Astros Crawfish Boil

Astros Crawfish Boil: February 28th, 2020

Start your morning with some of the best Astros links around

By CKuno Feb 28, 2020, 8:40am CST

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MLB: Spring Training-Houston Astros at Washington Nationals

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Astros News

The Astros and Nationals battled to a 5-5 tie in yesterday’s Spring Training game (MLB.com)
Cristian Javier was able to bounce back after giving up a leadoff homer, and his “invisiball” might just have him on the cusp (The Athletic, $$$)
But this Jeff Bagwell interview was probably one of the better highlights (Twitter)
JV’s first Spring Training start was pushed back after he experienced groin discomfort, but he says he feels good after a live BP session (Astros.com)
Yordan Alvarez played through knee pain all last season in both the major and minor leagues (Larry Brown Sports)
2020 will be make or break for Kyle Tucker (Astros.com)
Lance McCullers pitched in the 2018 postseason knowing he needed Tommy John surgery, and he has no regrets (Sports Radio 610)
If Spring Training has told us anything it’s that this season is going to suck for the Astros (Sports Illustrated)
According to the LA Times, the benefit that the Astros got from the sign stealing was probably nil (LA Times)
What if Mike Trout had been a member of the Astros in 2017? (ESPN)

Around the League

MLB has made a couple of historic crew-chief assignments for umpires (MLB.com)
A new pickoff rule is coming to the minors after being tested in the Atlantic League, and it’s intriguing (Basseball America)
Oberlin College was the birthplace of the shift... sort of (MLB.com)
Congress is pushing for the enshrinement of Curt Flood into the Hall of Fame (Bleacher Report)
Justin Meekins is the proud owner of college baseball’s best headshot (ESPN)