Sunday Evening Hot Links

Today is the beginning of Month Three of being a vegetarian (except for last Monday when I randomly ate a Popeye's Spicy Chicken Sandwich and immediately fell asleep and felt like crap for the rest of the day). I'm down 14 pounds and I feel really good. I've mentioned my struggle with depression and anxiety #onhere before, and I appreciate those of you who have reached out. Lately I've been thinking a lot about the 1992 NLCS, and how the fortunes changed after Sid Bream's slide for both the Braves and the Pirates. I don't know why. Anyway, if you would read a deep dive into that series and the years preceding and following, comment down below. Just kidding, you can't do that, and my life is happier for it.

Catching up on a few Hot Links as I get back in the habit of thinking about this blog...

*Pitchers weren't part of today's workout at Minute Maid Park, and that included Brent Strom, as they await (yet again) the results of their COVID test. Dusty:
You don't like it, but you have to adjust and make the best of a potentially bad situation. I'm proud of how the guys responded. I haven't heard any complaining.

Like anyone would complain within earshot of Dusty Baker. Click that link and stay for some thoughts on the back-end of the rotation, as well as Aledmys Diaz. Also, we don't know when Strom - or the pitchers - can return.

Twelve days from their season-opener, the Astros:

- Have canceled two workouts
- Had Alex Bregman miss another because of delays
- Don't have their major league pitching staff or pitching coach in camp and are awaiting COVID-19 results on all after a "potential exposure"

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 12, 2020

*Aledmys Diaz plans on wearing a mask during games, as he has kids at home. Diaz:
I have kids, I have my wife at home. I just try to do everything I can to protect them. The same thing with my teammates. If it's something that's not uncomfortable and it lets me do my job when I'm taking ground balls or hitting, I'm going to use it.

Anyone who has an issue with Diaz, or anyone opting out of the 2020 season, is kindly invited to consume all of my genitals and never visit this site again.

*Chandler Rome: Astros lose more ground as pitchers miss time.

*Check out McTaggart's 2020 Milestone watch - there's some gems in there. Add Carlos Correa's quest for four straight years of playing less than 110 games. SMH.

*Here's some now-two-day-old news about Zack Greinke and Garrett Stubbs.



*The Blue Jays are desperately trying to find a home to play in. Could Buffalo host a Major-League team for the first time since 1915?

*Ben Lindbergh: MLB is trying to get a grip (ha ha) on foreign substances. What does that mean for pitchers?

*Check out this really cool David Nuno feature on Kim Miller.



*The Secret To Giving a Compliment That Makes People Glow.

*I'm pretty obsessed with Alex Honnold's "Free Solo" documentary. You can find it on Hulu and Disney+ and it will 100% make your palms sweat and elevate your heart rate. This is the one where he attempts to climb Yosemite's El Capitan without ropes. Just...start at the bottom with no support or back-up plan, and hope you make it to the top. I've seen it 50-60 times. I'll probably watch it again tonight. My wife can't figure out why I watch it...so many times. I just like to watch people try to do cool s*** that I won't ever try to do. Anyway, here's a 2017 profile on Alex Honnold: Less and Less Alone.

*If you've watched Hamilton, make sure you pay attention to The Bullet.

*I recently revisited this old-school Deadspin piece on a Carolina Reaper challenge and, buddy, make sure you read this.

*The strange and mysterious death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis.

*I'm currently reading Solid State: The Story of Abbey Road and the End of The Beatles and I really like it.



It's cute how many people think they're going to be able to have access to a vaccine any time soon.