Sunday, January 19, 2020

Sunday Morning Hot Links

FanFest was yesterday, and everyone involved received the confirmation for which they were looking, regardless of what was said or wasn't said.

*Chandler Rome: Astros offer smiles for fans but no remorse or regret. Bregman:
The commissioner made his report, made his decision, the Astros made their decision and no further comment on it.

Altuve, on whether or not the actual Astros feel responsible for the firing of AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow:
Tough question. Like I said, we are a team. I don't think one is better or worse than another one. We are all in this together, and we're going to move forward.

*On the "Wearable Buzzer" rumors, Altuve:
That's ridiculous. MLB did their investigation and they didn't find anything...Even though it wasn't true, we all know some people made that up. The best thing that happened to me is MLB investigated that and didn't find something. But at the same time, you can't control everything.

*More Altuve:
There's a lot of difficulties in life. Believe me, at the end of the year, everything will be fine. We're going to be in the World Series again. People don't believe it, (but) we will. We well, like we made it last year.

*Jake Kaplan: A glaring omission from FanFest is accountability.

*Yahoo's Tim Brown: Astros stars letting others take the blame for the sign-stealing scandal.

*Something called "A Randal Grichuk" wants to see the Astros' rings taken away. Dude went to Lamar Consolidated.

*Former Astros Great Kenneth Giles said he was not aware of a sign-stealing scheme in the Houston dugout. What

*Don't miss the debut of TexanAlex, with "A Liar Wrote This."

*Ryan Spaeder went on Washington's 106.7 The Fan and said the sign-stealing scandal extends far beyond the Astros.

*The Astros will apparently interview Dusty Baker tomorrow (Monday).

*While the interviewees thus far (with the exception of Will Venable) have leaned more towards the veteran side, the Astros are not limiting their search for a new manager to "those who have managed before," and so Matt Quatraro and Mark Kotsay could get some consideration.

*At Cubs Convention, Astros managerial candidate Will Venable told a crowd of Cubs fans that he's not leaving Chicago. Then he clarified:
Obviously you have to take opportunities seriously and you have to think about those things. I'm a Chicago Cub right now. Until that changes, I'm super-excited to be here and committed to this team. Until someone gives me an opportunity to have a different job, this is where I'm at and I plan on being here for the year.

*Lance Berkman, Cesar Cedeno, Roy Hofheinz, Roy Oswalt, Billy Wagner, and Bob Watson were announced as the 2020 Astros Hall of Fame class. Induction is August 8, prior to a game against the Blue Jays.

*Slate: The credible rape allegation against three members of the 1991 New York Mets.

*A Musical Selection: