Astros Crawfish Boil: Thursday, March 2, 2023

Welcome to the Thursday Boil!

For the first time in 2023’s version of Spring Training, Astros faithful get to go a-Frambering. Framber Valdez will take the hill for Houston to oppose the hosting St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Houston Astros News

Astros Justin Dirden Continues to Turn Heads With Strong Spring (houstonchronicle.com)

Houston Astros show struggles with new MLB pitch clock rules (chron.com)

Houston Astros Prospects Shine in Spring Draw Against Boston Red Sox (si.com)

Houston Astros Star Bregman Shares Thoughts on His Impending Free Agency (si.com)

Top prospect Brown focusing on slider mechanics after spring debut (mlb.com)

Astros top pitching prospect reveals next goal after forgettable Spring Training outing (clutchpoints.com)

Other AL West News

Spring Training: Manfred Sets Another Oakland A’s Stadium Deadline. For now things are quiet in Tampa Bay. (sportstalkflorida.com)

Jo Adell wants to make Angels roster, but he’s focused on showing improvements for now (theathletic.com)

Mariners’ Servais: How depth beyond MLB roster is shining for Seattle (sports.mynorthwest.com)

Huff leaves game with shoulder tightness (lonestarball.com)

Non-AL West MLB News

Predicting when top 2023 prospects will make their MLB debuts (ESPN.com)

Sarris: 10 deep sleeper pitchers who could deliver for fantasy and MLB teams alike (theathletic.com)

How Alonso uses Spanish to connect with fellow Mets (mlb.com)

MLB lobbies to exempt minor leaguers from Florida wage law (theathletic.com)

MLB sets up local media group, could broadcast 17 teams (abcnews.go.com)

Glasnow, Musgrove Go Down With Early Injuries in Blow to Playoff Contenders (FanGraphs.com)

Houston Astros Birthdays

Bud Norris (38) was initially a sixth round pick of Houston in 2006. A right-handed starting pitcher, Norris spent the first four-and-a-half seasons of his eventual 10-season MLB career with the Astros. In 119 games with the club, he was 34-46 with a 4.33 ERA, 643 strikeouts in 689 ²⁄₃ innings, and a 1.404 WHIP.