*Good interview from Chandler Rome with James Click, who talks about improving the farm system and extending George Springer.
*Brian McTaggart sat down with Former Astros Great Chris Burke.
*Joe Smith's mom is in a nursing facility, so he won't be able to spend time with her this Mother's Day. [Ed. Note: SUNDAY IS MOTHER'S DAY]
*El Yordo gets the nod as the biggest power hitter on the Astros. Yordan and his wife also provided pizza for over 100 Houston-area police precincts and firehouses.
*Never let a chance to mention the Larry Andersen trade go by...
*Ken Rosenthal says the 2020 draft will be five rounds. Teams can sign any undrafted player beyond that for $20,000. Jake Kaplan notes that the Astros will have the 72nd overall pick, as well as the 101st, 131st, and 160th.
*ESPN's David Schoenfield picked his USA Baseball Dream Team for an unknown Summer Olympics. If you want to know where to scroll to find some Astros, he has this:
Our only rule: No Astros. Hey, chemistry is an important thing in a tournament like this and those sign-stealing wounds haven't healed yet. Can't take the risk of some bad blood if, say, Alex Bregman has to dress next to Cody Bellinger.
EXTREMELY cool.
That said, Jose Altuve's 2017 season DID make ESPN's most iconic seasons of the 21st century list, albeit with a caveat.
*Michael [squints] Brantley got the nod as the Astros' most under-rated player.
*The Athletic's Keith Law: What if the Padres had drafted Justin Verlander 1st overall in 2004
*Shoeless Joe's 1910 card sold for $492,000.
*SI: The best individual pitches in MLB.
*The KBO demoted five umpires to the minor leagues in a shocking turn of a league holding its officiating crews accountable.
*FanGraphs: Former Astros Great Asher Wojciechowski doesn't take anyone for granted.
*The Athletic: What if Chris Paul didn't tear his hamstring in Game 5?
*The Rangers aren't offering refunds for season ticket holders lol.
*A student of mine from two years ago was killed in a car wreck last weekend, and his family needs help with funeral expenses. He was a good kid who saved an elderly neighbor from a burning house. If you have any ability whatsoever (and I completely understand if you don't), please consider helping.
*Vox: The world's scariest facial recognition company, explained.
*Rolling Stone: Dropped from her label, the insanely talented Lauren Jenkins looks for a new way forward. Check her literal brand new song:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label 2020 Draft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2020 Draft. Show all posts
Friday, May 8, 2020
Thursday, April 2, 2020
'Rona-Free Hot Links, Vol. 5
IMPORTANT: If you are in a Zoom Meeting with more than two people, and do not mute your mic, you will be brought before a war crimes tribunal.
*I know these are supposed to be COVID-19-free, but here's how the Astros Foundation is helping to coordinate and deliver medical supplies.
*Chandler Rome has a mailbag. He talks about impending free agency, three prospects he thinks will throw 90+ IP in 2020/2021, whichever comes first, Forrest Whitley, and A.J. Hinch.
*Speaking of A.J. Hinch, Buster Olney reported (confirmed by Chandler Rome) that, if the 2020 season is canceled, Hinch and Jeff Luhnow would still be eligible to return to baseball in 2021. This is consistent with MLB's decision on player suspensions not having to spill over to 2021 (Francis Martes, for instance).
*Here are the draft pools and slot bonuses for the 1st 10 Rounds of the 2020 Draft, though how many rounds there actually will be is still up in the air. The Astros' 1st selection of the Draft will be #73, thanks to the Yankees giving Gerrit Cole over $300m. That pick has a slot of $857,400. Their next pick will be 3-102.
*Listen to Part 2 of Evan Gattis' conversation with The Athletic on the Astros' sign-stealing in 2017. Gattis:
I think we got so f***ing caught up that we f***ed up.
*Jon Singleton was the most-hyped Astros' 1B prospect of the last 20 years, says MLB.com. I think I was more hyped for Brett Wallace, but the point stands.
*Lance McCullers is Tags' pick for Future Ace of the Astros.
*Meet "the conscience of baseball."
*Chris Cwik went back and undid all of Jeter's wrongs with the Marlins.
*Tim Kurkjian: Ichiro's love of hamburgers, math, and his bats.
*Sam Miller: The most meme-worthy moments for all 29 teams (yeah, the trash can takes the cake for the Astros. If it's not Coronavirus, it's trash cans. This is what we are now.)
*Outside: The Woman Who Lives 200,000 Years In The Past.
*Explore.org has a ton of webcams for you to pass your time.
*You need Yoga With Adriene in your life.
*Learn Something:
*I know these are supposed to be COVID-19-free, but here's how the Astros Foundation is helping to coordinate and deliver medical supplies.
*Chandler Rome has a mailbag. He talks about impending free agency, three prospects he thinks will throw 90+ IP in 2020/2021, whichever comes first, Forrest Whitley, and A.J. Hinch.
*Speaking of A.J. Hinch, Buster Olney reported (confirmed by Chandler Rome) that, if the 2020 season is canceled, Hinch and Jeff Luhnow would still be eligible to return to baseball in 2021. This is consistent with MLB's decision on player suspensions not having to spill over to 2021 (Francis Martes, for instance).
*Here are the draft pools and slot bonuses for the 1st 10 Rounds of the 2020 Draft, though how many rounds there actually will be is still up in the air. The Astros' 1st selection of the Draft will be #73, thanks to the Yankees giving Gerrit Cole over $300m. That pick has a slot of $857,400. Their next pick will be 3-102.
*Listen to Part 2 of Evan Gattis' conversation with The Athletic on the Astros' sign-stealing in 2017. Gattis:
I think we got so f***ing caught up that we f***ed up.
*Jon Singleton was the most-hyped Astros' 1B prospect of the last 20 years, says MLB.com. I think I was more hyped for Brett Wallace, but the point stands.
*Lance McCullers is Tags' pick for Future Ace of the Astros.
*Meet "the conscience of baseball."
*Chris Cwik went back and undid all of Jeter's wrongs with the Marlins.
*Tim Kurkjian: Ichiro's love of hamburgers, math, and his bats.
*Sam Miller: The most meme-worthy moments for all 29 teams (yeah, the trash can takes the cake for the Astros. If it's not Coronavirus, it's trash cans. This is what we are now.)
*Outside: The Woman Who Lives 200,000 Years In The Past.
*Explore.org has a ton of webcams for you to pass your time.
*You need Yoga With Adriene in your life.
*Learn Something:
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Saturday Morning Hot Links
Pitchers who expected to be hit with a cork with a string on it suddenly found an 88-millimeter howitzer opening up on them.
-Houston Chronicle reporter John Wilson, on how Jimmy Wynn got the Toy Cannon nickname.
Jimmy Wynn passed away at the age of 78. RIP.
Wynn batted 3rd in the famous All-Rookie lineup on September 27, 1963, a 10-3 loss to the Mets. For the Astros, Wynn hit .255/.362/.445 - good enough for a 131 OPS+ in the offense-suppressed era. He was an All-Star in 1967 and led the league in walks (148) in 1969.
Wynn's 38.7 fWAR still ranks 6th in Astros' team history (Altuve is 7th, at 35.0 fWAR). His 131 wRC+ ranks 8th in team history (Correa is 9th, at 129 wRC+). His 223 home runs as an Astro ranks 4th. His 14.1 BB% is 4th among all Astros who played at least 400 games.
The Athletic's Joe Posnanski: In memory of Jimmy Wynn.
On the Astros Radio podcast, Bill Brown talked about Jimmy Wynn.
David Barron talked to Bob Aspromonte, Joe Morgan, Larry Dierker, and Dusty Baker about Jimmy Wynn.
Watch Jimmy Wynn hit a monster home run:
Houston #Astros star Jimmy Wynn blasts a tape-measure HR over the Crosley Field scoreboard and onto the freeway vs. Cincinnati #Reds pitcher Sammy Ellis! (1967) RIP "The Toy Cannon". #MLB #History pic.twitter.com/LO9LjvL5Hl— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) March 27, 2020
*MLB and the MLBPA reached a deal on issues regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them:
-They will play as many games as possible in 2020.
-Players will collect prorated service time based on the number of days on the roster or injured list.
-In the event that the season is cancelled (which is a very real possibility), players who were scheduled to be free agents at the end of the season will, in fact, become free agents. For the Astros, that means George Springer, Yuli Gurriel, Michael Brantley, and Josh Reddick.
-Suspensions do not carry over to 2021. [side-eyes Frankie Tuesday]
-The 2020 MLB Draft will take place no later than July 20, 2020, and MLB can choose to have between five and 40 rounds.
Chandler Rome: How a smaller draft affects the Astros in the aftermath of that ancient scandal: the sign-stealing.
*The Athletic's Jake Kaplan: What the new deal means for the Astros.
*SI's Michael McCann: What the new deal means, legally.
*SI's Michael McCann: What the new deal means, legally.
*There is the possibility of games taking place in empty stadiums.
*Carlos Correa donated $500,000 in medical equipment to the City of Houston, as well as 2,500 meals per day to Houston's homeless, elderly, and public employees. Alex Bregman sent lunch to 100 Methodist employees.
*Justin Verlander is "right on schedule" (even if there's no "schedule") with his recovery from groin surgery.
*The Astros have closed Minute Maid Park's workout facility to players, to comply with the City of Houston's ordinance.
*Joel Sherman: Me, My Dad, Baseball, and Opening Day.
*Get The Athletic free for 90 Days.
*Texas Monthly: Inside the story of how HEB planned for the pandemic.
*Austin City Limits has opened its archives.
*Outside: The Chris McCandless Obsession Problem
*Keep your hands on the wheel, and don't look down.
*20 recipes for the pasta, rice, and beans you've stockpiled by now.
*A Musical Selection:
*Joel Sherman: Me, My Dad, Baseball, and Opening Day.
*Get The Athletic free for 90 Days.
*Texas Monthly: Inside the story of how HEB planned for the pandemic.
*Austin City Limits has opened its archives.
*Outside: The Chris McCandless Obsession Problem
*Keep your hands on the wheel, and don't look down.
*20 recipes for the pasta, rice, and beans you've stockpiled by now.
*A Musical Selection:
Friday, March 20, 2020
Friday Morning Hot Links
Welcome, I guess.
*Jared "Crazy Eyes" Hughes opted out of his contract with the Astros, who inexplicably didn't add him to their 40-Man Roster.
*Astros' minor-leaguers - you know, the future of the organization - will get some temporary relief from the Big-League club. 2019 3rd Round pick Jordan Brewer:
Which would be kind of funny being back at home and everyone sees this professional baseball player doing DoorDash. They'd ask if it was some kind of joke. No. Like, I need the money.
*
*The Athletic's Jake Kaplan has a mailbag in which he addresses the Astros' all-time Houston lineup, 2020 outfield, and future Opening Day starters.
*Chris Sale will miss all of 2020 and most of 2021, if not all, after he undergoes Tommy John Surgery, which seems awfully non-essential to me given the state of the current global pandemic, but some Sully from Brookline will happily do it in his attic.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown and Hannah Keyser have a Coronavirus FAQ on the what/ifs of when (with a very pointed "If") baseball is played in 2020.
*Upwards of 40 minor-league teams might not make it through the season if they can't play games.
*Eno Sarris, Trent Rosencrans, and Jayson Stark came up with their own, home-made, version of "Codebreaker" and how to break it. You can download it for Excel. There's Tyler Bauer quotes. You can get a 90-Day Free Trial from The Athletic. I hitched my wagon to The Athletic's policy on free-lancing, and then I got dropped like 3rd Period French when they moved the goalposts, but they still churn out Good Content.
*The 2020 Draft might get canceled with the possibility of a combined 2020-2021 Draft being considered..
*The self-quarantine for UH's baseball team has been lifted.
*All UIL activities have been suspended/postponed though May 4.
*
*Sean Payton has it. My wife's 27-year old cousin tested positive (and is in quarantine) as of Wednesday. So many more of us who don't even show symptoms have it. Stay home.
*A Musical Selection:
*
*Jared "Crazy Eyes" Hughes opted out of his contract with the Astros, who inexplicably didn't add him to their 40-Man Roster.
*Astros' minor-leaguers - you know, the future of the organization - will get some temporary relief from the Big-League club. 2019 3rd Round pick Jordan Brewer:
Which would be kind of funny being back at home and everyone sees this professional baseball player doing DoorDash. They'd ask if it was some kind of joke. No. Like, I need the money.
*
WELCOME TO STARCH MADNESS— Parker Lund (@ParkourLund) March 19, 2020
The ultimate bracket tournament to decide which starch reigns supreme
Retweet, like, and follow us to help raise money for local food banks!
Fill out your bracket in the polls below!! pic.twitter.com/OQW9olagiX
*The Athletic's Jake Kaplan has a mailbag in which he addresses the Astros' all-time Houston lineup, 2020 outfield, and future Opening Day starters.
*Chris Sale will miss all of 2020 and most of 2021, if not all, after he undergoes Tommy John Surgery, which seems awfully non-essential to me given the state of the current global pandemic, but some Sully from Brookline will happily do it in his attic.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown and Hannah Keyser have a Coronavirus FAQ on the what/ifs of when (with a very pointed "If") baseball is played in 2020.
*Upwards of 40 minor-league teams might not make it through the season if they can't play games.
*Eno Sarris, Trent Rosencrans, and Jayson Stark came up with their own, home-made, version of "Codebreaker" and how to break it. You can download it for Excel. There's Tyler Bauer quotes. You can get a 90-Day Free Trial from The Athletic. I hitched my wagon to The Athletic's policy on free-lancing, and then I got dropped like 3rd Period French when they moved the goalposts, but they still churn out Good Content.
*The 2020 Draft might get canceled with the possibility of a combined 2020-2021 Draft being considered..
*The self-quarantine for UH's baseball team has been lifted.
*All UIL activities have been suspended/postponed though May 4.
*
Thank you, Texas, for the outpouring interest from people looking for ways to lend a hand at H-E-B. Here are a few things you can do to help! #COVID19 #TexasStrong #SlowtheSpreadTexas pic.twitter.com/ujCFaMX6qI— H-E-B Newsroom (@HEBNewsroom) March 19, 2020
*Sean Payton has it. My wife's 27-year old cousin tested positive (and is in quarantine) as of Wednesday. So many more of us who don't even show symptoms have it. Stay home.
Just spoke with a doctor, who works in a hospital ER in the U.S.— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) March 19, 2020
His synopsis: "we don't have enough masks, we don't have enough testing units, the nasal swab test is 62% sensitive (accurate)," and on he went.
His advice? "Stay the fuck home. It's not worth going out."
*A Musical Selection:
*
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