Astros Crawfish Boil: July 18, 2024

Today is the second day in a row that we have no baseball, fourth if you don’t count the exhibitions.

It’s easy to be glum when there’s no baseball to be had. Luckily, today is the last day of the break. I’m not saying the players don’t deserve or need the break...I’m saying I need the baseball back.

Houston Astros News

Astros angling for another AL West crown

Astros after the break: Would you rather… (Chipalatta)

Astros second-half storylines to watch, starting with trade deadline needs (NY Times)

2 sneaky Astros 2024 MLB trade deadline targets to consider (ClutchPoints)

Former Astros champion gets DFA’d by White Sox (Larry Brown Sports)

Astros can’t afford to tank their World Series chance with this idiotic reunion (FS)

Dana Brown took his strengths to the extreme in making bizarre Astros draft history (CTH)

AL West News

Mallcops: Rangers GM hopes team will become buyers at trade deadline (YB)

Halos: LA Times columnist exposes Rob Manfred for turning blind eye on Angels’ Arte Moreno Halo Hangout)

A’s: A half-century later, Athletics’ dynasty remains unique (Baseball HoF)

M’s: ESPN insider’s view on Mariners and Astros’ trade deadline plans (Seattle Sports)

MLB News

Who’s looking good coming out of the break? (Astros all the way up to 10th)

MLB commissioner’s comments underscore the headache of legalized sports gambling (YB)

From Russia with slug: White Sox pick known as the ‘Siberian Sultan of Swat’

Former MLB Rookie of the Year unlikely to continue playing (YB)

Free Agent Contracts and Auction Theory: Theoretical Implications (FG)

I Saw a Bird (FG — this is a great story)

The 2024 Replacement-Level Killers: Shortstop & Center Field (FG)

10 trade targets to watch after the All-Star break

Everything you need to know about the 2024 Trade Deadline

Could Skubal be worth a Soto-esque trade package?

Is Pete Alonso distracted by the possible end of his Mets career?

Houston Astros Birthdays

RHP Josh Banks (42) pitched four innings for the 2010 Astros in one start, but allowed six earned runs on eight hits and four walks for a 3.000 WHIP.

1B/3B Harry Spilman (70) appeared in 223 games for Houston between 1981 and 1989, with a .222 batting average and seven home runs.

RHP Rafael Gonzalez (20) has struck out 21 in 14 ¹⁄₃ innings at the rookie-level with the FCL Astros this year.