Let's get this crap over with. Tired of Trash Can Bangin'? TOO BAD. THIS IS OUR EXISTENCE NOW.
*Check the Chronicle's editorial: The Astros Never Let Us Down, Until Now.
*Jayson Stark has an excellent piece in The Atlantic about how the "Take (the Astros' 2017 Championship) Back" narrative is flawed. Stark:
The making of history is an integral part of the fabric of baseball. But nowhere in that fabric has anyone ever dared to un-make history. And as we learned again this week, Rob Manfred was not going to be the first.
*Reid Ryan:
That joy in winning in Los Angeles will never be taken away
*Brian McTaggart reports that the Astros have targeted some potential managerial...targets. It's...it's just...here's the fing list:
Dusty Baker (sure)
Jeff Banister (gotta be kidding me don't let Banny Rooster anywhere near this team I will literally light crap on fire if this happens)
Bruce Bochy (okay, I suppose)
Joe Espada (YES)
Raul Ibanez (interesting, I'm listening)
Buck Showalter (Bruh)
Will Venable (I think he's 24, but I'm not sure)
Espada is the odds-on favorite to get the gig.
*How big of a house does Jim Crane want to clean?
*The Astros players, who did all this crap in concert with Alex Cora, have yet to speak out, but that could change soon. Related, Brian T. Smith says FanFest on Saturday is a perfect time for the Astros players to say literally anything. I know how you feel about #BTS columns, but this is a good one.
*Jake Kaplan evaluates Pete Putila's chances of becoming the Astros' GM.
*Chandler Rome: The Astros' acumen in the draft will be tested in 2020.
*Yordan Alvarez switched agencies, if that's something that matters to you.
*A disgraced former bench coach got fired. Long may he never be spoken of again.
*Should the Mets fire Carlos Beltran?
*The 30 Most Dangerous Tech Companies, according to those who Know.
*The Ringer: Who is Ken Jennings?
*Outside: The Bizarre Bank Robbery That Shook An Arctic Town.
*A Musical Selection:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith