Martinez optioned as McCullers returns
Seth Martinez fell victim to a numbers crunch on Saturday when the Astros optioned him to Class AAA Sugar Land after manager Dusty Baker said “he did nothing wrong.”
Martinez’s demotion cleared a spot for Lance McCullers Jr. on the Astros’ 26-man roster. The team transferred outfielder Michael Brantley to the 60-day injured list to create a spot on the 40-man roster. Brantley underwent season-ending shoulder surgery earlier this week.
Houston’s 26-man roster decision came down to either Martinez or Bryan Abreu, the two most expendable relievers who still had minor league options remaining. Teams are only permitted to carry 13 pitchers.
“It’s tough, but I understand it,” Martinez said. “I’m obviously not happy about it, but at the end of the day, I understand it and that’s how things go sometimes. I’m going to take the day, go down and help Sugar Land win some games and hopefully be back pretty soon.”
A Rule 5 selection from the Oakland A’s in 2020, Martinez carved a role as Houston’s long reliever after starting the season with 17 consecutive scoreless innings. The 27-yearold rookie posted a 2.48 ERA in 322⁄3 major league innings before Saturday’s demotion.
“They don’t really want me to look at it as a negative thing because they feel like I’ve been doing my job and doing what I’m supposed to do up here, helping us win,” Martinez said.
Optioning Martinez means the Astros will operate without a true long reliever — dangerous given the construction of their pitching staff. The team is now in a six-man rotation with McCullers’ return and, therefore, operating a man short in its bullpen.
McCullers is only built up to around 85 pitches.
“Abreu’s the guy now,” Baker said of not having a long reliever. “You’re always concerned about a short start (and) always concerned about coverage. I just hope my starters keep going deep in the game.”
Smith and Puhl in Astros’ Hall
The Astros inducted former executive Tal Smith and outfielder Terry Puhl into their Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony on Saturday.
“It’s particularly gratifying for me to go in alongside a member of the 1980 club and particularly with Terry,” Smith said. “He was a consummate player, a complete player. He never made a mental mistake, very few physical mistakes and few errors.”
Smith’s Astros tenure spanned three separate stints, two ballparks and 35 teams. The 1980 club remains one of his most cherished. Houston won the National League West title with a 7-1 win against the Dodgers during Game 163 at Dodger Stadium.
“That was the first time the Astros ever won anything,” said Puhl, who finished 10-for-19 during the Astros’ National League Championship Series loss to the Phillies.
Puhl became the seventh member of the 1980 team in the Astros Hall of Fame, joining J.R. Richard, Nolan Ryan, Joe Morgan, Joe Niekro, César Cedeño and Jose Cruz. Puhl, Cruz and Cedeño comprised the entire starting outfield for manager Bill Virdon.
Virdon’s widow, Shirley, sent a phone message congratulating
Smith on his induction. Virdon died last November.
“It’s a real honor. I’m just overwhelmed,”
Smith said. “I appreciate what the Houston Astros and particularly what the Hall of Fame committee has done to recognize our 35 years here. We had a lot of success and had a lot of great memories.”
Space Cowboys rally past El Paso
J.J. Matijevic doubled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the ninth inning after Taylor
Jones had tied the game with a run-scoring double as Sugar Land rallied for a 7-6 victory at El Paso on Saturday night.
Justin Dirden, David Hensley and Marty Costes had three hits apiece for the Space Cowboys.