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Good morning boys and girls. It's been a fun week of baseball, hasn't it? Here are some links to get your through the morning until the Astros play again.
Texas notes: DeShields back up and running | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball
Delino DeShields missed three weeks after getting hit in the face with a fastball that fractured his cheek, but the center fielder has picked up right where he left off in his first season with the Hooks.
Astros top groundskeeper to visit Modern Woodmen Park | Quad Cities River Bandits News
The Houston Astros have brought some of baseball's best major league prospects to the Quad Cities the past two seasons, and this week they are bringing their 10-year major league groundskeeper to Modern Woodmen Park.
What the Heck, Bobby?: A Look at the Dominican Summer League
Today marks the first day of play in the Dominican Summer League. Beginning this year, the Astros will be fielding 2 teams in the DSL.
What the Heck, Bobby?: Getting to Know Lancaster JetHawks RHP Gonzalo Sanudo
Gonzalo Sanudo came in to the Astros organization in a Spring 2013 trade that sent 2010 supplemental first round pick Mike Kvasnicka to the Twins organization. Sanudo quickly made his mark with the Greeneville team and ended his season as an integral part of the New York-Penn League Championship Tri-City team.
What the Heck, Bobby?: Catching Up with Lancaster JetHawks 3B Rio Ruiz
I first talked to Astros third baseman and 2012 4th round draft pick Rio Ruiz in August 2012 when he was playing with the Greeneville Astros in his first season and I had the opportunity to watch him again last year in Quad Cities. Over the weekend, I watched Ruiz at work in the desert in High A Lancaster, California, and decided that it was time to check in with him again.
Astros County: Your Neighborhood Astros Blog & Grill: My quick take on the Popularity Contest...
I really can't do better that the Constable's take on the Drellich article that is around five days old. I also notice that our friends at Crawfish have written a rebuttal duo, expressing their discontent with the whole controversy, and defending the Front Office. But the Constable sums it up really, really well.
Astros County: Your Neighborhood Astros Blog & Grill: Actually, it is a popularity contest
Over the course of this past holiday weekend, I spent a lot of time thinking about the Astros. I didn't spend a lot of time actually watching the Astros (barbecues, napping, family time, and whatnot), but my thoughts were certainly on the Astros in light of Evan Drellich's article about the Astros' "radical ways."
Black baseball's Houston heritage extended from 1880s to 1950 - Houston Chronicle
Major League Baseball picked Eagles as the Astros' nom de plume for Friday's Civil Rights Game against the Baltimore Orioles, but it could as easily have gone with Greyhounds, Cotton Clubbers, Littlerocks, Rosebuds, Black Aces, Black Buffaloes, Postoffice Carriers or Sunflowers.
Lacy reflects on life before and after Negro Leagues baseball - Houston Chronicle
Raymon Lacy has packed a lot into 91-plus years - two college degrees, World War II military service in the South Pacific, 54 years as a schoolteacher, coach and administrator and the distinction of being one of the last surviving members of the Houston Eagles, the 1949-50 Negro Leagues team whose heritage will be commemorated by Major League Baseball this week.
Hall of Famer Irvin laments diminishing number of African-Americans in baseball - Houston Chronicle
Given his health and his age, Hall of Famer Monte Irvin isn't expected to leave his Houston retirement community to take part in Major League Baseball's Civil Rights Game activities this week at Minute Maid Park.
Bud Selig concerned with Astros’ suits involving Comcast and Drayton McLane - Ultimate Astros
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Friday he remains concerned about the Astros’ legal issues concerning Comcast SportsNet Houston and former team owner Drayton McLane but is hopeful that the disagreements can be resolved.
Dignitaries, MLB honor Angelou's memory at luncheon | astros.com: News
It was entirely appropriate that Maya Angelou was to receive the Beacon of Life Award at the Civil Rights Game luncheon in Houston on Friday, and extremely sad that she passed away just days before the event was to take place.
All hail the new King of Ground Ball Pitchers | FOX Sports on MSN
Houston's Dallas Keuchel has come out of nowhere to become one of the National League's best starting pitchers. So far, anyway. And a great deal of the credit goes to his super-sinker, which has resulted in a historic ground-ball rate. So far, anyway.
Don't look now: Houston Astros don't have as many problems as before | FOX Sports on MSN
With five sub-.500 seasons in a row, Houston has been the punchline of jokes for a while. But it's time to back off. With stars like George Springer, Dallas Keuchel and more, the club is better than most think.
Appel to rejoin rotation at Class A Lancaster this weekend - Ultimate Astros
The top pick in last year’s draft, Mark Appel has met up with Class A Lancaster, the team he left in April because he was having trouble physically adjusting to pro ball. He is scheduled to start for the JetHawks on Saturday.
Astrodome played major role in Houston's integration | astros.com: News
With sports being the main headline-grabber, the Astrodome's role in the integration of Houston was anything but a footnote. It wasn't the only element to help springboard the civil rights movement in Houston, but it was a big one. And the prognosticators were correct -- the Dome became a world-wide phenomenon, and it did so fully integrated.
Astros rookie didn't let stutter throw him a curve - Houston Chronicle
George Springer is a rookie outfielder for the Astros with a smile that could stop a line drive mid-air. If you have an untrained ear, you would never guess that he also has a stutter. About 5 percent of children pass through a phase of stuttering, and in about 1 percent, the stutter persists into adulthood.
Richard Justice: Jimmy Wynn celebrated as Houston Astros icon | astros.com: News
For the Astros, Jimmy Wynn is an iconic figure, beloved still. He was there at the beginning, 49 years ago when the Astrodome opened its doors and the local baseball team represented the pioneering spirit of a city that prided itself on being both innovative and visionary.