OF Martinez among those in camp early Thursday
Among the position players who reported to camp early Thursday were infielders Scott Moore, Joe Thurston and Diory Hernandez and outfielder Fernando Martinez, a former top prospect with the Mets.
Widely considered one of baseball’s top prospects from 2006-10, Martinez was billed as a power-hitting outfielder expected to be a cornerstone of the Mets’ lineup throughout this decade. But multiple injuries and an arthritic right knee have prevented Martinez from appearing in more than 82 games in any of the past three seasons.
“I’m really happy to be here, to be on a team and have new competition,” Martinez said. “My whole career I played for the Mets, and right now I have a new home and I feel very grateful to be here.”
Martinez, 23, spent the majority of the 2011 season at Triple-A Buffalo, but did have a brief stint with the Mets. In 63 games with Buffalo, he hit .260 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. He hit .227 in 11 games for the Mets with a home run, which came May 13 at Minute Maid Park off Astros pitcher Bud Norris.
“I have to work hard, and if I play very good here they could give me the opportunity to play in the Majors this year,” Martinez said.
Martinez has one option remaining, so if he doesn’t make the Major League roster he could begin the season at Triple-A Oklahoma.
Also, manager Brad Mills gave no hints about who his closer might be, but he said a decision could be made within the week. More details on that later. For now, enjoy some pictures from the morning:
Lance Pendleton leads a group of players onto the field.
Astros catchers stretch on the field.
Astros pitcher Wesley Wright awaits morning stretch.
Strength and conditioning coach Gene Coleman gets ready to lead the pitchers in stretch.
Positions players keep trickling in for Day 3
More than two dozen positions players were already in camp by Wednesday and working out together on the back fields at Osceola County Stadium. They took batting practice when the pitchers and catchers were done and even did defensive drills. That was a welcomed sight for manager Brad Mills.
“It’s nice to see them here and ready to go, and now they’re able to get some work done and enjoy themselves,” Mills said. “It’s good to get it done.
Some of the players, such as infielders Brett Wallace, Chris Johnson and Angel Sanchez, were working out in Houston prior to coming to spring camp. Non-roster invitee Travis Buck got to Kissimmee at the start of February to familiarize himself with the new surroundings.
The position players aren’t required to report until early Sunday – prior to the first workout – but Mills said all of them should be on site by Saturday.
For all the news from today’s workout, check out my notebook.
Here are the photos of the day:
Burt Hooton, Doug Brocail and John Matlack converse. They've combined for 328 Major League wins.
Henry Sosa works on his bunting.
First base coach Bobby Meacham feeds the pitching machine.
Chris Wallace works on blocking balls in the dirt.
Brett Wallace signs an autograph on way to batting cages.
Wandy Rodriguez fields a ball during drills.
Former first-round picks Delino DeShields Jr. and George Springer head to the batting cage.
Brett Myers fires a pitch in the bullpen.
GM Jeff Luhnow observes pitchers throwing.
Jose Valdez stretches out his arm.
Delino DeShields Jr. plays catch with Jimmy Paredes.
Astros hit the field for Day 3
In his morning gathering with the media on Wednesday, Astros manager Brad Mills told reporters he wished he had some news, but then backtracked. No news at this point in camp means no one is injured, and through two days of pitchers and catchers working out everybody remains in once piece. It won’t continue, but for now the Astros are healthy.
Mills did say the team doesn’t plan to have an intra-squad game like it’s had in years past a day or two prior to the first Grapefruit League game of the season.
“We decided that wouldn’t really benefit us that much,” Mills said. “We’re going to have that be a full day [of workouts] the day before we start playing games. The main thing is that is our pitchers really weren’t getting out of it what we’d like them to get out of it.”
Here are some pictures from the morning:
Astros catcher Chris Snyder does an interview in the morning.
Livan Hernandez walks to the field for the workout.
Zach Duke demonstrates his golf swing while awaiting stretch.
Astros get a look at more new pitchers
The second day of pitcher and catcher workouts went off without a hitch, with Astros manager Brad Mills getting his first look at pitchers like Rhiner Cruz, Livan Hernandez and Paul Clemens when they threw in the bullpen for the first time.
“Watching the guys throw, that’s always the biggest thing,” Mills said. “I thought Rhiner Cruz threw the ball really well. I thought Bud Norris threw the ball well and Paul Clemens, too. Livan’s command of his pitches was pretty impressive. The guys are doing the things to get themselves ready. Today was a much better day. Guys knew better where to go and what to do.”
General manager Jeff Luhnow was impressed with Clemens, who came to the Astros in the Michael Bourn trade.
“He’s got a big arm,” he said. “We’re going to develop him as a starter. My philosophy for the better arms is until they prove to us they don’t have three pitches and don’t have command to start, we’re going to start them, and it looks like [Clemens] has got everything he needs.”
Let’s get right to the photos:
Brad Mills hits rag balls to the pitchers.
Catchers lined up in the bullpen.
Side-armer Rhiner Cruz fires a pitch as GM Jeff Luhnow and special assistant Mike Elias watch.
Lucas Harrell throws a pitch with a bunch of folks watching.
Bench coach Joe Pettini hits a rag ball at the pitchers.
Lucas Harrell gets some tips from pitching coach Doug Brocail.
Paul Clemens fires towards home plate.
Mike Kvasnicka and roving Minor League catching instructor Danny Sheaffer.
Chris Snyder and Bud Norris shake hands after working together for the first time.
Carlos Corporan prepraes to swing in the batting cage.
Duke to get a look as a starter
Before Astros pitchers and catchers hit the field early Tuesday for the second day of workouts, manager Brad Mills said left-handed pitcher Zach Duke, a non-roster invite to camp, would be looked at as both a starter and a reliever. Duke will make a couple of Grapefruit League starts, Mills said.
“We’re going to see what he’s able to bring to the table,” Mills said. “We’re going to give him a chance to start a couple of games, but he’s also pitched out of the pen, and when you have a lefty like that with his experience is an opportunity he might be able to earn a spot in the bullpen as well.”
Duke is 48-74 with a 4.56 ERA in his career, mostly with the Pirates. He’s pitched in 181 games, including 168 starts.
Much more to come later, but enjoy a couple of morning photos:
Astros coaches Dave Clark, Milt Thompson and Bobby Meacham await the workout.
Kyle Weiland plays catch with Jordan Lyles.
Zach Duke warms up with a game of toss.
Spring Training is underway for the Astros
The Astros officially kicked off their new era under new management Monday when pitchers and catchers took the field at Osceola County Stadium for the first workout of Spring Training. Astros manager Brad Mills said everything went as smoothly as could have been expected, as 28 pitchers and seven catchers put in a few hours of work for the first time as a group.
Perhaps the best news for the Astros as they hit the field was that everyone is healthy, including catcher Jason Castro and Brandon Lyon. Castro missed all of last year and Lyon sat out most of the year following surgery.
“I was pleasantly surprised to see the guys in great shape,” Mills said. “The guys did a lot of things this off-season [to stay in shape]. With a lot of new players and a lot of new staff, it was good. I thought they did a good job. Yeah, there are some things they have to tighten up a little bit, but for the most part I thought it was real good.”
The pitchers are broken into six groups, with three groups throwing in the bullpen each day. Among those getting on the mound Monday were J.A. Happ, Jordan Lyles, Brett Myers, Zach Duke, Wesley Wright and Henry Sosa.
The position players won’t work out as a group until Sunday. Among those who showed up at camp Monday were Jordan Schafer, Jose Altuve, Chris Johnson, Jed Lowrie, Jimmy Paredes, Brett Wallace, Brian Bogusevic, Jack Cust, Jake Goebbert, J.D. Martinez, J.B. Shuck and George Springer.
For a complete rundown of the day’s news, click here.
For a video package with interviews with Jim Crane, Jeff Luhnow and Brad Mills, click here.
Here is Day 1 in pictures:
Astros manager Brad Mills puts on his sunglasses as he emerges from the clubhouse for the first workout of spring.
Pitcher Paul Clemens, acquired from the Braves in the Michael Bourn deal, stretches.
Astros manager Brad Mills talks to one of his coaches.
Astros pitcher Bud Norris awaits Monday's first stretch.
Astros manager Brad Mills talks with the media prior to the workout.
Astros manager Brad Mills address a group of pitchers.
Astros catcher Jason Castro gets put through a drill.
Jordan Lyles fires a pitch to Humberto Quintero. Can you spot the ball?
Astros owner Jim Crane does an interview.
Astros owner Jim Crane talks with manager Brad Mills prior to Monday's workout.
Schafer apologizes for off-season arrest
Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer, who was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop following last season, apologized publicly for the first time Monday shortly after arriving at camp.
Schafer, traded to the Astros from the Braves last July, is currently in a court-mandated pretrial intervention program in Florida that will clear his record if he successfully completes it.
“It was a bad situation,” Schafer said. “First of all, I want to apologize to the Astros and say I’m sorry for the inconvenience they went through and I’m sorry to the fans. I got caught up in a bad situation and hopefully I’ve learned from my mistake and moved on and become a better person for it, and hopefully we don’t have any more instances like that. Hopefully I can be a good role model and learn from this.”
Schafer said he’s thankful of how supportive Astros management has been during his ordeal.
“They’ve stood behind me, which I really appreciate,” he said. “I put them in a bad spot and I’m going through everything as far as the process they want me to do. I’m in a program and taking tests and stuff and doing whatever they ask me to do. I’m extremely appreciative of the Astros for standing behind me, and the fans and my family for being there.”
Schafer reported to camp at 204 pounds after putting on about 15-20 pounds this winter working with Orlando-based trainer Tom Shaw.
“I’m ready to get in here and get going and put everything that’s happened behind me,” he said.
Crane takes in first camp as owner
Astros owner Jim Crane kicked off Spring Training early Monday by addressing the pitchers and catchers prior to their first workout, and then took a stroll around the facility at Osceola County Stadium to get the lay of the land.
“I’m feeling my way around,” he said. “It’s a nice facility and everybody has settled in and everybody is ready to go to work. The conversation this morning was [to tell them] to work hard. There are a lot of positions up for grabs. I think everybody if focused.”
Crane, whose group purchased the team from Drayton McLane in November, was scheduled to fly back to Houston on Monday night, but will return in time for the first full-squad workout on Sunday. As a former college player, Crane reveled at the chance to be back in his element.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I hadn’t been in a locker room in a long time. You never forget what it’s like. There’s a lot of young faces sitting in the room and probably anxious about making the team, and you kind of understand that when you’ve played baseball. I played baseball, and it brought back a lot of fond memories.”
Astros owner Jim Crane does an interview on Monday
Players trickle into camp in Kissimmee
There is no official “reporting” date to Spring Training as there has been in years past, but several players were at Osceola County Stadium on Sunday — one day ahead of the first workout for pitchers and catchers.
J.A. Happ and fellow starting pitcher Bud Norris were among a handful of players to seize the opportunity to get on the back fields and play catch. Also working out Sunday were pitchers Lucas Harrell, Fernando Rodriguez, Wesley Wright, David Carpenter, outfielder Jake Goebbert and catcher Jason Castro.
Other who were in camp Sunday: Chris Snyder, Jack Cust, Zach Duke and Jorge De Leon.
“There’s going to be a lot of competition for positions, but it’s always going to be good just to see everybody again,” Happ said. “It’s good to have a little time off, but after so long everybody is going to be ready to get going again.”
The Astros will have 63 players in camp this year, including 23 non-roster players. The pitchers and catchers will take their physicals prior to Monday’s workout.
“We’ve been in Houston so long, champing at the bit,” said infielder Brett Wallace, who reported well ahead of the Feb. 26 first workout for position players. “Getting in last night and getting the chance to get in there, it’s like reality that it’s about to start. I think we’re all excited to get going this year.”
The Astros have more jobs up for grabs than any camp in recent memory. The top three spots in the rotation are decided, with Wandy Rodriguez, Brett Myers and Norris returning, and Carlos Lee (first base), J.D. Martinez (left field), Jose Altuve (second base) and newcomer Jed Lowrie (shortstop) likely to be in the Opening Day lineup.
“We’ve got to come in here and be positive, and that’s our No. 1 priority,” Norris said. “A lot went on last year besides playing baseball that kind of had us living in limbo land with the ownership, but finally we got that settled and I’m sure [new owner Jim] Crane is going to have an opportunity to talk to us and we’re going to have an opportunity to talk to him. It’s a fresh start. That’s what we needed.”
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Veteran relief pitcher Brandon Lyon, who underwent surgery last year to repair the detachment of his right biceps tendon and to also mend a tear in his labrum, was understandably eager to get to Kissimmee. Lyon has been throwing off the mound at home and said he comes to camp with no limitations.
“I’ve thrown a few times off the mound, which is kind of rare for me coming into Spring Training,” he said. “I usually don’t throw too much, but I felt like I had to throw a couple of times and get on the mound and see where I’m at. I’m actually pretty happy where I’m at. I feel like I’m ahead of where I usually am right now.”
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Catcher Jason Castro, who missed all of last season with a serious knee injury and underwent foot surgery two months ago, reported to camp on Sunday in good shape. He underwent surgery Dec. 9 to remove the sesamoid bone from his foot after injuring it playing in the Arizona Fall League and sat out all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a large tear in the meniscus and having a reconstruction of the right ACL.
“I feel really good health-wise,” Castro said. “I’ll be ready to go. That’s a big reason why I’m excited. I wasn’t sure how the whole rehab process was going to go, but everything has gone really well. That makes me even more excited to get going, knowing I’m healthy.”
Here are some photos from Sunday:
Astros jerseys are lined up in the clubhouse.
More jerseys ready to go.
The pristine field at Osceola County Stadium.
A line of home plates awaiting catchers. They'll be manning them on Monday.
Lucas Harrell, David Carpenter and Fernando Rodriguez stretch.
Jason Castro plays catch as Brett Wallace awaits a throw.
Brandon Lyon and J.A. Happ play catch.
Meet new Astros bench coach Joe Pettini
Joe Pettini will be the guy standing alongside manager Brad Mills on a daily basis this season, talking, discussing and dissecting every aspect of the game and the opponent. Pettini is the Astros’ new bench coach, and he brings with him a wealth of experience after working the previous 10 years under one of the game’s all-time great managers in Tony La Russa.
Pettini won two World Series titles as La Russa’s right-hand man, including last year’s scintillating run that culminated with a victory over the Texas Rangers. While he thoroughly enjoyed working for La Russa, who retired after last season, Pettini is ready for a change of pace with the Astros and third-year manager Mills.
“Tony is a Hall of Fame manager and he was great to work for, but as the bench coach for Tony, sometimes you’re limited in what you have to do,” Pettini said. “It’s not like you can ask questions or ask for his input throughout the game, but Brad’s made it known to me he wants an ongoing conversation during the game. For me, I will love that. Just being part of the game and helping him out as the game progresses, I’m looking forward to that and I’m very excited about that.”
Pettini, 57, chose to leave the Cardinals after more than 25 years as a player and coach in the organization for a chance to reunite with general manager Jeff Luhnow, who spent the previous eight years with the Cardinals.
“I’m very excited and really appreciate the opportunity Jeff gave me to come down here and work with Brad,” Pettini said. “I know the situation that’s going on in Houston and that we’re kind of in a rebuilding mode. I spent a lot of years in the Minor Leagues with St. Louis before I got a chance to go to the big leagues with Tony and spent a lot of time with younger players, and I think that experience will come into play and hopefully I will be of help.”
Pettini’s playing career was similar to Mills. Pettini played parts of four seasons with the Giants from 1980-83, appearing in 188 games with one homer and 20 RBIs. Mills played in a reserve role for the Expos from 1980-83, appearing in 106 games and hitting one home run with 12 RBIs.
Pettini will be in charge of organization and running Spring Training this year, which is what he did for years with the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla.
“He has a lot of experience,” Mills said. “He brings a different way of doing things, which I think is good. I think the message is going to be my message, but in a different format with him and his experience. We’re looking forward to working together. We’ve talked a lot and I feel very comfortable with him.”
Said Pettini: “I’m going to be in charge of outlining the schedule. It’s still Brad’s program and his way he wants things to be done, and my job will be to help outline it and make sure the schedules go up and the meetings run smoothly and everybody knows what’s going on and everybody is on the same page. It’s still Brad’s program.”
The first week to 10 days of Spring Training will be rather hectic for Pettini, as he learns new names and faces and tries to get acclimated to a new complex in Central Florida.
“If you’re outlining the schedule every day, that’s probably the most busy time of the year,” he said. “You have a lot of players when you first get in. It’s not so bad with the pitchers and catchers, but when you have pitchers and catchers and position players report, thank God you have the support of the Minor League staff to come and help with all the players you have. It’s probably the most difficult time. You want to try to outline the program so the guys can go out and get to work. You don’t want guys standing around doing nothing because there’s things they need to do to get off the field.”
Pettini joined the Cardinals organization as a Minor League player in 1984 and went into managing after his playing career ended in 1988. Pettini managed eight seasons in the system. His last stop was at Triple-A Louisville, where he guided the Redbirds to the 1995 American Association championship. Overall, he was 475-569 at the helm of the Cardinals’ farm affiliates.
He was the organization’s minor league field coordinator from 1997-2001 before he began working with the Major League club.
“No matter how long you’ve been in the game or how good you think you are, you have to be able to keep up with the game and understand the game and understand the people and teams you play against,” Pettini said. “I know what it’s like to be a manager. I managed eight years in the Minor Leagues, and when you’re the bench coach, you have to actually follow the game as if you are the manager.
“When the manager has a question, you have to be able to answer it and you have to be able to give input as far as how the game’s going and what could benefit your club, as well as what the other clubs are doing against you.”
Pettini was born Jan. 26, 1955, in Wheeling, W.V., and graduated from Brooke High School in Wellsburg, W.V., in 1973. He received a bachelor’s degree in education from Mercer University in Macon, Ga. Pettini and his wife, Barbara, have been married 30 years and reside in Bethany, W.V. They have two children: Amy and Joseph, and a granddaughter, Marlee Joe.
Brian McTaggart
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