Welcome to the Launch Briefing, a daily feature, where you will find a roundup of news and interesting stories from the Astros clubhouse and from around the league.
Discuss and share in the comments!
It’s the Friday Launch!
Houston Astros News
Houston selects Trammell, France (TR)
J.D. Martinez shares about his time with the Astros (Chron)
Indispensable Astros (HP)
Looking at the Imai oppo-slider (HC)
AL West News
Angeles Solar, López issued suspensions (TR)
A’s stay in New York, hoping to seize Queens (FLM)
M’s add a vet as Robles hits the IL (NT)
Rangers unveil new city connect uniforms
MLB News
8 new city connect uniforms (Rangers included)
Davitt set to make his debut (TR)
New Pokemon Go and MLB collaboration (PG)
Padres sale could break a record (10N)
Yankees designate Winquest (TR)
City of Kansas City proposes new stadium plan to the Royals (TR)
Houston Astros birthdays
RHP Joe Gibbon (91, died in 2019 at 83)
IF Bob Watson (80, died in 2020 at 74)
RHP Alain Pena (23, High-A)
Feature photo from @astros on X, Source Link.
I know not everyone is a huge fan of this poster, but this is more for the video content. I feel like ever since Angel retired, there’s been a power void for worst umpire, and it sure seems like CB Bucknor’s exploratory committee recommended he go for the position.
You’re the first base umpire. Your primary job is to see if the runner is safe, and you don’t even LOOK, and then assume he didn’t? 🕶
I love the managers’ reactions at the end of that video.
I actually just feel bad for CB. He’s in over his head and can get called on it now and publicly embarrassed. Angel on the other hand was an ass that held grudges and intentionally botched calls to get revenge on players or managers or teams…he was incompetent as well, but often there was real malice masquerading as blunder in his calls.
I also feel bad for the umps calling balls and strikes at the top and bottom of the zone now. Before you’d key off the knees, and the midpoint between the belt and shoulders, so basically the letters. There’s landmarks to work with for reference.
now it’s between 27% of players height to 53% of players height. Well where the f is 54% and where is 52%. How is the ump supposed to know?
There was a good artcile yesterday in Baseball Prospectus about Jose Altuve’s New Strike Zone with the abs, about this.
its behind a paywall though. If you’re on the TLA discord , send me a message and i can share it with you.
I already read it. Thanks though.
oh i know. sorry i wasnt clear, i meant that as a a general “you” to anyone reading.
Assuming they move Blanco to 60 day IL and no other moves it would seem our 40 man roster is set with the addition of Trammel.
Although I could see HB and or Javier going to 60 day IL as well if they need to make space for someone else. Although im not sure who that would be.
test
oh cool so i put my X account as my “website” so now if you click on my name it will take you straight to my X account. thats a really cool feature!
It’s not letting me do that. maybe because youre not actually logged in. not sure.
more testing
another
What I can’t really get, and maybe it something I’m missing, I can think why Spencer pitched last night. He was great by the way, but we could have used a start from him. Dana playing checkers or is he playing 5D chess that us fans cant even figure out because he’s 37 moves ahead of us…..
idk why the hell hes not on the roster yet? why are we wasting a 40 man spot on JP who isnt even stretched out enough to start? unless their plan is to completely play musical chairs on the titanic with players from SL to HOU but as we are seeing firsthand that strategy is trash when we are on the road lol
Because JP isn’t starting Sunday or Monday. He is being called up to provide innings in the bullpen over the next two or three games. Same with Roa. One or both will probably get sent down after appearing in a game this weeked.
Part of the reason Spencer probably started yesterday was so he wouldn’t go over a week without starting again if he was called up too Houston(SL Start on April 3rd-Seattle start on the 12th.
After Imai and LMJ- chances are the rotation goes something like this. Sunday-Bolton or Weiss, Monday-Burrows or Alexander,Tuesday-Burrows or Alexander(Gordon is probably available for this game), Wednesday Arrighetti.
Yea I get that but like JP is the best relief option we have to call up? Lol
If true this may be more dire than I thought
More like JP is the hot hand. But 2 things can be true at the same time. We could be in a lot of trouble.
Spencer is schedule to start 4/15 vs COL
Test
Welcome to the Launch Briefing!!!!
Logging in remains optional for commenting, but if you choose to do so (saves perferences, keeps track of your posts, likes, etc, personalize your avatar) in addition to logign in with wordpress you can do it with X/Twitter now.
(I’ve only just set it up, I haven’t actually tried it.)