Sunday Morning Hot Links

Jose Urquidy did some damn things, Bregman finally had a big swing, and the Astros have tied up the World Series at two games apiece. Let us pray.

Uh-oh. Best of 3. Watch out 👀

— Yulieski Gurriel (@el_yuly10) October 27, 2019

The Projection swings in this series have been wild, man. According to FanGraphs:

Before G1: 60-40 Houston

Before G2: 55-45 Houston

Before G3: 65-35 Washington

Before G4: 52-48 Washington

Before G5: 65-35 Houston

Dan Szymborki has the Series 61-39 Houston. FiveThirtyEight has it 59-41 Houston.

The last two teams that won World Series Games 3&4 after losing Games 1&2 at home were the 1996 Yankees and 1986 Mets. Both of them won the Series.

The Astros scored eight runs for the 2nd time this entire postseason (ALCS G4). The last time they scored 9+ runs was 2018 ALDS G3. Since the Astros dropped all three 2017 ALCS games in New York, Houston is 8-6 on the road, winners of four of their last five postseason road games.

*Jose Urquidy made his 8th start in MLB in 2019: 5IP, 2H/0ER, 4K:0BB. Urquidy had previously made one start of 5+ IP and 0ER: September 27 against the Angels. Prior to that it was August 26, when he threw 5.2IP, 3H/0ER, 8K:1BB for Round Rock against San Antonio.

Urquidy pitches, by inning:

1st: 11

2nd: 13

3rd: 14

4th: 14

5th: 15

Hinch, on pulling Urquidy after five clean innings:

You know, I battled with that decision because going into the game you kind of put in your mind, go as long as he's good, which is what I said. I didn't want to get too greedy with him. His spot was coming up in the order so I was going to hit for him at the beginning of the inning. That inning actually played out how I feared his inning would. If they got things started, I didn't want him to face the middle of the order again. So I tried to be proactive and take him out. The other thing in the back of my mind is how long a series can get and how we might need him again back in Houston if we win the game, and then you get to go back to Houston, then Games 6 and 7 starts to factor in, try to save a few bullets along the way.

Urquidy is the 4th rookie in the last 30 years to throw a scoreless start in the World Series, the second pitcher from Mexico to start and win a World Series game (Fernando Valenzuela), and the second pitcher since 1969 whose first career postseason start was a scoreless outing in the World Series (Jon Lester, 2007). Urquidy:

Yes, a couple moments, a couple moments I was thinking, 'Oh, my God, I'm in the World Series pitching.' It was awesome.

Urquidy:

My dream was pitching in the big leagues. I always imagined playing in the World Series and winning the game...Something very big for me, big year for me. And I think I'm proud of myself.

It WAS awesome. Adam Eaton, who was 0x3 with a walk, on facing Urquidy:

When you go in with a game plan of kind of working off his scouting report and he goes the complete opposite with it, by the time you kind of make the adjustment, it's too late. He threw me three sliders in my first at-bat, and he throws it 10% of the time, so I went back scratching my head. He didn't throw me any changeups and he's supposed to throw me 40% changeup. Then I go up my next at-bat and saw a curveball, which he throws 3% of the time, then a fastball and finally threw me a changeup to get me out. When you have guys you haven't seen before, you have to go off the knowledge you have.

Urquidy, whose mother was in Washington:

My mom is someone that I talk to a lot and obviously she helped me out this morning. We had coffee, just gave me some words of encouragement.

Hinch, on Urquidy:

From the very beginning I thought he was calm, I thought he was in control of his stuff. His fastball had a little extra life to it. It's had good life this postseason. And then he just came up with big pitch after big pitch.

The Athletic's Rustin Dodd, on the story behind Urquidy's World Series Moment.

Chandler Rome: The Astros almost didn't even call Urquidy up in September.

*Will Harris cleaned up Josh James' mess with two outs in seven pitches. Harris has come into a game this postseason with 12 runners on base (not all at once, that would be weird). Eleven of them have walked back to the dugout after the inning ended. MLB.com's Joe Trezza: Houston's bullpen in Game 4 set them up perfectly for Game 5.

*Hector Rondon played with fire, giving up three balls over 99mph off the bat (two of them were outs).

*This postseason, 33 of the Astros' 60 runs (55%) have come via the home run.

*MLB.com: 19 key facts & figures from Game 4.

*Alex Bregman hit the 20th Grand Slam in World Series history, first since Addison Russell did it for the Cubs in 2016 World Series G6. Before that it was Paul Konerko in the 7th Inning of 2005 World Series G2 off of Chad Qualls. It was just the 2nd postseason Grand Slam in Astros history - Lance Berkman did it in the 8th Inning of 2005 NLDS G4, the 18-inning 7-6 win over Atlanta.

Reddick:

I think tonight was really the first time we really did what the Houston Astros offense can do.

ESPN's Jeff Passan: Alex Bregman's mic-drop grand slam means that the Real Astros have shown up. Passan:

He is also, in many ways, the Astros' metronome. When he lags, they lag. When he speeds up, they speed up. And his pace in an 8-1 throttling of the Washington Nationals on Saturday that evened the World Series was breakneck. When Bregman suddenly looked like his regular-season self, the Astros followed suit.

Bregman, ALCS-WS G3: 4x31, 1HR, 3RBI.

Bregman, WS Game 4: 3x5, 1HR, 5RBI.

Correa, after Fernando Rodney intentionally walked Michael Brantley to face Alex Bregman in Game 3: "Oh no, you don't do that to him."

Jenny Dial Creech: The Astros have their MVP back.

Bregman is the 3rd Astro in postseason history with 5RBI in a game, joining Carlos Beltran in 2004 NLDS G5 and Morgan Ensberg in 2005 NLDS G1.

*The Astros got 13 hits, drew seven walks, and got five hits (5x13) w/RISP. 2-8 in the lineup went for a combined 13x30, 3K:5BB. 

*Robinson Chirinos is the 6th catcher in MLB history to homer in back-to-back World Series games (Mickey Cochrane, Bill Dickey, Roy Campanella, Gene Tenace, Ted Simmons). Chirinos:

I'm working so hard in the cage to be consistent, and I put a good swing to the ball [in Game 3]. I told everybody here I put myself in a good position. I was swinging at strikes, I was staying to the middle of the field and I did it again tonight.

Jake Kaplan: Chirinos has become an unlikely World Series Hero for Houston.

*Jose Altuve went 2x5 with a run scored and has gotten safely on base in 24 straight postseason games dating back to 2017 World Series G6. In those 24 postseason games, Altuve: .320/.376/.580, 11K:9BB, 6HR. In 15 postseason games in 2019, Altuve is hitting .365/.412/.698.

*Carlos Correa was 0x2 but drew three walks, a career postseason-high. He had drawn two walks in three other postseason games (2018 ALDS G3, 2018 ALCS G1, 2019 ALCS G5). He had three walks in 14 postseason games in 2019 prior to Game 4. It was just the second time this postseason Correa did not strike out. Correa:
What's important now is that we got our swagger back, and we're playing good. And we are dangerous when we feel like this.

*Yuli Gurriel went 1x4 with a walk, but also struck out twice, his 4th straight postseason game with a strikeout after not striking out once in 15 postseason games stretching from 2018 ALCS G2 through 2019 ALCS G6. In 41 career postseason games, Yuli has struck out 2+ times in just four.

*Apparently the Astros didn't have a players-only meeting after Game 2.

*SI's Emma Baccellieri: The Nationals' slogan is "finish the fight," but it feels like they're just trying to stay in it.

*New York Post's Ken Davidoff: Joe Espada's managerial prospects are on the rise.

*Keep heckling Harvey Weinstein.

*A Musical Selection:

Sunday Morning Hot Links

There is a big ol pile of human feces on a mattress in Minute Maid Park after Wade Miley's bowels was loose on the mound in a game that could have resulted in a third straight division title. Instead, the champagne goes back on ice for another day. Maybe tomorrow. Astros lose 8-4, snapping a 6-game win streak. Houston is 101-54. There are seven games remaining.

*Houston is now 10-4 against Anaheim. They're now a paltry 31-6 at home against AL West teams.

*Scoreboard Watching: the Yankees beat the Blue Jays, the Dodgers lost to Colorado.

Houston (101-54): -
New York (101-55): -0.5
Los Angeles (99-56): -2.0

*Wade Miley: 1IP, 4H/4ER, 0K:1BB. He faced nine batters.

Miley's September: 50 batters faced, 22 outs. 7.1IP, 23H/18ER, 4K:5BB.

It's worth wondering if Miley has cost himself a spot on the postseason roster. He would normally get one more start, likely at Anaheim next weekend in the closing series. But when you're scuffling as bad as he is - and let's be clear: Miley has not made it into the 2nd Inning in three of his last four starts (and those starts coming against the Mariners, A's, and now Angels) - it is a concern. For me, Saturday night it looked like he gave up that leadoff homer to .731 OPS-having ass David Fletcher - who had not hit a home run since June 15 - and thought, "Here we go again," and here we, in fact, did go again. Miley is basically Jose Urquidy's opener. Mentally he's beaten right now.

Miley:
I'm not doing my part, I'm not getting the job done, and I'm not giving us a chance. It's tough to swallow, but at the same time, I've been through this, and I've got to keep working and try to get through it.

Side note: No, Wade Miley has not "been through this." He has made 243 starts in his career. Eleven of them have been shorter than 2IP, six of them shorter than 1IP, but never three out of four starts.

Hinch:
We're going to figure it out and he's going to be really effective for us. But given the time, it's a difficult time to assess because he's got one start left before we've got to make some decisions, but we'd obviously like to get him in a better frame of mind.

Miley, on the urgency of his last start of the regular season:
Pretty high, I would say. I got to gain some trust back. I got to go out and prove I can get outs in the Big Leagues and prove I can give this team a chance to win. 

Chandler Rome: The Astros have a full-fledged 4th Starter problem. Miley threw 27 pitches last night. The Angels swung and missed on exactly zero of them. Martin Maldonado:
Me and Chirinos were talking at the end of the game and we just have to try to find out how we can get him back to what you saw earlier in the year. I think tomorrow we're going to watch a lot of video to see, as catchers, what we have to do to get him back.

*Bryan Abreu struck out the side in the 5th before getting touched up in the 6th. Last week Chandler Rome talked up Abreu's chances of making the postseason roster.

*Hector Rondon gave up a back-breaking 2-run home run to Kolk Kalkouk. It was the 10th home run Rondon has allowed (which feels low by about 50) and the second appearance in a row in which Rondon has given up a homer.

*Yordan hit his 27th home run of the season. He was called up on June 9 - the 67th game of the season.

*Kyle Tucker was 2x4 with two doubles.

Kyle Tucker, 2018: 72 PAs, three extra-base hits. .141/.246/.203.
Kyle Tucker, 2019: 50 PAs, seven extra-base hits. .313/.340/.542.

*Carlos Correa came out of the game after the 6th Inning, and everyone went crazy with their "Massage!" tweets or Daniela pics. But A.J. Hinch told us last Saturday this is what he was going to do these last games of the season. Hinch, literally last Saturday:
It will be borderline like a Spring Training schedule with in-season responsibilities. He may play six innings and come out, even if it's not a blowout.

*Don't be an idiot.

Fan interference. Stay in your seats. Just a thought. #astros pic.twitter.com/L8XhtVvvrb

— Karen Warren (@karenwarrenHC) September 22, 2019

*Down 6-4 with Stubbs on first and two out in the 7th, Garrett Stubbs got thrown out at third base on an Altuve infield single that Stubbs thought went into the outfield. "Inexcusable," he said.

*Join our Patreon.

*Forrest Whitley threw 4.2IP last night, allowing a hit and striking out six.

*B.J. Surhoff was fired by Mike Elias and the Orioles, and is extremely upset with how Elias "treats people," which sounds like a familiar complaint.

*Saturday marked the final Cubs home game to be aired on WGN. The 7th Inning Stretch was pretty cool.

*Check The Hardball Times' Alexandra Simon with a retro review of 1996's "The Fan" with Robert DeNiro and Wesley Snipes.

*Chaos at the Black Keys' LA show!

*A Musical Selection: One of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands.

Saturday Morning Hot Links

The Astros beat the Fightin' Ausmuses 5-4. Anaheim was 1x12 w/RISP, so it's nice to see them Astros that game up. Houston is 83-47 with a 7.5-game lead. There are 32 regular season games left. Nine of their remaining 32 games are against teams over .500.

*The Astros have won five of their last six games. They're 14-7 in August. Remember that six of those losses came in an eight-day stretch.

*Zack Greinke stayed perfect as an Astro, though he worked in and out of trouble. Greinke's line: 6.2IP, 10H/3R (2ER), 1K:0BB. It's the first time since May 25, 2017 that a pitcher has thrown at least 6IP, allowed 10+ hits, and had 0-1 strikeouts, and still got the Win. It's the 8th time in franchise history that's happened, and the first since Mike Hampton did it on July 28, 1999.

Hinch:
He can just really pitch. I know nowadays we're fixated on power and stuff and the strikeouts and wipeout this and spin that, and that's all fine and good. But when you see the artistic side of Zack Greinke and how he pitches, how he moves the ball around the strike zone, how he challenges one of the best hitters in baseball in Mike Trout and beats him, there's just an art that he has the It Factor.

Greinke is the 3rd Astros pitcher to win his first four regular season starts, joining Roger Clemens and Justin Verlander.

*The bullpen of Harris-Rondon-Osuna threw 2.1IP, with only a solo home run from Rondon allowed. Rondon has pitched in 50 games this season, and has had a clean outing in 16 of them. Harris struck out Shohei Ohtani to end the 7th with runners on. Hinch:
Zack did a great job and then handed the ball to Will in one of the biggest outs of the game. Rondon comes in, and luckily for us, we tacked on a run...I don't care how we get our 27 outs, and it might go in a different order.

"Luckily for us we tacked on a run" is Rondon's new Player's Weekend Nickname. Kole Calhoun is hitting .239/.330/.484 in 2019. He's hitting .361/.452/.611 against Houston in 2019.

*Yuli Gurriel hit a 2-run home run off The Coward Noe Ramirez (he's the one who plunked Marisnick that set the Astros on fire in July). It was his 26th home run of the season. Gurriel hit 31 home runs in 2017 and 2018 combined.

*Roberto Osuna hasn't allowed a run in six straight appearances. Gerrit Cole gave him some tips on his four-seam fastball that paid dividends.

*Abraham Toro was 2x4 for his first major-league hits - both singles.

*Chandler Rome has a new mailbag in which he addresses how much playing time Kyle Tucker gets in September, the Cy Young race, and Aaron Sanchez's tiddy.

*Richard Justice noticed how Altuve and Gurriel have been two of the hottest hitters in the 2nd half.

*Aledmys Diaz should begin a rehab stint in Round Rock this weekend ahead of his potential activation on Tuesday.

*Josh James threw his first rehab outing for Round Rock on Thursday night. Now, Round Rock verifiably got the crap kicked out of them by Memphis, 14-2. But Josh Big Flames James threw 0.1IP, 2H/3ER, 1K:1BB with two wild pitches. But his fastball sat 95-99mph.

*Bob Nightengale says Gerrit Cole will get $200m+ this offseason.

*The Dodgers, Astros, and Yankees (in that order) have three of the five best home records since 1995, which is why the Astros need to catch the Yankees for home-field advantage. FanGraphs' projections for best overall record:

Dodgers: 104-58
Astros: 103-59
Yankees: 102-60

FanGraphs says the Astros will go 20-12 over the course of the rest of the season, and the Yankees will go 18-14. The rest of the Yankees' regular season: @ Los Angeles Dodgers, @ Seattle, v Oakland, v Texas, @ Boston, @ Detroit, @ Toronto, v Anaheim, v Toronto, @ Tampa, @ Arlington.

*2020 Rotation Candidate Cristian Javier got promoted from Corpus to Round Rock. It's deserved.

Javier, 2019:
Fayetteville: 28.2IP, 15H/3ER, 40K:16BB, 0.94 ERA / 1.08 WHIP.
Corpus: 74IP, 31H/17ER, 114K:39BB, 2.19 ERA / 0.95 WHIP.

He'll be 23 next March.

*Oh, I found out why Reymin Guduan got suspended.

*In his first trip back to Houston as an Angel, Max Stassi recounted the weirdness of his July 31.

*Been a rough 36 hours for the Astros, PR-wise. The Athletic's Britt Ghiroli writes about how the Astros could have handled the Verlander v. Fenech issue differently.

*Our buddy Brady Rodgers got unconditionally released, and will be a free agent.

*The Phillies were up 7-0 on Miami. And lost 19-11.

*SI: Who is the most hopeless team in baseball?

*I have a history blog, where I can dork out doing deep dives on American history stuff that I find interesting. Earlier this week I wrote about Isabella Stewart Gardner and the most famous art heist in history, if that's your kind of thing. If you're looking for a new podcast, might I suggest "Last Seen," a collaboration between WBUR and the Boston Globe, about the robbery.

*CityLab: Why the Amazon is on fire.

*The Guardian: The Machine Always Wins: What Drives Our Addiction to Social Media.

*A Dead Cat, A Lawyer, and a Five-Figure Donation: How the media fell short on Jeffrey Epstein.

*A Musical Selection:

Friday Morning Hot Links

Wow not as much news today. The Astros are now 1-1 in the Zack Greinke Era after beating Cleveland 7-1 and taking the series. They're 70-40 with an eight game lead on Oakland. There are 52 regular season games left.

I've seen a couple of places that this win matches the 2017 for the fastest to 70 wins. It's not. The 2017 team started off 70-39, this team got their 70th win one game later. They were both 70-40 after 110 games, though. Game in which the Astros recorded their 70th win:

2019: 110
2018: 111
2017: 109
2016: 132
2015: 127
2014: 160
2013: n/a
2012: n/a
2011: n/a
2010: 145

*Houston is 47-29 against teams at or above .500. The next closest win total to that is Oakland, with 39. 76 of Houston's 110 games have come against teams at or above .500 when they played. That's nuts. Number of games other contenders have played against winning teams:

Oakland: 70
Tampa: 66
Los Angeles: 57
Minnesota: 53
New York: 51

*The Astros went 4-2 on the road against St. Louis and Cleveland. Hinch:
Two series wins against two really good teams. We've got a good demeanor on this club about staying above everything else, getting through the trade deadline. I applaud our guys for continuing to methodically win.

*Gerrit Cole threw 7IP, 4H/1ER, 4K:2BB. It's only the third time that Cole has struck out fewer than five batters in a start. The Astros are 3-0 in those starts. After allowing three home runs to the Rangers on July 12, Cole has allowed two home runs in his last 28IP.

Cole has a nine-game winning streak, the best of his career. Cole:
We just kept making pitches and trying to mix up spots. Although they were putting them in play for the most part, their hitters were off-balance outside of maybe four-five. It was a good night.

*Hector Rondon came in for the 8th and promptly loaded the bases for Yasiel Puig before Joe Smith got him out of it in two pitches. Rondon has made 43 appearances in 2019 and has allowed at least one hit in 23 of them. He has allowed multiple baserunners in 16 of them.

*Chris Devenski needed eight pitches to retire the side in the 9th. On May 12 Devenski had a 5.94 ERA. In 27 appearances since, Devenski: 31.1IP, 23H/12ER, 37K:13BB, 3.45 ERA / 1.15 WHIP.

*Top 6 in the lineup: 10x21, 1K:7BB, 4 doubles / 2 home runs.

*George Springer led off the game with a home run, his 32nd lead-off home run. He's 21 behind franchise leader Craig Biggio.

*Alex Bregman was 3x3 with a home run and two walks. He reached base in all five plate appearances for the first time in his career.

*Yordan Alvarez was 2x5 with two doubles and 2RBI. He's hitting .329/.413/.679. He has put up 1.9 fWAR in 38 games. The only AL rookies with a higher fWAR than Alvarez are Brandon Lowe (2.5 in 76 games) and Dan Vogelbach (2.2 in 100 games).

*Reddick got Super Mad and shaved his mustache after his second AB and then struck out to end the 6th and threw his equipment and got tossed. But Correa and Reddick had assists at home. Hinch:
Our defense was excellent. We made some really big plays, especially early in the game when it was close - from the relay throw from Brantley to Carlos to Maldy, to Reddick's throw. We made plays when they put a little stress on us.

*Jeff Passan has some insight into the Greinke deal (picked this link as it's not paywalled in any way). One key note is that, once the Mets acquired Stroman, the Astros moved in a different direction. Passan:
It dawned on the Astros: No one else was doing anything. The New York Yankees, with a record percentage points better than Houston's but a starting staff entirely inferior, didn't make a single move leading up to the deadline. The Los Angeles Dodgers, the class of the National League, made a couple of cosmetic upgrades. How others maneuver can't guide decision-making, but it can inform it, another data point on the side of why surrendering four good prospects would make sense.

It is an excellent read, well worth your time.

*There will be a Zack Greinke orange t-shirt giveaway on Tuesday, which also happens to be Greinke's Astros debut.

Greinke has made eight starts at Minute Maid Park. Two of those starts he didn't get 10 outs - and one of those he only threw four pitches. It's been so long that it almost doesn't matter, but in eight starts at Minute Maid Park Greinke has thrown 44.1IP, 43H/15ER, 40K:9BB. He has allowed three home runs at Minute Maid Park.

Verlander, on the Greinke trade:
I was shocked...To bring in a guy of that caliber, not only for this year but for the next couple of years, I think it was a great move for the organization for now and the future...I think they did a great job of understanding where we're at as an organization and keeping their foot on the gas and extending that window. I don't know what went on behind the scenes, but that was a huge move, a huge boost of morale in the clubhouse. Not that we were low, but man that's a shot in the arm, a shot of adrenaline getting guys like that.

Click that link to read about how Verlander and the rest of the organization plans to help Aaron Sanchez. It's basically porn.

Chandler Rome takes a look at the farm system in the wake of the Greinke trade. Rome:
A verdict on the Greinke trade is probably two or three years away. What is apparent, though, is the Astros need to replenish their farm system - something they've rarely worried about in the last three years. 

I have zero issues letting the team that built the farm system that allowed trades for Verlander, Cole, and Greinke and still be in the top half of farm systems continue to build the farm system.

Also: Hey I went on the Matt Hammond Show Wednesday evening, and we mucked it up. Matt's a sweetheart and he's also extremely handsome and I hate him for it.

SI's J.A. Tayler: Is it too early to crown the Astros? Answer: Yes. Yes it is. Bob Nightengale has the Most Cursed Column Of The Day: The Houston Astros won themselves the World Series and saved the trade deadline. Do not read this or you have to send it to someone else lest they die within seven days.

SportsBetting dot foreign country dot com has the Astros with the best odds to win the World Series, at 3:1.

Jeff Luhnow:
We have a chance to win the World Series. The last thing I wanted to do is leave a stone unturned and [get] knocked out in October, and wonder what would have happened if we hadn't acquired another piece.

*Luhnow, on the deadline:
The primary focus was improving the team for the short term, especially this year. Comparing options, clearly having players that would be here longer was a big plus.

*Robinson Chirinos and Martin Maldonado will share catching duties, but Chirinos will get the majority of the starts.

*Confirmed: Aaron Sanchez will get the start on Saturday against the Mariners. Excellent SportsNet article on why the Blue Jays don't think Aaron Sanchez can capture his 2016 ERA-King form. Arden Zwelling:
...The nearly three seasons [since his 2016 season] all strongly suggest that version of Sanchez isn't coming back. And the data from his current campaign, a season in which he's remained healthy enough to make all of his starts for the first time since Barack Obama was U.S. president, indicates matters may be getting worse.

Combine that with the fact his remaining years of club control don't time with Toronto's potential return to contention in 2021, and that he's due a raise this winter on his $3.9m salaray through arbitration - making him a less attractive asset to other teams, particularly if he's moved to the bullpen - and you end up with Sanchez continuing his quest to rediscover his prior effectiveness with another organization.

Here's Jake Kaplan, on how the Astros could alter the pitch usage of Joe Biagini and Aaron Sanchez. Because the Astros are smarter than literally everybody else. Why do I even do this it was so much easier when Ed Wade was in charge.

*Jose Urquidy and Myles Straw were optioned to Round Rock and Bryan Abreu was optioned to Corpus to make room for Greinke, Biagini, and Sanchez.

*Brad Peacock will begin a rehab stint with Round Rock starting tomorrow. Josh James is about to begin a throwing program.

*There is apparently an annual Home Run Derby at Minute Maid Park. This time, it's on Sunday. At noon. Luke Scott, Brian Bogusevic, Geoff Blum, and Hero Brandon Backe will participate.

*The audio is a little sketchy, but here's the audio of the Lima Time Time Live Show, recorded Saturday evening at The Secret Group on Polk in Houston.

*The Astros are paying $25m for a MMP renovation:
...that will include a new club for season ticket holders on the stadium's suite level and changes in the right field corner resembling the recent center field renovations, including another open-access staircase between stadium levels.

*Here's the new Astros' Top 30 Prospects list. Biggest beneficiary of the Tradez? Cristian Javier.

*Kyle Tucker, who did not get traded on Wednesday, made his 4th start at 1B for Round Rock last night. He went 1x4 with a walk as Round Rock beat Old Friend Fresno 15-7. Alex De Goti was 4x5 with two doubles and 2RBI. Jack Mayfield and Nick Tanielu (HR) were each 3x5 with 3RBI. Humberto Castellanos threw 3IP, 0H/0ER, 4K:0BB.

Castellanos, 21, has pitched for Quad Cities, Fayetteville, and Round Rock in 2019. In 63.1IP this season (for three teams), Castellanos has allowed 50H/20ER, 74K:8BB, 1 HR. He has a 1.69 ERA in 10.2IP for Round Rock this season. I like this kid.

Round Rock is 65-44, 2.5 back of San Antonio.

*Forrest Whitley, who did not get traded on Wednesday, will start for Corpus on Sunday.

*Abraham Toro got called up to Round Rock from Corpus.

Toro (5th Round - 2016): .306/.393/.513, 22 doubles / 16 homers, 77K:48BB in 435 PAs. The Bull is legit. I was worried he'd be included in a deal at the deadline.

*Jake Adams and Jonathan Arauz got called up from Fayetteville to Corpus.

Adams (6th Round - 2017): .246/.312/.424, 12 doubles / 15 homers, 86K:31BB in 362 PAs.
Arauz (traded in the Giles/Appel deal with Philadelphia): .252/.322/.388, 19 doubles / 8 home runs, 69K:30BB in 354 PAs.

[Teddy KGB Voice] Very Aggressive.

*Tito Francona, on trading Tiddy Baby Tyler Bauer, and his throwing the ball over the center field wall (nice throw, btw) in his last act as a Cleveland Indian Spider:
I had concerns what it could do to our team, and I voiced those concerns. I would never, ever go tell [the front office] something, but they are good enough to always allow me my opinion, and you just try to do the best you can, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit worried.

*Tony Kemp was 0x3 as the Cardinals one-hit the Cubs. Tyler White was 0x3 with a walk in the Dodgers' win.

*Inside the Members-Only Eating Clubs of San Sebastian.

*A Musical Selection:

Wednesday Morning Hot Links

The Astros lost again, but boy was it more interesting than the box score looks.

Notes:
White - 3/5, 2 RBI
Gurriel - 3/5
Rondon - 0.2 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Armenteros - 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

The benches cleared(ish) after Angels pitched Noe Ramirez threw and hit Jake Marisnick in the shoulder.

Brad Ausmus said it was "hard to tell" if Ramirez had intent, which made me actually laugh out loud.

A.J. Hinch is was not having it postgame.

Nevertheless, the next couple of games are going to be must watch TV. Poor James.

Full Box:

The A's are now 4.5 GB out of 1st place, but it may not be time to worry about that just yet.
FiveThirtyEight has the Astros at an 88% chance to take the division.
Fangraphs? 97.6%
Baseball Reference? 86.2%
Baseball Prospectus? 95.7%

BUT, the Astros need pitchers, like, yesterday. Will the Astros go for an actual ace, or a "pitch the rest of the season innings eater"?

As a reminder, here is a list of essentially everybody on the trade block as it stands.

One name not on this list that might wander onto the team..is an Oriole?

What would it really take to acquire Syndergaard? Sources say, a lot.

Was last night the final straw for Framber Valdez?

Jake Marisnick was the Astros recipient of the Heart and Hustle Award, the MLBPA announced yesterday.

Chirinos has been struggling at the plate. Here's what the Astros are doing about it.

The Astros are wearing some pretty cool Apollo 11 themed hats on Monday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the mission.

There's a new ideal way to strike out hitters in modern baseball.

On This Day in Baseball History

In 1974, Bob Gibson recorded his 3,000th strikeout.

In 1990, the Twins recorded two triple plays in the same game.

In 2017, Ryan Zimmerman hit his 235th home run off of former Astros great Scott Feldman, making him the Nationals all-time home run leader.

Friday Morning Hot Links

Okay, well...no one was reinjured. The Astros dropped their fifth straight game, eclipsing a season-high they set on Wednesday. Houston is 48-28 which [takes off socks] is still 20 games over .500 with 85 games left in the regular season. This was the fourth straight game in which there was a rain delay.

*The Astros allowed 12 runs in the entire early April series against the Yankees, and gave up ten last night. Houston is 4-7 at Yankee Stadium since the beginning of 2017 (postseason included).

*Astros pitchers gave up four home runs - three in the 4th inning alone - for the 8th time this season. They've allowed 37 home runs in 18 June games so far, 13 in the last five games.

*Framber, by inning:
1st: 4 batters faced, 1H/0ER, 1K:0BB
2nd: 3 batters faced, 0H/0ER, 0K:0BB
3rd: 4 batters faced, 0H/0ER, 2K:1BB
4th: 6 batters faced, 3H/3ER, 0K:2BB

Hinch:
They're dangerous whenever they get into these hitter's counts and it started from the very first hitter of the blowup inning. They showed how explosive they are. We couldn't keep the ball in the ballpark and the game kind of got away from us a little bit.

*Hector Rondon quietly had a 1-2-3 8th inning, striking out the side on 15 pitches. He had struck out three batters in his previous 5.1IP combined (22 batters faced). Rondon, June: 8.1IP, 5H/2ER, 8K:3BB (2.16 ERA / 0.96 WHIP).

*Houston batters hit four home runs for the 8th time. They're now 6-2 in those games. The Astros had hit four home runs in the previous five games combined.

*Jake Marisnick hit two home runs for the third time in his career, and the first since July 31, 2017. He had previously done it in May 2017. Historically, the Astros are 1-0 in the World Series in years in which Jake Marisnick hits two home runs.

*Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez homered (and Alvarez also doubled) like the Good Strong Boys They Are. Alvarez has five home runs in his first nine games, joining Carlos Delgado as the youngest to do it.

Yordan Alvarez: 113.2 mph HR

It's the Astros' hardest of the year. pic.twitter.com/czNK8rsl2E

— David Adler (@_dadler) June 21, 2019

*Jose Altuve got his first hit since May 10.

*This kid George Springer hit two home runs down at Corpus. Maybe bring him up and give him a shot? Seth Beer hit two home runs, as well, going 3x4 with a walk. Corpus hit six home runs in the game.

The plan for Springer is to take today off, then play Saturday and Sunday. Bregman:
Oh, it's gonna be awesome. We're getting Jose back now, he's gonna get on a roll. Springer hit two homers today in rehab - he's coming soon. And then hopefully Correa heals quickly and he gets back. I think we're having a little rough stretch right now. But we'll be back.

Hinch has an update on that:
I'm not sure [Correa and Diaz] are going to factor into the Major League team prior to the All-Star break. Their rehab calendars are still in pencil, and we're closing in on the last homestand before we hit July. I know Correa won't be available. I think the hope is that Diaz is still a little bit ahead of Correa.

*Jose Urquidy for Round Rock last night: 6IP, 5H/2ER, 7K:0BB. Urquidy has 95K:13BB in 70.2IP with a 3.69 ERA / 0.96 WHIP. Taylor Jones was 3x4 with two doubles. Nick Tanielu, Drew Ferguson, and Jamie Ritchie each had two hits in a 4-3 loss to Iowa.

*C.J. Stubbs hit a home run in his first professional AB in a 10-7 Tri-City win over Aberdeen. Joe Perez (2nd Round - 2017) was 3x4 with a walk, 2RBI, and his first career professional home run. Tri-City's coaching staff is a combined 81 years old and were all interested in learning the way the Astros do things.

*The NY Post's Ken Davidoff writes that the Yankees were right to hold on to Former Astros Great Cameron Maybin. The Yankees acquired Maybin from Cleveland for $25,000. The Indians are stupid (see: Brantley, Michael).

*New York gets Aaron Judge back tonight.

*The Rays may eventually split their season between Tampa and Montreal? Lol no, says pretty much everybody.

*How to use social media, according to a mental health expert.

*His biggest hit sold more copies than any of the Beatles' hits. So why haven't you heard of Prince Nico Mbarga?

*The 13 coolest record stores in America. Waterloo Records is not a part of this list.

*A Musical Selection:



The Hot Links Playlist on Spotify is now at 130 songs and 8h15m of musical goodness.

Monday Morning Hot Links

Hot Links will be short and sweet today it looks like. Easy to write, maybe not as fun to read. Let's go.

The Astros defeated the Orioles 4-0 yesterday afternoon to move them to 45-22 and are 9.5 up on the Rangers for 1st in the division. Notes:

Alvarez: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI
Reddick: 2-4, RBI
Miley: 6 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Bullpen (Pressly, Rondon, James, Osuna): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Full Box:
Full Recap:

The Chron has the overall series takeaways from this Baltimore series.

Here are the four major things that the Yordan callup told us.

Here are the 7 other Astros to homer in their MLB debut (it's not exactly the Houston Astros Hall of Fame behind this link just prep now)

Which pitching staff was better? Version 2018 or Version 2019?

Wednesday is George Springer Thumbs Up Bobblehead Day so pick that one up if you can. All fans will get one.

Cionel Perez rocks, per A.J. Hinch.

Ever wonder why there are so many pigeons in cities? It's because of this weird evolutionary trait. This and more pigeon facts found right here!

The NBA Season is winding down. See how Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green have saved McDonald's $6 million dollars.

On This Day in Baseball History

In 1997, Kevin Brown no-hit the Giants in Candlestick Park. He faced only 28 batters, hitting one in the 8th inning.

In 2002, Marcus Thames became the 2nd Yankee to ever hit a home run on the first MLB pitch he saw.

In 2006, Reggie Sanders became the 5th MLB player ever to record 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases.

In 2011, Michael Acosta, a 17-year old who survived testicular cancer, had his wish granted by being given the opportunity to manage the Minnesota Twins for a day, his lifelong favorite team.

Wednesday Morning Hot Links

Hey guys it's Flick. Remember me? Well here I am! It's been one full week since I've done the links but thanks to James for covering for me as I'm just enjoying some down time and making sure I don't burnout. I don't know how he does this every day.

During my break, while also working, watching the Astros, and playing some video games, I am have completed the first stages of the longread that I create once a year of comparing the current Astros teams to other things. This yearly tradition went from a small Twitter thread and grew into these massive articles you see now, and I think this year's is going to be the largest and most in-depth piece yet, so stay tuned for that sometime in June.

Anyways, the Astros defeated the Cubs once more, this time winning 9-6. Notes:
Bregman: 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Stubbs: 2-4, RBI
Fisher: 1-4, RBI, SB
Rondon/Pressly/Osuna: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

Full Box:

A.J. Hinch raked in his 500th career win. Here's what he had to say.

Alex Bregman is annoyed he isn't a better hitter than he already is.

Let's check in on the Astros Injury Wagon:
-Jose Altuve is back and playing in his rehab assignment after being scratched for multiple games after having "fatigue and soreness" in his injured leg. We aren't entirely sure exactly he will be back.
-Carlos Correa is currently being evaluated by doctors after being held out of yet another game last night.
-Collin McHugh was playing catch a couple days ago and his elbow was not feeling good, so it may be a little longer than expected for him to return back to the team.
-George Springer is out for the "foreseeable future" with his hamstring strain.
-Aledmys Diaz and Max Stassi were freshly placed on the IL, so we'll see them again likely in a couple of weeks.

Here's your All Star Game Ballot!

The Astros are so good right now that it's bonkers.

Keuchel is "open to" a 4 month 1 year, 18 million dollar contract.

Aledmys Diaz has found himself a great home in Houston.

The Astros sold a lot of hot dogs out there last night.

A Canadian woman held a plank for a world-record length 4 hours and 20 minutes.

On This Day in Baseball History

In 2000, Randy Velarde pulled off the 10th unassisted triple play in Major League history.

In 2010, Roy Halladay threw the 20th perfect game in major league history.

In 2010, Kendrys Morales broke his ankle after jumping on home plate following a walk-off grand slam, ending his season.

Tuesday Morning Hot Links

The Astros hit four home runs and beat the Tigers 8-1. Houston is 27-15 and brings their Road record back to .500 at 11-11. Houston has a 6-game winning streak in which they've outscored their opponents 50-12. It's not bad. Remember that watching this team is a blessing, though this blessing has been earned by the blood and hand-wringing of 2010-2014. The win gives the Astros the best record in baseball, edging out the 27-16 Dodgers by a half-game.

*Since going 2-5 to open the season against Tampa and Arlington, Houston is 25-10.

*They have hit four home runs for the second straight game and have 31 home runs in their last 11 games. The Marlins have hit 24 home runs all season. Springer, who went 2x5:
I think that the team mentality - don't quit and pass the baton onto the next guy - is absolutely huge. It's a testament to the guys on this team. Just go out and try to win every single day no matter what happens.

*Houston struck out three times on the night, their lowest total in a game since the 7-1 win over Minnesota on April 24. They've now gone 15 straight games without striking out 10+ times. The 2018 Astros went 25 games without double-digit Ks, from June 3-June 30.

*Brad Peacock threw 5IP, 3H/1ER, 3K:4BB, with only 49 of his 88 pitches going over for strikes. It's the fourth time in his career that he has walked 4+ batters and won the game, the last coming on July 9, 2017. The Astros would go on to win the World Series. Peacock:
I didn't have my best stuff, but I grinded through it, had some great plays by the guys and they swung it today. That's all you can ask for. I was happy to get through five today. I know it could have been a lot worse.

*Hector Rondon's last ten appearances: 8.1IP, 7H/2ER, 5K:3BB. Last night was the first hit he had allowed since April 26.

*For the 9th time in 42 games this season, Astros pitchers did not allow a home run.

*Aledmys Diaz had two hits, including a home run. In the last three games, since Altuve has been out for a full game, Diaz is 5x13 with 2HR and 7RBI.

*Jake Marisnick was 2x3 with a homer, stolen base, and 2RBI. He also got flat-out drilled on the elbow in the 9th inning. We'll see how much time that costs him.

*Robinson Chirinos hit a home run and drew two walks in a game for the first time since August 3, 2011.

Look away, it's a robbery. #TakeItBack pic.twitter.com/0EVj4PBwhI

— Houston Astros (@astros) May 14, 2019

*George Springer earned a share of the AL Player of the Week honors. Sarah Langs writes that Springer has taken the next step towards super-stardom.

*Casey Harrison writes about Verlander's trip down memory lane in Detroit. Verlander:
There's some anxiousness and just a little bit of excitement. I don't think that will ever go away. It's just something that I was here for so long, just a lot of memories.

Within the link we also find that Altuve may not start rehabbing his hamstring until the middle to the end of the week. Hinch:
We don't have a target date. We're going to let his treatment plan play out and then we'll work towards getting him back up and running.

*Richard Justice notes that since Hinch moved Springer to the leadoff spot on May 24, 2016, the Astros have the best record in baseball (298-185).

*Chandler Rome: 1B Coach Don Kelly returned to Detroit, where his legend began. Kelly:
I think being a hard-nosed, blue-collar type guy resonated with the city. They appreciated it even though you don't go up and get a hit every time, but you go out there and give it everything you've got. They appreciate that. 

*Max Stassi, on Corbin Martin's debut:
I thought he did amazing. He's wise beyond his years. He's very level-headed. No highs, no lows. Obviously, he has the stuff to pitch here for a long time. It was very, very impressive.

*If Power Rankings are your thing, the Astros took #1 in USA Today's Power Ranking, as well as The Score, and The Athletic. They're 2nd in ESPN's.

*Justin Verlander and Papa John's are teaming up to save future service dogs for returning veterans. Meanwhile, Verlander sits atop the first Cy Poll of 2019 (I do not know who gets to vote on this).

*Kyle Tucker hit a triple and then stole home...

🏃‍ @KTuck30 steals home!

The No. 7 overall prospect legs out a triple, then races home for @RRExpress. (@astros)

🎞️: https://t.co/I69NiRIStG pic.twitter.com/705i1BOBVG

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 14, 2019

*Seth Beer leads the Carolina League with nine home runs.

*SI's Matt Martell lists the Astros as the 3rd-best fit for Madison Bumgarner.

*Seattle beat Oakland on a walkoff last night. They're 21-23. The Mariners are 5-19 against teams currently over .500.

*NY Mag: Los Angeles Fire Season is beginning again. And it will never end.

*Tracy Morgan turned the drama of his life into comedy.

*A Musical Selection:

Monday Morning Hot Links

First off I would just like to say, I am glad that your dragon show is back to creating new installments. I hope your favorite didn't die or whatever. The Astros won again before that happened, so let's update the Astros County Astros Streak Graph:

*Astros' longest win streaks, by year:
12: 2018, 2004
11: 2017
10: 2015
9: 2019, 2006
8: 2008
7: 2016, 2014, 2010, 2005, 2003, 2002
6: 2013, 2000
5: 2012, 2007, 2001
4: 2011, 2009

Here are the notable stats from yesterday's 3-2 win:

Brantley: 2-4, 2 RBIs, SB

Diaz: 1-4, HR, RBI

Cole: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 11 K

Rondon/Pressly/Osuna: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 K

Full Box:

You can't cool off the hottest team in baseball!!

You win nine games in a row and suddenly ESPN starts writing about how good your baseball team is.

James Paxton claims that the Astros were stealing signs. James then decided to pop off on the matter last night and it is worth your time.

Josh James is striving to shake off the early-season woes.

Brad Peacock will be joining the rotation shortly.

A.J. Hinch is very proud of fellow Stanford alum Tiger Woods after winning the Masters.

If you stick the Texas Rangers, the last place team in the AL West at 7-7, into the AL East, they would be 2nd in the division trailing only the Rays.

On This Day in Baseball History

In 1947, Jackie Robinson played his first career game, becoming the first black player in play in a major league game and creating Jackie Robinson Day.

In 1957, Dwight Eisenhower threw out the first pitch at the Senators and Orioles baseball game. This ball became the 10 millionth Spalding baseball used for the MLB.

In 1968, the Astros defeated the Mets 1-0 in 24 innings, making the 6 hour game the longest scoreless game in MLB history.

In 2000, Cal Ripken collected his 3000th hit.

Monday Morning Hot Links

Just three and a half weeks until real Astros baseball.

In the meantime, the Astros played another for fun game yesterday, but unfortunately dropped it to the Nats 4-2.

~Correa and Yuli totaled 4 of the Astros 7 hits (both went 2/3)
~Cole: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
~Rondon: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
~Pressly: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

McHugh is skipping his start tomorrow with a sore back. Wade Miley is taking his spot.

Brandon Bielak has been turning heads this Spring.

My guy Orbit is taking in a Panthers game.

The new Lima Time Time is up and ready to be listened to.

What Astros prospect Austin Hansen is doing to honor his best friend, Conner Taylor, who passed away in 2016.

Minnesota police were called upon the other day because the MyPillow CEO cardboard cutout wasn't wearing a coat, and a good Samaritan just wanted him to be warm <3

"Catching up on sleep" during the weekend doesn't have the positive effects you think it does, but that isn't going to stop me from continuing to do it.

Friday Morning Hot Links

Spring Training is in full swing so we can finally start looking forward to new Hot Links nearly every single day instead of the sporadic offseason uploads. A week from tomorrow is the Astros first spring training game where I will happily watch 6 innings of baseball, be satisfied, not watch another spring training game the rest of the year, and get way too excited for Opening Day.

The Astros are going into this season with something to prove.

The Astros are listed as one of the five teams that still have room to "win the offseason".

The Crawfish Boxes ran the numbers on the Astros 2018 outfield defense.

Luhnow did confirm the Astros had a trade deadline deal for Bryce Harper in place before the Nationals chickened out.

Pitchers set to throw today: Josh James, Forrest Whitley, J.B. Bukauskas, Roberto Osuna, Cionel Perez, and Hector Rondon.

Gerrit Cole calls his record arbitration a "win for players in general".

Speaking of Gerrit, he just like everyone else in baseball it seems kinda hates openers. I feel like I'm in the minority when I say that it's kind of cool we are still introducing new strategies for the 200 year old game of baseball and welcome any other odd ideas managers have this year with open arms.

Bregman is hitting, throwing short distances, and taking ground balls. He is still on track to return by Opening Day. 

Collin McHugh talks about being back in the rotation in 2019. 

Justin Verlander talks about life as a father. He also says he wants to pitch until he's 45.

J.B. Bukauskas is wearing #69.

On This Day in Baseball History is back!

In 1946, Edith Houghton becomes the first female MLB scout for the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 2011, former United States President Barack Obama gave Stan Musial the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In 2016, New York Republican State Senator James Seward announced that he introduced legislation to make baseball the official sport of New York.

Friday Morning Hot Links

Good morning, happy Friday, and welcome to The Post ALDS-Pre ALCS Hot Links Part 3 of 4. Not a lot has changed since we've last met, as we are still waiting for baseball to come back. It has been a long week and I am not ready for the offseason to start.

MLB.com posted some "fun facts" about all the potential upcoming postseason matchups, but honestly I'm just going to tell you now, Fun Fact #1 is "iF tHe BrEwErS aNd AsTrOs PlAy EaCh OtHeR, yOu WoN't KnOw WhIcH tEaM iS iN wHiCh LeAgUe!" If you don't want to read it because of this joke, I get it. If you can push through this joke, it isn't too bad.

Good Guy Marwin Gonzalez was up to his old tricks. Here's my Good Guy Marwin Gonzalez story: When I was down in Houston on vacation, he was doing an autograph signing and they had some thing that was like "first X amount of people for sure will get to meet Marwin." I got there late because I don't live in Houston. In fact, I don't live anywhere close to Houston, so I got there late because I didn't know where I was going and I was definitely not in the first X amount of people. He ended up staying and signing things for everyone who showed up to that session. It was supposed to be an hour long autograph session that started at noon, I met him around 1:15, and there was still probably another 20-30 people behind me. We might have some superstars, perhaps even some future Hall of Famers, but Marwin Gonzalez will always be my favorite Astro.

Jim Bowden reports that Hector Rondon is expected to be added onto the ALCS roster, potentially removing Evan Gattis for the upcoming series.

Here is an excellent article about Martin Maldonado and his love of being a catcher.

When somebody asked Tito if Jose Ramirez killed the Indians hopes of winning the series, he was angry.

Jake Marisnick talks about the Green Monster and how Minute Maid prepares them for playing with it.

Pick up your new Alex Bregman-themed T-Shirt.

Here is an inside look at how Maldonado and Osuna have been integrated and accepted into this Astros team.

Everybody loves George Springer.

You still have time to buy a mattress from Mattress Mack and get it free when the Astros win it all again.

Joe West is our crew chief, which is better than Angel Hernandez who is not umpiring anywhere.

Chris Paul talks about how the Astros will beat you.

Carlos Correa has a wedding date set. Letting you know now before you see it on Good Morning America.

Here are 13 celebrities to look out for at Minute Maid Park this year because for some reason I decided right after making that Chris Paul link that I wanted the rest of this blog post to look like the E! News front page.

Justin Verlander on how he stays in shape and what a typical date night looks like with Kate Upton YES I AM STICKING TO THIS BIT I GUESS THIS IS JUST WHAT THIS BLOG HAS BECOME NOW.

You may not realize it, but Charlie Morton hits a lot of batters.

On This Day in Baseball History

In 1907, Mordecai Brown, a man who had three fingers on his throwing hand, shut out the Detroit Tigers and won the Cubs the 1907 World Series.

In 1929, the A's were down 8-0 and went on to have a 10 run 7th to win the game with a 10-8 final.

In 1949, Vin Scully did his first ever radio broadcast as Maryland University played Boston University at football at Fenway Park.

In 1982, Paul Molitor became the first player in World Series history to collect five hits in one game.

In 2005, a controversial call decided the White Sox/Angels ALCS Game 2 as A.J. Pierzynski reached first base on a dropped third strike. Pierzynski was pinch run for, scored, and the White Sox won the game 2-1. 

In 2012, the Cardinals score 4 runs in the 9th off of Drew Storen after being down to their final strike to win the NLDS 9-7.

In 2015, the Cubs became the first team to ever hit 6 home runs in a postseason game.

Sunday Morning Game 2 Hot Links

Okay then. The Astros were kept quiet, Gerrit Cole kept the Indians quieter, and now the Astros have a 2-0 lead in the ALDS.

*Division Series, team up 2-0: 52
Won in three: 30
Won in four: 13
Won in five: 2
Lost in five: 7

So of the 52 times since 1995 that a team has gone up 2-0, that team has gone on to win the Division Series 45 times (86.5%).

Teams that were up 2-0 in a Best-of-Five and lost the series:
2017 Cleveland Indians
2015 Texas Rangers
2012 Cincinnati Reds
2003 Oakland Athletics
2001 Oakland Athletics
1999 Cleveland Indians
1995 New York Yankees

McTaggart notes that, in the 2-2-1 format, teams that win the first two home games win the series 24 out of 27 times.

FanGraphs has the Astros at 86.8% to win the ALDS. FiveThirtyEight has Houston at 90%.

*Gerrit Cole was phenomenal, throwing 7IP, 3H/1ER, 12K:0BB. He needed 98 pitches, 70 were thrown for strikes. Cole's one bad pitch was a Francisco Lindor home run that looked like it might hold up.

Cole's three previous postseason starts: 16IP, 11H/7ER, 14K:3BB.

It was Cole's sixth 12+ strikeout game of the season, and his 4th with 12+ Ks and no walks. It's his 3rd 12+ strikeout game with fewer than 100 pitches thrown in 2018. Cole:
There's no doubt we expect to be good, but this is a team effort. So, we expect to keep our team in the ballgame. I don't know about all the personal accolades or all the dominance or that kind of stuff, but we just want to put up a fight. 

*More Cole:
I'm pretty thrilled with the no walks. Baserunners in postseason games are kind of tough to deal with at times. Sometimes the walk is needed. But [Maldonado] was just dropping down the right signs, and we were just pounding the zone. Pretty special day.

Maldonado:
It's always fun when you got a guy like that throwing strikes and overpowering the other team. It's really fun. That's why I didn't go out there [to the mound] once. He was in a rhythm. He knew coming into the game what he wanted to do, and he did it.

Cole joins Tom Seaver as the only pitchers in MLB history to strike out 12 with no walks in a postseason game. Lol Seaver lost his game - 1973 NLCS G1 - because he allowed two solo homers. Trash.

Hinch:
[Cleveland] is one of the best offenses in the league. They can do damage. They can put long at-bats together. Cole used all his pitches. He was creative. What else can I say? He was awesome.

Jerome Solomon: Gerrit Cole set the tone for the Astros in Game 2.

*Houston held Cleveland to three hits for the 2nd straight game. Cleveland had gotten three hits or fewer just four times in the regular season. The last time they were held to three hits in consecutive games was August 22/23, 2017.

*Marwin went 4x4 with 2RBI and put the Astros up 2-1. He has a four-game postseason hitting streak. The Astros are 8-3 in postseason games when Marwin gets a hit. Francona, on the Marwin AB:
With a one-run lead, and with Gonzalez coming up the way he had swung the bat against him prior and Andrew's history, I felt really good about it. Didn't work out the way we obviously planned.

Hinch:
I'm proud of him because he's had to fight and claw, and he's been a huge part of our success not only this year, but recent years, and that's pretty awesome to see him come through.

Marwin was 1x8 against Andrew Miller with 6K:0BB prior to the 2-run hit. Jake Kaplan: Marwin's switch-hitting ability paid off.

Chandler Rome takes you inside the two-run 6th inning rally.

*Alex Bregman took Tyler Bauer deep. It was glorious. In 20 postseason games, Alex Bregman is hitting .231/.291/.500. He's 3x6 with 2HR in the ALDS.

Alex Bregman takes T̶r̶e̶v̶o̶r̶ Tyler Bauer deep. pic.twitter.com/LWlET9uysu

— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 6, 2018

*Bauer: I'd say that was a bad pitch.

The average AL player's OPS went down 19 points from 2017 to 2018

Alex Bregman's went up 99 points

— Mark Simon (@MarkASimonSays) October 6, 2018

*Rustin Dodd: Alex Bregman is heating up, and that's bad news for everybody else. Bregman:
The one thing that us winning the World Series last year did is drive us to win another one.

*Tyler White was intentionally walked twice. Jeff Bagwell was intentionally walked twice in 33 postseason games. Craig Biggio was intentionally walked twice in 40 postseason games. Jose Cruz was intentionally walked three times in the 1980 NLCS Game 3.

*Anthony Castrovince talked about Verlander and Cole carving up the Indians.

*Lance McCullers will be key for Hinch in how he uses Ryan Pressly. Hinch:
I think McCullers is key for a lot of reasons. His health and quality will help me use Pressly how I did in Game 1. I don't want to call him a backup plan, but having an additional arm I'm comfortable with in the latter third of the game allows me to deploy Pressly in so many different ways.

I like Hinch using "deploy" as though Pressly is a literal weapon.

In that article, Hector Rondon said he was preparing his arm (for what exactly, I'm not sure), causing him to miss his on-field introduction. Rondon:
I was doing something inside to prepare my arm. I know I'm not on this roster, but I was preparing my arm for the next round. I apologized to my teammates and A.J., too. I was out for the first pitch. I try to help my guys and support my guys, and be with them. 

On being left off the ALDS roster, Rondon admitted it hurt:
I only had a bad outing in September. I felt like I'd made the roster, but they made the decision, and I take it. I take it like a man.

He's probably thinking about September 17, when he allowed 4H/4ER and a walk in a 4-1 loss to Seattle. But the game prior and following was a three-game stretch where he allowed 8H/8ER, 3K:2BB. Tough to leave Rondon off because of three games in a 63-appearance season, but...

*Jose Altuve tweaked something in his leg on his dribbler up the 3B line that Josh Donaldson - whose trade was garbage, by the way - inexplicably picked up. George Springer "panicked." Jayson Stark notes how the Jose Altuve Effect is real.

*LOL Jon Heyman's "Inside Baseball" column this week doesn't even have an Astros section.

*David Price has made ten postseason starts. His teams are 0-10 in those starts. He has a career 5.28 ERA / 1.25 WHIP in the postseason. $217 million is a lot of money to spend for zero wins.

*A philosopher says that our addiction to stories keeps us from understanding history.

*Suge Knight's son says that Tupac is living in Malaysia.

*A Musical Selection: