Spring Training 2012: Day 1
ValleyCats Media Relations Manager Chris Chenes has arrived in Florida for Astros spring training. Below is his recap from day one:
Hello from sunny Florida! After arriving Thursday evening, Friday was my first full day at Osceola County Stadium complex in Kissimmee, Florida. It happened to be a camp day for the minor leaguers, which basically means they don’t play other minor league organizations. They go through morning meetings, stretch, run, throw and play a little pepper. Pitchers and catchers do side work and non-throwing pitchers go through conditioning. All of that takes place from 8-11am.
On camp days they will then play intersquad scrimmages. Friday was Oklahoma City vs. Corpus Christi and Lancaster vs. Lexington.
The major league club hosted the Washington Nationals at 1pm, but before that game, some of the Astros pitchers and position players got some extra work in a “B game” on the backfields. It’s a mix of big leaguers and minor leaguers.
I began interviewing former ‘Cats and will continue throughout the weekend. I will be uploading them upon my return to Troy on Wednesday. Our Assistant GM Matt Callahan will be joining me on Saturday and we will be talking to Astros GM Jeff Luhnow to ask him about the overall #1 pick the Astros own in this years MLB Draft, as well as some other questions.
Below are a bunch of great pictures from the scrimmages and a few from the big league game against the Nationals. Until tomorrow ‘Cats fans…look for tweets throughout the day on Saturday and another blog post recapping Day 2 with more pictures.
-Chris
-
- Astros GM Jeff Luhnow watching the B game
-
- Astros manager Brad Mills & pitching coach Doug Brocail.
-
- ValleyCats manager Stubby Clapp and roving infield instructor Tom Lawless.
-
- Zach Johnson
-
- Some pitchers not throwing, watch the game from the stands to chart pitches.
-
- Lexington hitting coach Josh Bonifay, former ‘Cats Bobby Doran and Ryan Cole
-
- Former ‘Cats pitching coach Gary Ruby. He will serve as pitching coach for Double-A Corpus Christi this season.
-
- Adam Bailey & Andrew Robinson
-
- ‘Cats past and present, Mark Bailey, Joel Chimelis and Stubby Clapp
-
- Kike Hernandez
-
- Special assistant to the GM, Matt Galante and minor league pitching coordinator Jon Matlack. Both former members of the New York Mets.
-
- Brandon Meredith
-
- John Hinson
-
- Daniel Adamson connects on a pitch
-
- Backfield #2
-
- Former Astro Enos Cabell and some fans.
-
- Intersquad scrimmage
-
- Nick Tropeano
-
- Mike Kvasnicka
-
- Ivan DeJesus is back in the Astros system. He managed the ‘Cats in ’02 & ’03.
-
- Drew Muren
-
- Jose Cruz watches the action
-
- More minor leaguers watching the scrimmage
-
- Andrew Robinson
-
- Jason Castro getting some work in on the backfields.
-
- J.D. Martinez also taking some extra batting practice. He did not play in the major league game.
-
- Castro checking the “born on” date of his bat.
-
- Ryan McCurdy & Adam Champion
-
- Greeneville manager Omar Lopez & Sergio Perez.
-
- “Minor League Managers” Ivan DeJesus (Lexington), Rodney Linares (Lancaster), Stubby Clapp (Tri-City)
-
- Jose Altuve on-deck at the major league game
-
- Astros host the Nationals at Osceola County Stadium
-
- Players enter the clubhouse following the game
-
- Astros manager Brad Mills meets with the media
-
- Long hallway of the Astros minor league clubhouse.
