Monday Morning Hot Links

The Astros will officially not play in the wild card game this season! If you would like to catch the full audio recording of the Astros afterparty where Steve Sparks goes trademark bonkers in the celebrating clubhouse, you can find the whole thing right here.

If you like photography, maybe this form of media will suit your needs.

As for the game itself, it went just about as normal as you would think. The Astros dropped 13 at home on the pour guests and absolutely dominated in every facet of the game. George Springer also had his first 3 home run game of his career. The next important game is October 12th. Mark your calendars.

In celebration of the year that was, here is the Top 10 Astros Moments of 2019.

Also to celebrate how awesome our team is, here is a fun refresher of when Trevor Crowe was hitting 3rd in our favorite real life baseball team, to remind us how far we've come.

Back to fun stats about the 2019 Astros, they do, in fact, have the best offense since the '27 Yankees. I'd argue they have the best offense of all time considering half your beer league softball team could probably hit a 1927 mlb pitcher's fastball with 400 innings and a gnarly case of yellow fever under his belt, but I digress.

Could the Astros make the first end-of-awards sweep this season?

Alleged-fully-functional-pitcher-this-time Brad Peacock is back just in time for playoffs and baby, that's real good.

Here is the rotation for the remainder of the regular season, which also includes a floating of an idea that involves Urquidy making the playoff roster over Wade Miley. Because. You know..

Altuve called his 30 HR season "a dream come true"

Larry Dierker reminisced about the "great ride" he has had with the Astros.

Astros v. Twins ALDS. What would that matchup look like? How sick would Flick Nickem feel if he had to actively root against Marwin Gonzalez. Time may soon tell..

Forrest Whitley was awesome in his AFL debut, which is a very good sign.

New words were added to the dictionary recently for 2019. Words like "fatberg", "fabulosity", "aphantasia", and more.

Indiana University students, because I'm sure it's getting old for them to always watch their sports teams lose all the time at this point, decided to take up a new pastime that doesn't revolve around a whole lot of competition but I'm sure just as much fun: making giant paper mache things!

Au revoir, Trevor Crowe

Via Jon Morosi...

Former Indians outfielders Ezequiel Carrera and Trevor Crowe will be in Tigers camp on minor-league deals. #ReverseRaburn
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 9, 2014

So bye bye, Trevor Crowe, you .218/.287/.291-hitting superstar.

Trevor Crowe elects free agency

Optioned off the 40-Man roster last week, Trevor Crowe has elected free agency.

Crowe hit .218/.287/.291 in 60 games for the Astros in 2013, for a 62 OPS+. Much of his damage came after his September Call-Up. In the first 12 games of September, Crowe hit .321/.333/.415...and then finished the season hitting .119/.245/.143.

Happy trails, Trevor Crowe.

"It's been like light and day"

I'm sure this is a misprint (after all, the author does refer to Jose Altuve as "Jose Albuve"), but this article highlighting Trevor Crowe has a really funny line:

"I was hitting about .180 at the time," Crowe recalls. "He came to me and said, 'You're getting a little too far back when you load, and that's causing you to stride forward. Your head moves and your hands aren't able to work.' Since I made an adjustment, it's been like light and day with my consistency at the plate." 

Light and day. That's not a big difference. But maybe that's the point. The difference between success and failure at the Major League level is as simple as getting a little too far back when you load, causing you to stride forward. Light and Day, my friends. Light and Day.

September Call-Ups starting

Outfielder Trevor Crowe and reliever Jorge De Leon have been called up from Oklahoma City and will be in uniform for Houston today against Seattle. 

Crowe hit .200/.282/.286 for the Astros in a 34-game stint in May/June that ended with him crashing into the wall and injuring his shoulder. In 30 games for OKC since coming off the DL and a couple of rehab games in the GCL, he's hitting .301/.326/.358 with 17K:5BB in 131 PAs.

In 12 games for OKC (15IP), De Leon has allowed 8H/1ER, 12K:2BB for an 0.60 ERA/0.67 WHIP. He made two relief appearances for the Astros against the Rangers on August 9 and 11 (both losses), allowing 3H/2ER, 1K:1BB in 1.2IP. 

OKC's playoffs begin on Wednesday. 

PreStros Morning Report: August 4

Oklahoma City (66-50), 2.5 up

Well. A ten-game win streak - for the first time in franchise history - certainly is notable. The RedHawks get it today in a 5-2 win over Colorado Springs. Jake Buchanan threw 7IP, 8H/2ER, 4K:1BB to improve to 4-2 for OKC. Jason Stoffel got all four batters he faced, and Kevin Chapman struck out the last two batters of the game.

Trevor Crowe was 3x3 with two runs scored; Ruben Sosa, George Springer (RBI), and Brandon Laird (2B, 2RBI) had two hits each. Jon Singleton was 1x3 with a walk (and is hitting .333/.417/.567 in his last ten games). Rene Garcia had two RBI.

Man of the Match: Trevor Crowe

Corpus (26-18, tied) 68-46 overall

Corpus scored the game-tying run in the 8th and got the walk-off on Domingo Santana's single for a 2-1 win over Midland in ten innings. David Rollins made his Double-A debut, throwing 5.2IP, 3H/1ER, 6K:1BB; Jonas Dufek (2.1IP) and Pat Urckfitz (2IP) allowed a hit, but no runs, in their outings.

Max Stassi continued his torrid 2nd half with a 2x5, 2B night; Enrique Hernandez also had two hits. Preston Tucker and Michael Burgess had a hit and a walk each, while Santana had the aforementioned RBI.

Man of the Match: David Rollins

Lancaster (28-16, 4.5 up) 67-47 overall

The JetHawks scored the final five runs of the game in a 6-5 win over High Desert. Colton Cain threw 6.1IP, 11H/5R (2ER), 2K:0BB; Michael Dimock allowed a hit in 1.2IP; Travis Ballew (0.2IP) and Kenny Long (0.1IP) closed the game out in the 9th.

Seven JetHawks combined for seven hits, with Nolan Fontana (1x2, 2BB) and MP Cokinos (0x1, 2BB) drawing two walks each. Luis Alvarez hit a solo homerun.

Man of the Match: Nolan Fontana.

Quad Cities (63-47)

The River Bandits took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th, but Cedar Rapids came up with two runs for a 3-2 walkoff victory over Quad Cities. Brian Holmes allowed just 2H/1ER, 3K:2BB in 6IP; Daniel Minor walked one but got the double play to face six batters in 2IP; Juan Minaya got the BS/L with 3H/2R (1ER), 1K:1BB in 0.2IP.

Carlos Correa was 3x5 with an RBI; Danry Vasquez was 2x5 with a run scored; Bobby Borchering was 0x2, but with an RBI and two walks; Teoscar Hernandez and Austin Elkins (SB) had a hit and a walk.

Man of the Match: Brian Holmes

Tri-City (27-21), tied

Tri-City ended a nine-game losing streak with a 9-3 win at Aberdeen. Zach Morton allowed 3H/2ER, 0K:1BB in 5.1IP; Richard Rodriguez (0.1IP), Andrew Walter (2.1IP, 4K) and J.D. Osborne (1IP, ER) handled the final 3.2IP in relief.

Ronnie Mitchell (2B) was 3x5 with three runs scored; James Ramsay (2B, SB) had two hits; Tony Kemp was 1x3 with two walks, and Ryan Dineen was 1x3 with a walk and 2RBI.

Man of the Match: Ronnie Mitchell

Greeneville (25-18), 3.0 up

That, my friends, is a beatdown. Greeneville was up 14-0 before 2nd place Kingsport got on the board, and Greeneville cruised to a 17-1 win. Jordan Mills threw 5IP, 2H/0ER, 7K:0BB; Austin Chrismon allowed 2H/1ER, 3K:1BB in 3IP, and Tyler Brunnemann walked two in the 9th.

Marc Wik was 4x5 with a triple and 3RBI; Chase McDonald was 3x4 with a walk and 2RBI; Tyler White (HR, 3RBI), Ariel Ovando (2B, HR, 5RBI), and Brian Holberton (2B, BB) had two hits each.

Man of the Match: Marc Wik

GCL Astros (19-18), 4.5 GB

Off.

Crowe to DL, Krauss up

Trevor Crowe went on the DL after crashing into the wall and spraining the AC joint in his shoulder during today's win over the Brewers. The Astros have purchased the contract of Marc Krauss, and will join the team in Chicago.

This season for OKC, Krauss is hitting .277/.393.488 with 45K:43BB in 262 PAs.

Ankiel, Fernando Martinez DFA'ed

Holy Hannah. So the big news of the afternoon is that, yes, J.D. Martinez, Jimmy Paredes, and Trevor Crowe have been called up to Houston and will be in uniform for tomorrow night's game against the Angels. But in order to clear room for those two, the Astros have designated Rick Ankiel and Fernando Martinez for assignment and optioned Brandon Laird back to Oklahoma City.

Amazingly, Phil Humber has survived this afternoon's news. And it's also a good indication that the Astros are riding with Robbie Grossman in the outfield.

Pre Stros Morning Report 4/29

AAA

Oklahoma City (14-10)

The Redhawks won a slug fest against the Nashville Sounds (7-15) 9-8 on Monday night. Nashville was up 2 runs before OKC's first AB. Trevor Crowe (3H, 4R, HR, 2RBI, 2B, SB) led off the bottom of the 1st with a walk and advanced to 2nd on a passed ball. Mark Krauss (H, R, 3B, RBI, BB, K) walked with 2 outs. Brett Wallace (2H, RBI, 2K) hit a line drive to left that scored Crowe. Wallace and Krauss were stranded after Jonathan Villar (3H, 3B, RBI, BB, SB, PO) grounded out to end the inning. Nashville put up 5 in the 2nd to put OKC down 7-1. However they would put up a crooked number of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Andrew Simunic (H, R, BB) led off the bottom of the 2nd with an infield single. Jason Jaramillo doubled to right with 2 outs, scoring Simunic. Trevor Crowe followed Jaramillo with a homer to right, putting the score at 7-3 after 2. The Redhawks took the lead in the 4th, with a 4 run frame. Trevor Crowe walked with one out and stole 2nd. Jake Elmore (2H, R, 3B, HR, 4RBI, BB, SB) homered to left center and scored Crowe. Jimmy Paredes (2H, R, 3B) followed the Elmore homer with a triple to right. Marc Krauss would make it back to back triples with a 3 bagger of his own, also to right, scoring Paredes. Jonathan Villar singled to center with 2 outs, scoring Krauss. The Redhawks scored their final run of the game in the 5th on a Jake Elmore triple that scored Trevor Crowe.

Ross Seaton had a rough night. (1.2IP, 7H, 7ER, 3BB, 2K)
Kyle Hallock (1-0) got his first win. (4.1IP, 2H, 2BB)
Eric Berger pitched one inning. (H, BB, Hold)
Jose Valdez got his 7th save on the year. (2IP, 2K)

Man of the match: Trevor Crowe

AA

Corpus Christi (13-11)

The Hooks fell 4-2 on Monday to the Frisco Rough Riders (13-11). George Springer (H, R, HR, 2RBI, K) had both RBI for the Hooks thanks to a 2 run homer to center that scored Ben Orloff (H, R, 2B, K), his 8th. Domingo Santana (2H, 2B, K) and Michael Burgess (2H) had multi-hit games.

Matt Heidenreich got the start for Corpus. (4IP, 4H, R, 0ER BB, 2K)
Pat Urckfitz pitched an inning. (2H, ER)
Ruben Alaniz (0-3) got the loss. (3IP, 3H, 2R, ER, BB, 2K)

Man of the match: George Springer

A

Lancaster

Off

Low A

Quad Cities (14-8)

The River Bandits defeated the Great Lakes Loons (11-12) 6-1 on Monday afternoon. Quad Cities started the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd. Jordan Scott (H, 2R, BB) bunted for a hit with one out in the inning. Teoscar Hernandez (2H, R, K) advanced Scott to 2nd on a line drive single to left. Joe Sclafani (2H, RBI) grounded out to 1st but advanced both runners. Austin Elkins (K) struck out but advanced to first on an error from Great Lakes catcher Eric Smith. Jordan Scott would score on the play. Jess Wierzbicki (H, RBI, K) followed with a single that scored Teoscar Hernandez. Austin Elkins was thrown out trying to score on the play. Quad Cities scored 2 more runs in the 4th. Miles Hamblin (H, 2R, BB, K) led off the inning with a single and advanced to 2nd on a single from Ryan Dineen (H, R). Jobduan Morales (H, 2B, RBI, K) moved the runners over with a sac bunt. Terrell Joyce (H, RBI) singled to center and scored Hamblin and Dineen. The River Bandits scored in the bottom of the 7th on a single off the bat of Joe Sclafani that scored Jordan Scott. The put up another run in the 8th on a double off the bat of Jobduan Morales that scored Miles Hamblin. Morales would be thrown out at 3rd trying to stretch it into a triple.

Brian Holmes (2-2) got his 2nd win on the year. (5IP, 2H, R, 0ER, 2BB, 10K).
Jordan Jankowski earned his 1st save of the year. (4IP, 2H, 4K)

Man of the match: Brian Holmes

Pre Stros Morning Report April 19th

AAA

Oklahoma City (8-7)

The Redhawks defeated the Round Rock Express (9-7) by a score of 5-2 on Friday. OKC scored the first run of the game in the 2nd inning on a Jonathan Villar (2H, R, 2B, 3B, RBI, K) triple that scored Marc Krauss. The Redhawks put up 3 more runs in the 5th. Robbie Grossman (2H, R, K) lead off the inning with an infield single. Jake Elmore (H, R) followed with a single of his own, advancing Grossman to 2nd. Grossman and Elmore both scored on a triple to center by Trevor Crowe (2H, R, 3B, 2RBI, K, SB). Fernando Martinez (H)  doubled to right and scored Crowe. The Redhawks added one more run in the 6th on a bunt single by Robbie Grossman that scored Jonathan Villar who doubled earlier in the inning. Mark Krauss (2H, R, 2B, 3B, RBI, K) had a multi hit game as did Villar. Jimmy Paredes also had a hit.

Jordan Lyles lowered his ERA to 4.08 and got a no decision in 4.2 IP. (6H, ER, K)
C.J. Fick was awarded his first win of the season. (1.1IP, BB, K)
Kyle Hallock pitched 1.2 innings. (2h, ER, HR)
Josh Zeid earned his 1st save of the year. (1.1 IP, BB, 3K)

Man of the match: Trevor Crowe, although Villar is swinging the bat better the last few games.

AA

Corpus Christi (8-6)

The Hooks defeated the Frisco Rough Riders (9-5) 3-2 on Friday. The Hooks started the scoring in the bottom of the 1st. With one out in the inning, Ben Orloff (H, R, BB) singled to right. George Springer advanced Orloff to 2nd with a single of his own. Michael Burgess (H, 2B, 2RBI, K) doubled  to right, scoring Orloff and Springer, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Carlos Perez (H, 2B, 2K) ended the inning with a strike out. Coprus would add on in the 3rd with a RBI single from George Springer that scored Austin Wates. Jiovani Mier (H, K, SB) and Erik Castro(H, 2B) each had hits.

Corpus got solid efforts from both pitchers on the mound Friday.
Bobby Doran earned his 2nd win. (5IP, 5H, ER, B, 6K)
Nick Nitro Tropeano got his 2nd save of the year. (4IP, 5H, R-unearned, 4K)

Man of the match: Bobby Doran

A

Lancaster (9-6)

The Jethawks fell 9-7 to the Bakersfield Blaze (5-11) on Friday. Lancaster scored a run in the bottom of the 1st to take the lead 1-0. Delino Deshields (H, 2R, 2B, 2BB, K) doubled to lead off the inning. Nolan Fontana (2H, R, 3B, 3RBI, K) flied out to center advancing Deshields who tagged up on the play. Deshields would score on a wild pitch by Tanner Robles. Bakersfield put up 4 runs in the 4th to take the lead but it was short lived as Lancaster put up 4 runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Ryan McCurdy (2H, R, BB, K) walked with one out in the inning. Raul Torrez (H, R, 2B, BB, 2K) doubled to right, advancing McCurdy to 3rd. Delino Deshields walked to load the bases for Nolan Fontana. Fontana hit a bases clearing triple to right and would  later score on a Andrew Aplin (H, R, 2B, RBI, BB, K) ground out. Lancaster plated 2 more runs in the 7th. Andrew Aplin lead of the 7th with a double to right field. Zach Johnson (H, R, HR, 2RBI, 2BB, K) promptly drove him home on a 2 run homer to right, his first of the year. Chris Epps had a hit and was caught stealing.

David Rollins (2-1) was tagged with the loss, his 1st of the year. (4.2IP, 10H, 8ER, BB, 4K, HR)
Tyson Perez pitched 4 innings. (6H, ER, K, HR)

Man of the match: Zach Johnson

Low A

Quad Cities

PPD

Pre Stros Morning Report April 5th

AAA - OKC Redhawks (0-1)
Game 1:
The Redhawks lost their first game of a doubleheader to the Redbirds (1-0) 9-0. Jordan Lyles was on the mound for the opener and retired 9 out of 10 hitters after allowing a run in the first inning. However in the 4th Lyles exited after loading the bases. The Redhawks couldn't get a runner across the plate and they were shut out 9-0 in 7 innings. Jimmy Paredes was 1 for 2 with a 2B and a BB, the only Redhawk with an XBH. Jonathan Villar and Marc Krauss went hitless.
Jordan Lyles 4.1 IP 3H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 2 SO.
Keving Chapman 0.0 IP 1H, 2R, 2ER. 1BB
C.J. Fick .2 IP, 2H, 3 ER, 2BB
Josh Zeid 1 IP, 0H, 0ER, 1BB, 3SO.

Man of the match: Josh Zeid. Stuck out the side and did not allow a hit.

Game 2:
The Redhawks (1-1) took the second game of the double header with Memphis (1-1) by a score of 8-7 in 7 innings. The Redhawks found themselves down 2-1 in the bottom of the 3rd but would put up 3 runs via RBI's from Trevor Crowe and Robbie Grossman and a 2 run HR from Brandon Laird. The 3 would drive in a run each the following inning to put up the Redhawks 8-2. Brandon Laird (HR), Jimmy Paredes (2B), and Cody Clark (2B) each had an XBH, with Laird (4), Crowe(2), and Grossman (2) accounting for the RBI totals. Jonathan Villar went hitless. 
Paul Clemens got the W. 5 IP, 7H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0BB, 3K.
Wes Musick 1.2 IP 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB
Jose Valdez got the 1 out save. 1H, 1BB.

Man of the match: Brandon Laird. 4RBI including a 2 run homer.

AA - Corpus Christi Hooks (1-1)

Corpus got 1 hit in their second game with the Sprinfield Cardinals (1-1). Austin Wates logged the only hit for the Hooks, an infield single to lead off the game. Nick Tropeano (Nitro) got his first start at AA tonight and went 5 innings, allowed 3 hits, 1 ER (HR) and struck out 5. Bobby Doran threw 3 innings allowing the other earned runs of the evening, walking 1 and striking out 2. Andrew Robinson pitched a scoreless inning for the Hooks.
George Springer, Domingo Santana, Jonathan Meyer, and Eric Castro each struck out 3 times.
Domingo Santan threw out a runner at the plate for an outfield assist.

Man of the match: Nick Tropeano 5k's in 5 IP with 1 BB for his first start at AA.

A - Lancaster Jethawks (1-1)

Lancaster fell 7-3 to High Desert (1-1) tonight. Preston Tucker hit a two run homer in the 3rd to put the Jethawks up 3-1 but it would not be enough. Rafael Valenzuela had a 2B to go with Tuckers' homer for the only XBH's for the evening. Tucker and Brandon Meredith each had 2 hits, DDJ and Nolan Fontana each had a single.

Brady Rodgers got the L. Pitched 3.2 innings allowing 4 ER (HR), walking 3, and striking out 5.
Theron Geith allowed 2 earned runs in 1.1 IP.
Chris Devenski pitch 3 IP allowing 4 hits and 1 earned run.
Jonas Dukes pitched a scoreless 9th walking one and striking out one.

Man of the match: Preston Tucker

Low A - Quad Cities Bandits (2-0)

Lance McCullers Jr got his first start of the season and it was a good one. McCullers pitched 5 innings and struck out 5 and left the game in the position to earn his first W of the season. Daniel Minor allowed the tying run to cross the plate in the 7th inning, earning a blown save. Minor would be awarded the win after the QC Bandits rallied in the 8th. A BB, sac fly, and another walk put runners on 2nd (Sclafani) and first (Correa). Sclafani came home on a fielding error by Kane County (0-2) 2nd baseman Wes Darvill. Rio Ruiz would follow with a double that scored two and put the Bandits up 4-1.

Carlos Correa went hitless but walked and scored a run. Rio Ruiz, Ariel Ovando, and Roberto Pena each had a double. Ruiz had 2 hits and 2 RBI on the day.

Men of the match: Lance McCullers and Rio Ruiz.

Astros sign two more minor-league free agents

The Astros have signed two more minor-league free agents (in addition to Valdez and Gonzalez from earlier today), with invitations to Spring Training.

OF Trevor Crowe
The switch-hitting Crowe, who just turned 29, was the Indians 1st Round pick (14th overall) in the 2005 draft. He has played in 205 MLB games (713 PAs) with a career .245/.295/.329 line - all with the Indians. Crowe saw the most playing time in 2010, when he played all three outfield positions and hit .251/.302/.333 with 20 stolen bases, getting thrown out seven times.

He has a career .275/.359/.393 slash line in eight seasons in the minors. In 2012, he played in 84 games (350 PAs), with a .281/.349/.397 line, 52K:34BB. He's mainly a doubles guy, hitting 19 doubles in 2012, and with more triples (4) than homers (3) last season.

Crowe was released by the Indians on July 16, 2012, and signed with the Angels on July 17 who granted Crowe free agency on November 3. Fun baseball fact time! Trevor Crowe was the 28th out in Armando Galarraga's Imperfect Game on June 2, 2010.

LHP Sergio Escalona
Familiar name alert! Escalona, 28, was acquired by the Phillies in 2011 in the Albert Cartwright trade. He last pitched in 2011 having undergone elbow surgery in early 2012 (from, what my records tell me, hyper-extending his elbow swinging a bat - which makes perfect sense for a reliever) . He was outrighted off the 40-Man roster on November 1 but, obviously, has re-signed with the Astros on a minor-league deal.

Escalona killed it against lefties in 2011, holding LHBs to a .188/.278/.313 line in 74 PAs.