Wednesday Morning Hot Links

It is another good day to be a fan of the Houston Astros now isn't it? The Astros came up at on top again, this time 5-2. Yuli went yard and landed quite an amazing stare (it isn't quite dead yet!) Bregman had 3 doubles to go on top of that as well and contributed to the 10 hits the Astros kept..hitting. Full recap can be found here.

Trevor May thinks the Astros might have been stealing signs. If they did, it worked.

An Astros fan was allegedly booted from the crowd for bringing a sign with the domestic violence hotline.

Jack Ryan believes that Dallas Keuchel is better than Zack Greinke.

Here is the update on the Rondon, Marwin, and Morton injuries. J.D. Davis and Dean Deetz were recalled but cannot play until friday.

John Sickels from @MinorLeagueBall talks Framber Valdez.

Josh James might see another start this season.

It's Time To Battle For Round Rock. 

The M's are absolutely dead in the water.

The Red Sox pitchers are getting back to healthy for October.

Miguel Rojas is trying so hard to give the Marlins something to root for.

The Sam's Club chicken nuggets taste like Chick-Fil-a that you can eat whenever you want. I bought them the other day because I thought it was too good to be true. It isn't. Buy these.

It's so easy to be a thief these days that animals are doing it no sweat. Stay safe out there.

On This Day in Baseball History

In 1860, Diomedes Olivo made his MLB debut at age 41. 

In 1971, J.R. Richard made his major league debut and threw a complete game win against the Giants 5-3.

In 1995, Cal Ripken received a five minute standing ovation after tying Lou Gehrig's record of playing 2,130 straight games. 

In 2007, Bob Sheppard worked his last game as Yankees P.A. announcer, retiring after 56 years.

In 2015, Bartolo Colon made "The Flip".

Friday Morning Hot Links

Hello everyone. Today is Game 1 of the 2018 World Series Rematch from 2017. I am in some kinda mood tonight as it has been a long night at work and I am very tired. Currently unsure as to whether this will make the content better or worse. We shall see.

Carlos Correa doesn't work anymore. #ShouldHave drafted Buxton.  

Astros season tickets are, as Sashco says, "through the roof!"

This aforementioned World Series rematch is going to miss all the good players. Those fine folks at ESPN knew what they were doing after all putting Boston and New York and Sunday Night Baseball again!

The streaker at the Astros game last week was a marine and also Alex Cintron lost a milking contest. I don't know why the cow milking video is part of this specific article but boy let me tell ya I enjoyed watching our boy milk a cow like the rest of us poors.

A couple days ago, we were Correa and Springer and Altuve-less. This is what happened the last time that happened.

The Mariners are in 3rd place ha ha ha ha!

Here is a post appreciating Tony Kemp, which is something we all should do. I am legally obligated to tell you that there are other players included in the contents of this post.

Grant Brisbee, my favorite baseball writer, is at it again. This time, writing about why there aren't any more blockbuster trades.

Right now I'm thinking about how sad Adam Jones probably is being in stuck in Baltimore.

I DIDN'T GET TO DO THE HOT LINKS AFTER MARWIN GONZALEZ HIT NOT ONE, BUT TWO HOME RUNS AGAINST SEATTLE. STASSI HIT ONE TWO? IT WAS A GOOD DAY TO BE FLICK NICKEM, FOLKS. I WILL LINK THEM AGAIN. WATCH THEM GO! 

(Marwin Gonzalez now has 8 home runs. Joey Votto has 9.)

Greg Johns writes about every AL West team post-deadline, and what's going to be up with this silly little thing we call the future.

Tony Sipp, Excellent Contract Year Pitcher.

Listen to these words from J.R. Richard.

The Astros goofed again and cut the pitcher with the best ERA in the league as of 8/3/2018. If Luhnow doesn't want to win he should probably just tell us. Big sads. 

Is Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, or Andy Pettite Cooperstown bound?

New Zealand is mad that Australia stole their flag. This could spark the pettiest war in human history.  

This pet pig held it down.

Saturday Morning Hot Links

The Dallas Rangers of North Oak Cliff beat the Astros 6-4 last night, carrying some sort of hangover to Arlington. The Astros are 71-44. Seattle lost, so the division lead is now 13 games over both the Mariners and the Angels. There are 47 games remaining.

*It's the Astros' first four-game losing streak of the season. The Astros have lost their last six road games. They've lost eight of their last ten games, and 11 of their last 15. Having lost nine games in July, the Astros are 2-8 in August.

*Charlie Morton got roughed up in the 3rd inning, allowing 4ER on the following:
Walk
Single
Morton error
Single
Single
Strikeout
Strikeout
Single
Strikeout

*Joe Musgrove, since moving to the bullpen: 12IP, 7H/1ER, 14K:1BB. 72% of pitches for strikes.

*Altuve represented the go-ahead run at the plate with two outs in the ninth, but watched an off-speed pitch cross the plate to strike out looking. Altuve:
I thought it was a ball, but it was a strike. Now tomorrow I have to apologize to the umpire. 

*Springer hit a two-run home run in the 8th, his 28th of the season. Springer:
Obviously, I want to be able to play and perform, so I just have to get back out there and get my game eyes back and help the team. 

*Alex Bregman hasn't struck out since July 30, a span of 51 plate appearances.

*MLB.com did a nice thing and talked about the worst stretches of the season endured by teams that went on to win the World Series - like the Cardinals, who had two eight-game losing streaks in their World Series year of 2006.

*Dayn Perry argues for straight-up buying Justin Verlander. Jeff Passan went on 610 yesterday to talk about panicking, and Justin Verlander.

*Will Harris hopes to throw a bullpen session off a mound this weekend. Lance McCullers has played catch, but hasn't thrown off a mound yet. Evan Gattis, who has been out with a concussion since August 3, won't return until after the Astros come back from Arizona next Tuesday.

The Astros have a 13-game lead despite playing like absolute dog crap for the last three weeks. They're not rushing anybody back.

*Jayne brought the noise this morning.

This is perfect. 100% accurate. I never @ players but this is a must watch because it's time... @kidkeuchy @RealJoshReddick pic.twitter.com/TF4n96W1fW

— Astros351 (@astros351) August 11, 2017

*Jose Abreu had a traditional Cuban meal waiting for Yuli Gurriel when he got to the clubhouse in Chicago last week. Abreu:
I know the importance - and how difficult the adaptation process to this league and this country can be. Being able to find a little taste of our culture in the places we go is very important and reminds us of home. That is why I always try to help my fellow countrymen and make them feel comfortable here. 

*J.R. Richard received the Sam Lacy Pioneer Award from the National Association of Black Journalists convention in New Orleans.

*Jon Singleton broke up Springfield's no-hit bid with a double in the 9th inning as Corpus took a 7-0 loss.

*Paul Janish is going to be a part of Rice's coaching staff next year.

Wednesday Morning Hot Links

*Bovada pegs the Astros as 13/2 favorites to win the AL Pennant this season, behind the Red Sox (9/4) and Indians (7/2). They're odds-on favorites (6/5) to win the AL West.

*NumberFire has three burning questions about the Astros.

*Dallas Keuchel threw a 39-pitch simulated game yesterday, facing three minor-leaguers three times each. He struck out four and said he was ready to start a game. Hinch:
 I thought today was the most comfortable that I've seen him, really this entire offseason and into the spring. 

*Keuchel will make his ST debut on Sunday.

*Jeff Sullivan: The single best sign out of Astros camp.

*Carlos Correa will play 3B for Puerto Rico.

*SABR looked back at J.R. Richard's 15-strikeout debut for the Astros in 1971. #Retire50

*You can click through this slideshow to see who Jake Kaplan thinks will make the Opening Day roster.

*Delino DeShields said the Astros weren't pushing him through the minors:
I was in a situation in Houston where they weren't really pushing guys. After all the good years that I did have, it was slow for me even though I felt like I was contributing on a high level. I felt like I was ready to go. For me being 21 years old, it was kind of discouraging.

*Tim Brown: Meet the guy with the worst job in sports.

*Meet the last great ticket scalper.

*The Astros will play the Mets at 12:05pm Central, with Charlie Morton making his second start.

Facebook campaign to retire J.R. Richard's number

The Astros have retired a stupid number of...numbers. Some are self-explanatory, and totally reasonable: Bagwell, Biggio, Dierker, Ryan, Jimmy Wynn. Others? Jim Umbricht? Don Wilson?

But that J.R. Richard's number 50 hasn't been retired is borderline criminal. Well that can maybe sort of change with this Facebook campaign to retire J.R. Richard's number.

Richard spent all of his ten seasons with the Astros, posting a 107-71 record with a 3.15 ERA/1.24 WHIP. His 2.71 ERA in 1979 led the league, as did his 303 and 313 strikeouts in 1978 and 1979, respectively. His 9.9 and 9.6 K/9 in that same time frame, and finished in the top 10 in wins in the NL in each season from 1976-1979. His 1.90 ERA in 1980 is 4th-best in franchise history and is one of seven Astros pitchers to win 20 games in a season.

He also is 7th in franchise history in career WAR, 5th in career wins, and 3rd in career strikeouts.

And if the Astros can retire Umbricht's number because of a comeback from cancer, surely J.R. Richard's story - and excellence - is worthy of no Astro ever wear the number 50 again.

J.R. Richard wants his number retired

We love J.R. Richard - which is stated in our Twitter bio. He will be honored by the Astros tonight with a star on the Walk of Fame and will throw out the first pitch (which we expect to blow Jason Castro back to the bricks).

But he didn't stop there:
“When it happens, it happens, but I would like it to happen as soon as possible. And the reason why I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn is because when you look at the statistics, my number should have been the first one retired.”

Yeah, J.R. Richard's number should be retired. From 1975-1980, Richard was 96-65 with a 3.01 ERA/1.22 WHIP, with 73 complete games, 18 complete-game shutouts, and struck out 1339 batters in 1442.1IP. He led the league in strikeouts in 1978 and 1979 (616Ks, 567.2IP). He also led the league in walks three times, but whatever.

And the Astros have retired nine numbers (plus Jackie Robinson). Those players, in numerical order:
Jeff Bagwell
Craig Biggio
Jimmy Wynn
Jose Cruz
Jim Umbricht
Mike Scott
Nolan Ryan
Don Wilson
Larry Dierker

I can, of course, understand Bagwell, Biggio, Wynn, Cruz, and Ryan. I can get on board with Mike Scott and Larry Dierker. Still, nine retired numbers in 50 years is a stretch. That's a lot of numbers to retire, and hey:

Jim Umbricht:
9-5 record (8-3 with the Astros). 194IP, 3.06 ERA/1.17 WHIP. 6.2K/9. So how the heck did his number get retired? Well, he was 33 when he died, after a public battle with malignant melanoma. His ashes were spread through the Astrodome's construction site. The Colt .45s honored him by retiring his number, and wearing black wristbands for the entire 1964 season. His was the first number ever retired by the franchise. Hard to argue with that logic and reasoning.

Don Wilson
Longer career, similar story. Wilson was 29 years old when he died, after playing for the Astros his entire career (nine seasons), going 104-92, with a 3.15 ERA/1.21 WHIP, and throwing two no-hitters. He led the league twice - once in 1969 with 16 wild pitches, and in 1971 with only 6.5 H/9 (and an All-Star appearance). While every death is tragic, Wilson's was especially so. He was found in the passenger seat of his car, inside the garage, with the engine running. As the garage was attached to the house, his son passed away and his wife and daughter were hospitalized in a coma. This was January 5, 1975, the Astros retired his number on April 13. Official cause of death says that Wilson's death was accidental.

Point being, with nine retired numbers (the Red Sox have only retired seven numbers), is there a point to not honoring Richard? At this point, why wouldn't you? Richard was a great pitcher whose career - though, thankfully, not his life - was cut short in its prime. Like Umbricht and Wilson.

And who wears 50 now? Bullpen catcher Craig Bjornson. Richard should have to buy the number from him (Three Red Bulls ought to do it). So it's not like anyone's actually using it. Still, Richard is flying dangerously close to the Blyleven Conundrum: Act like you want it, and it won't happen (or, it will happen, but it'll take a lot longer). Calling out the Astros probably isn't going to help anything, but I would imagine that a J.R. Richard pre-game ceremony to retire his number would foster some goodwill with the new Apparatus. And I bet they'll take the extra admission said ceremony would bring in.

San Francisco Chronicle: J.R. who?

The San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea compared Strasburg's debut to Saint J.R.'s. And it wasn't favorable for James Rodney:

I attended J.R.'s game, and I don't recall the same type of buildup. I don't know if the Astros sold Richard jerseys long before he debuted, and I don't think Astros catcher Larry Howard threw out the first pitch of the game to keep it for posterity, as Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez did with Strasburg's first pitch. I also don't recall MLB Network being in the house.

Heck, the game wasn't even in Houston, so the Astros couldn't take advantage of the gate. It was the second game of a Sunday double-header at Candlestick Park, back on Sept. 5, 1971, and the 6-foot-8 right-hander struck out Willie Mays three times and Bobby Bonds twice as he jump-started a career in which he tormented National League hitters throughout the '70s...Yes, Richard was the bigger story, but nothing like Strasburg making the biggest-hyped debut in baseball history.

Happy Anniversary, J.R. Richard!

It was September 5, 1971 that J.R. Richard dominated the Giants in his major-league debut, striking out 15 batters.

Bugs & Cranks interview with J.R. Richard

Got an e-mail from Landon, over at Bugs and Cranks. They've posted an excellent interview with the one and only J.R. Richard.

An excerpt:
B&C: In 1980, when did you first notice that you weren’t feeling right?

J.R.: I noticed that I wasn’t feeling right early in the month of June. To tell you the truth, in May, I wasn’t feeling right in May. And there had been times before that where I wasn’t feeling up to par, so I told the Astros, “Something is wrong, something is wrong.” So they sent me to different doctors and all of this, and the doctors couldn’t find anything so they just said, “Oh, it’s all in his head,” but I knew it wasn’t all in my head. And the reason why was because I never did debate the issue about it being healed, being better, what was really wrong, because I didn’t know what it was. But I knew there was something wrong.

Click the link to read the full transcript.