I'm sure there's been plenty of discussion on attending Spring Training, but I couldn't quickly find anything.

My wife and I decided today to take our daughter to FL for the 2nd half of Spring Break. We're looking at going to the games on the 13th (STL) and 14th (TOR). We've never been before, so not sure what to expect. First question: Other than a better view of the game, is there any benefit to getting actual seats vs the lawn? Is there better access to players if you have actual seats? Any other tips/tricks we should know about?

TIA!

Is Cam….HIM?

If top prospect Cam Smith keeps hitting like this, he's making the opening day roster. And he's probably starting.

He needs about 30-40 more at-bats this spring before we can know for sure.

But I haven't seen a hitting prospect this special since Yordanpic.twitter.com/oA7wMiuFkE

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) March 4, 2025

There is no chance Cam Smith is on the Astros opening day roster in 2025. None. Zero https://t.co/QnYitgrbSo

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) March 4, 2025

When's the last time the Astros had a guy come to camp and win a starting job that wasn't expected? I don't follow spring training well enough to know the answer, other than James Mouton in like 93/94. Seems like Mark McLemore won the 2B job once in the early 90s one year as well and then got cut 2 months later.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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There is no chance Cam Smith is on the Astros opening day roster in 2025. None. Zero https://t.co/QnYitgrbSo

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) March 4, 2025

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Is this about control and his years?

Hunter Pence and George Springer will tell you we should see Cam around 2029

All I do is Nguyen said:

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Is Cam….HIM?

If top prospect Cam Smith keeps hitting like this, he's making the opening day roster. And he's probably starting.

He needs about 30-40 more at-bats this spring before we can know for sure.

But I haven't seen a hitting prospect this special since Yordanpic.twitter.com/oA7wMiuFkE

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) March 4, 2025

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I highly doubt it, but there are no absolutes. If he continues to perform as the elite pitchers log more time in Grapefruit games, the odds will be non-zero. But, he has to be the longest of shots with this roster, and I am sure Brown will err on the side of positive and structured development.

Do we really think a guy with 115 ABs in the minors will break camp with the big league club?

No. This is about a guy who has 115 minor league ABs with 19 of those coming from AA, the highest league he reached.

He's got a greater chance to start the year in AAA rather than AA, and I even think that's about 25%-30%.

That's the primary reason.

You can call them up mid April and still fall short of the 172 days they need for a service year to accrue.

n_touch said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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There is no chance Cam Smith is on the Astros opening day roster in 2025. None. Zero https://t.co/QnYitgrbSo

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) March 4, 2025

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Is this about control and his years?

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It's the Astros sir..... bet your ass it is

I agree the primary reason is because he's not ready.

I was addressing why there is "zero chance" he's on the opening day roster. Even if they thought he was ready, he would start in the minors.

He also needs to get some time in RF. That is his quickest path. Put Matthews in CF at AAA, and those 2 spots could be locked up for years, starting next season.

Ag4life80 said:

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He also needs to get some time in RF. That is his quickest path. Put Matthews in CF at AAA, and those 2 spots could be locked up for years, starting next season.

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I think they're targeting Matthews for 2nd at this point.

Maybe the easiest walkoff today

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Ag4life80 said:

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He also needs to get some time in RF. That is his quickest path. Put Matthews in CF at AAA, and those 2 spots could be locked up for years, starting next season.

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I think they're targeting Matthews for 2nd at this point.

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For those in the know, any chance Matthews makes the big league roster out of spring training.

Very very small chance.

Not a chance. He's barely done anything in AAA.

In regards to Smith, IF Dana is even remotely considering him making the club outa ST that means he needs some starts consistently for the next couple of weeks so he can see big league pitching. It is pretty damn obvious what Jake is at this point. Chas is at least a wildcard who at times can provide decent pop with a bat.

I completely understand the mindset of starting Cam in the minors to at least give Jake and Chas a chance this season to "prove it". However, if Cam does continue to rake I say F it and give him a roster spot. Then you can trade one of Jake/Chas for some random player.

I for one am completely over the Meyers experiment in the outfield.

I'm 100% over Meyers, 75% over Chas, and 100% over Dubon (as an everyday starter or someone who gets 150+ ABs this season).

But it's appearing this is what we're going to roll with to start the season and it could be very painful to watch. We can only hope that Chas somehow finds his form and starts producing....

Dubon needs to stay in the utility role and Rodgers get the majority of starts at 2nd. Mo should get plenty of PT with this current OF.

As constructed now, this is how I'm leaning. I really hope we pull off one more move.

TexAg2001 said:

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I'm sure there's been plenty of discussion on attending Spring Training, but I couldn't quickly find anything.

My wife and I decided today to take our daughter to FL for the 2nd half of Spring Break. We're looking at going to the games on the 13th (STL) and 14th (TOR). We've never been before, so not sure what to expect. First question: Other than a better view of the game, is there any benefit to getting actual seats vs the lawn? Is there better access to players if you have actual seats? Any other tips/tricks we should know about?

TIA!

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I've sat in seats and the lawn. if you are sitting right on the rail you can get an autograph (if you have little kids if you get any players attention they will respond in my experience). With my kids I like the lawn. They can run around, you can chat with the guys in the bull pen and talk up Altuve in the outfield! also that's where I met Chas's parents when he was a rookie, and then caught his HR ball and was able to give it to them!

Its a great time and make sure you come early to walk around the practice fields and cages!

gambochaman said:

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Maybe the easiest walkoff today

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Agreed. Took me all of a minute and a half

Smith's only options to make the big club would be someone suffering a season-ending injury or if the team was absolutely terrible and was trying to get asses in the seats for the season.

Smith just turned 22 2 weeks ago. He's played 5 games at the AA level and zero at AAA. I love that he's crushing it, but he's mostly crushing it against guys that he'll be seeing in AA later this year. If he goes to Corpus and tears it up, move him up to Sugarland in May or June. If he does it there, then he's 30 minutes away (or 4 hours during rush hour) when someone goes on the DL.

Rushing him up just doesn't make sense barring those first two circumstances. The Orioles rushed Jackson Holliday up last year when he was only 20 because he was having a solid first half in AAA, and paid for it with him looking completely overmatched at the plate. The guy's "best" month was hitting .219 in August.

Looking back at Yordan's call-up in 2019 when he was the same age Smith is now, Yordan had played 250 games in the minors and 74 more in foreign leagues. In 2018, he was at Corpus for half a season and killed it, then went to AAA Fresno and was good but not great. He started 2019 in Round Rock and was hitting .343 with a 1.185 OPS through 56 games when he got called up.

That's the trajectory that Smith should be on. If he crushes in in AA or AAA to start this year, move him up to the next level after 60 games.

gambochaman said:

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Maybe the easiest walkoff today

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For Sure. Also I would have never guessed those 3 for the 2010s haha

JohnnyTexAg1995 said:

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gambochaman said:

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Maybe the easiest walkoff today

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For Sure. Also I would have never guessed those 3 for the 2010s haha

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Yeah Collin McHugh's 2015 19 wins is like the greatest anomaly in baseball history

I'm just happy we're debating whether Cam is ready to play at the MLB level or not. Early signs are that he's going to be a very good player for us (fingers crossed). Looking more and more like we won the Tucker trade big-time and could turn out to be a total fleecing.

The 2026 lineup is gonna have 3 very large humans between YED, Cam, and Zach.

I'm guessing Cam starts in AA and we see him promoted to the big club from there at some point this year.

I'm certain on this but someone else can chime in who's more knowledgeable but I've always understood it that AA is where the better talent is as AAA can get watered down with has beens and guys that just bounce back and forth as AAAA guys. The real prospect talent is in AA and is the better test.

Given that I could see him starting in AA and eventually skipping AAA and joining the big club.

They're going to give Chas and Jake every chance to keep their spots before making a move as drastic as replacing one of them with Cam Smith.

The Original Houston 1836 said:

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JohnnyTexAg1995 said:

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gambochaman said:

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Maybe the easiest walkoff today

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For Sure. Also I would have never guessed those 3 for the 2010s haha

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Yeah Collin McHugh's 2015 19 wins is like the greatest anomaly in baseball history

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You sure it's not Mike Fiers throwing two no hitters?