Uncomfortably Numb
Playing on the greatest song from the most influential band on my life and my first exposure to rock n' roll, Pink Floyd, describes my current mood and subject of today's post. The start of this week had some promising things happening for the Houston Astros in Spring Training. All the workouts at camp appeared to be moving along nicely. Many of the players are already in the new facilities in West Palm Beach, gearing up for a shot at that World Series title.
And then, this happened:
Oddly enough, he was still taking batting practice earlier the next day:
Here's the thing. Anytime he has to deal with something nagging him physically, it gives more power to the haters. Enough for them to spout out uneducated and blatantly ignorant comments such as these from across Twitter and a recent article from The Crawfish Boxes:
Also, as many continue to intentionally forget, he had a 10 game crash course in catching down in AA Corpus Christi last season. Even with that, he still ended up hitting better as a catcher while also putting up solid framing numbers, excellent base throwing numbers, and having a significant season all around. Do I hear the sound of crickets chirping from the hater section again? I think so!
So no, haters. Matt Wieters is not available. In fact, according to a new story from CBS Sports, the veteran catcher from the Baltimore Orioles may be about to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays. Best of luck to him on that one.
Evan Gattis is not starting the season on the DL. Stassi and/or Stubbs will not be starting on the 25 man roster. The Big White Bear is not going to ride the bench 80% of the time like some of you out there seem to want him to do. AND he will be good as new in no time. If his early batting practice is any indication, he's already well on his way to having another breakout season on BOTH sides of the ball!
LATE EDIT: Just this morning, more tweets came out from Brian McTaggart and Mark Berman showing El Oso Blanco putting on his catching gear to get into the bullpen. Still can't throw, and is handing off his balls to the bullpen catcher. But still, the progress I knew was coming sooner rather than later! So fans making preliminary judgements can slow their rolls now!
And then, this happened:
That's right, ladies and gentleman. Your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis, is battling through soreness in his right shoulder. While he has been given an anti-inflammatory booster injection, skipper A.J. Hinch is telling him to keep off of it for a "couple of days." This means he will not be throwing or catching in the bullpen for a little bit.Evan Gattis (@BulldogBeing) has sore right shoulder. So he had anti-inflammatory injection today.Didn't do any catching but will resume soon pic.twitter.com/aRTpyPFoEk— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 15, 2017
Oddly enough, he was still taking batting practice earlier the next day:
Surely, this is all being taken as precautionary measures. And certainly, El Oso Blanco isn't too worried about it. However, me and my occasional bouts of paranoia cannot help but be even the slightest bit worried about this.#KHOU11 #Astros We're seeing our first batting action today. Evan Gattis was in our spotlight.... pic.twitter.com/w5WDDSXimM— Matt Musil (@KHOUSportsMatt) February 16, 2017
Here's the thing. Anytime he has to deal with something nagging him physically, it gives more power to the haters. Enough for them to spout out uneducated and blatantly ignorant comments such as these from across Twitter and a recent article from The Crawfish Boxes:
Stassi's chance of making the team just went up.
Posted by JohnInWisconsin on Feb 16, 2017 | 5:15 PM
Does Gattis ever come to spring training healthy?
Posted by Astrofan on Feb 16, 2017 | 6:38 PM
Is Matt Weiters Still Out There?
Posted by Iowacowboy on Feb 16, 2017 | 7:15 PM
It's both worrisome, AND uncomfortably numbing. None of these morons actually know what goes into training at any sport, much less one that demands 162 games out of you a year. Hate cannot, unfortunately, be stopped everywhere. But I have made it my duty to call it out wherever and whenever it decides to rear it's ugly head. Whether it be in sports, politics, etc.@jakemkaplan poor baby! Take a couple of ibuprofen like the rest of us and get back to work.— jack (@nflq21a) February 16, 2017
Also, as many continue to intentionally forget, he had a 10 game crash course in catching down in AA Corpus Christi last season. Even with that, he still ended up hitting better as a catcher while also putting up solid framing numbers, excellent base throwing numbers, and having a significant season all around. Do I hear the sound of crickets chirping from the hater section again? I think so!
So no, haters. Matt Wieters is not available. In fact, according to a new story from CBS Sports, the veteran catcher from the Baltimore Orioles may be about to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays. Best of luck to him on that one.
Evan Gattis is not starting the season on the DL. Stassi and/or Stubbs will not be starting on the 25 man roster. The Big White Bear is not going to ride the bench 80% of the time like some of you out there seem to want him to do. AND he will be good as new in no time. If his early batting practice is any indication, he's already well on his way to having another breakout season on BOTH sides of the ball!
LATE EDIT: Just this morning, more tweets came out from Brian McTaggart and Mark Berman showing El Oso Blanco putting on his catching gear to get into the bullpen. Still can't throw, and is handing off his balls to the bullpen catcher. But still, the progress I knew was coming sooner rather than later! So fans making preliminary judgements can slow their rolls now!
Evan Gattis catching, no throwing after getting anti-inflammatory injection in right shoulder. Tosses ball to bullpen catcher @Carlos96munoz pic.twitter.com/rFLcTIhbRX— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 17, 2017
Evan Gattis worth catching gear on. pic.twitter.com/CxC0teja2N— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 17, 2017
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 17, 2017Drink it in, haters! Say all you want to about him, but the bear always finds a way to play through the pain. If that's not a player of value, then I sure as hell don't know what one is or ever will be to some of you. But El Oso Blanco is, and always will be, the genuine article!
Original Photo Credit: Kelley L. Cox of USA Today Sports
A Pink Floyd lyric for you haters to accompany Evan Gattis' facial expression: "Your lips move, but I cannot hear what you're saying!"
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