The Astros finally won since the last time I wrote for the blog, so now it is officially time to start putting forth a significant about of effort into writing Hot Links again. This will have to start Monday, however, as the Astros were hit with yet another off day yesterday. In fact, Oakland and Seattle didn't play either, so the only other semi interesting game to the Astros was the fact that the Rangers beat the Angels 8-6, because I guess the Angels still have time to pull off a miracle run and win the west.
Anyways, this means we are still 2 games up on Oakland and 4.5 on Seattle going into a huge series against Oakland. I don't want to alarm anybody, but there is a chance that we will be in 2nd place by weekends end. But let's not go there. Let's talk Astros.
Alex Bregman (#19), Justin Verlander (Tied for #23), and Jose Altuve(Tied for #23) are all in the Top 25 WAR leaders of this 2018 season. The only team with more is the Cleveland Indians (Ramirez, Lindor, Bauer, Kluber at #2,#7,#11, and #15 respectively).
Derek Fisher was sent down to make room for George Springer, who will be returning to action today!
A.J. Hinch won't tell anyone who will start in place of McCullers on Tuesday. McHugh, Peacock, Joe Smith? Whoever it will be, it will only be the 6th person to start a game for the Astros this season.
Tyler White cannot stop hitting.
Neither can J.D. Davis, but in Fresno.
Martin Gallegos asks the question: do the A's need to sweep the series this weekend to have a chance to win the division?
Jake Kaplan gives us some insight as to what the Astros plans are for Brian McCann and the catching situation ($).
Yankees bloggers are starting to freak out because they realized that they might have to face Justin Verlander in the one game playoff.
The Houston Astros RBI Softball team won its first softball World Series.
Speaking of the RBI Softball team, Kayla Robinson won the Breaking Barriers Essay Contest.
Charlie Pallilo tells why the Astros are clearly the best team in the AL West.
Post Oak broke out the rainbow jerseys at the Little League World Series.
Just in case you haven't been paying attention to just how good the Red Sox have been, they are currently 11-2 in August, a .846 winning percentage.
Watch umpire Manny Gonzalez catch a bat flip.
Shoutout to George O. May, the first ever inductee into the Accounting Hall of Fame. good stuff, George.
Have you watched the twelve and a half minute video about the literary analysis of the Google Chrome T-Rex Runner Game? None of you will, but I enjoyed it.
There is a 100% chance I will see Alpha in theatres either this weekend or next.
ON THIS DAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
In 1973, Willie Mays hit his 660th and final home run.
In 1984, a stamp of Roberto Clemente was unveiled, the fourth stamp in a series of American sports heroes.
In 2008, Craig Biggio's number was retired.
Also in 2008, Josh Hamilton is the sixth player ever to be intentionally walked with the bases loaded.
In 2012, Clay Buchholz threw an immaculate inning.
Also in 2012, Uganda became the first African team to play in the Little League World Series.
In 2014, Michael Cuddyer became the 3rd player ever to hit for the cycle in both the National and American League.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
