Friday Morning Hot Links

This is the sleepiest I have ever been while writing Hot Links so I hope this post actually gets posted and I don't fall asleep writing it. It is also an important one because it is the last regular season Hot Links that I get to write, so that's kinda cool I suppose. It's a shame it will be quick and lame though, primarily because of how sleepy I am which I literally just mentioned above like three lines ago.

Astros got rained out today. They will play a day/night doubleheader on Saturday.

Charlie Morton and his wife celebrated their brand new baby daughter's birth yesterday. He should be good to go to pitch in the final regular season game on Sunday.  

Multiple Astros players have shown their support for 8 year old Chloe, who was scolded for cheering at a baseball game, including Tyler White, Josh Reddick, and Lance McCullers. 

Here's where to pick up your postseason gear. Also, don't forget playoff tickets go on sale THIS MORNING.

The Crawfish Boxes talks just how the pitching staff was handled and why it worked in the record setting 2018 season.

Prep up for the Red Sox-Astros ALCS(?)

There will be no postseason pre and post game programs for the games. The Astros are the team to decide to do this.

Climbing Tals Hill has their way-too-early ALDS series preview available for consumption.

This Jacob deGrom thing never ceases to amaze me.

Heinz made some "salad cream" and that is what it shall be called.

On This Day in Baseball History

In 1919, the Giants beat the Phillies in the shortest 9-inning game in MLB History (51 minutes).

In 1960, Ted William's final MLB at-bat was a home run.

In 1995, Greg Harris became the first official ambidextrous pitcher in MLB history.

In 2001, Sammy Sosa hit a home run in the first game back at Wrigley after the 9/11 attacks. He proceeded to wave an American flag as he rounded the bases.

In 2005, the Sad Diego Padres clinched the NL West division title with a 79-79 record. They finished with a final record of 82-80, the lowest winning percentage by a division champion. They also were the first division winner to ever lose more than they won at the end of the season, posting an 82-83 record including playoffs

In 2008, Shea Stadium hosted its final Mets home game.

In 2011, Sun Life Stadium hosted its final Marlins home game. 

Friday Morning Hot Links

Hello everyone! It's Players Weekend! So for this edition of Hot Links, you are not allowed to refer to be by my real name, Flick Nickem, but my Player's Weekend Name, Pilot Terry Byrd. Why is my name Pilot Terry Byrd? Let's start with my title. If you were familiar with my #online #brand, then you would understand that I stan Pilot G2 pens. The Pilot G-2 07 mm Fine Point Retractable Premium Gel Ink Pen IS the #1 gel pen on the market today, so it only makes sense that my favorite company gets a shoutout in my Players Weekend name.

But Terry Byrd? Well, Terry Byrd is the last three syllables of my favorite flying friend, the secretary bird. My entire Twitter persona revolves around these dudes, and I always go the extra mile to show everyone I meet just how awesome these birds really are, like how they kick snakes in the head until they die. So now you know. Is Pilot Terry Byrd stupid? Yes. But so is Flick Nickem. Let me have fun.

Anyways, A's lost! Astros are now up 1.5 games on them and 5.5 up on Seattle this morning as we inch ever so slowly into September and seeing all our injured fellas and Fresno friends in Houston again. We take on the Angels this weekend, who currently aren't at full strength right now with Trout and Upton on the DL. The A's are also playing a less-than-stellar Twins team with weekend, so it is imperative for the Astros to pick up these wins in order to stay atop the standings by weekends end.

Let's get down to linking!

The Ringer's Zach Kram talks about why there is no good reason to worry about the Astros.

The Major League Baseball Creators of Content made an Astros Infield Highlight Reel.

The plan is for Springer to get back into the lineup tonight.

Do you like the Astros stare home run celebration? Buy a T-shirt of it.

These people waited absolutely too long for an Alex Bregman bobblehead. Who does this? why?

Minor League Ball gives us the midseason review of the top 20 2018 Astros prospects (we have seen a lot of them so far this season).

Andrew McCutchen addresses clearing waivers and not being in the lineup. My favorite part:
“I don’t really understand that process. I don’t get it. I don’t know waivers or clearers or revocables. I don’t know what that stuff means, man. I have a better chance understanding trigonometry.”

Same.

The Astros have hit into a LOT of double plays.

J.D. Davis is on an unreal tear in Fresno right now.

Speaking of Fresno Grizzlies on an unreal tear right now, Kyle Tucker is hitting .700 in Fresno since his demotion.

Ken Giles has gotten his ERA under 10 in Toronto!

Jacob DeGrom has been absolutely unreal this season. He might win the Cy Young this year. He has 8 wins to show for it.

Paris is rolling out sidewalk urinals where you pee in this mailbox-looking thing in very public areas because they have a problem with "wild peeing." This is the most important link of the whole post.

Professional cuddlers are now making over 30 euros an hour (roughly $35 USD an hour)

On This Day In Baseball History

In 1919, Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell was struck by lightning after pitching 8.2 innings. He was knocked unconscious, revived after a 5 minute delay, refused to be taken out, and got the last out for a complete game win.

In 1951, the St. Louis Browns had the Grandstand Managers Night, where the fans democratically coached the team.

In 1983, Orioles pitcher Tippy Martinez picked off three Toronto Blue Jays players in one inning.

In 2007, Greg Maddux became the first pitcher ever to win 10 games in a season for 20 years in a row.

Thursday Morning Hot Links

*Just 36 more hours until Astros baseball is back, baby. You can do it.

*FiveThirtyEight: Think the 1927 Yankees were great? Check the 2017 Astros and Dodgers. Neil Paine:
...The Dodgers and Astros have crossed into territory where their only real competition lies in the dusty annals of history. Never before have two teams played at such a high level this deep into the same season. 

*Before 2017, nine teams won 60+ games before the All-Star Break. Two of them won the World Series. Here are are the nine, with their season result in parentheses:
1969 Orioles (lost WS in five to the Miracle Mets)
1969 Cubs (missed playoffs)
1970 Reds (lost WS in five to Baltimore)
1973 Dodgers (missed playoffs)
1974 Dodgers (lost WS in five to Baltimore)
1975 Reds (Won World Series)
1998 Yankees (Won World Series)
2001 Mariners (lost ALCS in five to New York)
2003 Braves (lost NLDS in five to Chicago)

*Mike Petriello did a positional tale of the tape between the Astros and Dodgers.

*Remember that overall record determines home-field advantage in the World Series.

*According to Jim Duquette, the Astros are connected to pretty much every top pitcher who might be available. The Trade Deadline is 18 days away.

*Jon Paul Morosi has a position-by-position Trade Deadline Buyer's Guide.

*This Astros-trading-for-Jacob-deGrom thing is getting a little more play.

*Jeff Luhnow talked to Jonah Keri and it is good.

*I took a look at the Astros and pitching efficiency. I even set up a spreadsheet to make sure my math was right, so click the link.

*Tommy Stokke's Ten 2nd-Half Questions include "who starts the 2017 ALDS G3 for the Astros?"

*The Pacific Coast League won last night's Triple-A All-Star Game (managed by Tony DeFrancesco) 6-4. Colin Moran was 2x4 with a solo homer off former Astros minor-leaguer Tom Eshelman. Max Stassi was 1x2, Derek Fisher was 0x3.

Moran is having a career season, hitting .310/.368/.556 with 18 home runs. Moran hit 19 home runs between 2015-2016 combined.

*Trei Cruz is following in his family's footsteps.

*Want to read all about Alex Bregman deleting his Twitter account? (Sigh). Fine:
New York Daily News, USA Today, Deadspin

*Fox Sports dot com has officially gone all video and they're stupid.

*Check out this great story from Jessica Luther on GTB

*Joel Sherman has a great series on How To Fix Baseball. Anytime a baseball writer opens with Proust, I'll sit up and read.

*Craig Calcaterra's ...And That Happened: July 13, 1903 edition.

*Can't quite put my finger on what's different about Sammy Sosa.

*Congrats to Hall of Famer Craig Biggio for never giving up on the game he loves:

That's a good looking lineup! When the weather cooperates, we'll have baseball in Tampa. pic.twitter.com/hFEfa8KCd6

— Dunedin Blue Jays (@DunedinBlueJays) July 12, 2017