Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports
There is a good buzz around Houston Astros first year manager Bo Porter and for good reason. It seemed like, as spring training was approaching, Porter would have nearly the perfect attitude to manage a team in the position the Astros find themselves in. All that is in the past in just that; it’s in the past. They have a new league, new look, new/old mascot and tons of new players. They are a different team and they expect different results.
The reason for this is largely Porter. He is already shrugging off any credit he gets for his leadership ability but he is going to keep getting it. Seeing the videos of these guys in camp with Porter rotating between being a teacher and playing the part of a drill sergeant to keep things loose brings a good feeling to your stomach and a smile to your face. They are wearing shirts that say WIN vertically and made into an acronym for What’s Important Now. These guys are learning just that and you know what? It just might turn into wins.
If they go out and play .500 baseball, Porter can just go ahead and write his acceptance speech for Manager of the Year for the American League. The Astros are shaking hands and slapping each other on the back but there is more to it than that. They don’t feel like a losing club, they seem to be only a young one on the cusp of something special. I’m telling you, they might lose one-hundred games but I dare you to walk into that Spring Training camp and say that. These guys believe.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
