Classic Had some Classic Games...On to MLB Next

Since I continue to announce and follow college baseball even after my work with Houston Astros games begins I don't want to say that now that the Minute Maid Park College Classic is over it is time to change focus to the Astros.  But for the majority of baseball fans in the city that is exactly what it is.

Fans had their chance to see the ballpark and its new video board display while watching baseball over the weekend.  Those who were primarily Astro fans got their appetites whetted for the real major league thing which will debut in Houston with a Red Sox exhibition on March 30th and get going in the National League on April 8th. 

However, if they were paying attention to the action on the field they saw some pretty good baseball--in most cases far less sloppy than what we are hearing from some of the Astros spring training games being played now in Florida.

The competition in the Classic was great.  Everyone won at least a game.  No one went through the field unbeaten.  One game was played in just 1:45.  Another, involving one of the same teams went 3:31.  There were some wonderfully pitched games and others in which the hitters prevailed.

Unlike many seasons past, however, the pitching was much stronger.  Was that a result of the newly designed aluminum bats?  Or was it just that these six college teams had stronger pitchers than in the past?

Truthfully it was a bit of both.  Hearing many balls hit off the new bats actually had a "wood" sound.  Only when grips were loosened on swings or bunts was the old "ping" much in evidence.  Furthermore hitters were actually jammed many times and got nothing lucky out of it.  All that resulted were easy ground outs or soft easily catchable pop flies.

Home runs were still hit, but not as many as in past seasons.  The truly great hitters--like Rice's Anthony Rendon--were able to hit the seats, but few others were able to go deep.

No question, though, that the most signficant home run of the weekend was hit by Baylor's Max Muncy.  Looking just to get a fly ball deep enough to bring home the winning run in the last of the 10th against Rice on Sunday he got enough for a game winning grand slam home run.  The Bear's 12-8 win kept the Owls from going unbeaten and gave the Bears the same 2-1 record.
That game, by the way lasted 3:31.

It was twice as long as Rice freshman Andy Kubitza's complete game 1-0 shutout of Texas A&M on Saturday.  Kubitza who was named the weekend MVP threw only 88 pitches in the game that lasted a Classic record one hour, forty five minutes.

Perhaps the surprise team of the weekend was Utah.  The Utes came in still looking for a victory and left with two.  Three teams went 1-2: Houston, Kentucky and Texas A&M.

Now with the college clubs getting back to pre conference play at campus stadiums we shift most Houston focus to the Astros.   Based on events in Florida so far it may have been good to be distracted up to now. 

Not only is the season ending injury to starting catcher Jason Castro a bummer, but play of most in the spring has not been opening eyes.  Hunter Pence has played well and hard.  But that is not a surprise.  Young players like Brett Wallace and Brian Bogusevic have had some hits, but too many of the very soft or lucky variety.  Early on, that number five starting rotation spot is heading toward Nelson Figuero based on results.  Nothing wrong with the results of young Jordan Lyles either, but if Figgy proves he can do the job there is less chance the Astros will feel Lyles must start the season on the big club.

The club has often played sloppily on defense, but that has often been by players who do not figure to make the club yet anyway.  Tommy Manzella has done some hitting so far.  How well he can show the ability to fill in at other positions may go a long way toward his making the club.  Who fills the infield and outfield backup spots and how the catching finally breaks down are the most interesting items to follow for thenext few weeks.

As for the game themselves...don't worry until Brad Mills starts having his main pitchers go longer and his regular players in the lineup more often and for longer periods.  That is when fans can start putting some value on wins and losses.  We are still two weeks away from that point.

Guess that leaves more time to go out and watch Rice or Houston or Texas A&M or Texas or Baylor play a bit more college baseball.