I still hate the Washington Nationals and the idiotic 2019 World Series. I do not care to think about The first of what should be at least two Awards came in yesterday, and Our Dude Yordan Alvarez became the third Astro to ever win Rookie of the Year, joining Jeff Bagwell and Carlos Correa. Manager of the Year is announced today. The Astros now have three Rookies of the Year on the team for 2020, with Alvarez (2019), Correa (2015), and Verlander (2006).
*Yordan's win was a unanimous one. He's the 11th unanimous AL Rookie of the Year in baseball history, the first unanimous AL selection since all the way back in [squints] 2017 with Aaron Judge. Hinch:
What an incredible year and recognition for Alvarez. He did everything we could have asked for and more. His dynamic presence on our team is undeniable. I'm proud of how he handled his transition to the big leagues, his immediate success, all the attention, and ultimately his actions as a teammate. A great and well-deserved honor.
How every voter voted, and why.
Click this link to see a visual of every home run Yordan hit.
Yordan's 87 regular season games played are the fewest ever played by a Rookie of the Year.
Do not forget that Yordan hit .412/.524/.588 in the 2019 World Series, with 2K:4BB.
Thanks to this Chandler Rome tweet, I'm reminded that Jeff Bagwell fell one first-place vote shy of being unanimous in 1991. Who got that lone first-place vote? Pittsburgh's Orlando Merced. Let's recap:
Bagwell: 156 games played, 650 PAs, 26 doubles / 15 homers, 82RBI, .294/.387/.437, 139 OPS+, 4.3 fWAR.
Merced: 120 games played, 478 PAs, 17 doubles / 10 homers, 50RBI, .275/.373/.399, 119 OPS+, 2.6 fWAR.
*Congratulations to Carlos Correa and Daniella Rodriguez, who got married in a Harris County courthouse yesterday. There will be an official wedding ceremony on December 7. So Veterans Day, and Pearl Harbor anniversary day. Wow, 'Litos. But shout out to them for making it official and for Saving Themselves for Marriage.
*Chandler Rome: Expect the Astros to take their time this off-season. Notable that Robinson Chirinos signed December 6, Michael Brantley signed December 19, Wade Miley signed February 1. He*k, they didn't even trade for Zack Greinke until July 31. Houston traded for Gerrit Cole on January 13, 2018.
*FanGraphs' Rian Watt: Keeping the Astros' bullpen on track.
*Have some #Rumerz:
-Scott Boras is looking at $300m+ for Gerrit Cole.
-Jon Heyman says Zack Wheeler will decline his qualifying offer, but the Mets are interested in a multi-year extension. The Astros reportedly met with his agents yesterday.The Angels, White Sox, and Padres are interested if Wheeler hits free agency.
-Dustin Pedroia, whom the Red Sox have paid $31m to play in nine games (34 PAs) since the beginning of the 2018 season, intends to play in 2020.
-The A's are looking for lefty bats and bullpen help.
-Farmers Branch wants to be a Big Boy in free agency.
-Former Astros Greats Luke Gregerson and Tony Sipp could find employment!
*Other stuff:
-Alex Bazeley took a look at MLB employee ratings on Glassdoor.
-The Ghosts of War in a Wisconsin Forest.
-They tried to save the lives of immigrants fleeing danger. Now they're facing prosecution.
-Plutonium is leaking into the Pacific Ocean. Never met "plutonium" before but I can't imagine this is a good thing.
-Living full-time in a Toyota Tacoma.
*A Musical Selection, a banger:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
