Astros beat the clock and the Mets
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Dusty Baker spent his Saturday fixated on the scoreboard in right center field. Underneath a beer advertisement sat baseball’s solution to its languid pace of play, perhaps the most consequential onfield rule change during Baker’s lengthy managerial tenure.
“I was watching the clock every batter,” Baker said following Houston’s 4-2 win against the New York Mets in its Grapefruit League opener. “It got down to two and three (seconds) a bunch of times.”
No Astro allowed it to expire. The team completed its spring training opener in 2 hours and 33 minutes without a pitch clock violation, but the accomplishment does come with a caveat. Baker played a lineup of mostly minor leaguers, who spent last season living the reality that their big league brethren will now face.
Houston’s starting battery of Brandon Bielak and Korey Lee spent most of last season in Class AAA Sugar Land — with a pitch clock in use. All but one of the seven relievers that followed Bielak were minor leaguers for most of last season. The lone veteran, non-roster invitee Austin Davis, got through the fourth inning without violating any of the rules.
More concern in Astros camp centers around the hitters, who must be in the batter’s box and engaged with the pitcher before the clock reaches eight seconds.
Atlanta Braves prospect Cal Conley did not during the ninth inning of his team’s Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox. With a full count and the bases loaded, the umpire called an automatic strike against Conley, ending the game.
“Obviously it was a little complicated,” Astros first baseman José Abreu said through an interpreter. “I think we all have to get the timing. Once we get the timing, it will be a little bit easier, but I think we’re all going through it at the moment. Once we get the timing, we’ll be able to handle it.”
Abreu was the Astros’ only everyday player in Saturday’s lineup. Far more intrigue will arise when Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker get into games. Both step out of the batter’s box and have lengthy routines between pitches — habits they must now break.
“We have them up to speed, but you don’t know if you’re up to speed until you get into action,” Baker said before the game. “The biggest concern are the guys taking too long to get into the (batter’s) box. You have to give the signs rather quickly. You can’t give too many decoy, dummy signs, you have to go right to the signs. There’s a few challenges and a few things we have to do to make them aware of time.”
Saturday’s Mets’ lineup featured five lefthanded hitters and switch-hitter Jonathan Araúz, offering an initial glimpse at how Houston will react to the new rules banning it. Last season, no team in the sport shifted against lefthanded hitters more frequently than the Astros.
The league’s new rules mandate two defenders on each side of second base and require all four infielders to have both feet on the dirt when the pitch is released.
The Astros squeezed every inch out of the new dimensions, positioning their second baseman and shortstop with their heels nearly touching the outfield grass.
With the bases empty, the Astros moved shortstop Mauricio Dubón almost diagonal to the back side of second base, keeping him on the dirt and on the left side, but by a matter of inches. Second baseman Rylan Bannon played back toward the grass, almost at the midpoint between first and second base.
Abreu showing his versatility
Abreu starts his spring training days at a different position, creating an odd sight on the back fields. Houston has cornered the market on massive shortstops — Carlos Correa stood 6-4 and most of Jeremy Peña’s muscles are social media memes — but Abreu standing there is another matter entirely.
The slugging first baseman is all of 235 pounds and stands an imposing 6-3. At first glance, his mobility may be questioned. Abreu answers them all after a few minutes. He fields a few rounds of ground balls at shortstop in early work, ranging to both sides of the field while making some impressive cross-body throws for someone his size.
“It’s something I’ve done my whole career,” Abreu said on Saturday through an interpreter. “That’s something that forces me to move my feet and it puts me in the best position.”
Abreu will spend this spring training showing the Astros what else he prefers and how he prepares himself for a season. He started Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the New York Mets, standing out in a lineup littered with bench players and minor leaguers.
“I like getting at-bats. I’m used to playing every single day. I like playing every day and that’s something I like doing. This is a different team and a new mentality, but it’s something I’m going to talk to ( Baker and bench coach Joe Espada) about. I know they’re going to put me in the best position to be successful.”
Abreu played five innings and finished 0for-2 with a strikeout. Veteran players often leave the ballpark after they’re pulled from the game.
Abreu instead headed for the batting cages, working for more than an hour with hitting coach Alex Cintrón. When reporters entered the clubhouse postgame, Abreu appeared out of breath and still on an adrenaline rush from his batting practice.
“To me, repetition is the thing that will take you to perfection,” Abreu said. “When you don’t feel perfect, I think that’s the only thing you can do is just work hard. I was working with Cintrón in there and just talking baseball with him.”
The action furthered Abreu’s introduction to his new team and a transition that’s still got some speedbumps. He spent his past nine seasons with the Chicago White Sox, who hold spring training in Arizona and still have teammates he calls dear friends.
Taking the field on Saturday without them felt odd.
“Very weird. A lot of things were weird,” Abreu said. “The colors of the jerseys were weird, the climate here in Florida is a little different. New teammates that I’m just starting to know. But very fortunate and very appreciative for where I’m at right now. This is just the beginning.”