Astros Crawfish Boil: March 7, 2023

Houston Astros News

Wagner gives high school kids HOF-caliber trip (mlb.com)

5 dark horse Cy Young candidates in ‘23 (mlb.com)
Number one in here is not my dark horse, he’s my odds-on favorite, and he should be yours too.

Dusty Baker finalizing Houston Astros’ lineup ahead of Opening Day (chron.com)

Houston Astros Competition for Center Field is Heating Up (si.com)
Another scorching hot take from Sports Illustrated.

Unofficial Astros motto says what we’re all thinking about coming season (chron.com)

Astros viewing David Hensley, Mauricio Dubón as utility duo ($houstonchronicle.com$)

These Houston Astros young guns ready to take the reins | STONE COLD ‘STROS #13 (houston.sportsmap.com)

Astros’ 2023: Would you rather? (chipalatta.com)
A great little Astros blog you all should check out if you haven’t stumbled on it already.

Non-Houston Astros AL West News

“The New Oakland” Could Be Exciting, Imminent (athleticsnation.com)

A’s still on ‘parallel path’ exploring future in Oakland — and Las Vegas (mlb.com)

Shohei Ohtani hits pair of 3-run HRs for Japan in WBC tuneup (ESPN.com)

Ohtani hits home run from his knee in return to Team Japan (mlb.com)

What’s center field plan with Leody’s injury? (mlb.com)

Rangers roster projections (dallasnews.com)

Drayer: Next for Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez — fulfill childhood dream in WBC (sports.mynorthwest.com)

Non-NL West MLB News

The Winners And Losers From MLB’s New Rules (fivethirtyeight.com)
The Astros 2022 season would see them win 106 games plus another 11 on their way to the title. This was despite ranking dead last in the MLB on their MANFRED score, or the Metric for Assessing Negative or Favorable Rule-Effect Dynamics.

Turner stable after frightening hit-by-pitch (mlb.com)

MLB 26-AND-UNDER POWER RANKINGS: NO. 14 CINCINNATI REDS (foxsports.com)

These players used the Classic to prep for greatness (mlb.com)

Effectively Wild Episode 1977: Season Preview Series: Blue Jays and Royals (fangraphs.com)
Got two hours for baseball-adjacent talk?

Non-MLB Baseball News

Watch Cuba vs. Netherlands on FS1, 11 p.m. ET (mlb.com)

Astros Birthdays

José Canó (61) enjoyed his cup of coffee with the Astros during the 1989 campaign. He faced 99 batters in total, locking in a 1.348 WHIP while striking out only eight in 23 innings.

Eventual 17-season veteran Jeff Kent (55) played 2003 and 2004 with the Astros. A second baseman, in 275 games he hit .293/.350/.521 with 49 homers and 200 RBI, making the National League All-Star Team in 2004.