Astros Spring Training Update
March 08, 2003
After getting into the swing of Spring Training, there's not a whole lot of interesting developments going on in Astros camp. There are a couple of postion battles going on, at 3B and for the #5 starter. Let's start with 3B:
It looks like Geoff Blum will end up as the starting 3B for the Astros over Morgan Ensberg. Manager Jimy Williams won't come out say as much, but all signs point in that direction. Blum got off to a slow start last season after supplanting Ensberg as the starter, but finished fairly strong, batting .295 over the last 4 months of the season. Blum doesn't really have enough power to be a good fantasy 3B, but if you're in an NL only league, or really deep mixed league, Blum should start for the 'Stros.
Lefthander Jeriome Robertson appears to have the early inside track on landing the #5 spot in the Astros rotation. After dissappointing performances by Tim Redding and Jesus Sanchez, coupled with Robertson's 5 innings of work with a 1.80 ERA, Robertson has taken the lead. It also doesn't hurt that he's lefthanded and the 'Stros other four starters are all righthanded.
On another note, Shane Reynolds has been pitching without pain through the first few weeks of Spring Training. He's one to keep an eye on, if he can regain his form of season's past. Right now it's all speculation, so no change in fantasy value at this time.
