Monday, April 25, 2016

Monday Morning Hot Links

Read the Masked Marvel's recap of G19 - the nationally-televised extra-inning loss to the Red Sox. Elsewhere in the Astros County Media Network, Lima Time Time recorded two pieces yesterday: the regularly-scheduled Episode 4: Game of Throws, and an interview with Fenway Park organist Josh Kantor. Listen on SoundCloud and/or subscribe to Lima Time Time on iTunes.

*After yet another instance of the starting pitcher not lasting (Feldman went 4.1IP), resulting in another - stellar - long Devenski outing, the Astros have had to option Jake Marisnick to Triple-A to bring up Michael Feliz. The bullpen threw 7.2IP last night. Hinch:
Marisnick doesn't deserve to go down. He hasn't had the opportunity here, but he has options and we have one extra outfielder. Unfortunately, he takes the fall for this.

*Rasmus was trying to hit an opposite-field homer in the 9th.

*Every single one of Marwin's 25 home runs have been solo shots.

*Ken Giles, like us, is getting frustrated:
I don't know what I can do. I put everything on the line, made good pitches, got ground balls. Things aren't going my way right now.

*The quest to bring McCullers back to the rotation is progressing, what with him headed off to Extended Spring Training. Hinch:
More of a controlled environment in extended spring training, more regular work. We don't have to worry about weather. We don't have to worry about travel. We just get him in one spot and have a regiment in place.

*Hinch is trying to find the right game conditions to introduce Gattis as catcher in Houston:
I just want his first couple innings to be something less than Ken Giles with the bases loaded and a 3-2 slider in the dirt.

It is hilariously notable that the first tough spot Hinch could think of is one in which Giles has already loaded the bases and is about to walk in a run.

It's also worth noting, on the catching front, that Max Stassi (hamate) is expected to resume baseball activities this week.

*Before you go: This man must be stopped