Today we'll lead off with what could possibly turn into the greatest pissing contest in the history of pissing contests (I exaggerate, but just a little):
- Last night, Brian McTaggart debuted Roy Oswalt's own personal website via the twitter-sphere (is that a proper term?). In the early morning hours, Jose Valverde's manager/personal assistant/something debuted his own personal website via the twitter-sphere. Jose's kicks the crap out of Roy's on the basis of the most ridiculous intro-video—ever. I really can only hope that this kind of one-up-manship continues all offseason. My money is on Michael Bourn to crush the competition though. He or Hunter Pence (I'm valuing youth in this competition).
- After the Astros threw away an opportunity, or dropped the ball, Cecil Cooper did have these kind words to say about Brian Moehler, who really did pitch better than the boxscore will tell us (I'll also vote yes on the should we bring him back for one more year question...it just needs to be as a 5th/6th starter...not our number three):
- Greg Lucas pens one of the most balanced and intelligent break downs (no pun intended) of just how screwed we are as a franchise. Thanks for having the stomach for this one, Greg.
- If the inclusion of the Bloone's Farm picture in last night's game thread hadn't tipped you off, here it is concretely: Aaron Boone has made his return to MLB just five months after having open heart surgery.
- The Unofficial Scorer checks in with the things the Astros should be taking a look at in this miserable month of meaningless baseball. Odds are only 15% of what Mr. Levine would like to see get seen.
- Felipe Paulino gets another crack at proving himself as a starting pitcher tonight. This Astros.com piece features a quote from Dewey Robinson that agains credits a pitcher's demotion to Round Rock as helping him to finally put all the pieces together (Ed, are you not paying attention to these things?):
- Recent call-up, Wilton Lopez, gets featured in BtB's New Arms of the Week.
- USA Today checks in with some of the more intelligent guys in baseball to see how life is for them. Some familiar names are mentioned/quoted, but one of the most interesting things I took away from the article was this:
- Jumping off a discussion of intelligence, and because I think this probably applies to baseball's conventional wisdom: a little something from This Is Indexed.
- I'll be 97.5 The Ticket this afternoon with Fred and Matt at 1:50PM. If the Astros totally blowing it, you can just listen to the three of us rant about it.
- Finally, as a PSA, please, please, please take a few moments out of the procrastination time you're utilizing to read this and take Tango's Fan Scouting Survey.
"That’s what I told him. I thought he deserved a better fate. I thought he threw the ball well. He hit his spots very well. He kept it down. He moved the ball around. He did a good job, a real good job."
"It looks like his focus and concentration have really upgraded to a different level, and he's really making pitches in the two outings he's had since being recalled [from Triple-A Round Rock]," he said. "I've been encouraged with that. The stuff's been there. At this level, it's not what you're throwing so much as where you're throwing it, and that's going to be the key."
"In some ways, it can take a little pressure off," he says of having an alternative career path. "It doesn't mean you have less desire. But I think it helps you relax."