Monday, June 19, 2017

Monday Morning Hot Links

*The Astros had baserunners all game long and couldn't push enough of them across including a repeat of Friday night when the potential tying run got thrown out at home. Also Xander Bogaerts had two home runs entering last night's game, and so of course he hit two home runs last night. Frustrating game. The Astros had 14 hits (three doubles, three home runs) and six walks but were 3x15 w/RISP and left 13 on base.

*The 14 hits were the most for the Astros in a loss this season. They're 28-7 when getting 10+ hits in a game this season and are 9-2 when hitting 3+ home runs in a game. The Astros are 4-8 since the 11-game winning streak.

*Derek Fisher was thrown out at second to end the game. Hinch:
Took a perfect throw in a perfect spot to throw him out. It's a risk you're going to take (vs. Kimbrel)

The Astros are now 34-for-51 on stolen bases, a 66.7% success rate that ranks 24th in MLB. The only teams with a lower SB% are Oakland (64.7%), Philadelphia (64.3%), Chicago White Sox (58.7%), Pittsburgh (57.4%), Detroit (56.1%), and Colorado (53.5%). The Astros' success rate seems low for a team full of fast guys.

George Springer is 0-for-3 on stolen base attempts and has been thrown out in 13 of his last 22 attempts dating back to the beginning of the 2016 season. He hasn't successfully stolen a base since August 30, 2016.

*Hinch:
You look up and down the order and we had a tremendous amount of good at-bats. Maybe not at the right time when we needed it the most, but even some of those we didn't come through with runners in scoring position were pretty good at-bats. 

*Joe Musgrove was shooting for 100 pitches - he threw 90, allowing 5ER (3ER on two home runs) - the third time this season he has allowed 2HR and his third 5ER start of the season. He didn't pitch poorly.

*Yuli Gurriel was thrown out of the game after arguing about a strikeout. Hinch:
It sucks when it doesn't go your way and you feel you have to cover more than the allotted plate. 



*Dustin Pedroia left MMP to go to the hospital for X-Rays after James Hoyt hit him in the ribs, right after hitting Mookie Betts.

*Jake Marisnick hit a 454-foot home run, his 8th of the season and is one HR shy of tying his career-high. Marisnick has hit 30.8% of his career home runs in 9.1% of his career plate appearances (104 this season).

*Since Opening Day 2014, Jose Altuve leads MLB with a .331 average (min. 1500 PAs). Miguel Cabrera is 2nd at .316.

*At 46-24 here are the Monday Morning Playoff Odds:
FanGraphs: 99.0% to win the division, 99.8% to make the playoffs
Baseball Prospectus: 97.9% to win the division, 99.7% to make the playoffs
FiveThirtyEight: 92% to win the division, 98% to make the playoffs

*Hinch provided updates on four injured starting pitchers:
Keuchel: Playing catch for the first time tomorrow
McCullers: Bullpen today or tomorrow, could return to the rotation against Seattle this weekend
Morton: Looking at a rehab start Thursday in Fresno
McHugh: Will fly today to West Palm Beach to essentially begin a Spring Training

*Brian McCann changed his swing this past offseason

*The Mariners will activate Felix Hernandez from the DL in time for him to face the Astros on Friday.

*Rogelio Armenteros threw four perfect innings in relief for Corpus yesterday, striking out three in a 2-1 Hooks loss. In 60.1IP this season, Armenteros has allowed 39H/11ER with 69K:19BB - a 1.64 ERA/0.96 WHIP.

*Mack Hayes, of "Go Go Astros" fame, is still going strong.

*Spiritualized, The Verve, and 1997's Biggest Secret Love Triangle