Astros Crawfish Boil: August 7, 2023

Welcome to the Monday Boil!

Houston Astros News

Astros release two players following trades (yardbarker.com)

Alex Cora once inadvertently admitted Houston Astros stealing 2017 World Series championship under the influence of alcohol (sportskeeda.com)

Houston Astros: Jake Meyers continues to bash lefthanded pitching (houstonchronicle.com)

Angel Hernandez Had Another Terrible Day Behind The Plate, Managing To Anger Both The Yankees And Astros (outkick.com)

Both Yankees and Astros announcers were fed up with Angel Hernandez (awfulannouncing.com)

Former top Astros prospect Jon Singleton may be coming soon to offer needed pop (theathletic.com)

AL West News

Oakland Athletics

A’s Prospect From Matt Olson Trade Makes Triple-A Debut (si.com)

Nick Allen hits 2 homers in A’s Bay Bridge Series finale win (mlb.com)

In an ugly Giants loss at Oakland, the prettiest sight was the out-of-town scoreboard (theathletic.com)

Texas Rangers

Rangers take 6-game win streak into matchup with the Athletics (apnews.com)

Rangers broadcaster Nadel back in booth for ‘23 debut after treatment for mental health issues (nbcdfw.com)

MLB Power Rankings: Texas Rangers move into the Top 3 | Flippin’ Bats (bvmsports.com)

Los Angeles Angels

MLB power rankings: Angels keep Shohei Ohtani, collapse in AL standings (usatoday.com)

These 3 Teams Are Competing to Be the Biggest Disappointment of MLB 2023 (essentiallysports.com)

Angels’ trade deadline push for MLB playoffs is off to a disastrous start (nypost.com)

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners are red-hot – have they finally clicked? (sports.mynorthwest.com)

Sweep! Mariners sink Angels in crucial four-game series — here comes Seattle (thenewstribune.com)

Why do defensive metrics hate Mariners’ J.P. Crawford so much? (seattletimes.com)

MLB News (mlb.com)

Bryce goes full dad mode with upset young fan

Greinke’s bid to bat ends in the on-deck circle

9 hits in first 3 games?! Unstoppable rookie keys Blue Jays’ rout

20-year-old phenom Pérez returning to Marlins

5 series to watch with plenty of postseason implications

Cubs cap statement homestand with series win vs. MLB’s best

Houston Astros Birthdays

Saturday

RF Domingo Santana (31) broke into the majors for 20 games with the 2014 and 2015 Astros. He went 10-for-56 with two home runs and eight RBI.

Journeyman catcher Tim Federowicz (36) went 7-for-34 in 10 games for the 2018 Astros.

Jesus de la Rosa (70) appeared as a pinch hitter in three games for the 1975 Astros, collecting a double and scoring a run.

Sunday

Utilityman Jim Pankovits (68) played 316 games for Houston from 1984 through 1988. He hit .250/.307/.349 with nine round-trippers and 55 RBI.

Today

LHP Wade LeBlanc (39) split his 13-season MLB career between nine teams, including Houston for the last part of 2013. In four games, he gave up 10 runs (half earned) in 6 ¹⁄₃ innings.

RHP Don Larson (1929-2020) played for seven years in 14 seasons, joining the Houston franchise in 1964 and 1965. He started 11 times and came out of the bullpen 20 more, going 4-8 with a 2.40 ERA and 59 K’s in 108 ²⁄₃ innings. This is the same Larsen who tossed a 97-pitch perfect game for the 1956 New York Yankees, in Game Five of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.