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The MLB Daily Dish is a daily feature we're running here at MLBDD and rounds up roster-impacting news, rumors, and analysis. Have feedback or have something that should be shared? Hit us at @mlbdailydish on Twitter.
Good morning baseball fans!
Now he did hit a home run last night, but before that we asked what was wrong with Freddie Freeman.
Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs says the Astros are in trouble.
The Astros are in trouble because of their record, and they’re in trouble because of some of their indicators. The offense should turn out fine, but you wonder about Gomez. And there are so many questions about the rotation, questions which might not be easily resolved. It would be wonderful if Keuchel had another strong start, and if McCullers shows up healthy. Then the picture looks plenty more clear. But, last year’s Astros never went 6-15 over a 21-game stretch. And if they want to get back to 86 wins, which just barely got them into last year’s playoffs, they’ll need to play out at a 92-win pace. It’s nothing they can’t do. It’s just not so likely they’ll do it. Better to try to get to 86 wins at an 86-win pace, but that ship has sailed.
More fan confidence polls, this time the AL West.
Speaking of the AL West, here is a roundup of the latest news from that division.
We should be patient with Byron Buxton, says Henry Druschel of Beyond the Box Score.
A conversation among BtBS writers led to the realization that Buxton isn't the only Twins outfield prospect who was promoted aggressively and struggled in the majors; Aaron Hicks was promoted directly from Double-A to start the 2013 season as the Twins' center fielder, and he went 3-for-63 with 21 strikeouts to start his career. It could be that the Twins simply can't tell when players are ready for the majors. In any case, given Buxton's lack of experience, maybe his struggles shouldn't be surprising. They certainly aren't unprecedented among rookies, and they do not mean he'll be a bust.
The Phillies lost the leader of their young rotation, Charlie Morton, as he will miss 6-8 months with a torn hamstring.
Seattle Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln is retiring.
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Today in Baseball History: In 1988, the Orioles set an American League record when their lose their twenty-first consecutive loss.