Stubbs open to a learning curve with Cole
OAKLAND, Calif. — Behind a screen protecting the Astros’ bullpen from batting practice pokes, Garrett Stubbs and Gerrit Cole conversed for 15 minutes before Friday’s seriesopening game against the A’s.
Six inches taller than his Sunday catcher, Cole towers over Stubbs.
He craned his neck downward and delivered as many pointers as possible.
“A lot of it is teacher-student kind of stuff,” Stubbs said Saturday. “Him being the teacher and me just listening (and) absorbing information. I haven’t caught him in a game, so I don’t know what he likes to do.
“But I’ve seen him pitch and I have an idea of the kind of stuff he likes to do on the mound.”
In his second major league start Sunday, before a large group of family and friends in his home state, Stubbs will catch Cole during the series finale in Oakland Coliseum.
The rookie caught Cole only once in a simulated setting during spring training — a live batting practice — but was behind the plate for a few of the righthander’s bullpens.
Stubbs and Cole spent Saturday afternoon in the third-base dugout in an attempt to iron out the inevitable unknowns surrounding this start. Cole will carry a major league-leading 112 strikeouts into the outing and, in his last start against the Cubs, tied his season high with 12 punchouts.
Like any starting pitcher, Cole has specific tendencies, and commands cohesion with his catchers. He and Justin Verlander are more visceral and outward about their in-game expectations with their batterymate. Stubbs has noticed.
“I know that tomorrow there might be some situations where he might get mad at me about something. But it’s a learning curve,” Stubbs said. “It’ll be my first time catching him and there might be something I do that he goes ‘Don’t do that.’
“But it’s about getting back in the saddle and understand that he doesn’t want me to do whatever I did. But it’s a learning process and hopefully it’ll be a quick one.”
Stubbs acknowledged he “will not call every single pitch (Cole) wants to throw” during the start, but wants to at least “have a reason” for why he does. Conversations like the two among the battery this weekend strive to better explain those reasons before a game situation arises.
Because of the similarities between the two pitchers,
Stubbs planned to watch Verlander’s Saturday night start with great intent and carry some of Verlander’s strategy into Sunday with minor adjustments.
“My goal tomorrow is just to make sure Gerrit is feeling comfortable and we have a good quality start to get us a win,” Stubbs said.
Hinch draws Straw to bat leadoff
Playing without George Springer, Jose Altuve and Aledmys Diaz leaves manager A.J. Hinch searching for an everyday leadoff hitter.
He tried lefties Josh Reddick and Derek Fisher atop his order during this injury-plagued period, but prefers to begin with a righthanded hitter against a southpaw starter.
Saturday’s selection was
Myles Straw, the speedy righthanded-hitting outfielder to oppose Oakland starter Brett Anderson.
Straw, a 24-year-old rookie, made his third major league start, manning left field and protecting Alex Bregman and Michael Brantley in the middle of the order. Straw went 0-for-4 on Saturday in the 5-1 win over the A’s.
Hinch planned to lead off Bregman on Saturday, but changed his mind during the morning. While so much is in flux with his team, Hinch will strive for consistency in the middle of the order. Straw’s speed is a plus, too. Should he get on ahead of Bregman and Brantley, Hinch hoped his rookie could create havoc.
Though he played left field Saturday, Straw continues his work at shortstop and hinted he could see time there during the upcoming Mariners series that starts Monday in Seattle.
“I feel good,” said Straw, who split time between both positions with Class AAA Round Rock. “I played over half my games at shortstop this year, so I think I’m going to be OK. It’s definitely different than being 300 feet away from the batter, so I’m looking forward to it. It should be a pretty cool experience.”