*Today is Jackie Robinson's 100th birthday. Happy birthday, Jackie.
*As the rotation stands today, Houston ranks 2nd in MLB in terms of fastball velocity behind Tampa, who added St. Charles F. Morton giving the Rays the nod.
*J.B. Bukauskas has a 98mph fastball but it's his slider that is considered the best of the 2019 Top 100 Prospects. Josh James and Forrest Whitley got an honorable mention for best changeup.
*Roberto Osuna has Closer locked down for the Astros for the foreseeable future.
*1B Coach Don Kelly is ready to get started.
*Oooooh check out Reid Ryan throwing some shade at the Rangers' farm system as he talked with Round Rock fans about the 2019 season. Ryan:
We know these guys are going to be taken care of when they come here. It's great for the Astros brand and the Express brand. We have some real talent in the system, and people are going to see some really good baseball players.
Triple-A record (win%) since the beginning of the 2011 season, when the Express flipped to Arlington:
Houston: 618-523 (.542)
Arlington: 579-560 (.508)
*Astros minor-league pitcher Jairo Solis got himself some Tommy John surgery and won't be back until 2020. Solis, who turned 19 last month, has a 3.05 ERA / 1.37 WHIP in 112IP (120K:53BB) in his two-year pro career. He threw 50.2IP for Quad Cities in 2018 before tearing his UCL.
*Doug Brocail's history will benefit him as Baltimore's pitching coach.
*Former Astros Great J.B. Shuck has signed a minor-league deal with Pittsburgh. Only the real Astros fans remember when the Astros trotted out:
J.A. Happ
J.B. Shuck
J.C. Chasez
J.D. Martinez
on a daily basis
*Kacy Clemens and his godbrother are suing the Concrete Cowboy after they say the bouncer assaulted them. Baseball, please hurry.
*Murder in a tweet:
Bet his account will disappear in October https://t.co/ee9332rKWV— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) January 30, 2019
*Chicago lit its train tracks on fire to prevent them from contracting in the cold. I'm actually perfectly fine with either lighting the Marlins on fire, or contracting them in the cold.
*Tom Justice had Olympic aspirations, then he started using his bike to rob banks.
*A Musical Selection:
