Wednesday Morning Link Dump

Remember that time the Astros were the best team ever and then scored two runs total against Ross Detwiler and Wandy Rodriguez. Me, neither...

*George Springer is undergoing concussion tests after crashing into the wall making a highlight-reel grab, but no roster move has been announced.

*Thanks to this fast start, Jeff Luhnow is willing to add to the rotation in order to keep it rolling in Houston.
You know, I've discussed it with Jim and there are scenarios where we would continue to invest in this team as the year goes on in order to maximize our chances of not just getting to the playoffs, but being better in the playoffs.

*And speaking of playoffs, with last night's loss to the Ramgers the Astros' playoff odds have dipped back under 50%, though they remain the statistical favorites to win both the division and the wild card. But not if they keep losing games to the last-place team in the division.

*Here is a fascinating story from Bloomberg on the Astros, Luhnow/Crane, promoting prospects, and data analysis and features Luhnow being described as "Baseball's Mitt Romney."

*Baseball America's J.J. Cooper asked seven front office execs not with the Astros, Dodgers, or Twins and found that five of them think Carlos Correa is the best prospect in baseball.

*Evan Drellich writes that Correa and Appel are doing well, but Correa is closer to Houston and will likely be promoted to Fresno in May, after he has faced teams multiple times to see how he adapts.

*Collin McHugh talked about the Astros with Doug Gottlieb (video)

*Vincent Velasquez is nearing the end of his lat strain rehab and is likely to join Corpus.

*The Good Phight wonders if the Astros are a good fit for a Cole Hamels trade.

*2014 Astro Kyle Farnsworth is playing semi-pro football and is leading his team in sacks.

*Former Astro farmhand Carlos Perez, traded with Tropeano to the Angels for Hank Conger, hit a walk-off homer last night...in his major league debut.

Bloomberg Sports' 2010 Offense in review

Bloomberg Sports posted their recap of the 2010 Astros offense, such as it was. We'll list the "awards" and let you click the link to read. Bonus points if you find where one Astro's name translates into "little apple."

Biggest Surprise & Regression Alert: Chris Johnson

Biggest Bust: Lance Berkman

2011 Keeper Alert: Brett Wallace

Finally! Brett Myers starting to get some love

I guess you need to make 23 18+ out starts in a row before you start to get some love. Bloomberg Sports has a new post in which they implore you to trust Brett Myers.

Myers should appreciate the fact that he's no longer in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, traditionally one of the most friendliest to sluggers. Last season, Myers gave up an astronomical 2.29 HRs every nine innings. This season, he's only giving up 0.80 HRs per nine innings. The massive improvement has been aided by a slightly low 8.9% HR/FB, but also a better home environment, more induced grounders, and regression from a ridiculously unlucky HR/FB of 23.4% last year - which can't possibly all be attributed to the Phillies' home park.

Just as impressively, Myers seems to be getting better month-to-month. He's no longer the strikeout master that he was five years ago, but his K-rate has been steadily rising: 6.27 K/9 in April, 6.88 in May, 7.36 in June, and 7.41 in July...

...Added up, Myers has a 3.87 xFIP this year, which indicates some good luck compared to his 3.21 ERA, but still very solid. Only 25 starters this season have a better xFIP than Myers.

There are a lot of points in here that we brought up in discussing his extension. Will he be worth the extension two years from now?

Bloomberg Sports gives you reason to whimper

Here's the article from Bloomberg Sports reminding you to never feel happy as an Astros fan:

Looking at Happ's underlying statistics, there are plenty of reasons to worry about him in Houston. Just a peek at his 2010 strikeout rate (5.28 K/9) and walk rate (7.04 BB/9) alone should send the proverbial shiver down the spine. Happ has had some trouble finding the strike zone all year, as he walked 4.1 per nine on his rehab stint too. Granted, he's pitched only 15.1 innings this year.

Then again, this wildness is not typical of Happ's career to date, and we also know that walk rates take a while to stabilize (550 batters faced). Happ's career walk rate is 3.48 BB/9, which is about average (3.33 BB/9 is average this year). The problem is more his lack of a great strikeout rate (6.59 K/9 career, MLB average is 7.03 K/9 this year) or groundball rate (36.5% career, 44% is league average). This package adds up to a mediocre career xFIP (expected fielding independent pitching, a number that strips out batted ball luck, home run luck and other factors, and produces a number on the ERA scale) of 4.65. Happ did put up a 9.2 K/9 in the minor leagues, but until he shows an improved number in that category in the major leagues, we'll have to go with what we see.