Unlike the manager selection, the MLB doesn’t prohibit the Astros from hiring coaches during the World Series. So, it’s always possible that it could happen during the World Series period.

As for box scores, I am disappointed that many newspapaers (including the local Austin American Statesman) have reduced the amount of information in box scores over the last couple of years (in order to conserve space). But, then again, I suppose most of us who are most interested in the box scores usually look at them on-line, where you can find the most complete versions.

First, I’d like to see box scores use plate appearances instead of/in addition to AB. This would allow you to see how many times the opposing pitchers went through the lineup without having to go to the BB column and add it in.

I’d also like to see bunts/attempted bunts and infield hit numbers. Jeff Keppinger going 2-for-4 with hard-hit grounders up the middle is different from Kepp laying down a couple of bunts, but they are represented the same on the box scores.

I also think it could be informative to see contact vs. swing-and-miss numbers. One game would be a small sample size, but you could get a feel for whether the other team was seeing a particular pitcher well.

On the minor league team websites, in addition to the box score, they have a “Game Log” or a “Recap” that lays things out in narrative form. So instead of knowing just that a batter grounded out once in the game, you find out that he grounded out to the third baseman who made the throw to first base to make the final out of the third inning. This is way too much for a newspaper to print, but it’d be easy to post on a webpage (say, astros.com) instead of having to click around Gameday to get this info. When I check up on our minor leaguers, I usually look at the recaps to get a better feel for how well a player is hitting the ball or how efficient a pitcher is.

I don’t know how to improve fielder data in box scores, but if the Astros did the Game Log thing (like their minor league teams do), then they could indicate which plays Milo gave a blue star on. I don’t know if the blue star thing is a general scorekeeping convention, but I like to use it when I score a game.

I thought Milo had been doing the blue stars for a while, and then later somebody attached the sponsorship. Could be wrong though.

It’s definitely a Milo-only thing though (or perhaps at this point an Astros-only thing).

Like the idea of a star-related note on good plays. I, too, will star plays that are noteworthy when I’m scoring.

Another thought I had about box scores: should we get rid of RBIs? I like the web boxes a lot, but I also want something I can glance at easily and see what happened. I’m wondering, though, if RBIs have become somewhat irrelevant. Maybe that’s just the stat-geek in me talking…