Astros open camp on positive note

It's appropriate Disney World is located only a short distance from where the Houston Astros officially opened spring training Monday at The Astros Osceola County Stadium complex in Kissimmee, FL. Like Mickey's wonderland, spring baseball is a time that players and fans hope that dreams can come true, so much that new Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow proclaimed today the best day of the year. However, time will tell if the Astros stint in Florida will resemble Mr. Toads Wild Ride rather than a visit to the Magic Kingdom. "The dawning of a new era is a good way to say it," is how manager Brad Mills described his ballclub. "One of the biggest themes we are going to have this spring is competing for jobs. There are going to be guys who are hungry for spots on the bench, in the field and on the mound." The Astros will have a total of 63 players in camp this spring. This week, though, Mills concern is with the 28 pitchers, six catchers who reported for duty. One of the vital issues will be judging the health of catcher Jason Castro, which could be a key element in the Astros welfare this coming season. After missing the 2011 season due to a knee injury, and surgery on his left foot in January, his progress will be monitored closely. Mills said the plan was to let him do what he can do to the best of his abilities and move on. After Monday's workout, the news was good. "I caught my first bullpen and I couldn't ask for it to feel any better," Castro said after participating in catching drills and a bullpen group. "I could have caught another one, but I understand the progression. It's been a long year and I have put a lot of work into getting back healthy and ready to go. If that means easing into things in the beginning, then that is what I will do." After catching 67 games as a rookie in 2010, Castro was anointed the Astros regular catcher last season before his year abruptly came to an end in only his second game of the spring when he was injured while trying to avoid a tag by Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Mills again looks to Castro to be the Astros starter this season provided there are no health issues. "We all saw how this ballclub played when he came up two years ago as a first-time rookie," said Mills. "He took charge with the pitching staff and played so well behind the dish and got some big hits. It was such a partial blow last year when we weren't able to get a game out of him." Luhnow, who attended workouts with new Astros owner Jim Crane, put it succinctly when he said, "Jason is critical to the future of this team. He is the type of player we want." Castro's injury last year is one example of the untold direction a team's fortunes can turn in spring training. Mills is all too aware, as he described how he will judge the success of spring training when the time comes to return to Houston in April. "If everyone is healthy and ready to start the season," he explained. "If we accomplish some things, we will be able to find out how some position changes come out and how guys play together. You go back and start talking about that we are going to have a whole different lineup than we did a year ago, these guys need to feel comfortable with the guy playing next to them." With day one under their belts, the Astros ride has started smooth.