The Astros were off Mondayfor the first time this week. The other day they're off this week is [checks calendar] July...4th? That can't be right. What crazy-ass schedule maker would give the Astros a day off on the 4th of July, right before the All-Star Break? Idiotic. Let humans make the schedule again.
Speaking of, if you have 12 minutes and want to watch the ESPN 30 For 30 Short "The Schedule Makers," do so here.
*Terrible news across MLB as the Angels announced that 27-year old pitcher Tyler Skaggs passed away in Dallas. He was found unresponsive at the team hotel early Monday afternooon. The Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher said neither foul play nor suicide were suspected. Just a terrible situation all around. Skaggs had gotten married this past offseason. Condolences to Skaggs' family and friends, and the Angels organization. Monday's game between the Angels and Rangers was postponed.
*Our Dude AstrosFansUK obviously had a lovely time at the London Series this past weekend. He wrote up his experiences on this here blog. Czech it out if you haven't already.
*Jose Urquidy will start Tuesday's game at Colorado. It's his MLB debut. Chandler Rome wrote about Urquidy and what his promotion says about the Astros' SP depth. The Astros will need to add Urquidy to the 40-Man Roster, but McTaggart notes the Astros could possibly move Corbin Martin to the 60-Day IL to clear a spot. That's not great news for Corbin Martin.
Farm Director Pete Putila talked to Baseball America earlier this season about the rise of Jose Urquidy.
*Tags has your inbox, which addresses possible trade targets, 1B options, Yordan's ROY candidacy, etc.
*Jake Kaplan has his own inbox in which he addresses the SP need, maybe a bat (?), and the 40-Man Roster crunch.
*Jon Morosi reports that the Astros have shown interest in Detroit SP Matthew Boyd but Houston, as of now, isn't willing to include Kyle Tucker in talks. So who is this Matthew Boyd?
-6th Round pick by Toronto in 2013
-Traded at the 2015 deadline to Detroit for David Price
-Coming into 2019, Boyd had a 5.07 ERA / 1.36 WHIP (an 86 ERA+) for Detroit.
-But in 2019, Boyd has broken out: 101.2IP, 91H/42ER, 129K:20BB, a 3.72 ERA / 1.09 WHIP (with a 3.57 FIP) and an AL-leading 6.45 K:BB ratio.
-He'll be arbitration-eligible in 2020 and won't be a free agent until 2023.
-Boyd has registered 2.6 fWAR via FanGraphs, better than Justin Verlander's 2.4 fWAR.
-He'll be expensive.
*Kyle Tucker will represent the Pacific Coast League in the Home Run Derby at the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 8 in El Paso
*Former Astros Great Tom Eshelman made his MLB debut last night for Baltimore. The Orioles also acquired Former Astros Great Asher Wojciechowski. Mike Elias doing 2015 Astros Things.
*You need this sweet retro Hugs For Homers shirt from BreakingT. Use this link and throw your Cool Uncle AC some bones. Get the Air Yordan one, while you're at it.
*Now that 3rd Round pick Jordan Brewer has signed (financials incoming, I'm sure), I finally updated the 2019 Draft Page.
*I like reading SI's Jon Tayler, but he's lost his got dang mind if he thinks D.J. LeMahieu is coming anywhere near Mike Trout's MVP case.
*Mental Floss: The 35 Best-Selling Albums in American history.
*Ice in July in Guadalajara? SURE.
*GQ: The Troubling Business of Bounty Hunting.
*A Musical Selection:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
