2/26 Grapefruit League Recap

Houston Astros 1B Brett Wallace

Although I personally enjoy seeing minor league guys get their shots against major league pitching in February, I will admit I am ready to see the regulars a little more this spring.

When you look at the box scores from all of these spring games, or check out the stat leaders, you don't see a lot of the names you normally recognize.

However, while there are a handful of players who are fighting for a spot on a big league roster, there are even more who are competing for a spot in the starting lineup or even a spot in a platoon situation.

Those battles are fun to watch, and the guy to the left here, Brett Wallace of Houston, is in one of those battles.

Houston acquired two other first basemen this off-season, receiving Chris Carter from Oakland in the trade that shipped off Jed Lowrie, and then signing free agent Carlos Pena.  Wallace has seen a lot of time as the starter for the Astros since 2011, appearing in 115 games in 2011, but just 66 games in 2012.  He has a career .250 average in the majors with 16 home runs in 709 at-bats.  While Wallace may never be a superstar, he has potential to be a significant power threat in Minute Maid Park for the Astros.  

He launched a bomb on Tuesday, his first of the spring, and so far he is hitting an even .400 in the three games he has played.  Monitor the situation between the trio of first basemen, because now with the Astros in the American League, someone has to be the designated hitter.  Personally, I'm pulling for Wallace to win the job.

Scores from Tuesday:

Houston (SS) 9, Detroit 4

Tampa Bay 7, Houston (SS) 2

Minnesota 8, Toronto 4

Philadelphia 4, N.Y. Yankees 3

Miami 7, N.Y. Mets 5

Atlanta 9, Washington 5

St. Louis 15, Boston 4

Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh, PPD (Rain)

Notes from Tuesday:

Giancarlo Stanton was one of three Miami Marlins who went deep in their 7-5 win over the Mets.  Stanton launched his first of the spring as did Casey Kotchman and Matt Downs.  David Price only pitched one inning for the Rays on Tuesday, holding the split squad Astros to no runs and only one hit.  Price picked up the win for Tampa Bay, as the Rays jumped out to a 1-0 lead before he left the game.  A pair of pitchers who need to have good years to prove themselves earned their first wins as well Tuesday.  Ricky Nolasco of the Marlins pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win against the Mets.  Nolasco seemed to be on the rise after a 14-9 campaign in 2010, but since then he is just 22-25.  Nolasco needs a big year to get back on track.  The Cardinals got an early win from Jaime Garcia on Tuesday, as he pitched two scoreless innings against the Red Sox in St. Louis' 15-4 win.  Garcia went 13-8 in 2010 and 13-7 in 2011 for the Cardinals and was a significant part of their World Series run in 2011.  But last year Garcia took a step back, finishing at 7-7 in just 20 starts, as his toughness was called into question by some in the St. Louis organization.