Bayou City Headlines: Scott Feldman Named Opening Day Starter
By Yoni Pollak
Mar 16, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Scott Feldman (46) delivers a pitch during the game against the Washington Nationals at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports
Only with the team a few months, the Astros have announced that Scott Feldman will take the mound as the Astros 2014 Opening Day starter. Feldman last started opening day with the division rival Texas Rangers in 2010. Now with the Astros, Feldman “beat out” Jarred Cosart, Brad Peacock, and Dallas Keuchel among other potential candidates. The Astros face the New York Yankees on April 1st at Minute Maid Park to begin the season. Check out the rest of the links for more.
Houston Astros
- Tyler Stafford (Climbing Tal’s Hill) is impressed with Marwin Gonzalez’s Spring Training.
"However, Gonzalez is not going down without a fight. This spring, he has been impressive at the plate – leading the team in hits with 13. Not only is he hitting, he is putting balls in the gap. Gonzalez has a team-high six doubles, three more than any other Astros hitter."
- Jose de Jesus Ortiz (Houston Chronicle) on Scott Feldman starting opening day.
- MLB.com (Video) with Carlos Correa’s speech to the team about his previous season.
- Astros tweet of the day…
Fun morning in Astros camp. Can argue some other teams are a little deeper at top end but no one deeper in potential future big leaguers.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) March 17, 2014
Houston Rockets
- Rob Mahoney (Sports Illustrated) on the Rockets/Heat game.
"Far too many possessions were spent beyond the arc in their entirety, as James Harden, Patrick Beverley and Jeremy Lin forced up desperate perimeter jumpers without so much as probing the lane. This is where the typically fluid and free-flowing Rockets offense goes to die. They can thrive in transition and half-court situations alike, provided that they maintain the same basic drive-and-kick rhythms throughout. But when the game naturally tightens up, so, too, do Houston’s tendencies. The ball sticks in Harden’s hands or Lin’s or Dwight Howard’s until it’s far too late to create much through ball movement, forcing the Rockets to rely on tough shots in the face of heightened defensive pressure."
- BBallBreakdown.com (Video) looks at the rough officiating in the Rockets/Heat game.
- Jason Friedman (Rockets.com) on the lesson learned from the tough loss to the Heat.
- Rockets tweet of the day…
Rockets rout the Jazz 124-86. Biggest margin of victory of the season as HOU shot a season high 58%. That's now 9 wins in a row at home.
— Craig Ackerman (@ca_rockets) March 18, 2014
Houston Texans
- Brian T. Smith (Houston Chronicle) on Teddy Bridgewater’s missed opportunity.
"For a few hours, Bridgewater was the biggest name in the draft. Central Florida’s Blake Bortles and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel have yet to participate in their pro days, so Bridgewater, who is forgoing his senior season, had a head start 52 days before selection day despite choosing to neither throw nor run during the February scouting combine in Indianapolis."
- James Palmer (CSN Houston) on Teddy Bridgewater’s performance at his pro-day.
- Stephen Forsha (Toro Times) with some Matt Schaub rumors.
- Texans tweet of the day…