Obviously, the organization...values me very high, and that always feels good as a player. And it's refreshing to come to an environment where the team is willing to continually put resources into the club and continue to move forward and try to provide the best possible product for its fans.
*A.J. Hinch:
I think we're going to be able to try to push some buttons to try to get the best version of him. Geritt's used to being a front-line pitcher in this league. He's used to even carrying a pitching staff. And coming over here, we want that mentality to stay the same, even though he's got some help in this rotation, to be his best.
*Cole:
I think it boils down to command, I think it boils down to executing pitches. There are a lot of contributing factors, but I'm just going to trust what I do and continue to use the resources around me. I'm going to try to soak up as much as I can from the veterans on this team and some of the really good players.
They're all good players, Grant.
#Astros Cole went to game 2 of the World Series. Blown away by attention to detail from the Astros. Fundamentals and great baseball.— Greg Bailey (@GregBailey13) January 17, 2018
*Jeff Sullivan: The Gerrit Cole trade has a perception problem. Sullivan:
Given how we usually think of trades, if something looks good for one side, it can't look so good for the other. I just find that this is an unusual situation. To put it as clearly as I can, I think the return package looks worse than it is because the Astros have too many good players. Joe Musgrove, Colin Moran, Michael Feliz, Jason Martin - they're all valuable, they're all potentially useful big-leaguers, but they didn't mean much to the Astros, because the Astros are too stocked.
*Hey but what about poor Brad Peacock and Collin McHugh!? Hinch:
Having as many options as possible is very important. I'm not sure of any team that won the division or has gone to the World Series having only used five starters. You need that depth.
*The Astros and George Springer are headed towards an arbitration hearing, where it will be a Whole Lot Of Fun to sit down in front of World Series MVP George Springer (.283/.367/.522, 4.5 fWAR) and tell him why he should make about 40% of what Shin-Soo Choo (.261/.357/.423, 0.8 fWAR) will make in 2018.
*Check out Alex Bregman's offseason workout.
*The Rangers won't apparently be countering the Astros' moves over the last six months, though they are open to a Yu Darvish reunion.
*Boston's reported 5yrs/$100m offer to Former Astros Great J.D. Martinez is "not accurate" according to his large baby agent.
*Forrest Whitley would like to correct the record:
Guys, I haven’t been 240 in 2 years, can we please get a correction? #195strong https://t.co/SPfQtCMWDS— Forrest Whitley (@ForrestWhitley) January 17, 2018
Ooooh, me too!
*Meet Michael Collins, the Astros' new 33-year old Australian bullpen catcher.
*Who doesn't want to pay a lot of money for barbecue? Harold's (RIP Harold) in Abilene had some of the best barbecue I've ever had, and you could get a Q-Basket for, like $3.95. Harold would come out and sing Amazing Grace while you ate. Keep your crab cake brisket. I'll have a Q-Basket.
