dusty Baker reached him moments later, took the baseball and concluded another concerning start from Houston’s top pitching prospect. Brown walked all three batters he faced in the second inning. Reliever Ty Buttrey allowed all of them to score, but runs are really of little importance in spring training. More alarming is Brown’s continued inability to throw strikes, a fact that left him visibly frustrated after Monday’s outing in the Astros’ 7-1 loss to the Cardinals.
“You never want to play like that,” Brown said afterward. “It’s frustrating, but it’s early. I’m just not as sharp as midseason form right now. I’m trying to do everything I can to get there.”
Brown has walked five batters in his first two Grapefruit League starts. He’s thrown just 38 of his 73 pitches for strikes: a 52 percent clip. One opposing scout who watched his start Monday attributed the decline to “mechanical consistency.” Lance McCullers Jr.’s muscle strain should put Brown in the major league rotation, but he must harness better command if he plans to stick.
“I thought his first inning was really good, and then the game sped up on him in the second inning,” Maldonado said.
Brantley attends to family matter
Outfielder Michael Brantley stepped away from Astros camp Monday morning due to a family matter, Baker said. Brantley missed time last week due to a similar situation but returned to camp Sunday and was a full participant.
It is unclear if Brantley, who is already behind schedule due to shoulder surgery, will be ready for opening day March 30.