Rick Osentoski – USA TODAY Sports
When the Houston Astros acquired Scott Feldman this offseason, they made a stance that they weren’t going to be a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates of years ago that just shoveled in prospects, developed them and shoveled them back out for more prospects before they could reach their full potential.
Feldman admitted that he was surprised that the Astros were pursuing him. He said he thought the Astros were “in a rebuilding, just-going-to-let-all-these-young-guys-play mode.” But he says that manager Bo Porter assured him, “no, no we’re done with that. We’re trying to win.”
If that doesn’t bring a smile to your face, than the Astros must not be your team.
They’re trying to win now. That’s all that needs to be said. The Astros have passed their rebuilding phase of the last handful of years and are now in the process of developing those future stars they acquired to turn them into professional ball players. Obviously, practice and coaching factor into their development, but so do veteran players, and Feldman is one of those guys.
Feldman’s responsibilities go far beyond anchoring a young starting rotation. He is tasked with setting an example and helping out the young core of pitchers that the Astros have acquired. Jarred Cosart, Brett Oberholtzer, Brad Peacock and Mike Foltenewicz (just to name a few) are essentially a batch of students. While Porter may be the instructor, sometimes it takes an upperclassman like Feldman to guide them in their pursuits of success.
These are exciting times for the Astros, and it should all come to fruition in the coming years.
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