Altuve likely to start year atop order
In every Grapefruit League game he’s played since March 14, Jose Altuve has hit in the leadoff spot for the Astros. It’s a position he’ll likely find himself in when opening day rolls around April 1.
Manager Dusty Baker said Thusday that although the spot is still a work in progress, he’s leaning toward using Altuve at the top of the order in the season opener against the Athletics.
“You can see our lineup the last few days. He’s pretty damn good,” Baker said. “This guy can get 700 at-bats, and that equates out to like 250 hits.”
One of Baker’s biggest tasks this spring was to find a replacement for George Springer at the top of the order. Springer, who had been the Astros’ main leadoff hitter since 2016, signed a six-year deal with the Blue Jays in January.
Before Altuve, Baker used Myles Straw to lead off and mixed in Carlos Correa at the spot. Altuve has just six hits in 27 atbats and a single walk since March 14, but Baker said he’s started to see Altuve look more comfortable at the top of the order recently.
“(I’ll know he’s the guy) when I start to see his comfort level reach a point where it looks like he’s comfortable. He appears that he’s getting there,” Baker said. “We knew that we were gonna have this obstacle when we got started. It’s not easy to replace George.”
Altuve has hit .311 with a .361 on-base percentage over his career, so he’s a solid option to take over the spot.
He had a rough go of things in 2020, hitting just .219 with a .286 OBP. He’s also drawn an average of only 37.7 walks per year. However, Baker thinks Altuve will be just fine at the plate and even compared him to one of his former players who had a solid career in the leadoff spot.
“I remember they used to get on Juan Pierre a few years ago, saying he didn’t get any walks,” Baker said. “But he was hitting .315, .320. Well, I’ll take that.”
Urquidy’s spring ends on high note
What a way to close out spring training for Jose Urquidy.
In his last Grapefruit League start Thursday, Urquidy pitched five perfect innings against the Cardinals at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, striking out four of the 15 batters he faced.
It was by far his best start of the spring and the first time Urquidy can remember since at least his time in the minors that he retired the opposing team’s first 15 batters.
“My stuff was very good,” Urquidy said. “Trying to command all my stuff on the corners, up in the zone, some off-speed on the floor, and I was very focused on doing that. I think this outing was very good for me.”
It was a huge positive for Urquidy to make his last start his best. His spring started slow as he allowed eight hits and six runs in eight innings, his ERA ballooning to 6.75 after his first three starts.
“I feel the beginning of spring training I was getting in shape, my body, throwing a lot for my shoulder (and) my elbow,” Urquidy said. “Right now, I feel in shape. I think I’m gonna be 100 percent ready for the season.”
Veteran Cishek granted release
The Astros granted veteran sidearmer Steve Cishek his release Thursday night, offering some clarity for their final few bullpen spots.
The Astros signed Cishek to a minor league deal during the winter and owed him $2.25 million if he made the major league roster. Whether the team balked at adding that salary while it monitors the $210 million competitive balance tax is unknown. Houston currently has a $203,591,310 CBT payroll, according to Cot’s Contracts, but must leave some room for in-season additions.
Cishek yielded back-toback-to-back home runs during his Grapefruit League debut but pitched well enough afterward that he seemed in firm consideration for a spot in the opening day bullpen. After that first outing, Cishek struck out 12 in 62⁄3 scoreless innings.
Six pitchers are all but guaranteed bullpen spots: Ryan Pressly, Joe Smith, Enoli Paredes, Blake Taylor, Brooks Raley and Ryne Stanek. Presuming the Astros carry 13 pitchers, it leaves two spots up for grabs.
Andre Scrubb will not be ready by opening day after injuring his shoulder in an outing last week. The Astros’ lack of stretchedout starters behind Zack Greinke, Lance McCullers Jr. and Jose Urquidy might prompt them to carry multiple relievers who can go more than one inning. Brandon Bielak, Bryan Abreu and Luis Garcia are prime candidates if that is the case.
Alvarez working way back to form
After winning American League Rookie of the year in 2019, Yordan Alvarez is still working his way back from a lost season in 2020 and a late start to spring training. Alvarez didn’t make his season debut last year until Aug. 14 after testing positive for COVID-19. He had only eight at-bats over two games because of his knees, which both required season-ending surgery.
As Houston’s designated hitter, Alvarez has less of a chance of suffering a setback because he’ll spend less time in the field. Still, Astros manager Dusty Baker has moved him around in the order to help him get his timing back and to limit his running while his knees continue to recover.
“That’s why I’m batting him down in the order,” Baker said Thursday. “I know you’re used to seeing him up in the order, but I figured his timing is going to be off for a while, and also I don’t want him running the bases a whole bunch.”
Alvarez has just three hits in 21 at-bats this spring, but Baker said he’s impressed with the contact Alvarez is making. He expected Alvarez to need more time to even get close to finding the sweet spot.