*Random 2017 Astros Fact:
Since 1962 there have been 1488 seasons in baseball (the number of teams multiplied by years since the beginning of the 1962 season). According to FanGraphs the 2017 Astros posted a 121 wRC+ - meaning the Astros' offense was 21% better than league average. Here's how that ranks among all teams since 1962:
1. Houston: 2017
2. Cincinnati: 1976 (120 wRC+)
3. Milwaukee: 1982 (120 wRC+)
4. Boston: 2003 (120 wRC+)
5. New York: 2007 (119 wRC+)
6. New York: 1994 (118 wRC+)
7. Five teams tied at 117 wRC+
*Jeff Luhnow and the Astros are focusing on bullpen upgrades at the Winter Meetings after "losing" Luke Gregerson, Tyler Clippard, Francisco Liriano, and Elite Closer Nori Aoki. McTaggart notes that, while Derek Fisher looks like he could be The Guy in LF, the Astros will check in on possible free agents.
*Tom Verducci writes about Jose Altuve, Sportsperson of the Year. Altuve:
The city of Houston has treated me really good since I got to the big leagues. And I felt that I owed them something. They made me the player I am by supporting me every day. So when they were having a hard time, I wanted to give something back to them.
*Lance McCullers and Charlie Morton headline a group of starting pitchers with ridiculous reverse splits.
*Baseball Prospectus released their Top 10 Astros Prospects list. Click the link for the write-ups (which is free), but here are the top 10:
1. Forrest Whitley
2. Kyle Tucker
3. J.B. Bukauskas
4. Yordan Alvarez
5. Rogelio Armenteros
6. Jonathan Arauz
7. Gilberto Celestino
8. David Paulino
9. Colin Moran
10. Corbin Martin
*George Springer told Bleacher Report's Joon Lee that they made a beer funnel out of the World Series trophy. As you do. Read about that and other Springer news like why he's smarter than all of us combined by not having a social media presence.
*AT&T was hit with an antitrust lawsuit over the cost of AT&T SportsNet Houston (or whatever it's called) and how they handled the previous iterations (CSN Houston, etc).
*That Evan Drellich story about Alex Cora's bust-up with Geoff Blum and A.J. Hinch is causing a little kerfuffle in Boston, in light of the ridiculous David Price/Dennis Eckersley feud last season.
*The Angels nabbed hyped prospect Kevin Maitan after his contract with the Crooked Braves was voided.
*The 2017 Astros World Series Film was released yesterday (spoiler: we'll have a giveaway of it in the next couple of days). Here's the trailer, grab a tissue.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
