Goin' deep in Houston ...
Normally, extra batting practice, as it's called, is reserved for those players who don't normally see a lot of action, bench players mostly. It's held in the afternoon, long before the real batting practice takes place closer to games.
Today, though, it's not just guys like Tony Clark, Justin Huber and Callix Crabbe taking early batting practice, as Tadahito Iguchi and Kevin Kouzmanoff are out here hitting bombs in this cozy little bandbox they called Minute Maid Park.
Really, this isn't so much batting practice as it is home run derby, with first base coach Rick Renteria serving up belt-high fastballs. Don't get me wrong, this is still BP and hitting coach Wally Joyner is watching the hitters and working specifically with Iguchi, who has been in a funk recently.
But I think the draw here, to some extent, is seeing how far these players can hit balls today, with Kouzmanoff sending several pitches off the concrete wall above the left-feld seats. No, this isn't something you would ever see at PETCO Park, in BP or games. Must be a treat for the players.
Just to show you what a bandbox this place is, Adrian Gonzalez and Jim Edmonds each hit opposite field home runs here last night. Granted, these guys aren't banjo hitters, especially Gonzalez, who hit 20 of his 30 home runs last season away from PETCO Park.
I'm very impressed by Huber's raw power, which is something we saw in Phoenix when he quickly turned around that 1-2 fastball from Randy Johnson and sent it halfway up the seats. He had a nice at-bats last night before getting a double. I think we'll see him more against left-handed pitchers.
Cheers, Corey
Today, though, it's not just guys like Tony Clark, Justin Huber and Callix Crabbe taking early batting practice, as Tadahito Iguchi and Kevin Kouzmanoff are out here hitting bombs in this cozy little bandbox they called Minute Maid Park.
Really, this isn't so much batting practice as it is home run derby, with first base coach Rick Renteria serving up belt-high fastballs. Don't get me wrong, this is still BP and hitting coach Wally Joyner is watching the hitters and working specifically with Iguchi, who has been in a funk recently.
But I think the draw here, to some extent, is seeing how far these players can hit balls today, with Kouzmanoff sending several pitches off the concrete wall above the left-feld seats. No, this isn't something you would ever see at PETCO Park, in BP or games. Must be a treat for the players.
Just to show you what a bandbox this place is, Adrian Gonzalez and Jim Edmonds each hit opposite field home runs here last night. Granted, these guys aren't banjo hitters, especially Gonzalez, who hit 20 of his 30 home runs last season away from PETCO Park.
I'm very impressed by Huber's raw power, which is something we saw in Phoenix when he quickly turned around that 1-2 fastball from Randy Johnson and sent it halfway up the seats. He had a nice at-bats last night before getting a double. I think we'll see him more against left-handed pitchers.
Cheers, Corey
Hey, I have a question. How do you pronounce Callix Crabbe's first name? Thanks!
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its pronounced kay-licks
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