Sunday, August 12, 2018

Sunday Morning Hot Links

The Astros managed to scratch together five hits, one of them for extra bases, against Wade Freaking Leblanc, in a 3-2 loss to Seattle. Houston has a 3.5-game lead on Oakland, and a five-game lead on Seattle. This series has been stupid. That said, the Astros' 73-45 record is the franchise best after 118 games.

*Houston has lost seven straight at home for the first time since 2013 and they're 3-10 at home since July 9, getting outscored 66-46 in that span.

Runs scored/game, home, 2018: 4.32
Runs scored/game, away, 2018: 5.49

Hinch:
Yeah, I mean, one loss here tonight. I don't really think about stretches. I think about tonight...Obviously, there's some winnable games these last couple in this series, but I don't look back too very far.

*Seattle is 29-14 in games decided by one run. Houston is 16-20.

*Houston is 8-16 at home against divisional opponents.

*1-5 in the lineup went 1x18, 5K:2BB.

*Charlie Morton threw 6IP, 7H/3ER, 4K:1BB. In his last four starts, Morton has thrown 25IP, 20H/7ER, 25K:9BB.

Morton got ten groundball outs for the fourth time this season. The Astros are 3-4 in his last seven starts, scoring three or fewer runs in four of those games.

*Carlos Correa is 0x6 with 3K:2BB since returning from the DL.

*Since getting called up on July 29, Tyler White is hitting .342 with 3HR.

*Meat Wagon Update:
-Jake Marisnick went on the 10-Day DL with a groin injury. Kyle Tucker is on his way up and will be in the lineup today.
-George Springer hit in the cage for the second straight day. Hinch said they'll be "more aggressive" with BP on Monday and Tuesday and see if he can return when he's eligible at the end of next week.
-Chris Devenski will throw a bullpen session today. A minor-league rehab assignment is dependent on how it goes.
-Jose Altuve is dead will not return to the Astros on this homestand. He said on Friday that he still can't run, but may "test" his knee. Houston is 6-8 in the 14 games he's missed.
-Brian McCann has not had any setbacks since going on the DL on July 1.

*Tony Kemp is about to be a star in Houston. Get your Kempin Ain't Easy shirt from Breaking T and support Kemp's Kids.

*Alex Bregman is doing a meet and greet today from 6:30-7:30pm at the Fiesta at 2323 Wirt Road.

*Czech out Jayne's profile of 2018 4th Round pick Alex McKenna over at WTHB.

*Make sure you read The Masked Marvel's weekend edition of Reinforcing the Astros.

*I can respect Ramger Ronald Guzman hitting three home runs against the Yankees in the first game in which his dad got to watch him play.

*Please watch Hall of Famer Dave Winfield talk about fighting Nolan Ryan with Friend of Astros County Mike Oz on his fantastic Old Baseball Cards episode

*Great piece from FanGraphs' Sheryl Ring on Noted Idiot Joe Simpson, Juan Soto, and when commentary becomes defamatory.

*Watch Former Astros Great Ramon Laureano make an incredible 321-foot throw for Oakland:

*Good article (not paywalled) in The Athletic about how Royals prospect (3rd Round - 2013) Carter Hope overcame a heroin addiction to return to baseball.

*Staying with Drugs, Former White Sox and Rangers Great Esteban Loaiza had 44 pounds of cocaine! Esteban Loaiza made $43,734,000 in his MLB career.

*The Greeneville Reds saw a horrific crash in front of them in East Tennessee, and the players got out and tried to help the victims.

*Hole Camels throwing shade at Arlington:

*Derby County 1 - Leeds United 4.