Astros C Jason Castro, an 11-year vet, said he's considering retiring after this year.

"I’ve enjoyed all my experiences and have been very fortunate to have been given the opportunities that I had in baseball. I’m just trying to be grateful and enjoy every moment," he said.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 25, 2022

Castro: “I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, but my main focus is this season and making this the best season that I can, from a personal perspective, from a team perspective. That’s the first goal, first and foremost.”

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 25, 2022

Pedro Baez threw on the back fields today. "His velocity was better, his command was good," Baker said.

Ryne Stanek also threw, facing Juan Soto and Josh Bell of the Nats, among others.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 25, 2022

We are witnesses 🙌 https://t.co/sTc0Ds6bR2 pic.twitter.com/Zxb6c6GCNI

— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) March 25, 2022

These are all middle-middle pitches he crushed (as he should have). It'll be interesting to see how he adapts to big league pitching

In regards to Pena coming up and seeing what he can do

I remember recently an Astros hitting coach say that when a young prospect first comes up hell often tell him not to swing at any breaking ball no matter what.

For one it gives him an chance to see them without having to worry about hitting them. And two if he does swing then he knows his guy is not seeing the ball well.

Always thought that tidbit was interesting.

1. Biggio - loved the way he played the game. Ran hard, always dirty, moved to different positions
2. Doran - The guy had a knack for making diving stops on the Dome turf
3. Ryan - Never wanted to miss seeing him pitch as you felt something awesome could happen. Hate it when he left, but at least I could watch the Rangers games on cable
4. Altuve - Plays bigger than he is and has fun doing it. No showboating. Just let the results speak for themselves
5. Bagwell - make a great transition to 1B and could dig the ball so well. One of the best I have seen going 1st to third on a single. Great at picking when to steal.
6. Cruz - consistent hitter, had fun, hat flying off when running for balls, CRUUUUUUUZZZZZ!
7. Berkman - Maybe the best overall hitter the Stros ever had. Could make fun of himself. Also played where the team needed him
8. Oswalt - Awesome 12 to 6 curve. Great difference between fastball and curveball. Solid in the big games
9. Wagner - 5 foot nothing and pumping it in there near 100 from the left side. Game over when he was warming up
10. Springer - all out, all the time. Love guys that have fun playing the game.

Honorable mention: Kerfeld, Lima, Bregman, Puhl, Ashby and Shane Reynolds

Favorites that I have seen in no particular order

Dierker
JRR
Cesar Cedeno
Cheo
Niekro
Puhl
Thon
Bags, Bidge
Ryan
Scott
Berkman
Wagner
Tuve
Springer
JV


Growing on me: TED and Yordan.

Yes it's more than 10. Sue me.

I'll do my list by position... the best All-Astro roster I can field (not necessarily my favorites).

1B- Bagwell
2B- Altuve
SS- Correa (if only Thon had stayed healthy)
3B- Bregman... weakest position in my mind, but give Bregs time to pile up stats
C- Biggio (I don't consider this to be cheating since he did play here)
OF- Cruz
OF- Cedeno
OF- Wynn
SP- Oswalt (what a tough decision, went with career WAR)
RP- Wagner


Springer needed to stay an Astro longer to make my list.
Tucker can play his way on given time.
2B was strong with Joe Morgan, Billy Doran and Biggio

My favorite Astros list includes Charlie Kerfeld, Billy Spiers and Joe Sambito

Red Five said:

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Marvin said:

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Springer needed to stay an Astro longer to make my list.

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Can understand this position to a degree, but at the same time he was drafted by the Astros and was the WS MVP for our first and only championship. If you've got Correa on your list I don't see how Springer misses the cut.

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I was about to say the same thing...you cant knock George out for time but have Correa on the list George was actually around the organization longer

MLB is further cracking down on sticky stuff after pitchers found a way to start using foreign substances late last year, reports Tom Verducci https://t.co/llMDdgOLC0

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 25, 2022

Not this again...

pic.twitter.com/pWk3rbxvg4

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) March 25, 2022

What is it with these minor league guys doing roids? Don't they know they're gonna get caught?

Nothing to lose

More roster cuts in Astros camp: Joe Perez optioned to minor league camp. Scott Manea, JJ Matijevic and J.P. France were reassigned.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 25, 2022

Let's take a try at projecting the Astros' Opening Day rosterhttps://t.co/aQvczvmVuk

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 25, 2022

Any way to live stream this game? I'm bored and craving baseball.

TayTrox said:

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Any way to live stream this game? I'm bored and craving baseball.

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This one is radio only. 790AM has it, you can stream on their website or through iHeartRadio app

Michael Conforto is still out there. How cheap is he gunna be this year? He got a QO, right?

First rib of the year for Tuve

Hunter Brown struck out four, walked three and allowed two hits in three innings against the Mets. He threw 37 of his 57 pitches for strikes. His fastball was 94-97 mph, according to one scout in attendance. Another said Brown's first inning was "as sharp as I have ever seen him"

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 25, 2022

linkdude said:

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First rib of the year for Tuve

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Jeremy Peña scores his first run of 2022 spring training off a double from Altuve

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) March 25, 2022

I thought France looked pretty good last night but apparently they've already sent him back. Has Whitley pitched at all this spring? I'm beginning to think he doesn't even really exist.

cap-n-jack said:

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I thought France looked pretty good last night but apparently they've already sent him back. Has Whitley pitched at all this spring? I'm beginning to think he doesn't even really exist.

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He's still recovering from TJS. He's thrown bullpens, but I don't think he'll be fully clear until this summer.

Peña gets an rbi scoring Maldonado.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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MLB is further cracking down on sticky stuff after pitchers found a way to start using foreign substances late last year, reports Tom Verducci https://t.co/llMDdgOLC0

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 25, 2022

Not this again...

---

I think I posted this in last year's season thread, but I know one of the guys who checks for this kind of stuff. (Works directly for the MLB at one of the home parks and monitors both teams)

He caught a prominent pitcher/ team using sticky stuff - the catcher had it on the back of his shin guards and would sticky it up between pitches.

It's still out there, they're just not publicizing it when they get caught

CoachRTM said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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MLB is further cracking down on sticky stuff after pitchers found a way to start using foreign substances late last year, reports Tom Verducci https://t.co/llMDdgOLC0

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 25, 2022

Not this again...

---

I think I posted this in last year's season thread, but I know one of the guys who checks for this kind of stuff. (Works directly for the MLB at one of the home parks and monitors both teams)

He caught a prominent pitcher/ team using sticky stuff - the catcher had it on the back of his shin guards and would sticky it up between pitches.

It's still out there, they're just not publicizing it when they get caught

---

If they can get it on the ball, how do they manage to keep it off the pitcher's glove? Are they just not checking the gloves very carefully?

Astros pitching prospect Hunter Brown talks about his scoreless outing against the Mets pic.twitter.com/5txAJ55c4n

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 25, 2022

How old is Brown? He looks young as shlt

Pedro Leon is in at shortstop.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 26, 2022

Almost 24

Heard from @BoogSciambi and confirmed: humidors in all thirty parks this season.

— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) March 26, 2022

Rockies, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Mariners, Mets, Astros, Marlins, Cardinals, Rangers, blue Jays have humidors already. I suspect biggest differences will be in SF and TB. Humidors bring balls to average. Dry park balls get wetter, wet parks get drier. Even in domes.

— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) March 26, 2022

3B Paul 97 said:

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9. Wagner - 5 foot nothing and pumping it in there near 100 from the left side. Game over when he was warming up

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My favorite Wagner stat is he was naturally a right handed pitcher until he broke his arm at a young age. He then learned how to pitch lefty.

As a lefty that destroyed my arm at a young age, his story always gave me hope.

Red Five said:

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Marvin said:

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Springer needed to stay an Astro longer to make my list.

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Can understand this position to a degree, but at the same time he was drafted by the Astros and was the WS MVP for our first and only championship. If you've got Correa on your list I don't see how Springer misses the cut.

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The competition in the OF was stronger than at SS for me. Look up their stats. George would have been on the list if he stayed longer. I think you're discounting the guys I chose.