Outfield shuffle puts Springer’s versatility on display
Center fielder Jake Marisnick’s demotion and corner outfielder Josh Reddick’s infected left leg have required manager A.J. Hinch to maneuver his three outfield spots against the Indians, all moves predicated on ensuring comfort for each player at his position.
That means liberally moving George Springer around the outfield.
Of the four healthy outfielders, Springer is perhaps the most reliable — and comfortable — at all three positions. He’s started 21 games in center and 17 games in left but, Friday and Saturday, played right field.
“It’s not extremely beneficial the other way, to make someone play out of position and have George in center, is not a great advantage,” Hinch said Saturday.
After Reddick was scratched Friday night, Springer moved to right field while Derek Fisher took over in center. Fisher started just two games this season in right field.
On Saturday, Tony Kemp played center field, Marwin Gonzalez played left and Springer stayed in right. Gonzalez has not played anywhere but left field this season and Kemp played only center field during his time in Class AAA this season.
In his stint with the big league club last year, Kemp played just left and center, making it sensible for Springer to slide to right.
“I can move George around and feel comfortable with it, but my goal is to have everyone feeling comfortable in the position they’re in,” Hinch said.
Kemp appeared more than comfortable in the third inning, laying out on a full extension to rob Brandon Guyer ofa base hit with two outs, giving starter Dallas Keuchel his first 1-2-3 inning of the afternoon Saturday.
Analyst Wilson tweets apology
AT&T SportsNet Southwest baseball analyst Preston Wilson apologized Saturday afternoon for a comment during the telecast of the Indians-Astros game in which he mentioned slavery while discussing difficult pitches to hit.
Wilson’s comment came during the first inning after Jose Altuve was called out on strikes against Indians pitcher Cory Kluber.
Former Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell, who was in the broadcast booth with Todd Kalas and Geoff Blum for Saturday’s game, began the conversation with a comment about difficult pitches to hit and said he would, if allowed, have banned pitchers from throwing the cut fastball. Blum concurred.
Wilson then said: “I don't know how you guys feel about it, Blummer and Baggy, but for me, it was the slider. I can handle the fastball. I actually had somebody ask me if I could go back in history and change one thing, I skipped right over slavery and went to the slider. That’s how I feel about it.
“I realized that was selfish, so then after I thought about it, I was like, you know what, maybe I should change what I said, but that’s how hard it is to hit a slider in the big leagues.”
After the telecast, Wilson, who is AfricanAmerican, said on Twitter: “Earlier today I made a comment that may have offended people and for that I am sorry. What I said was inappropriate and not a reflection of the Houston Astros nor AT&T SportsNet.”