Astros pitcher Luis Garcia will have to put his "rock the baby" pitching windup to bed. The Astros were informed in December by Major League Baseball that Garcia's signature windup -- in which he rocks his arms back and forth, then takes one step forward and one step backward before delivering the ball -- would no longer be legal under the new pitch timer rules. The new rule states a pitcher must have a clear point to begin his delivery in order to stop the pitch timer, and Garcia's multiple steps and arm motions don't provide that. The rule says the pitcher is permitted to take one step back (or laterally) and one step forward. Thus, taking multiple steps before lifting the free leg is now deemed an illegal pitch movement. "We just had to get a hold of Luis and told him that it might not be allowed, so we need to practice something a little more traditional," Houston pitching coach Josh Miller said. Garcia's pitching motion is one of the most recognizable in baseball and has been celebrated on T-shirts in Houston. He makes a motion similar to rocking a baby when he begins his windup, moving his arms back and forth while holding his glove. Garcia started throwing that way years ago while trying to find a delivery that was repeatable. Now, Miller said, his windup will look different this spring. "Yeah, he's been throwing [a different] way since we talked to him there in mid-to-late December, so I'd expect to see a little different delivery from him from the windup," he said. |
Garcia, an international free agent from Venezuela, jumped from Class A to the big leagues during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and hasn't looked back. In 63 career regular-season games (57 starts), he's gone 26-17 with a 3.57 ERA and is entrenched in Houston's deep starting rotation. Last year, Garcia went 15-8 with a 3.72 ERA in 28 regular-season starts but was limited to 5 2/3 relief innings in the postseason because the Astros had so much pitching depth along with numerous days off. "The uniqueness of his delivery has played to some of his success," Miller said. "He started doing something last year where he would alter the timing of his leg lift, and it would disrupt the timing of the hitter. I think any time you do a major change with something, you've got to expect some growing pains, and it'll take some time to get comfortable with a new delivery … or an old delivery that he hasn't used in a while. Luis is a really good athlete, and we expect him to adapt very well." Miller rode with Garcia atop a truck during the Astros' World Series championship parade in November and said fans who recognized Garcia repeatedly mimicked his pitching motion while standing along the parade route. And starting this year, fans will be the only ones at Minute Maid Park allowed to rock the baby. "It's a signature move for him," Miller said. "If he's not able to use it anymore, it'll be a shame in my opinion. But like I said, I'm sure he'll adapt and do fine without it." |
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Astros manager Dusty Baker, coming off his first World Series championship as a manager, arrived at camp in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday, but he's returning to Houston later this week to be recognized at a pair of events. Baker will be honored Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park by the Houston Chapter of the NAACP at an event hosted by NAACP President Bishop James Dixon. Baker last year became the first Black manager in AL/NL history to reach 2,000 career wins and joined Cito Gaston and Dave Roberts as the only Black managers to win a World Series title. Baker will also be the honored guest at the MD Anderson "Conversation with a Living Legend" charity dinner on Thursday. He was selected in recognition of his long, successful career and as an inspirational cancer survivor. Billye Aaron, the widow of Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, will attend the event. |
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Before he hits the field at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches next week, Astros third baseman Alex Bregman will serve as one of the coaches for the NBA All-Star celebrity basketball game, which will be played Friday night in Salt Lake City. Bregman is not a basketball novice. His parents, Sam and Jackie, are former owners of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League. Bregman will be joined by basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie and rapper and actor Fat Joe in coaching the team captained by Utah Jazz team governor Ryan Smith. The other team, captained by former NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade, will have two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, his brothers Thanasis and Alex, and three-time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn as coaches. |
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Despite having one of the best bullpens in the Major Leagues last year -- and returning everyone from last year's World Series championship relief corps -- the Astros have added depth this month by signing right-handers Ty Buttrey and Bryan Garcia to Minor League deals and plucking lefty Matt Gage off waivers. Houston also signed lefty Austin Davis to a Minor League deal in November. Here's what Miller had to say about this month's additions: "Ty Buttrey, we saw him a couple of years ago with the Angels. He's the workhorse for their bullpen -- a big guy, imposing figure that throws real hard and proved to be durable. It's a luxury to be able to add a guy like that on a non-roster invite and be veteran depth for your bullpen. "We acquired Matt Gage via waiver claim from Toronto. He showed some big strides when he flipped to a 'pen role the last couple of years, adding left-handed depth to the roster. We signed Bryan Garcia from the Detroit Tigers to an NRI deal. He made some Major League starts for them last year out of need and flashes some high-octane stuff. "It's exciting to bring some experienced guys to the organization that will vie to make the team and be on our roster when we start, but if they don't, they'll provide great depth down in Triple-A if that's where they end up. We haven't, in the past, loaded up on Minor League free agents like that, just because our system has been so deep and so good. A lot of the system is graduating to the team and [has] been performing at the Major League level, so we're kind of backfilling to provide some depth, and that's always good to add for the organization." |
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