*The last time a starting pitcher threw a CGSHO against the Astros was May 2, 2018, when Luis Severino did it for the Yankees. The last time the Astros did not get an extra-base hit was April 29 in the 1-0 loss to the Twins.
*The Houston Astros' consecutive games with a home run streak ended at 19, tying a franchise record.
*In 20 games from April 26-May 17 the Astros grounded into 13 double plays. In the six games since, the Astros have grounded into 12 double plays, eight of them in the last three games. For a team that makes a lot of contact it's going to happen, but for crying out loud. Houston's 53 GIDPs are tied with the Angels for the MLB lead.
*Hinch, on Lucas Giolito:
He was doing really anything he wanted to. He was really good, so hats off to him for coming in and throwing all of his pitches for strikes. He's changed his delivery, his arm action a little bit. He came in and really commanded the game from the very beginning.
*Corbin Martin threw just 3.1IP, 6H/4R (3ER), 3K:1BB and was actually not good. Hinch:
I was watching him, like a lot of young pitchers, carry one bad pitch into the next bad pitch into the next bad pitch. It's a learning experience for him and I know he'll be better for it.
*A bullpen of Framber, Josh James, and Chris Devenski threw 5.2IP, 5H/0ER, 8K:2BB.
*Make sure you check out Chandler Rome's latest Mailbag, covering Gerrit Cole, the lineup, Yordan, etc.
*The Astros hope that Springer is BACK in the lineup tonight against Boston. Also, there is no word yet on when Jose Altuve will begin his rehab assignment and every day that passes is just another reminder that the Astros don't owe us an explanation regarding injuries, and also do not feel obligated to.
*Kyle Tucker was 3x3 with his 13th home run and a walk. Yordan Alvarez went 0x5 with 2Ks, and Forrest Whitley allowed 6H/7ER, 1K:3BB in 2IP as Round Rock got beat by San Antonio. Forrest Whitley has a 12.21 ERA. Whitley's last five appearances: 13.1IP, 25H/25ER, 16K:10BB.
*Former OU reliever Austin Hansen (8th Round - 2018) has been converted back to a starter, but has leaned on Quad Cities pitching coach Erick Abreu as well as conversations with Clayton Kershaw and Homer Bailey while they were workout partners, and has been rewarded with 23 straight scoreless IPs.
*Colton Shaver (39th Round - 2017) has an eight-game hit streak for Fayetteville. He's 23 years old, hitting .297/.396/.490 in 40 games.
*And over at Baseball Prospectus, Our Friend Tyler Stafford has a piece on the Astros' offense, back when it was Good.
*Cavan Biggio - you might have heard of his dad - and Lourdes Gurriel, Jr - you might have heard of his brother - are getting called up by Toronto today.
*FanGraphs' Jay Jaffe: The Indians retain baggage in their lineup that was entirely foreseeable. As it stands, FanGraphs' Playoff Odds for Cleveland give them a 44.7% chance of making the playoffs. The AL Central is hot garbage, so take that for what it's worth. But damn you'd just hate to see Tyler Bauer miss the playoffs.
*Jenny Dial Creech: Baseball helps Santa Fe High School get back to normal. Related: four more school days and I will have successfully made it five years without getting shot while at work.
*Hardball Times' Alfonso Tusa: The Pianist and Satchel Paige.
*Richard Ashcroft is/was the frontman of The Verve, a band I saw live in Houston at the Aerial Theatre on August 9, 1998 (about a week before I went off to college). As you know a part of my psyche is stuck on 1990s BritPop. It is tied for 1st with Pink/Lenny Kravitz on the Worst Concert I Have Ever Attended List, mainly because their opener - Massive Attack (whom I very much enjoy/enjoyed) - had quit the tour and instead of finding a new opener they just turned off the lights and played house music for the duration of their set. So the lights were off and everyone was waiting for anyone to show up and perform for, like, an hour. Also, The Verve was about to break up. Anyway, you probably know The Verve for their one hit song "Bittersweet Symphony." There are other really good songs on that Urban Hymns album. But Richard Ashcroft has spent the last 21 years not earning a penny off of it because there was an uncleared sample from a Rolling Stones song about which their manager sued, and won. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards got all the money from that song. Now they've given the rights back to Richard Ashcroft and The Verve.
*In yesterday's Hot Links I
Please leave your left wing politics at the door. Thanks
Another:
...Most university faculty are liberal, left-wing sad little people. I guess it bleeds down to the little public high school teachers.
I, predictably, got pretty mad about this. Then I reflected about it and I got more mad that someone actually got so enraged about me laughing at Nigel F. Farage that they wanted to leave a comment. I've been knocked On Here before for "trying to force my Lib views" (paraphrasing) on the good folk who just want to read about the World Series Champion Houston Astros. I will be more mindful about that going forward. But honestly how sad and tribal are you that you can't find something funny about a politician - on either side - being trapped in a bus so they don't get blasted by a crowd of people just waiting to throw their milkshakes at them. If it was [INSERT LIBRUL POLLATISHUN HEE-YUR] and that happened, I'd still laugh my ass off. Also, and I thank the anonymous commenter - for the first time in history - for mentioning that you are not obligated to click absolutely every link. You are also not obligated to read this blog, for what it's worth. For those of you that commented in support of me laughing at this utter douchebag, it's appreciated.
*A Musical Selection:
