Pitchers who expected to be hit with a cork with a string on it suddenly found an 88-millimeter howitzer opening up on them.
-Houston Chronicle reporter John Wilson, on how Jimmy Wynn got the Toy Cannon nickname.
Jimmy Wynn passed away at the age of 78. RIP.
Wynn batted 3rd in the famous All-Rookie lineup on September 27, 1963, a 10-3 loss to the Mets. For the Astros, Wynn hit .255/.362/.445 - good enough for a 131 OPS+ in the offense-suppressed era. He was an All-Star in 1967 and led the league in walks (148) in 1969.
Wynn's 38.7 fWAR still ranks 6th in Astros' team history (Altuve is 7th, at 35.0 fWAR). His 131 wRC+ ranks 8th in team history (Correa is 9th, at 129 wRC+). His 223 home runs as an Astro ranks 4th. His 14.1 BB% is 4th among all Astros who played at least 400 games.
The Athletic's Joe Posnanski: In memory of Jimmy Wynn.
On the Astros Radio podcast, Bill Brown talked about Jimmy Wynn.
David Barron talked to Bob Aspromonte, Joe Morgan, Larry Dierker, and Dusty Baker about Jimmy Wynn.
Watch Jimmy Wynn hit a monster home run:
Houston #Astros star Jimmy Wynn blasts a tape-measure HR over the Crosley Field scoreboard and onto the freeway vs. Cincinnati #Reds pitcher Sammy Ellis! (1967) RIP "The Toy Cannon". #MLB #History pic.twitter.com/LO9LjvL5Hl— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) March 27, 2020
*MLB and the MLBPA reached a deal on issues regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them:
-They will play as many games as possible in 2020.
-Players will collect prorated service time based on the number of days on the roster or injured list.
-In the event that the season is cancelled (which is a very real possibility), players who were scheduled to be free agents at the end of the season will, in fact, become free agents. For the Astros, that means George Springer, Yuli Gurriel, Michael Brantley, and Josh Reddick.
-Suspensions do not carry over to 2021. [side-eyes Frankie Tuesday]
-The 2020 MLB Draft will take place no later than July 20, 2020, and MLB can choose to have between five and 40 rounds.
Chandler Rome: How a smaller draft affects the Astros in the aftermath of that ancient scandal: the sign-stealing.
*The Athletic's Jake Kaplan: What the new deal means for the Astros.
*SI's Michael McCann: What the new deal means, legally.
*SI's Michael McCann: What the new deal means, legally.
*There is the possibility of games taking place in empty stadiums.
*Carlos Correa donated $500,000 in medical equipment to the City of Houston, as well as 2,500 meals per day to Houston's homeless, elderly, and public employees. Alex Bregman sent lunch to 100 Methodist employees.
*Justin Verlander is "right on schedule" (even if there's no "schedule") with his recovery from groin surgery.
*The Astros have closed Minute Maid Park's workout facility to players, to comply with the City of Houston's ordinance.
*Joel Sherman: Me, My Dad, Baseball, and Opening Day.
*Get The Athletic free for 90 Days.
*Texas Monthly: Inside the story of how HEB planned for the pandemic.
*Austin City Limits has opened its archives.
*Outside: The Chris McCandless Obsession Problem
*Keep your hands on the wheel, and don't look down.
*20 recipes for the pasta, rice, and beans you've stockpiled by now.
*A Musical Selection:
*Joel Sherman: Me, My Dad, Baseball, and Opening Day.
*Get The Athletic free for 90 Days.
*Texas Monthly: Inside the story of how HEB planned for the pandemic.
*Austin City Limits has opened its archives.
*Outside: The Chris McCandless Obsession Problem
*Keep your hands on the wheel, and don't look down.
*20 recipes for the pasta, rice, and beans you've stockpiled by now.
*A Musical Selection:
