While Carlos Lee and Matt Downs were going back to back to start the game last night I was putting together these links that will blast you away.

Things to Gripe About

Root of Hooks' problems in Houston " Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Greg Rajan brings the noise and I have to agree. Yes I know Minor League records don't matter, but I thought the Astros were supposed to be getting better talent in the system. The thing that get's me though, the comment about CC having to play T.J. Steele and Federico Hernandez. I guess things down in the minors aren't so different from things at the Major League level and that does not reflect well on the organization.

Selig has a cure for baseball's long September - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
The commissioner agrees that we're in for a dull September, but has a solution to heat things up in 2012. Jeff Passan has an interesting tidbit about what's really holding up the Astros sale. If you don't like the AL you won't be happy.

Breaking Down the Farm

Analysis: Breaking down the Hooks' roster " Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Greg Rajan takes a look at the Hooks roster and looks at where the players should be place next year.

Ultimate Astros " Best of the Astros minors, Part II: Top pitching performances
Zachary Levine continues his look at the minor leagues this season with a look at the pitching in the minors this past season.

Back in Time

Lessons from Brewers and Diamondbacks, latest turnaround teams - Tom Verducci - SI.com
Verducci looks at the history of turn around teams and what they did to get there.

Hurt by their Era: The Effect of Shorter Seasons on Career Value - Beyond the Box Score
Is it possible that playing in an era of shorter seasons cost Cap Anson 70 career WAR? See what happens when you normalize all seasons in history to 162 games.