Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Olney: Astros players have a lot on the line in 2020

Written by 
Published in Baseball
Sunday, 23 February 2020 10:15

As chance would have it, the Houston Astros' first exhibition game was a home game of sorts, with Houston playing host to the team that shares its West Palm Beach complex, the Washington Nationals. Because it's still February and a lot of the veterans are relatively early in their preparation for the regular season, no members of the 2017 Astros played.

And yet the Astros were still booed, vociferously, in the first dress rehearsal for what promises to be an extremely challenging year.

Really, there's nothing that the Houston players can do about it anymore -- not even the many current Astros who were with other organizations in 2017, like outfielder Michael Brantley, who was serving out his final season with Cleveland back then. Some of the reaction has crossed the line, as ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote the other day.

New Astros manager Dusty Baker said it right in speaking with reporters, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post among them. "You've just got to put your big-boy pants on and just try to shut it out and just play baseball and realize that this too shall pass," Baker said. "When? I'm not sure."

The response to some of the Astros may never dissipate, leaving them to figure out how to cope with it all. Maybe mental coaches can help. Maybe competitive defiance will kick in, with an "I'll show you" instinct taking over. It's possible that some players will let it get to them; the negative reinforcement from booing fans is part of the reason why Ed Whitson, Kenny Rogers and Sonny Gray departed the Yankees.

For members of the '17 Astros who have moved on to other teams, such as the Twins' Marwin Gonzalez and the Mets' Jake Marisnick, it'll be a little easier because the uniforms they wear won't set off the reflexive response that the Houston gear will generate.

Each of the '17 Astros still with the team has no choice but to endure, and as with all players, they all have something at stake personally this season.

Read 342 times

Soccer

Pep: Man City face '9 finals' to qualify for UCL

Pep: Man City face '9 finals' to qualify for UCL

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWhile Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are in the unlikeliest of p...

USMNT's Haji Wright nets 1st hat trick in England

USMNT's Haji Wright nets 1st hat trick in England

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsUnited States forward Haji Wright scored his first hat trick in Eng...

Pulisic equals career-best goal tally in Milan win

Pulisic equals career-best goal tally in Milan win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsChristian Pulisic equaled his career-best goal tally for a season w...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Nets' Thomas (hamstring) likely out for season

Nets' Thomas (hamstring) likely out for season

EmailPrintCam Thomas, the Brooklyn Nets' leading scorer, is expected to miss the rest of the season...

Bulls' Ball out again, not shut down for season

Bulls' Ball out again, not shut down for season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON -- Lonzo Ball missed his seventh game with a right wrist in...

Baseball

O's Henderson aiming for Opening Day return

O's Henderson aiming for Opening Day return

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsShortstop Gunnar Henderson said he believes he can return from inju...

Marlins lose OF Sanchez (oblique) for four weeks

Marlins lose OF Sanchez (oblique) for four weeks

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMiami Marlins outfielder Jesus Sanchez suffered a left oblique inju...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated