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Please accept this writer’s humble apologies for the absence yesterday - the weekends are intentionally quiet while the staff spends time with their families, but weekdays should always at least have boiling pots of steaming freshwater cockroaches for you. Here’s your Crawfish Boil for Tuesday.
Let’s start off by continuing our shiny new “Tag’s Tweets” mini segment, shall we? Go follow Brian McTaggart on Twitter, if you don’t already, by clicking this blue button:
Tag’s Tweets
Astros starters:
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Tuesday: Peacock at Mets
Wednesday: McCullers vs. Twins
Thursday: Morton and then McHugh
Friday: Cole vs. Mets
Saturday: Verlander vs. Washington
Sunday: Peacock at Cardinals
Monday: Keuchel vs. Marlins and then McCullers
Will Harris giving Trent Thornton some tips pic.twitter.com/w1m0RYsORe
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Marwin Gonzalez working to strengthen right-handed bat.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
"I'm going to put 100 percent and desire in Spring Training to get better at it."https://t.co/eIW1eRV3Kb
A.J. Hinch arrives at the facility about 5 a.m. every morning. He said Chris Devenski is usually first player in, along with Keuchel and McCullers.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Just for Rambo:
Someone took Kyle Tucker's nameplate above his locker and wrote the word "Ted." Tucker, who homered yesterday, has a swing reminiscent of Ted Williams.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Correction.. it’s just “Ted” like mclovin pic.twitter.com/xHkE1UEfPW
— Lance McCullers Jr. (@LMcCullers43) February 26, 2018
Taylor Jones, a 6-foot-7 first baseman who was at Buies Creek last year, will get some time at first for the Astros today.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Justin Verlander warms up about 15 minutes away from taking the mound pic.twitter.com/30ejh2Yg4x
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Verlander breezes through 14-pitch first inning, striking out Reyes and Evans. Final pitch was 96 mph fastball Evans swung through.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Another 1-2-3 second for Verlander with two strikeouts. He struck out Nimmo on a 97 mph heater to end inning. He's likely done at 27 pitches. Looked sharp.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Yuli Gurriel was scratched from the game in Jupiter with left wrist discomfort.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Forget J.D. Martinez.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
J.D. Davis just hit one to Boston.
Kyle Tucker...opposite-field homer.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Jose Altuve on striking out looking on a 92 mph changeup thrown by Noah Syndergaard: "If throws that changeup to me 100 times, he's going to strike me out 100 times."
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Max Stassi on Verlander pic.twitter.com/nVU1lihlUV
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Hinch on Verlander pic.twitter.com/giPF9XgLSx
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 26, 2018
Astros notebook:
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 27, 2018
-- Gurriel rests after wrist discomfort
-- Altuve happy for J.D. Martinez, who broke the news of his MLB callup in 2011
-- Sipp off to good start
-- And morehttps://t.co/IeoepXaEUN
Astros News
Verlander spotless in 4-K spring debut for Astros
Veteran righty feels ‘great’ after outing against Mets - and he looked phenomenal.
Astros rest Gurriel after report of sore wrist
The Astros rested the 33-year-old right-handed-hitting first baseman.
Astros’ Carlos Correa thinks he can get better, looking to take defense to next level
At just 23, Carlos Correa is already considered one of baseball’s best shortstops. He thinks he can get better, too.
A car having issues leaving the field provided one of the first slapstick moments of Spring Training
Cue the Benny Hill theme.
Top 27 Prospects: Houston Astros
In case you missed it, FanGraphs Prospect Guru Eric Longenhagen has posted his thoughts on the Astros farm system. Spoiler alert: it’s still really, really good.
Unnecessary Post: The Astros Look Amazing
Speaking of really, really good, Jeff Sullivan (also of FanGraphs) took this look on Friday at the Astros and how good they are.
One more piece about Mark Appel.
Astros fans catch glimpse of champions at spring training
PR pieces need love, too.
Astros offseason report: Club loaded, eyeing a repeat
USA today’s follow up to this piece was one about the wetness of water.
Astros hitters swing for comfort in batter’s box at Spring Training
The primary value in this piece that exists is in the embedded video.
Astros lead MLB teams with highest over/under at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook
Title pretty much sums it up.
Poor outing aside, reliever Jacob Dorris an inspiration, says Astros manager A.J. Hinch
Jacob Dorris pitched poorly on Sunday, but he could be an inspiration to fellow Astros minor leaguers, manager A.J. Hinch said.
A right-handed side-arm reliever out of Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Dorris worked his way from being an undrafted free agent to pitching in big league camp after three seasons.
Around The League
Logan Morrison, and the Twins’ Great Advantage
Another Jeff Sullivan piece, because he r gud.
Did We Get Free Agency All Wrong?
FanGraphs’ Craig Edwards takes a good look at the Free Agent market now that it has mostly taken shape.
Healthy amount of hitting talent still available
Speaking of the free agent market.
Ohtani drives in run, walks twice in hitting debut
Shohei him the money.
Cubs seek return to World Series in ‘18
Breaking: Baseball Teams Want to Win The World Series
Noah Syndergaard held a shirtless media session after a flame-throwing Spring Training debut
No word yet on whether he has let the fungus grow into his shower shoes.
Minor Leaguer Duarte mourns death of sister
A serious, sad piece from Richard Justice about White Sox minor league player Mikey Duarte and his family’s grief.