July 31 is always the most distracting day for me at work. That all has to do with the invention of Twitter and the MLB Trade Deadline, which ends at 3 p.m. CT today. I figured I'd help out with a running post. If you don't want to wait for an update on the post (I do have work after all), you can check out this Twitter List for monitoring the latest news and rumors.
You can check out the news and rumors from July 30 here.
Obviously I'm going to write all this up, but I'm going to take a moment and let some of the details come in, then take a shower, then have a drink, before I get started.
3:55pm: The Greinke deal was finalized "a couple of seconds" before the deadline.
3:41pm: The Astros are assuming $53m of Greinke's remaining contract, which works out to be around $22m per year.
3:36pm: Updated World Series odds have the Astros at 2:1.
3:30pm: The Astros final haul from Toronto is Biagini, Sanchez, and Cal Stevenson.
3:24pm: Seth Beer and Josh Rojas are the others.
3:23pm: Corbin Martin and J.B. Bukauskas are two known names. Two other "high draft picks from recent years" involved.
3:16pm: Kyle Tucker is not one of those prospects.
3:15pm: Four prospects are headed to Arizona
3:13pm: The Astros have acquired Zack Greinke.
3:09pm: Toronto has apparently also traded Aaron Sanchez to Houston.
3:05pm: The Dodgers and Yankees did not get better.
3:02pm: Rosenthal's sources say Bumgarner and Wheeler are staying with their respective teams.
3:01pm: Wheeler is staying with the Mets...for now.
2:58pm: Yeah, the Angels traded for Stassi.
2:56pm: The Angels are trying to swing a deal for Max Stassi.
2:54pm: The Astros may have acquired [squints] Joe Biagini from Toronto?
2:44pm: The Mets' asking price for Zack Wheeler is "steep." A deal would be a surprise at this point.
2:42pm: Former Astros Great Mark Melancon is headed to Atlanta.
2:29pm: The Mets want to Sell AND Buy, and want to beef up their bullpen.
2:24pm: Jeff Passan says on ESPN that Wheeler is either going to the Astros or Rays.
2:21pm: The Yankees are out on Zack Wheeler
2:13pm: The Dodgers have traded for St. Louis' Jedd Gyorko.
2:11pm: The Tigers are close to sending closer Shane Greene to Atlanta.
2:08pm: Still the Astros, Rays, and Yankees in on Wheeler, but the Mets will hold on to him if they don't get the deal they want.
2:00pm: One hour until the Trade Deadline.
1:48pm: Madison Bumgarner remains available, and the Giants will be listening until the deadline.
1:45pm: The Rays have made an offer to the Mets for Wheeler, but both sides are "not close."
1:43pm: Astros, Rays, and Yankees are talking to the Mets about Wheeler. No word on romance level.
1:41pm: Buster Olney just said on ESPN that the feeling is Bumgarner will stay in San Francisco.
1:36pm: Astros and Rays are in on Zack Wheeler, activity is described as "hot and heavy."
1:34pm: The Nationals also got Hunter Strickland from Seattle - their 3rd bullpen addition of the day.
1:31pm: Arizona wanted Clint Frazier plus three prospects from New York for Robbie Ray.
1:25pm: Oakland has acquired pitcher Tanner Roark from Cincinnati.
1:25pm: Apparently it's Drew Pomeranz going to the Brewers from San Francisco.
1:23pm: The Giants and Brewers have agreed to a deal, but it does not include Madison Bumgarner.
1:20pm: The Rays are in on Zack Wheeler.
1:09pm: The Nationals have also acquired lefty reliever Roenis Elias from Seattle - their 2nd bullpen addition of the day.
1:01pm: Martin Maldonado seems to confirm the trade back to Houston.
12:56pm: With the Trade Deadline just over two hours away, a sense of urgency "has started to pick up."
12:54pm: Talks between the Yankees and Diamondbacks on Robbie Ray are now "dead."
12:52pm: The Nationals have traded for Toronto reliever Daniel Hudson.
12:51pm: The Yankees are "considering" Former Astros Great Ken Giles.
12:28pm: The belief now is that the Mets will hold on to closer Edwin Diaz.
12:18pm: Based on cost, it looks like Zach Wheeler is the Astros preferred option.
12:04pm: Astros pitchers loved throwing to Maldonado.
11:58am: Tony Kemp is going to the Cubs for Maldonado. Good for him!
11:55am: Astros acquire Martin Maldonado from Cubs! Check the County Mountie's write-up here.
11:51am: Both Yankees and Astros in on Bumgarner and Wheeler. My prediction is Yankees get Bumgarner. Astros get Wheeler. I doubt the Mets really want to deal with the Yankees. They're just using them as leverage against the Astros.
11:34am: Sounds like there's not much going on the Robbie Ray front.
10:59am: Astros and Yankees are inquiring on Ray from the Diamondbacks.
10:56am: Zack Wheeler market is heating up!
10:46am: Astros focused on Zach Wheeler and Robbie Ray.
10:43am: Astros are in discussions about reliever help. Ryan Pressley was put on the IL yesterday, retroactive to July 27.
10:32am: Justin Verlander is just like us! Hi Justin!
10:21am: "The Mets are fielding calls from 9 teams on Wheeler." I suspect the Astros are one of those teams.
9:16am: Some news on the Yankees, Giants, and Mets. Hoping this is a sign that reporters are heads down getting information on the next trade. Oh and other teams expect Wheeler to be dealt.
7:40am:
Astros are on Madison Bumgarner's "special" no-trade list. Rival execs
don't think that will be an issue as getting traded won't saddle him
with a qualifying offer. Similar to Justin Verlander a few years ago,
this might be a trade that goes down to the wire. If it actually
happens.
6:18am: Reds are keeping Bauer, not flipping him. That should make a lot of the Astros' faithful happy.
4:03am: GMs expect Zack Wheeler, Robbie Ray, and Mike Minor to be moved today.
Here are the details from the Tyler Bauer to Cincinnati, Yasiel Puig to Cleveland, and Taylor Trammel to San Diego three-team trade.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label Yasiel Puig. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yasiel Puig. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Monday, December 17, 2018
Monday Morning Hot Links
Fellas I'm gonna be honest with you..it's Monday. Are they cool? Of course not! Do I have Hot Links for you to make the day suck less? Sure I guess I can try to do that. There were a lot of links yesterday and not a lot of action since, but I might be able to conjure something up.
\Nelson Cruz is the perfect fit for the Houston Astros and they should be all the way in on this signing.
\Conner Byrne from MLBTradeRumors is reporting the Dodgers want to part with Puig and the Tigers want to part with Castellanos. Astros are interested in both.
\Luhnow wants Framber Valdez and my GUY Cionel Perez has the lefties out of the pen and honestly I am super okay with this.
\Many teams are interested in Houston Astros great Mike Fiers.
\Tony Kemp just never stops being a good dude.
\Sad news as Astros superfan Eugenia Rios lost her 5 year battle with brain cancer.
\Brian McTaggart would like to answer your questions for some reason. Guess you might as well ask him something.
\ASTROS HALL OF FAME BALLOT TRACKER (through 48 ballots):
Roger Clemens - 70.8%
Andy Pettite - 16.7%
Jeff Kent - 10.4%
Billy Wagner - 6.3%
Lance Berkman - 4.2%
Roy Oswalt - 2.1%
Miguel Tejada - 0%
Rick Ankiel - 0%
Detailed spreadsheet with additional info can be found here.
\Somebody actually pitched this idea at a board meeting. Even more surprisingly, it LANDED.
\A podcast might have ended up finding the murderer from a 36 year old case.
Here concludes the end of the post. The Internet has been scoured and all hyperlinks have been corralled. Thank you for spending your time here at astroscounty.com. Toodles!
\Nelson Cruz is the perfect fit for the Houston Astros and they should be all the way in on this signing.
\Conner Byrne from MLBTradeRumors is reporting the Dodgers want to part with Puig and the Tigers want to part with Castellanos. Astros are interested in both.
\Luhnow wants Framber Valdez and my GUY Cionel Perez has the lefties out of the pen and honestly I am super okay with this.
\Many teams are interested in Houston Astros great Mike Fiers.
\Tony Kemp just never stops being a good dude.
\Sad news as Astros superfan Eugenia Rios lost her 5 year battle with brain cancer.
\Brian McTaggart would like to answer your questions for some reason. Guess you might as well ask him something.
\ASTROS HALL OF FAME BALLOT TRACKER (through 48 ballots):
Roger Clemens - 70.8%
Andy Pettite - 16.7%
Jeff Kent - 10.4%
Billy Wagner - 6.3%
Lance Berkman - 4.2%
Roy Oswalt - 2.1%
Miguel Tejada - 0%
Rick Ankiel - 0%
Detailed spreadsheet with additional info can be found here.
\Somebody actually pitched this idea at a board meeting. Even more surprisingly, it LANDED.
\A podcast might have ended up finding the murderer from a 36 year old case.
Here concludes the end of the post. The Internet has been scoured and all hyperlinks have been corralled. Thank you for spending your time here at astroscounty.com. Toodles!
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Saturday Morning Hot Links
Good morning. Thank God that week is in the rear view mirror.
*Alex Bregman, March-May 2018 (250 PAs): .262/.380/.419, 18 2B / 5 HR, 31K:36BB
Bregman, June 1-end of reg season (455 PAs): .299/.402/.594, 33 2B / 26HR, 54K:60BB
*From Eno Sarris in The Athletic, on the unregulated trend of player development:
Multiple sources tell me that the Astros have spent more money on the hardware hooked up in Minute Maid Park than other teams spend on their entire player development department in a year. Every team has Trackman...but the Astros have enough high-speed, high-definition cameras capturing video of each of those movements for biomechanics analysis to make most player development directors blush.
*The Rays have "expressed interest and had initial conversations with" Charlie Morton's camp, reports the inestimable Marc Topkin. Please don't let CFM go to Tampa and pitch in Shag Carpet Stadium.
*Ralph Bowden says the Astros are still in on J.T. Realmuto, but not as aggressive as the Mets, Phillies, Braves, Padres, and Rays.
*Jon Heyman says the Astros have considered Josh Harrison as a Marwin replacement, "if they can't sign Gonzalez." Harrison is coming off a year in which he hit .250/.293/.363 with eight home runs in 374 PAs.
*With a year left on his deal and getting increasingly platooned, Yasiel Puig might get traded. In 2018 Puig got 291 PAs vs righties, with a .297/.357/.564 slash line and 153 PAs vs lefties, against whom he posted a .209/.268/.360 line.
Please note that Josh Reddick, ALSO A RIGHT-FIELDER, got 343 PAs against RHPs and posted a .231/.318/.351 line. Against LHPs, though, he hit .269/.319/.507, in 144 PAs.
It wouldn't help the angst over getting platooned, but Puig (owed $9,214,000 in 2019) and Reddick ($13m) combined would make a pretty damn good RF option
*The Astros' Triple-A trainer, Lee Meyer, has been promoted to Houston as assistant athletic trainer. This is where we are with this offseason.
*Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo werekilled in a car crash murdered by bandits. Four people have been arrested.
*The Valbuena game I will always remember happened on July 8, 2016. The Astros had a 7-4 lead on Oakland going into the top of the 9th at Minute Maid. Collin McHugh wasn't great, throwing 6IP, 8H/4R (3ER), 3K:2BB. Oakland starter Daniel Mengden was worse. Will Harris and Michael Feliz combined to hold Oakland to just five runs in the top of the 9th, giving Oakland a 9-7 lead. Marwin led off the inning and tried to bunt his way on, and it didn't work. One out. Altuve singled and stole second, bringing up Correa. Correa struck out on a terrible pitch, so terrible that the ball got away from catcher Stephen Vogt, and he reached base, giving Valbuena runners on the corners. He ambushed the first pitch Ryan Madson threw that AB to deep right field, giving the Astros a walk-off win.
It wasn't the bat flippiest of celebrations, but that was fun.
Yahoo's Tim Brown: Luis Valbuena celebrated life.
*Yesterday was the 77th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, one of the monumentally dumbest acts of military aggression in history. That attack ended the Great Depression and ushered in an era of American dominance on the world stage. This 97-year old man swam through burning fuel to survive.
*A musical selection: Here's Prince covering Creep.
*The story behind the $100m deal between Netflix and Friends.
*Good news: A Nazi was convicted of murder.
*Then there's this 22-minute film from 1943:
*Alex Bregman, March-May 2018 (250 PAs): .262/.380/.419, 18 2B / 5 HR, 31K:36BB
Bregman, June 1-end of reg season (455 PAs): .299/.402/.594, 33 2B / 26HR, 54K:60BB
*From Eno Sarris in The Athletic, on the unregulated trend of player development:
Multiple sources tell me that the Astros have spent more money on the hardware hooked up in Minute Maid Park than other teams spend on their entire player development department in a year. Every team has Trackman...but the Astros have enough high-speed, high-definition cameras capturing video of each of those movements for biomechanics analysis to make most player development directors blush.
*The Rays have "expressed interest and had initial conversations with" Charlie Morton's camp, reports the inestimable Marc Topkin. Please don't let CFM go to Tampa and pitch in Shag Carpet Stadium.
*Ralph Bowden says the Astros are still in on J.T. Realmuto, but not as aggressive as the Mets, Phillies, Braves, Padres, and Rays.
*Jon Heyman says the Astros have considered Josh Harrison as a Marwin replacement, "if they can't sign Gonzalez." Harrison is coming off a year in which he hit .250/.293/.363 with eight home runs in 374 PAs.
*With a year left on his deal and getting increasingly platooned, Yasiel Puig might get traded. In 2018 Puig got 291 PAs vs righties, with a .297/.357/.564 slash line and 153 PAs vs lefties, against whom he posted a .209/.268/.360 line.
Please note that Josh Reddick, ALSO A RIGHT-FIELDER, got 343 PAs against RHPs and posted a .231/.318/.351 line. Against LHPs, though, he hit .269/.319/.507, in 144 PAs.
It wouldn't help the angst over getting platooned, but Puig (owed $9,214,000 in 2019) and Reddick ($13m) combined would make a pretty damn good RF option
*The Astros' Triple-A trainer, Lee Meyer, has been promoted to Houston as assistant athletic trainer. This is where we are with this offseason.
*Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were
Thanks for the memories, Luis Valbuena. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1KqMyq4b1Q— MLB (@MLB) December 7, 2018
*The Valbuena game I will always remember happened on July 8, 2016. The Astros had a 7-4 lead on Oakland going into the top of the 9th at Minute Maid. Collin McHugh wasn't great, throwing 6IP, 8H/4R (3ER), 3K:2BB. Oakland starter Daniel Mengden was worse. Will Harris and Michael Feliz combined to hold Oakland to just five runs in the top of the 9th, giving Oakland a 9-7 lead. Marwin led off the inning and tried to bunt his way on, and it didn't work. One out. Altuve singled and stole second, bringing up Correa. Correa struck out on a terrible pitch, so terrible that the ball got away from catcher Stephen Vogt, and he reached base, giving Valbuena runners on the corners. He ambushed the first pitch Ryan Madson threw that AB to deep right field, giving the Astros a walk-off win.
Rest easy batflip king 🤧 pic.twitter.com/LosTJJbQVc— brandt (@NombreEsChile) December 7, 2018
It wasn't the bat flippiest of celebrations, but that was fun.
Yahoo's Tim Brown: Luis Valbuena celebrated life.
*Yesterday was the 77th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, one of the monumentally dumbest acts of military aggression in history. That attack ended the Great Depression and ushered in an era of American dominance on the world stage. This 97-year old man swam through burning fuel to survive.
*A musical selection: Here's Prince covering Creep.
*The story behind the $100m deal between Netflix and Friends.
*Good news: A Nazi was convicted of murder.
*Then there's this 22-minute film from 1943:
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Tuesday Morning Hot Links
At least we only have to wait four more days before the Astros play again. Maybe Carlos Correa and George Springer will be completely healed by then.
*Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander were named Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, by the Houston Chapter of the BBWAA.
*Brian McTaggart has the FAQs for the Astros heading into the ALDS.
*FiveThirtyEight's simulations have the Astros winning the ALDS 63% of the time, 34% to the World Series, and the World Series 22% of the time.
FanGraphs gives the Astros the ALDS by a 58-42 margin, with a 24% World Series rate. According to FanGraphs' simulations, the likeliest World Series matchup is Houston-Los Angeles.
*Here's ESPN's Ultimate MLB Playoff Preview. They give the Astros a 67-33 nod in the ALDS, would be favorites regardless of the other ALCS team, as well as any NL opponent in the World Series. ESPN's numbers say the Astros are 32% to win the World Series. I feel like this is lulling us into a false sense of security. Who's simulating the simulators, is what I want to know.
*Anthony Castrovince ranked all 45 possible playoff matchups.
*A Musical Selection:
*Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander were named Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, by the Houston Chapter of the BBWAA.
*Brian McTaggart has the FAQs for the Astros heading into the ALDS.
*FiveThirtyEight's simulations have the Astros winning the ALDS 63% of the time, 34% to the World Series, and the World Series 22% of the time.
FanGraphs gives the Astros the ALDS by a 58-42 margin, with a 24% World Series rate. According to FanGraphs' simulations, the likeliest World Series matchup is Houston-Los Angeles.
*Here's ESPN's Ultimate MLB Playoff Preview. They give the Astros a 67-33 nod in the ALDS, would be favorites regardless of the other ALCS team, as well as any NL opponent in the World Series. ESPN's numbers say the Astros are 32% to win the World Series. I feel like this is lulling us into a false sense of security. Who's simulating the simulators, is what I want to know.
*Anthony Castrovince ranked all 45 possible playoff matchups.
*David Schoenfield: Why Alex Bregman could be the next Mr. October. Bregman, on being in the spotlight:
Oh, hell yeah. I love it. Love it. Love it. I want all eyes. My biggest moment. I love it. I don't know what it is about those situations, but I get pissed when I don't get the opportunity, and I'm fired up when I get the opportunity. I'm not afraid to fail. I'm not afraid to get out in those situations.
*Chandler Rome: The playoffs offer Carlos Correa a clean slate.
*Dennis Eckersley and Don Orsillio will call the Astros-Indians on TBS.
*Dallas Keuchel picked up the remaining tab on a GoFundMe and adopted a dog that got hit by a car. Stroking karma in advance of the ALDS: I LIKE IT.
*Dean Deetz, Kyle Tucker, and Reymin Guduan were all sent to the house yesterday. Framber Valdez and Cionel Perez will head to West Palm Beach and stay ready in case of an emergency.
*Yasiel Puig, celebrating after beating the Rockies in a Game 163:
We're going to win the World Series. We're bringing the 2018 championship here.
*The Astros are driving the revitalization of downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina.
*Shoutout to College Station's WTAW for the "Astros, Rangers wrap up regular season with losses" headline. The Rangers just had 36 more of them along the way.
*Extremely sad news. ABC13 reports that 15-year old Haidin Land passed away after a struggle with cancer.
*Dennis Eckersley and Don Orsillio will call the Astros-Indians on TBS.
*Dallas Keuchel picked up the remaining tab on a GoFundMe and adopted a dog that got hit by a car. Stroking karma in advance of the ALDS: I LIKE IT.
*Dean Deetz, Kyle Tucker, and Reymin Guduan were all sent to the house yesterday. Framber Valdez and Cionel Perez will head to West Palm Beach and stay ready in case of an emergency.
*Yasiel Puig, celebrating after beating the Rockies in a Game 163:
We're going to win the World Series. We're bringing the 2018 championship here.
*The Astros are driving the revitalization of downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina.
*Shoutout to College Station's WTAW for the "Astros, Rangers wrap up regular season with losses" headline. The Rangers just had 36 more of them along the way.
*NL Central Division Champs https://t.co/ymLzqk6t07— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 1, 2018
*Extremely sad news. ABC13 reports that 15-year old Haidin Land passed away after a struggle with cancer.
*A Musical Selection:
Monday, October 30, 2017
Monday Morning Hot Links
I don't even know where to start, except to say that, I sort of need to go soon. Game 5 went so long, took so much out of anyone who was watching, was such an emotional roller coaster, and my alarm had to go off so early. Astros won Game 5, which was a game so insane that it made Game 2 look like it was played in the 1940s. The Astros, who were down 4-0 TO CLAYTON KERSHAW, then down 7-4, down 8-7, then blew their own 3-run lead at 12-9, win 13-12, and take a 3-2 series lead. And on a Sunday night? Jeez, man. Come 7:30pm tonight, I'll have a cup of tea and prepare to go to bed.
*Bregman, who had the walk-off in the bottom of the 10th:
It's an unbelievable moment. You dream about it as a little kid. To be living a dream, one win away from the World Series, is really special.
*The Astros became the fifth team in baseball history to rally from two separate three-run deficits. Hinch:
Just when I thought I could describe Game 2 as my favorite game of the year, I think Game 5 exceeded that and more. It's hard to put into words all the twists and turns in that game, the emotion, doing it at home, in front of our home crowd. Just exactly what you expect to come to the park with Keuchel and Kershaw pitching.
*Jim Crane:
How did that happen? It was like Frazier against Ali there.
*We haven't talked about Dallas Keuchel's 1st inning. And we won't.
*LA Times' Pedro Moura: The Astros Fab Four got it done. Again.
*David Barron took a look at the crucial 7th inning.
*For the first time in World Series history, five players (all of whom play for the Astros) hit a home run in a single game. Click the link for the Firsts of this game.
*The Win Expectancy chart looks like a dad gum EKG.
*Richard Justice said Game 5 was as good as sports get.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown: The Dodgers had hope until the very end.
*CBS Sports' Mike Axisa: What to know about maybe the best World Series game ever.
*USA Today: 11 crazy facts about Game 5.
*Grant Brisbee: The Astros and Dodgers broke the game of baseball into a million pieces. Brisbee:
A common refrain for a game like Game 5 of the 2017 World Series is that baseball is drunk. Baseball is not drunk. Drunk people don't fall up the stairs, through a window, and explode upon contact with the moon.
*Yasiel Puig guaranteed a Game 7.
*NY Post's Joel Sherman: Two of MLB's most reliable bullpen arms have vanished.
*Mike Oz got the story of the fan who stole Yasiel Puig's home run ball and threw it back.
*FanGraphs gives it a 79% chance that the Astros can win one of the next two games.
FiveThirtyEight has the Astros winning one of two in LA at 69%. Even though they give the Dodgers the nod in Games 6 and 7. Don't ask me how the math works.
*Sunday afternoon was marked - if you weren't watching the Texans - by Tom Verducci's report courtesy of pitchers from both teams - that the World Series balls are slicker, making it harder to use a slider. Which would explain how Darvish got rocked so hard. And how Ken Giles can't seem to make a pitch to save his life. Verlander:
I know Mr. Manfred says the balls haven't changed, but there's enough information out there to say that's not true. On the one hand, you can have someone who manufactures the balls say they're not different, and on the other hand, you can say people who have held the ball in their hand their entire lives are saying something different.
*Giles "wasn't surprised" about losing the closer role for Games 5-7.
*I have to go. Like, now.
This is so awesome. Glad a camera caught it...#WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/hutYRPQyqe— Matt E (@eTrain19) October 30, 2017
*Bregman, who had the walk-off in the bottom of the 10th:
It's an unbelievable moment. You dream about it as a little kid. To be living a dream, one win away from the World Series, is really special.
*The Astros became the fifth team in baseball history to rally from two separate three-run deficits. Hinch:
Just when I thought I could describe Game 2 as my favorite game of the year, I think Game 5 exceeded that and more. It's hard to put into words all the twists and turns in that game, the emotion, doing it at home, in front of our home crowd. Just exactly what you expect to come to the park with Keuchel and Kershaw pitching.
*Jim Crane:
How did that happen? It was like Frazier against Ali there.
*We haven't talked about Dallas Keuchel's 1st inning. And we won't.
*LA Times' Pedro Moura: The Astros Fab Four got it done. Again.
*David Barron took a look at the crucial 7th inning.
*For the first time in World Series history, five players (all of whom play for the Astros) hit a home run in a single game. Click the link for the Firsts of this game.
*The Win Expectancy chart looks like a dad gum EKG.
*Richard Justice said Game 5 was as good as sports get.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown: The Dodgers had hope until the very end.
*CBS Sports' Mike Axisa: What to know about maybe the best World Series game ever.
*USA Today: 11 crazy facts about Game 5.
*Grant Brisbee: The Astros and Dodgers broke the game of baseball into a million pieces. Brisbee:
A common refrain for a game like Game 5 of the 2017 World Series is that baseball is drunk. Baseball is not drunk. Drunk people don't fall up the stairs, through a window, and explode upon contact with the moon.
*Yasiel Puig guaranteed a Game 7.
*NY Post's Joel Sherman: Two of MLB's most reliable bullpen arms have vanished.
*Mike Oz got the story of the fan who stole Yasiel Puig's home run ball and threw it back.
*FanGraphs gives it a 79% chance that the Astros can win one of the next two games.
FiveThirtyEight has the Astros winning one of two in LA at 69%. Even though they give the Dodgers the nod in Games 6 and 7. Don't ask me how the math works.
*Sunday afternoon was marked - if you weren't watching the Texans - by Tom Verducci's report courtesy of pitchers from both teams - that the World Series balls are slicker, making it harder to use a slider. Which would explain how Darvish got rocked so hard. And how Ken Giles can't seem to make a pitch to save his life. Verlander:
I know Mr. Manfred says the balls haven't changed, but there's enough information out there to say that's not true. On the one hand, you can have someone who manufactures the balls say they're not different, and on the other hand, you can say people who have held the ball in their hand their entire lives are saying something different.
*Giles "wasn't surprised" about losing the closer role for Games 5-7.
*I have to go. Like, now.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Tuesday Morning Hot Links
Like many of you, I'm sure, I just couldn't sleep. Fell asleep fine, woke up about 2:15am and tossed and turned for a couple of hours before deciding to just get up. Are the Astros playing tonight? Oh, yes they are. Must be an Arizona Fall League game. No, wait, it's the daggum World Series.
*FiveThirtyEight gives the Dodgers a 55-45 edge on the World Series. But while the Dodgers have a 60-40 edge for Game 1 and 52-48 in Game 2, they actually favor the Astros in Games 3-5.
*FanGraphs gives the Astros a 52.6-47.4 nod in their World Series simulations.
*Check out new AC contributor Nory's account of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
*Friend of Astros County's Steven Goldman: Everyone and no one is a winner in the World Series. Goldman:
The postseason is a churn that produces random finalists like a washing machine spits out mismatched socks. It sounds lame, but, hey, Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Twins, Astros, Cubs, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Nationals, Dodgers, stand up! You're all already winners! It happens that this year the selection process may have produced the two best teams in each league, but quite often it doesn't, and regardless it would be better to just stop there.
*Tonight's Game 1 temperature may be the hottest ever recorded in World Series history. Mike Petriello talks about the heat and the impact it has on runs scored.
*Ticket prices for Games 3-5 are stupid.
*FiveThirtyEight: This World Series just might actually feature the two best teams in baseball.
*A.J. Hinch and Dave Roberts go back a ways to San Diego - and now are temporary rivals.
*Man, the Diamondbacks put A.J. Hinch in an unwinnable situation.
*The Astros are dealing with not having a DH in Games 1 & 2.
*Josh Reddick is prepared to hear some boos tonight. Reddick:
It's always tough when you come out for your first home game and get booed. That definitely wasn't a sign I was expecting. It hurts you a little bit, but you try to move on and play the game the right way. It just didn't work out.
Reddick was traded to the Dodgers - with Game 2 starter Rich Hill - from Oakland at the 2016 trade deadline. He hit .258/.307/.335 in the regular season and .308/.333/.308 in eight postseason games before falling to the Cubs in the NLCS.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown: Yasiel Puig's transformation into a championship player
*FanRag's Jon Bernhardt breaks down the favorites for World Series MVP. Bernhardt:
Springer's odds would be better if not for how stacked his own team is with offensive talent - and the fact that the Dodgers are probably going to win the Series.
*Two out of six USA Today baseball writers picked the Astros.
*All of CBS' baseball writers picked the Dodgers in either five or six.
*22 of ESPN's 35 baseball experts picked the Dodgers.
*Bovada lists the Dodgers as 1.5-run favorites tonight.
*It's going to go Keuchel, Verlander and then either McCullers/Morton or Morton/McCullers.
*Lance McCullers is back, baby.
*Jake Marisnick will not make the World Series roster.
*ESPN's Bradford Doolittle: The Dodgers' dream season could turn into a nightmare.
*Shoutout to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeff Gordon, for being the Cal Ripken Jr of hating Jeff Luhnow:
During a four-year span, they finished 56-106, 55-107, 52-111*, and 70-92 while general manager Jeff Luhnow traded veterans for prospects and "earned" great draft position. That sell-off allowed the franchise to operate with a tiny payroll and a large profit margin, but it also took a toll on the franchise's fan base.
*It was 51-111, idiot. Take that extra win and shove it up your tailpipe.
*OG Evan Drellich: Alex Cora must keep his conviction and honesty as the next Red Sox manager.
*FiveThirtyEight gives the Dodgers a 55-45 edge on the World Series. But while the Dodgers have a 60-40 edge for Game 1 and 52-48 in Game 2, they actually favor the Astros in Games 3-5.
*FanGraphs gives the Astros a 52.6-47.4 nod in their World Series simulations.
*Check out new AC contributor Nory's account of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
*Friend of Astros County's Steven Goldman: Everyone and no one is a winner in the World Series. Goldman:
The postseason is a churn that produces random finalists like a washing machine spits out mismatched socks. It sounds lame, but, hey, Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Twins, Astros, Cubs, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Nationals, Dodgers, stand up! You're all already winners! It happens that this year the selection process may have produced the two best teams in each league, but quite often it doesn't, and regardless it would be better to just stop there.
*Tonight's Game 1 temperature may be the hottest ever recorded in World Series history. Mike Petriello talks about the heat and the impact it has on runs scored.
*Ticket prices for Games 3-5 are stupid.
*FiveThirtyEight: This World Series just might actually feature the two best teams in baseball.
*A.J. Hinch and Dave Roberts go back a ways to San Diego - and now are temporary rivals.
*Man, the Diamondbacks put A.J. Hinch in an unwinnable situation.
*The Astros are dealing with not having a DH in Games 1 & 2.
*Josh Reddick is prepared to hear some boos tonight. Reddick:
It's always tough when you come out for your first home game and get booed. That definitely wasn't a sign I was expecting. It hurts you a little bit, but you try to move on and play the game the right way. It just didn't work out.
Reddick was traded to the Dodgers - with Game 2 starter Rich Hill - from Oakland at the 2016 trade deadline. He hit .258/.307/.335 in the regular season and .308/.333/.308 in eight postseason games before falling to the Cubs in the NLCS.
*Yahoo's Tim Brown: Yasiel Puig's transformation into a championship player
*FanRag's Jon Bernhardt breaks down the favorites for World Series MVP. Bernhardt:
Springer's odds would be better if not for how stacked his own team is with offensive talent - and the fact that the Dodgers are probably going to win the Series.
*Two out of six USA Today baseball writers picked the Astros.
*All of CBS' baseball writers picked the Dodgers in either five or six.
*22 of ESPN's 35 baseball experts picked the Dodgers.
*Bovada lists the Dodgers as 1.5-run favorites tonight.
*It's going to go Keuchel, Verlander and then either McCullers/Morton or Morton/McCullers.
*Lance McCullers is back, baby.
*Jake Marisnick will not make the World Series roster.
*ESPN's Bradford Doolittle: The Dodgers' dream season could turn into a nightmare.
*Shoutout to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeff Gordon, for being the Cal Ripken Jr of hating Jeff Luhnow:
During a four-year span, they finished 56-106, 55-107, 52-111*, and 70-92 while general manager Jeff Luhnow traded veterans for prospects and "earned" great draft position. That sell-off allowed the franchise to operate with a tiny payroll and a large profit margin, but it also took a toll on the franchise's fan base.
*It was 51-111, idiot. Take that extra win and shove it up your tailpipe.
*OG Evan Drellich: Alex Cora must keep his conviction and honesty as the next Red Sox manager.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Friday Morning Hot Links
*A.J. Hinch is up to the challenge of "Actual Expectations" as opposed to "No Expectations."
*FanGraphs' Jeff Sullivan: Astros land dominant Ken Giles for potentially dominant Vincent Velasquez. Sullivan:
Giles has some risk, but Velasquez also has some obvious risk, and taking a step back, the Astros probably do need to concentrate more talent instead of having more quality players than they can protect on the 40-man. This is the Astros consolidating talent. And this is the Phillies collecting it.
*Will Harris is very excited about Giles and Sipp:
All of us selfishly wanted (Sipp) to stay, but at the same time he had to do what's best for himself and his family and his future. And for those two things to line up, it's obviously the best of both worlds. I was really, really excited for him and for myself.
*The Astros are one of Jayson Stark's Winter Meetings winners.
*Gosh, where have we seen this before? The Philadelphia Inquirer's Mike Sielski says the Phillies should be ashamed of themselves for all their rebuilding efforts. An actual line from the story with no context:
I hate new things.
UPDATE: It seems as though the previous link is some next-level satire that you have to be (a) from Philly and (b) a Sixers fan to get.
*Somehow Oliver Perez got 2yrs/$7m from Washington.
*The Reds are still trying to trade Aroldis Chapman, hoping that a club won't mind a pesky little thing like a domestic violence charge if it means a clock stoppage on his service time, which won't accrue while/if Chapman is suspended.
*Read what a crap sandwich Yasiel Puig is turning into in Los Angeles.
*The Nationals are fighting the Angels, Cubs, and Cardinals for the right to pay Jason Heyward for the next ten years.
*Brian Bogusevic is headed to the Orix Buffaloes of the NPB.
*FanGraphs' Jeff Sullivan: Astros land dominant Ken Giles for potentially dominant Vincent Velasquez. Sullivan:
Giles has some risk, but Velasquez also has some obvious risk, and taking a step back, the Astros probably do need to concentrate more talent instead of having more quality players than they can protect on the 40-man. This is the Astros consolidating talent. And this is the Phillies collecting it.
*Will Harris is very excited about Giles and Sipp:
All of us selfishly wanted (Sipp) to stay, but at the same time he had to do what's best for himself and his family and his future. And for those two things to line up, it's obviously the best of both worlds. I was really, really excited for him and for myself.
*The Astros are one of Jayson Stark's Winter Meetings winners.
*Gosh, where have we seen this before? The Philadelphia Inquirer's Mike Sielski says the Phillies should be ashamed of themselves for all their rebuilding efforts. An actual line from the story with no context:
I hate new things.
UPDATE: It seems as though the previous link is some next-level satire that you have to be (a) from Philly and (b) a Sixers fan to get.
*Somehow Oliver Perez got 2yrs/$7m from Washington.
*The Reds are still trying to trade Aroldis Chapman, hoping that a club won't mind a pesky little thing like a domestic violence charge if it means a clock stoppage on his service time, which won't accrue while/if Chapman is suspended.
*Read what a crap sandwich Yasiel Puig is turning into in Los Angeles.
*The Nationals are fighting the Angels, Cubs, and Cardinals for the right to pay Jason Heyward for the next ten years.
*Brian Bogusevic is headed to the Orix Buffaloes of the NPB.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)