A Walk to Remember

The title of a popular Nicholas Sparks novel and corresponding movie starring Mandy Moore (who just happens to be celebrating a birthday today, as I just found out!) provides the perfect backdrop for today's post. And let me just say, it has been some first week. I wrote a nice recap of it for House of Houston, published just this morning. If you readers ever looked for a reason as to why baseball is such an exciting game, I present to you Exhibit A for Astros. The Houston Astros, that is!

The team got off to an early undefeated 3-0 start against the Seattle Mariners before dropping the final game on Thursday. Afterwards, a 3 game series with the Kansas City Royals would prove to be the biggest of road bumps thus far for the spacemen. Friday and Saturday's losses had a combination of slippery defense and sleeping offense. The pitching has remained solid throughout, even though Luke Gregerson gave up 5 runs and the lead on Saturday. This would prove to be quite the punch to the gut, since it forced Dallas Keuchel to take a no-decision instead of the much deserved win.

As for the position players, minus some well hit bombs, the bats have been slow to wake up. Even unofficial team captain, Jose Altuve is currently sitting at only a .200 average in these first 7 games. Rookie sensation from last season, Alex Bregman has not even cracked the .170 mark yet. Yulieski Gurriel has been the worst bat so far, posting only a .095 average through this first roller coaster of an opening week.

Your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis has had his own highs and lows. First, the lows. Friday's match against the Royals proved to be one of his worst on defense. A passed ball and called catcher's interference cost the team 2 runs given up to the KC crew for the eventual 5-1 victory. Here are some of the things he said about his mistakes after the game:

"I guess [the bat] hit my glove before the ball," said Gattis, who was behind the plate for starting catcher Brian McCann's day off. "It happens. I've got to keep my glove back further. I guess I just reached for the ball a little bit. It's frustrating. I need to give him more space."

In the eighth, the Royals went ahead 3-1 when Salvador Perez scored on a passed ball. Gattis was expecting a slider, but Jandel Gustave threw a fastball, which crossed up Gattis.

"There was a mix up," Gattis said. "Me and Gustave had a mix up, and that was that. I'm frustrated with the way it happened."

It was sad to see, and it cost him an appearance in Saturday's game against a pitcher in Danny Duffy that El Oso Blanco has hit 3-for-7 lifetime. I was visibly frustrated by this, and it led me to question what exactly was the reasoning behind this decision from Skipper A.J. Hinch. Suffice it to say, as anyone on social media can tell you, I was both angry and depressed by this.

However, despite my impatience, the patience from the Big White Bear would pay off in more ways than one. Sunday's finale against Kansas City proved to be one of their best games of the week. Lance McCullers threw 10 strikeouts, and the offense strung together some nice AB's. This includes Gattis, who would provide a literal "walk off" for the team to win it in 12 innings and avoid the sweep. Check out some of the highlights in the video below:

You can also check out the interview he conducted with Root Sports' own, Julia Morales, here. There was also this locker room sound bite, courtesy of Joshua Reese of KILT-AM, SportsRadio 610. Double plus bonus to anyone that can name the song playing in the background towards the end of the interview!:

I've always said, and will continue to say, that it is always refreshing and inspiring to hear that man talk. So much so, in fact, that I am hoping to get a sit down interview with him at some point. Maybe in the off season? Just have to find a way to reach out to Evan and/or those around him. Shouts out to them if they are reading this, and hopefully they can help me out on that one!

I was a little annoyed by some of the fans on social media that were saying things about his voice. How, "it doesn't match his body," or "I can't un-hear it." But honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. It is a voice that is uniquely his own. Anytime he gets to express it in interviews and such, it is always a good thing to hear!

Going back to his numbers now, Evan Gattis has had arguably his best season start since his rookie campaign in 2013 with the Atlanta Braves. Ironically, it was also the last time that he was teammates with Brian McCann as well as the last year that particular team has made it to post season play. Let us know take a look at just how well El Oso Blanco has done so far in these first 7 games of 2017, 4 of which he actually played in, compared to how he started in 2016:

2016 (First 14 At-Bats)

.071 Average (Only 1-for-14)
.250 OPS
0 walks
6 strikeouts

2017 (First 14 AB's)

.357 Average (5-for-14)

.955 OPS (.526 of that is On-Base Percentage!)

5 walks

1 strikeout

Clearly, the bear is changing is approach and exercising a ton more patience at the plate. To me, this only further shows the massive amount of value he possesses to this team and the game of baseball. Sure, he hasn't hit a home run yet. But there is more than enough time for the power to come around. And believe me, Gattis has plenty of power to show off!

What made me feel even better about yesterday's Royals finale is that each and every position player was used, and all got at least 1 AB. And while I may have been impatient of Hinch's decision to sit Gattis Saturday, I would quickly be proven wrong by the skip. He has made fantastic use of his deep offensive lineup so far. Each position player has been in a minimum of 3 games this opening week. Gattis was in for 4 of those. So despite any concerns that us fans have about playing time, Hinch is finding ways to ease those concerns, and I very much commend him for it.

Of course, given that McCann caught 12 innings yesterday, and another James Paxton vs. Charlie Morton matchup to begin the home opening series against the Mariners in Seattle starting this afternoon, I would expect that Gattis will see another game behind the plate as backstop. The lineup should be coming out soon, and I will be sure to update you readers on exactly who will get the first start against Seattle. (LATE EDIT: GATTIS IS IN AT CATCHER, BATTING 6TH TODAY!!!!)

For now, let's continue to celebrate the fact that, in spite of a 3 game hiccup, the spacemen continue to soar ever higher. And this road trip to the Pacific coast should prove to be a massively productive one.

Original Photos Credit: Brett Coomer of the Houston Chronicle

BEAR BAPTISM! Others may see a Gatorade dousing. I see it as El Oso Blanco being bathed in glory!!!!