FanGraphs now has the Astros as the team with the highest percentage of simulations that ended up with the AL pennant, facing the Dodgers in the World Series. The Astros won the World Series in 12.1% of 10,000 simulations, 2nd behind the Dodgers, who won the World Series in 20% of simulations.
*The Sporting News talks about the Astros' power. Marwin needs one homer and Conger needs two more in order to tie the major-league record for most players on a team with 10+ home runs. Kazmir, on the Astros:
As a pitcher, you can't take any breaks, because you know that a walk here or a bloop here, you're one pitch away from giving up a crooked number. It's a luxury to have, being on this team.
*Sports Illustrated wrote about the Astros and J.D. Martinez. Luhnow:
In retrospect, I wouldn't make the same decision.
And on the process of Missing with a player like Martinez?
We're not trying to get (decisions) all right. We're trying to get more of them right than our competition.
*Rosters expand to 40 on Tuesday, and the Astros aren't planning on calling up 15 more guys to help with the playoff push. Evan Drellich writes that the Astros are expecting to call up four players, not including Springer: Max Stassi, Josh Fields, Preston Tucker, and "a left-handed reliever." Keep in mind that Fresno and Corpus will both be in the playoffs.
*Corpus manager Rodney Linares was named Texas League Manager of the Year. Corpus lost last night, but are 80-49 on the season, the best record in the Texas League, and have already clinched a playoff spot.
*There are only three teams in the minors who have won 80 games. Two of those teams are Astros affiliates: Corpus and Quad Cities.
*Carlos Correa straight cleaned up at the Minnesota State Fair last night:
Had a blast at the #MinnesotaStateFair on my day off with my boy @GoGoGominsky22 ! My game was on point lol😂 #WINNER pic.twitter.com/qWPWx1RgVi
— Carlos Correa (@TeamCJCorrea) August 28, 2015
