HOUSTON — What a relief for Houston Astros pitcher Joe Smith that manager AJ Hinch was only joking about his team’s makeup for the World Series.
”I would bring (him) in my office and pretend like he’s not going to make the roster, just to get a reaction from him, and he wouldn’t buy it,” Hinch said.
Smith has waited 13 seasons, playing for six big league teams and overcoming a ruptured left Achilles last winter, for the opportunity to pitch this late in October. He was left off the postseason roster three years ago by the Cubs, the only other team he has been with that made it to the World Series.