Not much happening, and the last few days have been pretty crazy for me, personally. So let's just round up what we've learned. If something happens that warrants a post, I'll be back. If not, I hope you have a Merry Christmas and, if you're traveling, you make it to your destination safely. Best wishes to you and your families.
*Martin Maldonado took less money to sign with the Astros, at 2yrs/$7m.
*Jake Kaplan projected the Astros' 2020 26-Man Roster.
*Roster Resource says the Astros' 2020 payroll is right about $237m. Players (and their salaries) coming off the books - as of right now - after this season:
George Springer ($21.4m based on arbitration projections)
Michael Brantley ($16m)
Josh Reddick ($13m)
Yuli Gurriel ($8.3m)
Brad Peacock ($4.6m)
That's about $63.3m and the entire outfield.
*Brian McTaggart ranked the Top 10 Astros of the decade.
*Beyond the Box Score has the Yankees at 3/1, Dodgers at 6/1, and Astros at 7/1 to win the 2020 World Series.
A's: 30/1
Angels: 30/1
Arlington: 50/1
Seattle: 5000/1
*Don't let MLB insult you.
*Statistical oddities for every MLB team in 2019.
*The White Sox signed Dallas Keuchel to a 3yr/$55.5m deal, with a vesting option for a 4th year. This offseason the White Sox have acquired Keuchel, Gio Gonzalez, Yasmani Grandal, Nomar Mazara, and James McCann.
*The MLB Umpires Association has agreed to a 5-year labor contract, part of which Teh Umpires have agreed to cooperate with a test of an automated strike zone.
*FanGraphs' Craig Edwards: Gerrit Cole's monster contract, historically speaking.
*Wade Miley signed a 2yr/$15m deal with Cincinnati, with a club option for 2022. FanGraphs says his cutter should be better in 2020.
*ESPN has way-too-early starting rotation rankings.
*1843: The death of the calorie.
*The New Yorker: A suspense novelist's trail of deceptions.
*GQ: Secrets of the world's greatest art thief.
*A Musical Selection:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label Wade Miley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wade Miley. Show all posts
Monday, December 23, 2019
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Tuesday Morning Hot Links
Well alright then. If it's Tuesday morning, it's 66 days until the Astros play the Nationals in Game 8, to be held in West Palm Beach. It's 100 days until the 2020 Season Opener against the Los Angeles Rendons of Anaheim.
*The Astros addressed part of their bullpen issue by signing Joe Smith to a 2yr/$8m deal. Smith:
We're going to be good. We've got, obviously, our lineup, but I think our bullpen is going to be really solid, and we're solid defensively. Starting pitching, we still have Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke and are still going to be a really good team.
The Astros were poised to lose Will Harris, Joe Smith, and Collin McHugh, who threw a total of 159.2IP in 2019. Smith threw 25IP thanks to an Achilles tear about this time last year that held him out until July. Smith will be in his Age 36 and 37 seasons over the duration of his deal.
As Alyson Footer writes in the aforementioned link, staying in Houston goes far beyond baseball for Smith and his wife, Allie LaForce, as they've made relationships with area doctors in their journey towards starting a family before the possibility of Smith inheriting Huntington's Disease.
*Jake Kaplan runs down what the re-addition of Smith means for the bullpen, and how the Astros will address their Catcher and Starting Pitcher issue. Kaplan says that Smith's re-signing "all but eliminates" a reunion with Will Harris, a decision with which I do not agree, as Will Harris is Elite.
*Kaplan also has a post-scandal mailbag.
*There's a new Lima Time Time episode.
*The Angels trade involving the overpaid Zack Cozart and their 2019 1st Round pick to the Giants provided a blueprint for the Astros for trading Reddick.
*Gerrit Cole is in New York and already looks like a damn hostage.
*Speaking of Former Astros Greats, the Reds have apparently signed Wade Miley to a 2yr/$15m deal with an option for a 3rd year that can bring it to $24m. Good for Wade Miley, who was fantastic until precisely September 5.
2020 will be Wade Miley's 10th year in MLB. He will have pitched for seven different teams, an impressive rate.
*The Rangers traded for Corey Kluber and "the gap" between the Astros and everyone else "has shrunk" in the "AL" "West." This may be true and, after three years of utter destruction, I'm kind of looking forward to interesting division games after the All-Star Break.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown: Why some MLB execs think a leaner minor-league system is better for Baseball. Toronto Blue Jays President/CEO Mark Shapiro:
This is my life. I'm living this. I've lived it for 30 years. I'm never going to go toe to toe with him on domestic policy. But I will go toe to toe with Bernie Sanders on professional baseball.
*The bat Babe Ruth used to hit his 500th home run just sold at auction for more than $1m.
*A lot of the humans who keep Google and YouTube free of violent extremism now have PTSD. The Verge with "The Terror Queue."
*Blood and Soil in Narendra Modi's India.
*Freakin' Leeds United blew a 3-0 lead against Cardiff at home in the last 30 minutes on Saturday. They play 6th-Place Fulham on the 21st.
*A Musical Selection:
*The Astros addressed part of their bullpen issue by signing Joe Smith to a 2yr/$8m deal. Smith:
We're going to be good. We've got, obviously, our lineup, but I think our bullpen is going to be really solid, and we're solid defensively. Starting pitching, we still have Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke and are still going to be a really good team.
The Astros were poised to lose Will Harris, Joe Smith, and Collin McHugh, who threw a total of 159.2IP in 2019. Smith threw 25IP thanks to an Achilles tear about this time last year that held him out until July. Smith will be in his Age 36 and 37 seasons over the duration of his deal.
As Alyson Footer writes in the aforementioned link, staying in Houston goes far beyond baseball for Smith and his wife, Allie LaForce, as they've made relationships with area doctors in their journey towards starting a family before the possibility of Smith inheriting Huntington's Disease.
*Jake Kaplan runs down what the re-addition of Smith means for the bullpen, and how the Astros will address their Catcher and Starting Pitcher issue. Kaplan says that Smith's re-signing "all but eliminates" a reunion with Will Harris, a decision with which I do not agree, as Will Harris is Elite.
*Kaplan also has a post-scandal mailbag.
*There's a new Lima Time Time episode.
*The Angels trade involving the overpaid Zack Cozart and their 2019 1st Round pick to the Giants provided a blueprint for the Astros for trading Reddick.
*Gerrit Cole is in New York and already looks like a damn hostage.
*Speaking of Former Astros Greats, the Reds have apparently signed Wade Miley to a 2yr/$15m deal with an option for a 3rd year that can bring it to $24m. Good for Wade Miley, who was fantastic until precisely September 5.
2020 will be Wade Miley's 10th year in MLB. He will have pitched for seven different teams, an impressive rate.
*The Rangers traded for Corey Kluber and "the gap" between the Astros and everyone else "has shrunk" in the "AL" "West." This may be true and, after three years of utter destruction, I'm kind of looking forward to interesting division games after the All-Star Break.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown: Why some MLB execs think a leaner minor-league system is better for Baseball. Toronto Blue Jays President/CEO Mark Shapiro:
This is my life. I'm living this. I've lived it for 30 years. I'm never going to go toe to toe with him on domestic policy. But I will go toe to toe with Bernie Sanders on professional baseball.
*The bat Babe Ruth used to hit his 500th home run just sold at auction for more than $1m.
*A lot of the humans who keep Google and YouTube free of violent extremism now have PTSD. The Verge with "The Terror Queue."
*Blood and Soil in Narendra Modi's India.
*Freakin' Leeds United blew a 3-0 lead against Cardiff at home in the last 30 minutes on Saturday. They play 6th-Place Fulham on the 21st.
*A Musical Selection:
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Sunday Morning Hot Links
This is the worst. Let's see what is happening:
*Gold Glove winners are announced today. Here's the rest of the major dates this winter:
Nov 7: Silver Sluggers announced
Nov 11: Jackie Robinson Rookies of the Year announced
Nov 12: Managers of the Year announced
Nov 13: Cy Young Awards announced
Nov 14: MVPs announced
Dec 9-12: Winter Meetings
Jan 21: BBWAA Hall of Fame results announced
*There are only a couple of days left before teams can make qualifying offers (1yr/$17.8m) to free agents. Gerrit Cole will get one for sure. But what about Wade Miley? Dan Szymborski:
It may seem odd to offer this much money, even on a one-year contract, for a player the Astros didn't even trust on the playoff roster, but I think I would make Wade Miley an offer if I were in Houston's shoes because of their very specific circumstance.
*Stephen Strasburg has opted out of the 4yrs/$100m remaining on his deal with the Nationals, though Washington hopes to rework his deal.
*Anthony Rendon turned down an apparently heavily-deferred extension for 7yrs/$210m with Washington.
*Washington declined an $18m option on Ryan Zimmerman and a $9m option on Yan Gomes.
*Aroldis Chapman has reworked his deal with the Yankees and will be with New York through 2022. I am so f------ glad they got Chapman.
*The Hardball Times' Daniel Epstein: Pain, Baseball, and Near-Death.
*REM looks back at Monster, 25 years later.
*The To-Do List for people with crazy lives and short attention spans.
*Aeon: The Happiness Ruse: How did feeling good become a matter of relentless, competitive work; a never-to-be-attained goal which makes us miserable?
*Leeds United 2 Queens Park Rangers 0. Leeds are back to the top of the Championship. Can't wait to see how they break my heart around the time the Astros open up a 5-game lead in 2020.
*A Musical Selection:
*Gold Glove winners are announced today. Here's the rest of the major dates this winter:
Nov 7: Silver Sluggers announced
Nov 11: Jackie Robinson Rookies of the Year announced
Nov 12: Managers of the Year announced
Nov 13: Cy Young Awards announced
Nov 14: MVPs announced
Dec 9-12: Winter Meetings
Jan 21: BBWAA Hall of Fame results announced
*There are only a couple of days left before teams can make qualifying offers (1yr/$17.8m) to free agents. Gerrit Cole will get one for sure. But what about Wade Miley? Dan Szymborski:
It may seem odd to offer this much money, even on a one-year contract, for a player the Astros didn't even trust on the playoff roster, but I think I would make Wade Miley an offer if I were in Houston's shoes because of their very specific circumstance.
*Stephen Strasburg has opted out of the 4yrs/$100m remaining on his deal with the Nationals, though Washington hopes to rework his deal.
*Anthony Rendon turned down an apparently heavily-deferred extension for 7yrs/$210m with Washington.
*Washington declined an $18m option on Ryan Zimmerman and a $9m option on Yan Gomes.
*Aroldis Chapman has reworked his deal with the Yankees and will be with New York through 2022. I am so f------ glad they got Chapman.
*The Hardball Times' Daniel Epstein: Pain, Baseball, and Near-Death.
*REM looks back at Monster, 25 years later.
*The To-Do List for people with crazy lives and short attention spans.
*Aeon: The Happiness Ruse: How did feeling good become a matter of relentless, competitive work; a never-to-be-attained goal which makes us miserable?
*Leeds United 2 Queens Park Rangers 0. Leeds are back to the top of the Championship. Can't wait to see how they break my heart around the time the Astros open up a 5-game lead in 2020.
*A Musical Selection:
Friday, October 25, 2019
Friday Morning Hot Links
Well the Astros thankfully didn't lose last night. I don't know what it is, but I still think the Astros win this series. Maybe that's my liver crying out for more punishment, I don't know. The Nationals have taken every advantage the Astros have given them, but the Astros lost both of those games rather than the Nationals winning. First pitch is at 7:07pm Central.
*SI's Tom Verducci: The Nationals have simply forgotten how to lose. Okay.
*ESPN: For the first time all season the Astros look beatable - very beatable.
*Mike Petriello, on Washington's Game 3 starter Anibal Sanchez and how he doesn't give up hard contact. Well the joke's on him because the Astros' offense has been, oh I see.
*The Nationals practiced staging a trophy presentation.
*A.J. Hinch:
Our guys believe we're going to win the World Series.
*A.J. Hinch:
Our guys believe we're going to win the World Series.
*MLB.com's David Adler did the math on the possibility of an Astros' comeback, and what needs to happen tonight in order to preserve that possibility.
*McTaggart: Three ways the Astros can climb out of an 0-2 hole.
*Without a DH for the next three games, will Yordan play in the outfield?
*None of the three hits Ryan Pressly allowed had higher than a 48% chance of actually being hits. He got soft-contacted to death.
*It might rain during Game 4.
*McTaggart: Three ways the Astros can climb out of an 0-2 hole.
*Without a DH for the next three games, will Yordan play in the outfield?
*None of the three hits Ryan Pressly allowed had higher than a 48% chance of actually being hits. He got soft-contacted to death.
*It might rain during Game 4.
*SI's Tom Verducci: The Nationals have simply forgotten how to lose. Okay.
*ESPN: For the first time all season the Astros look beatable - very beatable.
*Mike Petriello, on Washington's Game 3 starter Anibal Sanchez and how he doesn't give up hard contact. Well the joke's on him because the Astros' offense has been, oh I see.
*Brandon Taubman was fired yesterday. This was the biggest story of the day, as the Astros have to win at least two of the next three games in Washington in order to keep this fever dream season alive. Many people weighed in, because there was literally nothing else to talk about. I had some thoughts.
Luhnow, in an 18-minute press conference in Washington, yesterday:
[Taubman's] behavior was inappropriate and not representative of who the Astros are and our culture and what we stand for.
Luhnow was asked if he personally reached out to apologize to Stephanie Apstein, he said he was busy and didn't have time. She was sitting in the room.
Jake Kaplan wonders if anything is coming down the pike for the tone-deaf initial response on Monday. If Brandon Taubman's wreckage is floated out into the Ship Channel on a flaming trash barge (but, like, respectfully) and the Astros win another World Series despite it, sign me up. Jenny Dial Creech: The Astros took a step in the right direction.
*Ben Reiter ranked his Top 50 Free Agents, with the team that offers the best fit in 2020.
1. Gerrit Cole (Yankees)
24. Will Harris (Astros)
27. Michael Pineda (Astros)
34. Robinson Chirinos (Astros)
40. Wade Miley (Twins)
*The Nationals believe they were runners-up to Tampa in the Charlie Morton sweepstakes last winter.
*Vice: Everything we know about the 39 bodies found in a truck east of London.
*A Musical Selection:
*Ben Reiter ranked his Top 50 Free Agents, with the team that offers the best fit in 2020.
1. Gerrit Cole (Yankees)
24. Will Harris (Astros)
27. Michael Pineda (Astros)
34. Robinson Chirinos (Astros)
40. Wade Miley (Twins)
*The Nationals believe they were runners-up to Tampa in the Charlie Morton sweepstakes last winter.
*Vice: Everything we know about the 39 bodies found in a truck east of London.
*A Musical Selection:
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Sunday Morning Hot Links
We're just a group of guys, ready to make a dynasty in Houston.
The Astros won their third pennant in franchise history, 14 years to the day since their first pennant in franchise history. Folks, you and I have come a long way together. Let's hug.
*Correa:
It's a great series. We knew they had a great team. Like they call themselves, they're savages. But in this jungle called the American League, we're the apex predator.
Correa totally workshopped that quote with his buddies Daniela.
*Jose Altuve, a savage in the box, undid a whole lot of Lidge-induced PTSD in the bottom of the 9th Inning off of Aroldis Chapman, in an extremely offensively frustrating series. It was Altuve's 5th home run of the postseason, his second of the ALCS. It's the 5th time a Pennant has been clinched on a walk-off homer.
It was Altuve's 2nd Walk-Off Home Run of his career, the first since July 23, 2015, when he did it against Boston. Verlander, on Altuve:
People ask me about him, and I say he's a giant in every sense of the word except for his height. In everything else, he's 7-foot tall. Teammate. Baseball player. Everything.
Chandler Rome: One swing, "complete mayhem," and the American League Pennant. Gerrit Cole, on Altuve:
Coming from having to beg for a professional contract, coming from losing 100 games three times in a row to winning 100 games three times in a row, there's nobody that embodies the underdogs better than Jose. And there's really nobody that's ever played the game that's quite as talented as he is.
Houston is 10-1 in the postseason when Altuve homers.
Jenny Dial Creech: Jose Altuve cements his Houston legacy.
*Chapman, on the Walk-Off:
When [Altuve] hit that, I couldn't believe it. I didn't think he could get a hit like that at that time and walk us off in such a manner. But that's baseball. He's a great hitter, and I didn't do my job. That's why we lost.
We're not going to the World Series because of me, we're going to the World Series because of everybody in the clubhouse.
Hinch, on Altuve:
It's the same old quote of: Everything that's right about the Astros is Jose Altuve. He's been here the longest and seen this organization grow from the ground up. I'm so proud of him. I'm so fortunate to be his manager.
Altuve is your 2019 ALCS MVP. Tom Verducci, on Jose Altuve:
All that is great about baseball is packed into that 5-foot-6, 165-pound body, like one of those super-concentrated detergents. A little goes a long way. Altuve plays baseball like the wag of a puppy's tail. He plays joyfully. And he plays well.
*Aroldis Chapman's career postseason home runs allowed:
2016 World Series Game 7
2019 ALCS Game 6
*Houston is going to the World Series thanks to two massive diving catches by the corner outfielders: Reddick and Brantley. Brantley, who doubled up Judge:
I wanted to make sure I completed the play. I knew I had a chance to double him up, I had to make a good throw. Yuli did a good job picking it for me. I didn't throw it in the air, I wanted to keep it down. We got out of that inning.
The Aaron Hicks liner Brantley came up with had an expected batting average of .370. Reddick's catch negated a Gardner hit that had an expected batting average of .570.
Reddick:
I ate a little bit of dirt and grass on it. But that's fine. Whatever it takes to make the play and make the out, that's all that matters.
*Yuli Gurriel's first inning 3-run home run were the first runs for the Astros with two outs in the series. It's the third straight year that Gurriel has hit a 3-run homer in the postseason (2018 ALCS G1, 2017 World Series G5). Hinch, on Gurriel:
It's nice when you take the lead, especially in an elimination game, on the other side, it puts an immense amount of pressure on those guys. It wouldn't surprise me that Yuli was in the middle of it, because he's been mere feet away from being in the middle of virtually every good thing that's happened to us offensively in this series.
I had all the bad luck. And I hope I get the good luck in the World Series.
*Houston is 89-2 this season (postseason included) when leading by three or more runs, and 51-0 at Minute Maid Park when up by three.
*Astros, 2019 postseason:
Altuve: .349/.417/.767, 4K:5BB, 5HR
Brantley: .262/.340/.333, 9K:5BB, 1HR
Bregman: .257/.435/.429, 8K:10BB, 1HR
Gurriel: .209/.239/.302, 0K:2BB (yes, Gurriel has not struck out this postseason), 1HR
Correa: .171/.227/.366, 18K:3BB, 2HR
Yordan: .171/.227/.244, 19K:3BB, 0HR
Springer: .152/.235/.283, 15K:5BB, 2HR
Reddick: .136/.174/.273, 7K:1BB, 1HR
Chirinos: .091/.231/.227, 10K:3BB, 0HR
The Astros are going to the World Series with six hitters in the lineup hitting .209 or worse, and went 5x46 w/RISP in the ALCS, and Gerrit Cole only pitched once.
*Jose Urquidy: 2.2IP, 3H/1ER, 5K:1BB. Hinch, on Urquidy:
He was incredible tonight. What's hard for a young player is not really knowing what was going to happen or how he was going to be used. It probably would have been easier on him emotionally just to start the game and have the normal routine, and we weren't going to do that...We don't win this game if Urquidy doesn't come in and get the outs that he did at the time in which he did to turn it over to the back end of the bullpen.
Matt Young: How Urquidy carried the Astros in Game 6.
*Will Harris, on the Astros' bullpen:
We have a lot of guys with a lot of pride that are really good at their jobs. And I was excited for the opportunity for us to prove that today.
*Osuna, on the LeMahieu home run:
I knew that was gone. That was a terrible feeling. I felt terrible. When Altuve hit the homer, obviously I came back to life and pretty excited right now.
*Brad Peacock was the first pitcher since 1924 to finish a postseason game and then start the next day. He slept in the Astros' designated nap room at Minute Maid Park Friday night.
*Gerrit Cole asked Hinch twice if he could pitch in Game 6.
*Ryan Pressly, who came out of the game after recording a one-pitch out, says he'll be ready for the World Series.
Just some scar tissue that broke off. It was bound to happen at some point. I just didn't think it was going to happen in the middle of that game. I'll be good and ready to go next week.
*6-9 in the Yankees' lineup (Gregorius, Sanchez, Urshela, Gardner): 7x14, 3 runs, 2RBI.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown: The 2019 ALCS highlighted Baseball's greatness, and its flaws.
*Postseason wins, 2013-present:
Los Angeles: 33
Houston: 25
Kansas City: 22
Boston: 19
Chicago: 19
St. Louis: 17
New York Yankees: 14
San Francisco: 14
Washington: 13
Cleveland: 12
Toronto: 10
New York Mets: 8
Milwaukee: 6
Tampa: 5
Detroit: 5
Atlanta: 4
Pittsburgh: 3
Baltimore: 3
Arlington: 2
Oakland: 2
Colorado: 1
Arizona: 1
*Updated AL West Playoff Wins, 2013-present:
Houston: 25
Oakland: 2
Arlington: 2
Anaheim: 0
Seattle: 0
*Wade Miley had a quote on his plans for free agency:
If I'm not back in Houston, I won't be back in the AL. Because I don't ever want to have to face this lineup.
*Aaron Judge, on the Yankees' season:
It's a failure. In Spring Training, we talked about winning the division and putting ourselves in a good spot in the postseason to win a World Series. We came up short. No matter how many games we won in the regular season or what else we did, this season is a failure.
This is the first calendar decade (XXX0-XXX9) in which the Yankees won't play in the World Series since the 1910s. Hate to see it.
*The Astros will now be able to line up Cole-Verlander-Greinke in Games 1-3 of the World Series, Cole could throw Game 5 on normal rest.
An interesting note about Greinke in Game 3 is that it allows him to hit in Washington. In nine starts against the Nationals in his career, Greinke has held them to a .197/.227/.271 line. He's 6-1 with a 1.27 ERA / 0.83 WHIP against the Nationals in his career. At Whatever Their Ballpark Is Called, he's 2-1 in four starts with a 1.11 ERA / 0.90 WHIP. Luhnow:
We're going to have a tough road ahead of us. Washington's a great team, but to be able to open up here and be here for the next several days and not have to travel, it's a huge advantage for our team, huge advantage for our team, huge advantage to have Gerrit Cole probably lined up to go Game 1 and Verlander to go Game 2.
*Hunter Atkins: Could the Astros have a Bullpen Game in Game 4?
*FanGraphs has the Astros winning the World Series at 72-28. FiveThirtyEight has it 60-40 Astros.
*David Roth: What's wrong with the baseballs is what's wrong with Baseball.
*Leeds United 1 Birmingham City 0.
*Texas Monthly: The Great Texas Whiskey Boom.
*Leeds United 1 Birmingham City 0.
*Texas Monthly: The Great Texas Whiskey Boom.
*A Musical Selection:
Here is Altuve's walk off set to Game Over by Lil Flip pic.twitter.com/zZ24hIfUSh— Gerrant Caule (@grantraun) October 20, 2019
Monday, October 7, 2019
Monday Morning Hot Links
It's Game Day! Literally Game DAY! 12:05pm is first pitch on MLB Network, with Zack Greinke facing off against Charlie Morton.
This will be the third time the Astros have faced Former Astros Great Charlie F. Morton:
March 29: 5IP, 3H/2ER, 8K:2BB in a 4-2 Rays win in Game 2 of the season.
August 27: 4IP, 7H/6ER, 4K:2BB in a 15-1 Astros win. His 26 Game Score here was his worst of the season. Correa was not in the lineup.
The Astros are 51.7-48.3 favorites today by FanGraphs. Since the Trade Deadline, the Astros are 27-6 in games started by Verlander, Cole, and Greinke.
*McTaggart: The Astros know the opportunity they have with a sweep today. Hinch:
The biggest value is guys get a day off, too. We would love to be done and close the series out. There's no reason for us to want to play any more games other than the ones we have to. If you can escape a series without using JV and Cole [more than once], that would be outstanding, setting up the next series.
*Under A.J. Hinch, the Astros are 4-4 in games where they can win a series. The losses: 2015 ALDS Games 4 & 5, 2017 ALDS Game 3, 2017 WS Game 6.
*Most wins in a season, franchise history, postseason included:
1. 112 - 2017
2. 109 - 2019
3. 107 - 2018
4. 103 - 1998
5. 98 - 1999, 1986
*Game 1 of the ALCS will be Saturday.
*You can read the transcript of Zack Greinke's media session from Sunday afternoon. If you decide to interpret his comments as "dismissive" or "difficult" then you can go piss right off. We have talked before about Zack Greinke and anxiety, and this is just who he is because it's what he deals with on a daily basis. He's not weak, he's not fragile. His brain works a little differently. It's not his fault. I'm sure - on some level - he wishes he could be Alex Bregman in front of the cameras (who doesn't wish they could be Alex Bregman...anywhere) but that's just not him. It's not a personality flaw, it's not a symbol of a broken person. His brain is different. And if you make light of it, then you should be ashamed of yourself.
*Anthony Castrovince: How dominant is the Astros' starting trio? Hinch:
I think it's hard for us, while we're in it, to put ourselves in a historical context or kind of compare eras. Like, we're in the middle of something really special here in Houston with the players that we have. I think we're going to look back and have even a greater appreciation for how unique a group of guys this is.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown broke down Gerrit Cole's historic ALDS performance.
*ESPN's Jeff Passan: The overpowering art of Gerrit Cole.
*Jose Urquidy and Wade Miley are both available out of the pen as the Astros try to end this series today.
*Kyle Tucker will not start, but Hinch was pleased with his effort in Game 2.
*Yuli Gurriel: Scoop Machine. If Yuli doesn't get some Gold Glove love at 1B this year, then what are we even doing. Hinch:
He's got incredible hands, but he works on it every day. He has that as part of his routine. He started that back a couple years ago and he does it every day. Repetition helps. Hand-eye coordination helps. He never panics. He has soft hands.
*FanGraphs' Meg Rowley: The Astros remind the Rays and us of their, and our, mortality.
*Atlanta beat St. Louis to take a 2-1 series lead in the NLDS. It's their first series lead since 2002.
*Around the Odds of advancing to the LCS:
Astros: 93.1%
Yankees: 86.5%
Braves: 75.8%
Dodgers: 73.7%
*Buster Olney: How the Yankees' "monsters in the box" could own October. [Eyes roll completely out of head]
*The Ringer: Daryl Morey spoke out for a just cause - and now his job is in jeopardy.
*When My Louisiana School And Its Football Team Finally Desegregated.
*How much money do parking lots actually make?
*Deadspin: A philosopher's definitive case against Replay Review.
*California Sunday Magazine: The People Behind The Memes They Can't Escape.
*Rolling Stone: Ten Essential Ginger Baker Tracks.
*A Musical Selection:
This will be the third time the Astros have faced Former Astros Great Charlie F. Morton:
March 29: 5IP, 3H/2ER, 8K:2BB in a 4-2 Rays win in Game 2 of the season.
August 27: 4IP, 7H/6ER, 4K:2BB in a 15-1 Astros win. His 26 Game Score here was his worst of the season. Correa was not in the lineup.
The Astros are 51.7-48.3 favorites today by FanGraphs. Since the Trade Deadline, the Astros are 27-6 in games started by Verlander, Cole, and Greinke.
*McTaggart: The Astros know the opportunity they have with a sweep today. Hinch:
The biggest value is guys get a day off, too. We would love to be done and close the series out. There's no reason for us to want to play any more games other than the ones we have to. If you can escape a series without using JV and Cole [more than once], that would be outstanding, setting up the next series.
*Under A.J. Hinch, the Astros are 4-4 in games where they can win a series. The losses: 2015 ALDS Games 4 & 5, 2017 ALDS Game 3, 2017 WS Game 6.
*Most wins in a season, franchise history, postseason included:
1. 112 - 2017
2. 109 - 2019
3. 107 - 2018
4. 103 - 1998
5. 98 - 1999, 1986
*Game 1 of the ALCS will be Saturday.
*You can read the transcript of Zack Greinke's media session from Sunday afternoon. If you decide to interpret his comments as "dismissive" or "difficult" then you can go piss right off. We have talked before about Zack Greinke and anxiety, and this is just who he is because it's what he deals with on a daily basis. He's not weak, he's not fragile. His brain works a little differently. It's not his fault. I'm sure - on some level - he wishes he could be Alex Bregman in front of the cameras (who doesn't wish they could be Alex Bregman...anywhere) but that's just not him. It's not a personality flaw, it's not a symbol of a broken person. His brain is different. And if you make light of it, then you should be ashamed of yourself.
*Anthony Castrovince: How dominant is the Astros' starting trio? Hinch:
I think it's hard for us, while we're in it, to put ourselves in a historical context or kind of compare eras. Like, we're in the middle of something really special here in Houston with the players that we have. I think we're going to look back and have even a greater appreciation for how unique a group of guys this is.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown broke down Gerrit Cole's historic ALDS performance.
*ESPN's Jeff Passan: The overpowering art of Gerrit Cole.
*Jose Urquidy and Wade Miley are both available out of the pen as the Astros try to end this series today.
*Kyle Tucker will not start, but Hinch was pleased with his effort in Game 2.
*Yuli Gurriel: Scoop Machine. If Yuli doesn't get some Gold Glove love at 1B this year, then what are we even doing. Hinch:
He's got incredible hands, but he works on it every day. He has that as part of his routine. He started that back a couple years ago and he does it every day. Repetition helps. Hand-eye coordination helps. He never panics. He has soft hands.
*FanGraphs' Meg Rowley: The Astros remind the Rays and us of their, and our, mortality.
*Atlanta beat St. Louis to take a 2-1 series lead in the NLDS. It's their first series lead since 2002.
*Around the Odds of advancing to the LCS:
Astros: 93.1%
Yankees: 86.5%
Braves: 75.8%
Dodgers: 73.7%
*Buster Olney: How the Yankees' "monsters in the box" could own October. [Eyes roll completely out of head]
*The Ringer: Daryl Morey spoke out for a just cause - and now his job is in jeopardy.
*When My Louisiana School And Its Football Team Finally Desegregated.
*How much money do parking lots actually make?
*Deadspin: A philosopher's definitive case against Replay Review.
*California Sunday Magazine: The People Behind The Memes They Can't Escape.
*Rolling Stone: Ten Essential Ginger Baker Tracks.
*A Musical Selection:
Friday, October 4, 2019
Friday Morning Hot Links
It's Game 1 Day! Since 2015 the Astros are 3-0 in ALDS G1s (2015 Royals, 2017 Red Sox, 2018 Indians). G1 Starters in the aforementioned games? Keuchel, Verlander, Verlander. Verlander goes today.
*Since 2012 the home team has won 9 of the last 14 ALDS. The exceptions:
-2018 Yankees lost in five games to Cleveland.
-2016 Ramgers got swept by Toronto
-2014 Angels got swept by the Royals.
-2013 A's lost in five games to the Tigers.
-2012 A's lost in five games to the Tigers.
There's a Verlander theme running here.
*There have been 15 100-win teams in MLB since the beginning of the 1998 season:
-1998 Yankees (114-46): Won WS
-1998 Braves (106-56): Lost in NLCS
-1998 Astros (102-60): Freaking Padres
-2002 Yankees (103-59): Lost WS to Anaheim
-2002 A's (103-59): Lost ALDS to New York
-2002 Braves (101-61): Lost NLDS to San Francisco
-2003 Yankees (101-61): Lost WS to Florida
-2003 Braves (101-61): Lost NLDS to Chicago
-2003 Giants (100-62): Lost NLDS to Florida
-2017 Dodgers (104-58): Lost WS to Houston
-2017 Indians (102-60): Lost ALDS to New York
-2017 Astros (101-61): Won WS
-2018 Red Sox (108-54): Won WS
-2018 Yankees (100-62): Lost ALDS to Red Sox
-2018 Astros (103-59): Lost ALCS to Red Sox
Do with that what you will.
*McTaggart and Juan Toribio combined for a piece on how the Rays and Astros match up.
*FanGraphs has the math behind the matchups (and is a very good read):
In short, the Astros have baseball's best rotation, most patient lineup, best contact hitters, and arguably more pop than anyone else. They have no holes, and they will be favorites in every series the play from here on out. Our new ZiPS game-by-game odds give Houston a 69.5% chance of winning the series - the highest percentage in any first round matchup.
*FiveThirtyEight gives the Astros a 71-29 edge in Game 1. Also favored today: St. Louis, New York, Los Angeles.
*Carlos Correa says he feels great. Correa:
It's tough, but between [missing] four or five games in the regular season and being able to play in the playoffs, obviously I'll pick the playoffs. I feel great right now. My back feels really good. I had no issues at all during these three workouts. I'm very happy I get to play with my teammates and perform for my city.
*Good news! Yordan is "excited" for the playoffs! Yordan:
I'm excited, but this is normal. This is baseball. I'm going to just continue to do the same work as I did during the regular season and keep doing that.
Keep doing that, Yordan.
*Jake Kaplan has a piece regarding the age-defying Yuli Gurriel. Gerrit Cole, on Gurriel:
He's really been incredible. It's pretty fascinating to watch, especially because he's not even in the three-hole. Most people's third hitters are putting up those types of numbers, if they are.
*The Astros - as of 5:44am on Friday - have yet to announce their ALDS roster as "coming down to the wire." Miley, on coming out of the bullpen:
I would be completely fine with anything to try to go out and help the team. I know everyone's made a big deal out of the last month. It was a pretty ugly month. It is what it is. It's baseball. But, at the same time, I think I can help this club.
*Verlander:
Playoffs is a different animal. If you don't have it that given day, you don't have that leash that you normally have in the regular season to log some more innings. The games can get away from you quickly. I'm OK with that.
*Richard Justice says the Astros and Rays find the "best version" of players.
*Chandler Rome: The Astros' emergence into a superpower comes from putting the ball in play.
*The Astros are about to play a whole bunch of afternoon games.
*Shoutout to Dad of Twins Josh Reddick. He about to go on a tear.
*If the Astros re-sign Gerrit Cole and payroll is $227m (over theLuxury Tax Competitive Balance Tax, but below the next tier of penalties), the Astros would have to pay a (measly) $3.8m tax before slipping back under the CBT in 2021.
*Elsewhere: The Cardinals took Game 1 from the Braves after Dallas Keuchel had thrown 74 pitches. Reminder that the Cardinals are a team of actual corncobs. Then the Braves called out Ronald Acuna.
*Sports Illustrated got decimated yesterday.
*The Atlantic: The Cult of Rich-Kid Sports.
*"You won't believe what happened:" The wild, disturbing saga of Robert Kraft's visit to a strip mall sex spa.
*A Musical Selection To Turn Up To 11:
And this is the 200th song in the Hot Links Music Spotify playlist!
*Since 2012 the home team has won 9 of the last 14 ALDS. The exceptions:
-2018 Yankees lost in five games to Cleveland.
-2016 Ramgers got swept by Toronto
-2014 Angels got swept by the Royals.
-2013 A's lost in five games to the Tigers.
-2012 A's lost in five games to the Tigers.
There's a Verlander theme running here.
*There have been 15 100-win teams in MLB since the beginning of the 1998 season:
-1998 Yankees (114-46): Won WS
-1998 Braves (106-56): Lost in NLCS
-1998 Astros (102-60): Freaking Padres
-2002 Yankees (103-59): Lost WS to Anaheim
-2002 A's (103-59): Lost ALDS to New York
-2002 Braves (101-61): Lost NLDS to San Francisco
-2003 Yankees (101-61): Lost WS to Florida
-2003 Braves (101-61): Lost NLDS to Chicago
-2003 Giants (100-62): Lost NLDS to Florida
-2017 Dodgers (104-58): Lost WS to Houston
-2017 Indians (102-60): Lost ALDS to New York
-2017 Astros (101-61): Won WS
-2018 Red Sox (108-54): Won WS
-2018 Yankees (100-62): Lost ALDS to Red Sox
-2018 Astros (103-59): Lost ALCS to Red Sox
Do with that what you will.
*McTaggart and Juan Toribio combined for a piece on how the Rays and Astros match up.
*FanGraphs has the math behind the matchups (and is a very good read):
In short, the Astros have baseball's best rotation, most patient lineup, best contact hitters, and arguably more pop than anyone else. They have no holes, and they will be favorites in every series the play from here on out. Our new ZiPS game-by-game odds give Houston a 69.5% chance of winning the series - the highest percentage in any first round matchup.
*FiveThirtyEight gives the Astros a 71-29 edge in Game 1. Also favored today: St. Louis, New York, Los Angeles.
*Carlos Correa says he feels great. Correa:
It's tough, but between [missing] four or five games in the regular season and being able to play in the playoffs, obviously I'll pick the playoffs. I feel great right now. My back feels really good. I had no issues at all during these three workouts. I'm very happy I get to play with my teammates and perform for my city.
*Good news! Yordan is "excited" for the playoffs! Yordan:
I'm excited, but this is normal. This is baseball. I'm going to just continue to do the same work as I did during the regular season and keep doing that.
Keep doing that, Yordan.
*Jake Kaplan has a piece regarding the age-defying Yuli Gurriel. Gerrit Cole, on Gurriel:
He's really been incredible. It's pretty fascinating to watch, especially because he's not even in the three-hole. Most people's third hitters are putting up those types of numbers, if they are.
*The Astros - as of 5:44am on Friday - have yet to announce their ALDS roster as "coming down to the wire." Miley, on coming out of the bullpen:
I would be completely fine with anything to try to go out and help the team. I know everyone's made a big deal out of the last month. It was a pretty ugly month. It is what it is. It's baseball. But, at the same time, I think I can help this club.
*Verlander:
Playoffs is a different animal. If you don't have it that given day, you don't have that leash that you normally have in the regular season to log some more innings. The games can get away from you quickly. I'm OK with that.
*Richard Justice says the Astros and Rays find the "best version" of players.
*Chandler Rome: The Astros' emergence into a superpower comes from putting the ball in play.
*The Astros are about to play a whole bunch of afternoon games.
*Shoutout to Dad of Twins Josh Reddick. He about to go on a tear.
*If the Astros re-sign Gerrit Cole and payroll is $227m (over the
*Elsewhere: The Cardinals took Game 1 from the Braves after Dallas Keuchel had thrown 74 pitches. Reminder that the Cardinals are a team of actual corncobs. Then the Braves called out Ronald Acuna.
*Sports Illustrated got decimated yesterday.
*The Atlantic: The Cult of Rich-Kid Sports.
*"You won't believe what happened:" The wild, disturbing saga of Robert Kraft's visit to a strip mall sex spa.
*A Musical Selection To Turn Up To 11:
And this is the 200th song in the Hot Links Music Spotify playlist!
Friday, September 27, 2019
Friday Morning Hot Links
The Astros held the Angels to nine scoreless innings on Thursday night and lost because they allowed three runs in the first two innings, and then the walk-off in the 12th, pissing away chance after chance in between. Houston is 104-55 overall, 44-34 on the road. It's their 2nd loss in the last eleven games.
Scoreboard watching: New York was off, Los Angeles beat San Diego 1-0.
Houston (104-55): -
Los Angeles (103-56): -1
New York (102-57): -2
A Houston win or a New York loss tonight clinches home field advantage through the ALCS. World Series home field is going to go down to the wire. A Houston / Los Angeles tie would result in the Astros winning the tiebreaker, thanks to their better intra-division record.
*Since the Trade Deadline, AL Standings:
Houston: 35-15
Oakland: 34-15
Tampa: 33-16
New York: 34-18
Minnesota: 33-19
Cleveland: 30-22
Boston: 24-26
*The Astros are 7-4 in their last 11 games against Anaheim. The Angels' walkoff came in the bottom of the 12th when Kyle Tucker sorta misplayed a ground ball after going 1x6 with a home run and 4Ks. Not exactly a Dear Diary kind of day for Kyle. Houston was 1x13 w/RISP (Anaheim was 1x12). Houston loaded the bases three times in the final five innings and did not score a run.
Chances!
Top 7: Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. Bregman K, Tucker K.
Top 8: Bases loaded, 1 out. Springer GIDP.
Top 10: Runners on 1st and 2nd, 2 out. Stubbs K.
Top 11: Bases loaded, 1 out. Tucker K, Diaz fielder's choice
Top 12: Bases loaded, 2 out. Marisnick K.
Houston left 17 runners on base. Hinch:
Especially in a one-run game, that's a lot. We had our chances. A lot of at-bats, contact even to the outfield would have been good for us. Couldn't come up with the big swing, or even the small swing to get someone across. They did at the end.
*Wade Miley needed 93 pitches to get through 4IP, allowing 5H/3ER, 2K:2BB. 54 of his 93 pitches were for strikes and he only threw a first pitch strike to eight of the 19 batters he faced. Miley:
A lot more positives than I've been getting. I felt a lot better tonight. I felt I attacked the zone a lot better. The first inning, I gave up the double on a mistake up and over, but for the most part, I felt like I made some really good pitches in and got some swings.
On Miley's postseason roster spot, Hinch:
We have a long time before we have to make any sort of decision. So after a walk-off loss, it's not going to be a time where I assess anything.
*Josh Reddick was 5x6 with a double and his first stolen base since June 14, six games after the first 5-hit game of his career. In between he was 1x14 with 2K:2BB.
*Myles Straw was 3x6, getting three hits for the third time this season.
Reddick and Straw: 8x12, 1K:1BB
Rest of Team: 4x34, 10K:8BB
*Jack Mayfield hit the 2nd home run of his career, tying the game at 3-3. Mayfield's eight hits with the Astros:
Double, Home Run, Double, Double, Double, Single, Double, Home Run.
*Carlos Correa was not in the lineup, nor was Altuve or Springer or Gurriel or Yordan. Carlos Correa, unlike Altuve and Springer and Gurriel and Yordan, will not be in the lineup the rest of the weekend. Correa saw a doctor on Thursday in Los Angeles and "nothing more or serious" was found in his back, which is good, I guess. Correa will have gotten 11 PAs between August 19 and October 4. Add "airplane rides" to the list of things that make Litos' back hurt. Reminder that Correa's latest 6-week back rehab occurred after he swung a bat. He turned 25 on Sunday. This is all very exhausting. Hinch:
Given that he's been off for a couple of days, we could need a full day of baseball activity anyway. That's pushed to tomorrow, and then if there's any sort of movement or activity over the weekend, it doesn't look like we're going to have enough time to get him a lot of game action....We saw him come out of this with one rehab game and hit two home runs. He's an excellent player. He's a former All-Star. He'll be just fine when we get him back here.
More Hinch:
We do have workouts prior to the division series where we'll have some live (batting practices), some (simulated) games and stuff like that. That's going to be what we're going to have to judge him on.
*Aaron Sanchez, who once had two arms, had a capsule tear in his right shoulder and will be out "into next season." This paper said the average recovery time in MLB pitchers is 13 months. That's October 2020. Aaron Sanchez went from throwing a no-hitter to being out for most of 2020 in less than a month.
*Better go ahead and put in for a half-day next Friday.
*MLB.com gave the Astros' team MVP to Alex Bregman.
*SI's Jon Tayler makes the case for the Astros winning the 2019 World Series. Talyer:
That is, with no qualifiers or doubts, the best rotation in baseball and the postseason, and that's with Literally Wade Miley as the fourth starter, only Literally Wade Miley has actually been good this year (3.91 ERA, 119 ERA+) because the Astros are dark wizards.
*MLB.com's Andrew Simon has the weakness of every playoff team. For the Astros? Baserunning.
*Jayson Stark gave out his end-of-season awards. Click the link, but the relevant notes are Trout for AL MVP, Verlander for AL Cy Young, Yordan for AL Rookie of the Year. A.J. Hinch didn't even finish in Stark's AL Manager of the Year top five.
*Check out the Wall Street Journal's write-up of a Luhnow/Morey lunch conversation. It's fascinating. They throw shade at pretty much all of Astros Twitter, and we deserve it. When it comes to their jobs, they're literally smarter than all of us combined (I still think I could take Luhnow in a Pub Trivia night, but only because I've filled my brain with useless information...unless that information becomes valuable in a Pub Trivia setting, for which Luhnow did not plan.)
*The 1952 Tigers are the last team to throw two no-hitters and have another one broken up in the 9th.
*This Levi Weaver account of the Red Sox swinging at three straight pitches to try to prevent West Forney's Mike Minor from getting to 200 strikeouts on the season, which resulted in the Ramgers dropping a pop-up in foul territory with two strikes in order to give Minor another shot at it...is hilariously petty and worth it.
*Former Astros Great Tyler Heineman got his first MLB hit Thursday night against Jacob DeGrom.
*Over on the AL Wild Card side, the Indians lost to the White Sox, so they're two games back with three to play. Since trading Tyler Bauer, Cleveland is 30-22 while Bauer threw 56.1IP for the Reds, posting a 6.39 ERA / 1.35 WHIP. File this under See, Things You Just Hate To.
*The Cubs' dreams of a dynasty appear to be over. Place this in the previous file.
*Your DoorDash account probably just got Got.
*NPR: How the U.S. hacked ISIS.
*A Musical Selection:
Scoreboard watching: New York was off, Los Angeles beat San Diego 1-0.
Houston (104-55): -
Los Angeles (103-56): -1
New York (102-57): -2
A Houston win or a New York loss tonight clinches home field advantage through the ALCS. World Series home field is going to go down to the wire. A Houston / Los Angeles tie would result in the Astros winning the tiebreaker, thanks to their better intra-division record.
*Since the Trade Deadline, AL Standings:
Houston: 35-15
Oakland: 34-15
Tampa: 33-16
New York: 34-18
Minnesota: 33-19
Cleveland: 30-22
Boston: 24-26
*The Astros are 7-4 in their last 11 games against Anaheim. The Angels' walkoff came in the bottom of the 12th when Kyle Tucker sorta misplayed a ground ball after going 1x6 with a home run and 4Ks. Not exactly a Dear Diary kind of day for Kyle. Houston was 1x13 w/RISP (Anaheim was 1x12). Houston loaded the bases three times in the final five innings and did not score a run.
Chances!
Top 7: Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. Bregman K, Tucker K.
Top 8: Bases loaded, 1 out. Springer GIDP.
Top 10: Runners on 1st and 2nd, 2 out. Stubbs K.
Top 11: Bases loaded, 1 out. Tucker K, Diaz fielder's choice
Top 12: Bases loaded, 2 out. Marisnick K.
Houston left 17 runners on base. Hinch:
Especially in a one-run game, that's a lot. We had our chances. A lot of at-bats, contact even to the outfield would have been good for us. Couldn't come up with the big swing, or even the small swing to get someone across. They did at the end.
*Wade Miley needed 93 pitches to get through 4IP, allowing 5H/3ER, 2K:2BB. 54 of his 93 pitches were for strikes and he only threw a first pitch strike to eight of the 19 batters he faced. Miley:
A lot more positives than I've been getting. I felt a lot better tonight. I felt I attacked the zone a lot better. The first inning, I gave up the double on a mistake up and over, but for the most part, I felt like I made some really good pitches in and got some swings.
On Miley's postseason roster spot, Hinch:
We have a long time before we have to make any sort of decision. So after a walk-off loss, it's not going to be a time where I assess anything.
*Josh Reddick was 5x6 with a double and his first stolen base since June 14, six games after the first 5-hit game of his career. In between he was 1x14 with 2K:2BB.
*Myles Straw was 3x6, getting three hits for the third time this season.
Reddick and Straw: 8x12, 1K:1BB
Rest of Team: 4x34, 10K:8BB
*Jack Mayfield hit the 2nd home run of his career, tying the game at 3-3. Mayfield's eight hits with the Astros:
Double, Home Run, Double, Double, Double, Single, Double, Home Run.
*Carlos Correa was not in the lineup, nor was Altuve or Springer or Gurriel or Yordan. Carlos Correa, unlike Altuve and Springer and Gurriel and Yordan, will not be in the lineup the rest of the weekend. Correa saw a doctor on Thursday in Los Angeles and "nothing more or serious" was found in his back, which is good, I guess. Correa will have gotten 11 PAs between August 19 and October 4. Add "airplane rides" to the list of things that make Litos' back hurt. Reminder that Correa's latest 6-week back rehab occurred after he swung a bat. He turned 25 on Sunday. This is all very exhausting. Hinch:
Given that he's been off for a couple of days, we could need a full day of baseball activity anyway. That's pushed to tomorrow, and then if there's any sort of movement or activity over the weekend, it doesn't look like we're going to have enough time to get him a lot of game action....We saw him come out of this with one rehab game and hit two home runs. He's an excellent player. He's a former All-Star. He'll be just fine when we get him back here.
More Hinch:
We do have workouts prior to the division series where we'll have some live (batting practices), some (simulated) games and stuff like that. That's going to be what we're going to have to judge him on.
*Aaron Sanchez, who once had two arms, had a capsule tear in his right shoulder and will be out "into next season." This paper said the average recovery time in MLB pitchers is 13 months. That's October 2020. Aaron Sanchez went from throwing a no-hitter to being out for most of 2020 in less than a month.
*Better go ahead and put in for a half-day next Friday.
*MLB.com gave the Astros' team MVP to Alex Bregman.
*SI's Jon Tayler makes the case for the Astros winning the 2019 World Series. Talyer:
That is, with no qualifiers or doubts, the best rotation in baseball and the postseason, and that's with Literally Wade Miley as the fourth starter, only Literally Wade Miley has actually been good this year (3.91 ERA, 119 ERA+) because the Astros are dark wizards.
*MLB.com's Andrew Simon has the weakness of every playoff team. For the Astros? Baserunning.
*Jayson Stark gave out his end-of-season awards. Click the link, but the relevant notes are Trout for AL MVP, Verlander for AL Cy Young, Yordan for AL Rookie of the Year. A.J. Hinch didn't even finish in Stark's AL Manager of the Year top five.
*Check out the Wall Street Journal's write-up of a Luhnow/Morey lunch conversation. It's fascinating. They throw shade at pretty much all of Astros Twitter, and we deserve it. When it comes to their jobs, they're literally smarter than all of us combined (I still think I could take Luhnow in a Pub Trivia night, but only because I've filled my brain with useless information...unless that information becomes valuable in a Pub Trivia setting, for which Luhnow did not plan.)
*The 1952 Tigers are the last team to throw two no-hitters and have another one broken up in the 9th.
*This Levi Weaver account of the Red Sox swinging at three straight pitches to try to prevent West Forney's Mike Minor from getting to 200 strikeouts on the season, which resulted in the Ramgers dropping a pop-up in foul territory with two strikes in order to give Minor another shot at it...is hilariously petty and worth it.
The Rangers intentionally let a popup drop in the 9th inning so Mike Minor could have another shot at notching his 200th strikeout of the season.— ESPN (@espn) September 26, 2019
Minor recorded that strikeout on the next pitch he threw. pic.twitter.com/nMqeTa2PJo
*Former Astros Great Tyler Heineman got his first MLB hit Thursday night against Jacob DeGrom.
*Over on the AL Wild Card side, the Indians lost to the White Sox, so they're two games back with three to play. Since trading Tyler Bauer, Cleveland is 30-22 while Bauer threw 56.1IP for the Reds, posting a 6.39 ERA / 1.35 WHIP. File this under See, Things You Just Hate To.
*The Cubs' dreams of a dynasty appear to be over. Place this in the previous file.
*Your DoorDash account probably just got Got.
*NPR: How the U.S. hacked ISIS.
*A Musical Selection:
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Thursday Morning Hot Links
The Astros beat the Mariners 3-0 for the second straight night to improve to a franchise-high 104-54 and are 50 games over .500 for the first time in franchise history. Houston is 9-1 in their last 10 games. There are four regular season games remaining. The playoffs start one week from tomorrow.
*Scoreboard Watching:
New York lost to Tampa, Los Angeles beat San Diego
Houston (104-54): -
Los Angeles (102-56): -2
New York (102-57): -2.5
Reminder that the Astros hold the tie-breaker on New York, so the Astros could clinch home field throughout the AL playoffs with a win tonight. The Yankees are off tonight before finishing their season with Arlington, who has lost nine of their last ten games, something you just hate to see.
*Chaos Watching:
Oakland beat Anaheim, Tampa beat New York, Cleveland lost to the White Sox.
WC1: Oakland (95-63)
WC2: Tampa (95-64)
Cleveland (93-65) -1.5
*Anyhow, the Astros won their 104th game of the season, breaking a franchise record set all the way back in 2018. Hinch and the team celebrated with a champagne toast:
We want to have a moment and recognize the type of season that we've had, franchise record number of wins. We have a chance to beat our own record the next few games. Just a great accomplishment as a team - a lot of players, a lot of coaches. Front office putting the team together. Everybody should be proud of this team, and our season is really just beginning with the postseason very close.
Houston went 18-1 against Seattle in 2019 and have won 13 games in a row against them. Thanks, Mariners. Houston and the 2019 Cleveland Indians are the only teams to win 18 games against an opponent in a season (Cleveland got the Tigers 18 out of 19 times).
*Zack Greinke was two outs away from a no-hitter when Austin Nola (who was 0x16 coming into that AB) singled to break it up. He's the first Astros pitcher to lose a no-hitter in the 9th since Mike Scott on June 12, 1988. Greinke: 8.1IP, 2H/0ER, 9K:1BB. He walked Dee Gordon in the 6th to end his walk-less streak at 29.1IP.
Nola only came into the game because Dee Gordon's back stiffened up after he collided with a teammate. Nola:
I watched [Greinke] all game. He was unbelievable. I don't think he threw many balls over the middle of the plate. I was just going up there looking for somewhat of a decent pitch. I knew I wasn't going to get much good stuff, but it all worked out.
Mariners manager Scott Servais, on Greinke:
It was art. He's out there just dealing and drawing it up the way he wants to. It's frustrating when he's on his game like that, because you really have to be disciplined at the plate. One of the things he's really good at is when he gets ahead in the count, the balls are just off the edge and they look like strikes. Veteran pitcher and he was really on top of his game tonight. Coming in after Cole, it's totally different styles.
More Servais, on facing Greinke:
It is torture. Those guys, certainly different styles. That's the beauty of our game. Everybody doesn't have to be the same size or throw the hardest, whatever, there's a lot of different ways to be successful in this game.
Greinke, after losing a no-hitter in the 7th against Washington earlier this year:
I don't really think about [no-hitters] that much. I just assume I'll never throw one. Just probably be more hassle than anything.
Legend. Greinke's next start will be Game 3 of the ALDS.
*Alex Bregman had three of the Astros' seven hits, two of them doubles (one of those on the 14th pitch of the AB). Bregman is hitting .298/.421/.595. He has 37 doubles. Three more and he joins 2000 Richard Hidalgo (42 doubles, 44 home runs) and 1997 Jeff Bagwell (40 doubles, 43 home runs) as the only Astros with a 40-40 season.
*Kyle Tucker hit the 3rd home run of his career in the 9th inning, extending the Astros' franchise record for consecutive games with a home run to 21.
*Jake Marisnick is 5x31 in September.
*Carlos Correa was out of the lineup last night. The Astros have played 320 regular season games since the beginning of the 2018 season. Carlos Correa has played in 185 (57.8%) of them. He turned 25 on September 22. Why was he out? His back was still tight after the flight from Houston to Seattle. Were this the playoffs, he'd be in the lineup, he said. Carlos Correa has had eleven PAs since August 19. He played September 17, September 20, and September 21.
A.J. Hinch announced that Correa won't play tonight at Anaheim, due to getting in so late. Hinch:
I think it is smart for us to play it more cautiously. I'll feel better when he's on the field. There's a certain timing and rhythm and playing that he needs to do to make us all feel better. He played very well when he was active a few days ago.
*Join Astros All-Access as they take you inside the clubhouse following the clinching of the division.
*Chandler Rome talked to Gerrit Cole about his strikeouts, and Cole ended up talking about wins:
Ultimately, it's a team stat. It's one of the things that I don't have as much control of as I think I do, but I'm as proud of it as any stat that I have. I'm looking forward to the opportunity [to win 20 games]. I think it would be really unique to have to guys win 40 games out of however many we're going to win, that would be really special and be really special for the guys playing behind us.
*In The Athletic, Jake Kaplan has three potential solutions to the Wade WTF Miley Conundrum in Game 4:
a) Jose Urquidy
b) Short-Rest Verlander
c) Bullpen Game for G4.
*Eno Sarris wonders what - if anything - predicts a team's success in the playoffs.
*A Musical Selection:
*Scoreboard Watching:
New York lost to Tampa, Los Angeles beat San Diego
Houston (104-54): -
Los Angeles (102-56): -2
New York (102-57): -2.5
Reminder that the Astros hold the tie-breaker on New York, so the Astros could clinch home field throughout the AL playoffs with a win tonight. The Yankees are off tonight before finishing their season with Arlington, who has lost nine of their last ten games, something you just hate to see.
*Chaos Watching:
After the games of last night, here's how the AL Wild Card standings...stand:Three teams.— MLB (@MLB) September 25, 2019
ONE game separating them. https://t.co/izQBHg1gph #SeptemberBaseball pic.twitter.com/J179fh44qL
Oakland beat Anaheim, Tampa beat New York, Cleveland lost to the White Sox.
WC1: Oakland (95-63)
WC2: Tampa (95-64)
Cleveland (93-65) -1.5
*Anyhow, the Astros won their 104th game of the season, breaking a franchise record set all the way back in 2018. Hinch and the team celebrated with a champagne toast:
We want to have a moment and recognize the type of season that we've had, franchise record number of wins. We have a chance to beat our own record the next few games. Just a great accomplishment as a team - a lot of players, a lot of coaches. Front office putting the team together. Everybody should be proud of this team, and our season is really just beginning with the postseason very close.
Houston went 18-1 against Seattle in 2019 and have won 13 games in a row against them. Thanks, Mariners. Houston and the 2019 Cleveland Indians are the only teams to win 18 games against an opponent in a season (Cleveland got the Tigers 18 out of 19 times).
*Zack Greinke was two outs away from a no-hitter when Austin Nola (who was 0x16 coming into that AB) singled to break it up. He's the first Astros pitcher to lose a no-hitter in the 9th since Mike Scott on June 12, 1988. Greinke: 8.1IP, 2H/0ER, 9K:1BB. He walked Dee Gordon in the 6th to end his walk-less streak at 29.1IP.
Nola only came into the game because Dee Gordon's back stiffened up after he collided with a teammate. Nola:
I watched [Greinke] all game. He was unbelievable. I don't think he threw many balls over the middle of the plate. I was just going up there looking for somewhat of a decent pitch. I knew I wasn't going to get much good stuff, but it all worked out.
Mariners manager Scott Servais, on Greinke:
It was art. He's out there just dealing and drawing it up the way he wants to. It's frustrating when he's on his game like that, because you really have to be disciplined at the plate. One of the things he's really good at is when he gets ahead in the count, the balls are just off the edge and they look like strikes. Veteran pitcher and he was really on top of his game tonight. Coming in after Cole, it's totally different styles.
More Servais, on facing Greinke:
It is torture. Those guys, certainly different styles. That's the beauty of our game. Everybody doesn't have to be the same size or throw the hardest, whatever, there's a lot of different ways to be successful in this game.
Greinke, after losing a no-hitter in the 7th against Washington earlier this year:
I don't really think about [no-hitters] that much. I just assume I'll never throw one. Just probably be more hassle than anything.
Legend. Greinke's next start will be Game 3 of the ALDS.
*Alex Bregman had three of the Astros' seven hits, two of them doubles (one of those on the 14th pitch of the AB). Bregman is hitting .298/.421/.595. He has 37 doubles. Three more and he joins 2000 Richard Hidalgo (42 doubles, 44 home runs) and 1997 Jeff Bagwell (40 doubles, 43 home runs) as the only Astros with a 40-40 season.
*Kyle Tucker hit the 3rd home run of his career in the 9th inning, extending the Astros' franchise record for consecutive games with a home run to 21.
*Jake Marisnick is 5x31 in September.
*Carlos Correa was out of the lineup last night. The Astros have played 320 regular season games since the beginning of the 2018 season. Carlos Correa has played in 185 (57.8%) of them. He turned 25 on September 22. Why was he out? His back was still tight after the flight from Houston to Seattle. Were this the playoffs, he'd be in the lineup, he said. Carlos Correa has had eleven PAs since August 19. He played September 17, September 20, and September 21.
A.J. Hinch announced that Correa won't play tonight at Anaheim, due to getting in so late. Hinch:
I think it is smart for us to play it more cautiously. I'll feel better when he's on the field. There's a certain timing and rhythm and playing that he needs to do to make us all feel better. He played very well when he was active a few days ago.
*Join Astros All-Access as they take you inside the clubhouse following the clinching of the division.
*Chandler Rome talked to Gerrit Cole about his strikeouts, and Cole ended up talking about wins:
Ultimately, it's a team stat. It's one of the things that I don't have as much control of as I think I do, but I'm as proud of it as any stat that I have. I'm looking forward to the opportunity [to win 20 games]. I think it would be really unique to have to guys win 40 games out of however many we're going to win, that would be really special and be really special for the guys playing behind us.
*In The Athletic, Jake Kaplan has three potential solutions to the Wade WTF Miley Conundrum in Game 4:
a) Jose Urquidy
b) Short-Rest Verlander
c) Bullpen Game for G4.
*Eno Sarris wonders what - if anything - predicts a team's success in the playoffs.
*A Musical Selection:
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Wednesday Morning Hot Links
You're not going to believe this, but the Houston Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners again. Here is the recap.
Gerrit Cole set a franchise strikeout record with 316 K's this season and counting.
Carlos Correa sat out once again with back tightness that inflicted him while on the plane to Seattle, but """""plans""""" to be in the lineup tomorrow. Carlos will now be taking a boat for ALDS road games in Tampa.
A.J. doesn't expect us to take it easy now that the division is locked up.
The Astros just in general are having a real good time.
So what's the plan with Miley? If not Miley, who else?
Can Alex Bregman do enough to pass Trout? He's trying.
Jose Urquidy looks like he will be seeing the 2020 rotation.
Joe Espada may be finding a manager job this offseason.
Bagwell v. Landscapers has officially kicked off.
The first article of a guy putting an insane amount of money on the Astros has now been uploaded to the Internet.
This might be my new favorite article headline: "After Woman bites Tiger Truck Stop Camel, Animal Given Precautionary Antibiotics"
Gerrit Cole set a franchise strikeout record with 316 K's this season and counting.
Carlos Correa sat out once again with back tightness that inflicted him while on the plane to Seattle, but """""plans""""" to be in the lineup tomorrow. Carlos will now be taking a boat for ALDS road games in Tampa.
A.J. doesn't expect us to take it easy now that the division is locked up.
The Astros just in general are having a real good time.
So what's the plan with Miley? If not Miley, who else?
Can Alex Bregman do enough to pass Trout? He's trying.
Jose Urquidy looks like he will be seeing the 2020 rotation.
Joe Espada may be finding a manager job this offseason.
Bagwell v. Landscapers has officially kicked off.
The first article of a guy putting an insane amount of money on the Astros has now been uploaded to the Internet.
This might be my new favorite article headline: "After Woman bites Tiger Truck Stop Camel, Animal Given Precautionary Antibiotics"
Monday, September 23, 2019
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!
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!
Sunday, September 22, 2019
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.
*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.
*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.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Monday Morning Hot Links
The Astros beat the piss out of the Royals, and the 2019 Astros should absolutely beat the piss out of the 2019 Royals. Houston won 12-3 and improved to 98-53. There are 11 regular season games left. The Astros would need to go 6-5 down the stretch in order to set the franchise record for wins in a season. And they're about to get Carlos Correa, Ryan Pressly, and Brad Peacock back. The Astros are off today. Houston is 10-4 in September and 41-20 since the All-Star Break.
*The Blue Jays beat the Yankees, the Dodgers beat the Mets.
So...
Houston (98-53): -
New York (98-53) -
Los Angeles (97-54): -1
Houston has Texas, Anaheim, at Seattle, at Anaheim to end the season. New York has Anaheim, Toronto, at Tampa, at Arlington. Los Angeles has Tampa, Colorado, at San Diego at San Francisco. There are 13 days left in the regular season.
Playoff Odds!
*To the Astros sweep of the Royals: Wade Miley pitched well! 6IP, 7H/2ER, 4K:2BB. Miley's 6IP are the most since August 2. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 19 of his 31 starts. Reddick - more on him in a minute - said that Sunday's game helped Miley more than anybody:
The biggest boost forward was for Wade. He's been the same guy. After his first (bad) start, he came in and was the same guy. The second start got to him a little bit more. He lost his confidence, I think. He was kind of quiet.
Miley established his inner-half fastball. Miley:
Once I got out of the first inning, a big weight came off my shoulders. So just go in and attack and I was able to go six.
*Josh Reddick enjoyed the first 5-hit day of his career. He had five hits in his previous 24 PAs. It's his 32nd multi-hit game of the season. It's only the 5th time in his career he's gotten on base five times in a game, the first since September 8, 2017. Reddick has hit three home runs in September, and his 3RBI equaled his September total coming into Sunday. Reddick:
[The dugout is] telling me to go out and get the fifth one and, as soon as I hit it and it got through the infield, I could hear my dugout as I was running down the baseline. A great feeling all around. These days don't come around without a few lucky hits in there.
*Will Leitch says that Josh Reddick's 2019 season has been better than it looks.
*Kyle Tucker hit his 2nd home run of the season, Gurriel hit his 28th.
*The Astros have seven games left against the Angels. They'll be without Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, maybe John Lackey and probably Tim Salmon against Houston. Does that open the door for a Bregman MVP? I don't think so, but it's fun to think about, I guess.
*Springer and Altuve had Sunday off, in advance of an off-day today, and another on Thursday, as Hinch remains committed to the regular rest leading into October. Hinch:
These guys are going to get rest days. I've tried to warn everybody and tried to explain it over and over that [Sunday's lineup] is a team that we think we can win with.
*Aaron Sanchez had surgery last week but, as of yesterday, Luhnow had not received an update on the surgery or his prognosis. Aaron Sanchez is literally dead to Jeff Luhnow.
*Brittany Ghiroli has a great story in The Athletic on Aaron Barrett.
*A Musical Selection:
*The Blue Jays beat the Yankees, the Dodgers beat the Mets.
So...
Houston (98-53): -
New York (98-53) -
Los Angeles (97-54): -1
Houston has Texas, Anaheim, at Seattle, at Anaheim to end the season. New York has Anaheim, Toronto, at Tampa, at Arlington. Los Angeles has Tampa, Colorado, at San Diego at San Francisco. There are 13 days left in the regular season.
Playoff Odds!
| Site | Proj. Rec. | % to win ALW | % to win AL | % to win WS |
| B-Ref | 105-57 | 99.9% | 30.9% | 14.5% |
| FanGraphs | 106-56 | 100.0% | 44.7% | 32.3% |
| 538 | 105-57 | >99% | - | 26.0% |
| BPro | 105-57 | 100.0% | - | 24.9% |
*To the Astros sweep of the Royals: Wade Miley pitched well! 6IP, 7H/2ER, 4K:2BB. Miley's 6IP are the most since August 2. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 19 of his 31 starts. Reddick - more on him in a minute - said that Sunday's game helped Miley more than anybody:
The biggest boost forward was for Wade. He's been the same guy. After his first (bad) start, he came in and was the same guy. The second start got to him a little bit more. He lost his confidence, I think. He was kind of quiet.
Miley established his inner-half fastball. Miley:
Once I got out of the first inning, a big weight came off my shoulders. So just go in and attack and I was able to go six.
*Josh Reddick enjoyed the first 5-hit day of his career. He had five hits in his previous 24 PAs. It's his 32nd multi-hit game of the season. It's only the 5th time in his career he's gotten on base five times in a game, the first since September 8, 2017. Reddick has hit three home runs in September, and his 3RBI equaled his September total coming into Sunday. Reddick:
[The dugout is] telling me to go out and get the fifth one and, as soon as I hit it and it got through the infield, I could hear my dugout as I was running down the baseline. A great feeling all around. These days don't come around without a few lucky hits in there.
*Will Leitch says that Josh Reddick's 2019 season has been better than it looks.
*Kyle Tucker hit his 2nd home run of the season, Gurriel hit his 28th.
*The Astros have seven games left against the Angels. They'll be without Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, maybe John Lackey and probably Tim Salmon against Houston. Does that open the door for a Bregman MVP? I don't think so, but it's fun to think about, I guess.
*Springer and Altuve had Sunday off, in advance of an off-day today, and another on Thursday, as Hinch remains committed to the regular rest leading into October. Hinch:
These guys are going to get rest days. I've tried to warn everybody and tried to explain it over and over that [Sunday's lineup] is a team that we think we can win with.
*Aaron Sanchez had surgery last week but, as of yesterday, Luhnow had not received an update on the surgery or his prognosis. Aaron Sanchez is literally dead to Jeff Luhnow.
*Brittany Ghiroli has a great story in The Athletic on Aaron Barrett.
*A Musical Selection:
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Sunday Morning Hot Links
The Astros needed a pinch-hit jack from Yordan as they scored late again to beat the Royals, again. Houston is 97-53. The Astros have won two in a row, and are 7-3 in their last ten, and are 19-8 since the previous time they dropped three of four to the A's. There are 12 regular season games left. Houston needs to go 7-5 in order to set a franchise record for wins.
*The Yankees won, the Dodgers lost, so...
New York (98-52): -
Houston (97-53): -1
Los Angeles (96-54): -2
*Zack Greinke threw 6IP, 6H/1ER, 7K:0BB. After walking seven batters in his first 19IP as an Astro, Greinke has now walked one batter in his last 30.1IP. Greinke mixed in some pitches in the high-50s/low-60s. Hinch:
I've never seen one that slow and I don't think he's thrown that many that slow. He threw a couple of good ones. It was a game plan that he was going to do against some of these guys who were a little jumpy at the plate. It was very, very effective.
Greinke's first six starts with Houston: 37.1IP, 41H/16ER, 27K:8BB, 5HR. 3.86 ERA / 1.31 WHIP.
Greinke's last two starts with Houston: 12IP, 8H/1ER, 11K:0BB, 0HR. 0.75 ERA / 0.67 WHIP.
Greinke:
I had planned on using the curve, and it was pretty good at the start, so I used it a little more than I planned on. It's one of my better pitches, so I thought it would be a good option. I just threw what was called for the most part. I thought everything was good today, except for a couple of mistakes.
Greinke has now recorded a Win over all 30 MLB teams, joining Max Scherzer as the only active pitchers with the achievement. He also has recorded a Win in 29 ballparks. The only active ballparks in which he has not won are: Fenway, Camden Yards, Tropicana Field, and Yankee Stadium.
*Kyle Tucker was 4x4 with a walk and an RBI. It's obviously a career-high in hits, his 3rd multi-hit game of the season (month), 4th of his career. Tucker raised his OPS from .757 to .918 in one game. Hinch:
Watching [Tucker] behind the scenes, I think he's much more prepared for the opportunity this time. We told him that he'd get more opportunities if he produced more. He's doing his part and we're doing our part.
Which seems...never mind.
Chandler Rome notes that Tucker is the youngest Astro to reach base five times in a game since Terry Puhl in 1978.
*Robinson Chirinos drew three walks for the third time in his career and the first time since he drew four walks against Seattle on June 6. That's five walks in Chirinos' last two games (he got the first game of the Royals series off because Cole was pitching). He had drawn five walks since July 22 (107 PAs).
*Alex Bregman hit his 36th home run of the season and also drew three walks.
*Yordan Alvarez hit his 25th home run in his 76th game. Game of other significant players' 25th home career home run:
Aaron Judge: 85
Albert Pujols: 101
Mike Trout: 128
Miguel Cabrera: 136
Alex Rodriguez: 141
Barry Bonds: 175
Jeff Bagwell: 254
Bregman, Springer, Altuve, Gurriel, Yordan. The Astros have never had five 25+ HR hitters in a season before 2019.
*SI's Tom Verducci says Yordan is the 4th-best rookie of 2019...
*The current plan for Carlos Correa is to rejoin the team when the Astros open a two-game series against Arlington on Tuesday and go finish up the rehab with Houston. Hinch:
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.
Ryan Pressly and Brad Peacock are also apparently feeling great, and getting ready to go.
*Fayetteville got shutout for 20 consecutive innings, losing 2-0 to Wilmington and ending their inaugural season at Segra Stadium.
*Wade Miley takes the mound to try to complete the sweep of the Royals before the Astros get two days off this week. The last 15 batters Miley has faced:
Single: 10
Double: 2
Walk: 2
Home Run: 1
Out: 1
*The Reds allowed one baserunner all night...and lost.
*Outside: The not-so-new rules of healthy eating.
*Vice: Amazon's "Undone" is everything streaming tv should be.
*A Musical Selection:
The Hot Links Playlist on Spotify is now at 190 songs and twelve hours long.
*The Yankees won, the Dodgers lost, so...
New York (98-52): -
Houston (97-53): -1
Los Angeles (96-54): -2
*Zack Greinke threw 6IP, 6H/1ER, 7K:0BB. After walking seven batters in his first 19IP as an Astro, Greinke has now walked one batter in his last 30.1IP. Greinke mixed in some pitches in the high-50s/low-60s. Hinch:
I've never seen one that slow and I don't think he's thrown that many that slow. He threw a couple of good ones. It was a game plan that he was going to do against some of these guys who were a little jumpy at the plate. It was very, very effective.
Greinke's first six starts with Houston: 37.1IP, 41H/16ER, 27K:8BB, 5HR. 3.86 ERA / 1.31 WHIP.
Greinke's last two starts with Houston: 12IP, 8H/1ER, 11K:0BB, 0HR. 0.75 ERA / 0.67 WHIP.
Greinke:
I had planned on using the curve, and it was pretty good at the start, so I used it a little more than I planned on. It's one of my better pitches, so I thought it would be a good option. I just threw what was called for the most part. I thought everything was good today, except for a couple of mistakes.
Greinke has now recorded a Win over all 30 MLB teams, joining Max Scherzer as the only active pitchers with the achievement. He also has recorded a Win in 29 ballparks. The only active ballparks in which he has not won are: Fenway, Camden Yards, Tropicana Field, and Yankee Stadium.
*Kyle Tucker was 4x4 with a walk and an RBI. It's obviously a career-high in hits, his 3rd multi-hit game of the season (month), 4th of his career. Tucker raised his OPS from .757 to .918 in one game. Hinch:
Watching [Tucker] behind the scenes, I think he's much more prepared for the opportunity this time. We told him that he'd get more opportunities if he produced more. He's doing his part and we're doing our part.
Which seems...never mind.
Chandler Rome notes that Tucker is the youngest Astro to reach base five times in a game since Terry Puhl in 1978.
*Robinson Chirinos drew three walks for the third time in his career and the first time since he drew four walks against Seattle on June 6. That's five walks in Chirinos' last two games (he got the first game of the Royals series off because Cole was pitching). He had drawn five walks since July 22 (107 PAs).
*Alex Bregman hit his 36th home run of the season and also drew three walks.
*Yordan Alvarez hit his 25th home run in his 76th game. Game of other significant players' 25th home career home run:
Aaron Judge: 85
Albert Pujols: 101
Mike Trout: 128
Miguel Cabrera: 136
Alex Rodriguez: 141
Barry Bonds: 175
Jeff Bagwell: 254
Bregman, Springer, Altuve, Gurriel, Yordan. The Astros have never had five 25+ HR hitters in a season before 2019.
*SI's Tom Verducci says Yordan is the 4th-best rookie of 2019...
*The current plan for Carlos Correa is to rejoin the team when the Astros open a two-game series against Arlington on Tuesday and go finish up the rehab with Houston. Hinch:
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.
Ryan Pressly and Brad Peacock are also apparently feeling great, and getting ready to go.
*Fayetteville got shutout for 20 consecutive innings, losing 2-0 to Wilmington and ending their inaugural season at Segra Stadium.
*Wade Miley takes the mound to try to complete the sweep of the Royals before the Astros get two days off this week. The last 15 batters Miley has faced:
Single: 10
Double: 2
Walk: 2
Home Run: 1
Out: 1
*The Reds allowed one baserunner all night...and lost.
*Outside: The not-so-new rules of healthy eating.
*Vice: Amazon's "Undone" is everything streaming tv should be.
*A Musical Selection:
The Hot Links Playlist on Spotify is now at 190 songs and twelve hours long.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Wednesday Morning Hot Links
Ever since I took over the Hot Links, the Astros are only outscoring their opponents 43-22 :/// Not nearly as fun as yesterday's stat.
Reminder, James has you covered on the Hot Links for the next 4 days.
So the Astros got an at-home waxing last evening by Oakland 21-7 and hAhA i DiDnT kNoW tHeY pLaYeD fOoTbAlL oN tHuRsDaY. And yet again, more history was made last night.
Also, Wade Miley is carrying a less than stellar 324.00 ERA in his last two starts. And you know what they say: if you're in the same company as Elmer Riddle, you know you've done something wrong! (nobody has ever said this.)
One piece of good news: the Astros officially broke the team's single-season home run record.
Tonight's conclusion of the 48-hour-bullpen-day-palooza will lead off with Jose Urquidy.
Here's a look at even more records the Astros continue to break.
And, of course, somebody always has to be there to bring us back down to reality.
The Astros are conveniently dropping Carlos Correa in for a rehab assignment during the AAA championship game, which is hilarious to me.
While we're talking championships, here's a season recap of how Fayetteville got to their championship series as well.
The Astros commemorated the 800 foot Yordan Alvarez home run by painting the seat a bright orange.
The next wave of young exciting Astros pitchers has gotten...shorter.
Bryan Abreu is making the most of his time as a Houston Astro.
Here is a look at the current MLB landscape as it stands in relation to the playoff hunt with only three weeks to go.
Terrible news out of Milwaukee as Christian Yelich fractured his kneecap, ending his season. The Brew Crew are only 1.5 GB from the wild card slot in the NL.
Things you hate to see: our favorite real life superhero "Excuseman" was the super villain after all.
Friday, September 6, 2019
Friday Morning Hot Links
Wade Miley had a historically bad start for the Astros at a really bad time. Again. The Astros were down 7-0, 7-1, 7-3, 7-5, 8-5, tied it up at 8-8, down 9-8, tied at 9-9, and finally walked it off with a Michael Brantley home run to win an improbable game 11-9. Relievers got 39 outs. Houston is 91-50, 52-17 at home. There are 21 regular season games left.
*Oakland scored seven runs in the 7th to beat Anaheim 10-6. So the relevant leaderboard looks like this:
Best Record
New York (92-49): -
Los Angeles (92-50): -0.5
Houston (91-50): -1.0
AL Wild Card
1. Tampa (83-59): +0.5
2. Oakland (81-58): 0.0
3. Cleveland (81-60): -1.0
*Updating the Home Franchise Record leaderboard:
1998: 55-26
1980: 55-26
2015: 53-28
2005: 53-28
2019: 52-17
1986: 52-29
1979: 52-29
1969: 52-29
*Houston has won 13 of their last 17 games. They're 10-3 in extra-innings. The Astros are 13-1 against the Mariners in 2019, having won eight straight games, three of those being walk-offs. They're 24-2 against the AL West at home in 2019.
*The Astros' largest previous comeback in 2019 was five runs, so last night's game set a new season-high. McTaggart notes that it's the biggest comeback win since July 18, 1994, when the Astros beat the Cardinals 15-12. Hinch:
We just hung in there, we kept chipping away, we got some big swings and we look up and we tied the game. We kept that game alive and ultimately the big swing at the end with Mike. A lot happened in that game and obviously it started out terribly for us but finished in dramatic fashion.
*On August 14, the day after Gerrit Cole couldn't take the mound for his start in the second game of a double-header against Chicago (on the front end of a 17-games-in-17-days stretch), Wade Miley threw 3.1IP, allowing 9H/7R (3ER). Thursday night, on the first of 11 games in 11 days, Miley didn't even record an out, allowing 5H/5ER, 0K:1BB. He threw 31 pitches. It's his worst start since September 14, 2017 when he allowed 6H/6ER in 0.1IP to the Yankees, but it only took him 19 pitches to do that.
Miley is the 3rd pitcher in 2019 (White Sox' Dylan Covey and the Mets' Steven Matz) to start a game and not record a single solitary out. The Astros' Scott Elarton did it on July 8, 2001 and Jim Deshaies did it on July 16, 1991, but both threw less than five pitches each. Though the pitch data for the franchise is incomplete, Miley is the first Astros SP to throw more than 20 pitches in a start and not record an out since Jim Clancy did it on August 3, 1989. Miley:
It's the best I felt in a month. They had me today. Tip your hat. Sometimes you get your butt whipped and I got my butt whipped.
Having only thrown 31 pitches, he should be good here in a couple of days to go back out and try it again.
Cy Sneed, Jose Urquidy, Joe Biagini, Joe Smith, Roberto Osuna, Hector Rondon, and Josh James combined to throw 13IP, 7H/4ER, 15K:3BB.
*Kyle Tucker hit the first MLB home run of his career in his 78th PA, and then added an RBI single to push the game to the 13th inning. The Astros are 1-0 all-time when Kyle Tucker hits a home run.
*Before Brantley's single in the 6th, he was on an 0x17 slump since his 19-game hitting streak. It was Brantley's first walk-off home run since August 3, 2014, when he did it against the Ramgers. Brantley:
I think that's what makes a team special, a never-give-up attitude and we're always in every game, and we did that tonight.
Brantley's 20th home run of 2019 ties his career-high.
*Josh Reddick was 3x3 with a walk and hit his first home run since June 28.
*Brian McTaggart has your Meat Wagon updates:
-Springer is day-to-day with a "mild concussion."
-Pressly will play catch from the mound on Friday.
-Peacock will play catch for the first time and could rejoin the team before the regular season ends.
-McHugh hasn't played catch since going back on the IL on August 31.
-Correa:
We've got to take it slowly because I don't want to rush into it and play a week and then get hurt again and miss the playoffs. We're building up for me to play every playoff game we're going to play. That's the main goal. Focus on the rehab and get back to 100 percent and show up and keep playing all the way until November.
Carlos Correa was called up on June 8, 2015. The Astros played 104 games after, and including, the game in which he joined the Astros. Including Thursday night's game, the Astros have played 731 regular season games in the Carlos Correa Era. Correa has played in 543 of those games, or 74.3%. He'll be 25 on September 22.
In that same span, here's the percentage of regular season games in which various Astros have played since June 8, 2015 (note: some of the following will include games played while members of other organizations, but everyone ):
Altuve: 89.2%
Springer: 81.7%
Correa: 74.3%
Brantley: 63.5%
Correa has played in 72 games in 2019 (massage, back), and has missed 40% of the Astros' regular season games since the beginning of 2018. Yordan Alvarez - called up on June 9 - will match Correa's 2019 season total in games played next week.
MEANWHILE, Correa has switched representation on the advice of [shuffles notes] Alex Rodriguez, and will be represented by Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, and Al Roker's agent, Jon Rosen. Correa will be his first MLB client. This - every word of this entire section - is all so very tiring.
*Well well well Aaron Sanchez's tiddy issue turned into an apparently massive shoulder issue as he will have surgery next week that will shut him down for the season. Hinch:
We may see him back here at some point in September just as a teammate. It's a bummer for him. It's tough for us. We expected him to contribute down the stretch and unfortunately he won't be able to pitch.
At this rate, given the "good news" surrounding Springer, it'll be amazing if Springer's brain is actually still in his head.
*Might have linked to this earlier (in the week, in the season, you never know with SI) but the Astros' pitching revolution is a remarkably simple fix, writes Stephanie Apstein...shortly before Wade Miley crapped the bed.
Minor-League Playoffs!
*Another night, another walk-off win for Round Rock as they take a 2-0 lead in the Best-of-Five round with a 4-3 win in the 10th. Brandon Bielak threw 6IP, 8H/3ER, 3K:1BB and Bryan Abreu and Riley Ferrell combined to throw 4IP, 1H/0ER, 4K:2BB. Taylor Jones got the game-winning knock. Game 3 is tonight in Iowa.
*In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, now a Category 1 aiming forAlabama North Carolina's Outer Banks today, Fayetteville and Down East (tied 1-1) will resume play tonight.
*Quad Cities dropped the potential clincher in the 1st Round Best-of-Three to Cedar Rapids, 2-1. Brett Daniels threw 6.1IP, 5H/2ER, 10K:2BB. The top five in the lineup were 0x17 with 9K:0BB. The deciding Game Three is tonight.
*Miami pitcher Brian Moran recorded his first career MLB strikeout...against his younger brother, Former Astros Great Colin Moran.
*Skip Hollandsworth: Schlitterbahn's Tragic Slide.
*The Guardian: "London Bridge is Down:" The secret plan for the days after the Queen's death.
*Outside: The Legend of Baltimore Jack (one thousand baseball writers just woke up from their sleep, smiling at the Springsteen reference, and they do not know why).
*True Story: I thought about this song yesterday morning and spent three hours trying to remember the melody, piecing together nine years of almost-constant music listening in order to get a snippet of a line, which finally turned into something Google-able, which ultimately led me to actually getting the name and artist. A Musical Selection:
*Oakland scored seven runs in the 7th to beat Anaheim 10-6. So the relevant leaderboard looks like this:
Best Record
New York (92-49): -
Los Angeles (92-50): -0.5
Houston (91-50): -1.0
AL Wild Card
1. Tampa (83-59): +0.5
2. Oakland (81-58): 0.0
3. Cleveland (81-60): -1.0
*Updating the Home Franchise Record leaderboard:
1998: 55-26
1980: 55-26
2015: 53-28
2005: 53-28
2019: 52-17
1986: 52-29
1979: 52-29
1969: 52-29
*Houston has won 13 of their last 17 games. They're 10-3 in extra-innings. The Astros are 13-1 against the Mariners in 2019, having won eight straight games, three of those being walk-offs. They're 24-2 against the AL West at home in 2019.
*The Astros' largest previous comeback in 2019 was five runs, so last night's game set a new season-high. McTaggart notes that it's the biggest comeback win since July 18, 1994, when the Astros beat the Cardinals 15-12. Hinch:
We just hung in there, we kept chipping away, we got some big swings and we look up and we tied the game. We kept that game alive and ultimately the big swing at the end with Mike. A lot happened in that game and obviously it started out terribly for us but finished in dramatic fashion.
*On August 14, the day after Gerrit Cole couldn't take the mound for his start in the second game of a double-header against Chicago (on the front end of a 17-games-in-17-days stretch), Wade Miley threw 3.1IP, allowing 9H/7R (3ER). Thursday night, on the first of 11 games in 11 days, Miley didn't even record an out, allowing 5H/5ER, 0K:1BB. He threw 31 pitches. It's his worst start since September 14, 2017 when he allowed 6H/6ER in 0.1IP to the Yankees, but it only took him 19 pitches to do that.
Miley is the 3rd pitcher in 2019 (White Sox' Dylan Covey and the Mets' Steven Matz) to start a game and not record a single solitary out. The Astros' Scott Elarton did it on July 8, 2001 and Jim Deshaies did it on July 16, 1991, but both threw less than five pitches each. Though the pitch data for the franchise is incomplete, Miley is the first Astros SP to throw more than 20 pitches in a start and not record an out since Jim Clancy did it on August 3, 1989. Miley:
It's the best I felt in a month. They had me today. Tip your hat. Sometimes you get your butt whipped and I got my butt whipped.
Having only thrown 31 pitches, he should be good here in a couple of days to go back out and try it again.
Cy Sneed, Jose Urquidy, Joe Biagini, Joe Smith, Roberto Osuna, Hector Rondon, and Josh James combined to throw 13IP, 7H/4ER, 15K:3BB.
Crazy game win probability chart for the Mariners at Astros tonight... pic.twitter.com/rsUZLi8ZO9— Daren Willman (@darenw) September 6, 2019
*Kyle Tucker hit the first MLB home run of his career in his 78th PA, and then added an RBI single to push the game to the 13th inning. The Astros are 1-0 all-time when Kyle Tucker hits a home run.
*Before Brantley's single in the 6th, he was on an 0x17 slump since his 19-game hitting streak. It was Brantley's first walk-off home run since August 3, 2014, when he did it against the Ramgers. Brantley:
I think that's what makes a team special, a never-give-up attitude and we're always in every game, and we did that tonight.
Brantley's 20th home run of 2019 ties his career-high.
*Josh Reddick was 3x3 with a walk and hit his first home run since June 28.
*Brian McTaggart has your Meat Wagon updates:
-Springer is day-to-day with a "mild concussion."
-Pressly will play catch from the mound on Friday.
-Peacock will play catch for the first time and could rejoin the team before the regular season ends.
-McHugh hasn't played catch since going back on the IL on August 31.
-Correa:
We've got to take it slowly because I don't want to rush into it and play a week and then get hurt again and miss the playoffs. We're building up for me to play every playoff game we're going to play. That's the main goal. Focus on the rehab and get back to 100 percent and show up and keep playing all the way until November.
Carlos Correa was called up on June 8, 2015. The Astros played 104 games after, and including, the game in which he joined the Astros. Including Thursday night's game, the Astros have played 731 regular season games in the Carlos Correa Era. Correa has played in 543 of those games, or 74.3%. He'll be 25 on September 22.
In that same span, here's the percentage of regular season games in which various Astros have played since June 8, 2015 (note: some of the following will include games played while members of other organizations, but everyone ):
Altuve: 89.2%
Springer: 81.7%
Correa: 74.3%
Brantley: 63.5%
Correa has played in 72 games in 2019 (massage, back), and has missed 40% of the Astros' regular season games since the beginning of 2018. Yordan Alvarez - called up on June 9 - will match Correa's 2019 season total in games played next week.
MEANWHILE, Correa has switched representation on the advice of [shuffles notes] Alex Rodriguez, and will be represented by Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, and Al Roker's agent, Jon Rosen. Correa will be his first MLB client. This - every word of this entire section - is all so very tiring.
*Well well well Aaron Sanchez's tiddy issue turned into an apparently massive shoulder issue as he will have surgery next week that will shut him down for the season. Hinch:
We may see him back here at some point in September just as a teammate. It's a bummer for him. It's tough for us. We expected him to contribute down the stretch and unfortunately he won't be able to pitch.
At this rate, given the "good news" surrounding Springer, it'll be amazing if Springer's brain is actually still in his head.
*Might have linked to this earlier (in the week, in the season, you never know with SI) but the Astros' pitching revolution is a remarkably simple fix, writes Stephanie Apstein...shortly before Wade Miley crapped the bed.
Minor-League Playoffs!
*Another night, another walk-off win for Round Rock as they take a 2-0 lead in the Best-of-Five round with a 4-3 win in the 10th. Brandon Bielak threw 6IP, 8H/3ER, 3K:1BB and Bryan Abreu and Riley Ferrell combined to throw 4IP, 1H/0ER, 4K:2BB. Taylor Jones got the game-winning knock. Game 3 is tonight in Iowa.
*In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, now a Category 1 aiming for
*Quad Cities dropped the potential clincher in the 1st Round Best-of-Three to Cedar Rapids, 2-1. Brett Daniels threw 6.1IP, 5H/2ER, 10K:2BB. The top five in the lineup were 0x17 with 9K:0BB. The deciding Game Three is tonight.
*Miami pitcher Brian Moran recorded his first career MLB strikeout...against his younger brother, Former Astros Great Colin Moran.
*Skip Hollandsworth: Schlitterbahn's Tragic Slide.
*The Guardian: "London Bridge is Down:" The secret plan for the days after the Queen's death.
*Outside: The Legend of Baltimore Jack (one thousand baseball writers just woke up from their sleep, smiling at the Springsteen reference, and they do not know why).
*True Story: I thought about this song yesterday morning and spent three hours trying to remember the melody, piecing together nine years of almost-constant music listening in order to get a snippet of a line, which finally turned into something Google-able, which ultimately led me to actually getting the name and artist. A Musical Selection:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)