Friday Morning Hot Links

Okay everybody I have to be honest: I did not watch a single pitch of the Astros game last night. Between work, college football, and the brand new episode of Impractical Jokers, I just had better things to do (in fact, I have to write these Hot Links WHILE watching college football at 12:53 a.m. instead of fully being focused on the game :| ) It seems this game was one worth missing however, as the Astros fell to the Angels 5-2. Unsurprisingly, Tyler White Did It Again to provide the only source of offense for Houston last night in the 9th, while Justin Verlander went 5.1 innings striking out 11 and giving up 3 ER, raising his ERA yet again to 2.78. JV's ERA has gone up 0.59 points since the start of August, when he was sporting a 2.19. Here he is postgame.

Tony Kemp and Tyler White were on Intentional Talk yesterday.

Everybody wants tickets for the new Astros minor league team in Fayetteville.

A's bloggers are mad that the Astros were allowed to move the Crawford Boxes 30 feet closer to home plate for Tyler White in the 9th.

A.J. Hinch was officially extended until 2022. Here is Crane, Luhnow, and Hinch addressing the media after the announcement. Here is the team being all proud and stuff of their manager <3

Shohei Ohtani was named the started against Houston for Sunday Night Baseball. He will attempt to pitch through a UCL Tear. Ratings are gonna be sweet though!

Somebody needs to confiscate Twitter from C.J Nitkowski.

J.P. Morosi explains why the Astros, not the Red Sox, are "clear favorites" to win the AL. The other guy on the desk said its probably the Red Sox, but he said "Marlin" Gonzalez. So.

Forrest Whitley, J.B. Baukauskas, and Myles Straw headline the Astros Fall League Roster.

The heartbreaking story of how a rainout kept Phillies pitcher Brian Mazone from pitching in the big leagues.

KFC is literally giving a family $11,000 for naming their baby after Colonel Sanders.

You can't go swimming on the beaches of Landevennec because of this sexually charged dolphin.

On This Day in Baseball History

In 1915, Jimmy Lavender threw a no-hitter. He currently has the best name of any pitcher in MLB history who threw a no-hitter.

In 1969, Clete Boyer was kissed by Morganna, also known as "the kissing bandit." That night, Boyer snapped his 1-17 slump and went 8-15 over the next few games.

In 1990, Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. became the first father-son duo to play in the same major league lineup.

Also in 1990, the Red Sox decided against trading Scott Cooper for Larry Andersen and decided to give the Astros Jeff Bagwell instead.

In 2010, Aroldis Chapman made his major league debut.