Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Tuesday Morning Hot Links

That was a weird game and the game-winning RBI from Carlos Correa was a weird hit, reminiscent of the Bregman walk-off from about this time last year. Nevertheless the Astros win 4-3 and improve to 6-5, 4-0 at home.

*The last time the Astros won their first four home games of the season was 2001. They would go on to win the World Series 16 years later.

*The Astros are now 4-0 in 1-run games, quite a departure from 2018, when they went 24-24 in 1-run games.

*Carlos Correa's game-winning hit had an exit velocity of 28.9mph. Correa:
You've got to take them. This is a tough game. Sometimes you hit the ball hard right at people and sometimes that happens. That's why we love this game so much - you never know what to expect.

*Robinson Chirinos was 2x3 with two doubles (and 2RBI). He has six hits in 2019: four doubles, one home run, and one single.

*Alex Bregman was 1x2 with 2BB. Since April 1 Alex Bregman has reached base in 18 of his last 29 PAs (12 hits, 6 walks).

*Jose Altuve hit his 2nd home run of the year - the 2nd-hardest-hit home run he's ever hit, as recorded by Statcast.

*Justin Verlander threw 6IP, 7H/3ER, 6K:2BB while the bullpen of Harris, Pressly, and Osuna held the Yankees to 1H/0ER, 2K:1BB in the final 3IP.

*Due to the three off-days in the next eight, the Astros won't be needing Brad Peacock to make any starts for a while, so he's headed to the bullpen. Hinch:
I've noticed a difference in the first 10 games to have a 12-man pitching staff versus a 13-man pitching staff. We've seen Josh James pitch a lot, we've seen [Harris] and Rondon get up virtually every game. An extra arm down in the 'pen for this stretch will be nice. 

*Just in case you got got, like I did with the 6:10pm CT start time, tonight's game starts at 7:10pm, while tomorrow night's game is at 6:40pm.

*A.J. Hinch isn't concerned by Max Stassi's slow offensive start.

*Corpus' J.B. Bukauskas didn't have the start to the season he'd hoped for, allowing 8H/9R (8ER) with 2K:3BB in 2.2IP. Corpus lost to Frisco 11-2.

*2017 4th Round pick Peter Solomon struck out 11 batters in 4.2IP in an 8-5 Fayetteville win last night.

*FanGraphs: J.D. Davis' changed approach could turn him into a big-time slugger. Maybe don't read this one.

*I feel badly for Chris Davis, who set an MLB record for going 49 ABs without a hit last night. No one is more disappointed than Davis.

*The wild world of trust funds for pets.

*A Musical Selection: