Friday, March 15, 2019

Friday Morning Hot Links

Sorry about Thursday Morning Hot Links. No excuse, other than, "I just didn't really feel like doing it."

The soon-to-be 95(+)-win Astros got whooped by the soon-to-be 95-loss Marlins, 12-6. Miami put up a 5-spot in the 2nd as Collin McHugh went 2.2IP, 7H/6ER, 1K:2BB. The Astros committed three errors - two by Yordan Alvarez and one by Jack Mayfield. George Springer went 2x3. Robinson Chirinos, Tyler White, and Alex Bregman each went yard. McHugh:
Nobody likes to have lasers hit all over the park against them. The good things to take away from it are I got my three ups and downs and I got my pitch count elevated. I worked through a long inning - all things you want to have under your belt once the season starts.

*Some people don't need to be seen in t-shirts. Jeff Luhnow is one of them. I imagine Luhnow indicating that he is ready for his nightly two-and-a-half hours of sleep by changing from a blue tie to an orange one. Anyway, here's a video of Luhnow in a t-shirt talking about the expectations for the 2019 Houston Astros.

*Alyson Footer follows that up with a run-down of what to expect in 2019.

*In Footer's Notes Column, she says the SP5 battle is down to Brad Peacock and Framber Valdez.

*A.J. Hinch is not concerned with how much ass the Astros' righty relievers are sucking right now.

*Hunter Atkins asks how Tyler White fits in the 2019 Astros' plans.

*New rule changes getting implemented this year will prohibit a team from pulling a Verlander-esque deal in August. Here's a non-paywalled recap of what's happening this year, and next.

Related: Here's a good look from Mike Petriello on the (spoiler alert) 3-batter minimum for relievers.

*Nathan Eovaldi was "a little surprised" that the Astros showed virtually no interest in his services this offseason. Eovaldi:
Houston is home for me. I would have had more talks with the Astros but they just didn't want any part of it so they were out of the question. I was a little surprised it didn't go any further. Really there were no talks. I was a little surprised by that. 

*No, the Astros won't be signing Dallas Keuchel.


 If I'm Keuchel I am throwing tables against the wall, with Scott Boras between the table and the wall.

*FanGraphs' Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDaniel have their Top 39 Astros Prospects, complete with write-ups. It's a fun read, and you definitely should read it.

*It's still really weird to see the Astros really low on the Misery Index scale. The Rangers did not fare so well. Read this, and laugh and laugh.

*Collin McHugh mocked the White Sox (something I think we can all get behind) for their service time manipulation of Eloy Jimenez.

*Aledmys Diaz learned English by watching Ellen DeGeneres. She found out and offered an appearance on her show. What happened next will surprise you.

*Jake Kaplan revisits the infamous Steve Sparks phone book-ripping shoulder injury, which turns 25 years old today.

*Pluckers will have a spot at Minute Maid Park this season.

*Buy tickets to the USMNT v Chile game at Reliant so that I can go to a World Cup match for once in my wretched life.

*We're losing the war on corruption.

*The internet knows you better than your spouse does.

*A Musical Selection: