Viva Cuba!

Little Alvarez has a pair of triples so far today for Fayetteville.

Bryan King's ERA has gone from 1.80 to 4.50 within the space of 5 batters.

*Sigh* #Astros

Huezo hit a HR in his first AB today.

I immediately thought of this guy, but we're not that cool (or good).

Dumbwayne Dullin gonna have to explain to his Lord and Savior why he so enjoys bearing false witness.

Just me or does this Dustin Harris guy look like Terry Puhl at the plate? #Astros

As do hits by guys who came into the game with averages below Mendoza.

22 pitches in the first by Arrighetti and not a single whiff.

Worrisome. #Astros

U.G.L.Y.

Pulled from the game in the 1st with just 2 batters retired on 33 pitches with 2 pitch clock violations, 3 wild pitches, a HBP (on his first pitch of the night), 2 walks, and at least 2 runs allowed.

Looked completely out of sorts, throwing mostly sliders. A handful of FBs 94-95. #Astros

Ryan Forcucci on the mound tonight for F'ville. #Astros

You may be insulting Mr. Feliz.

Correction: Corpus let him go back out for another inning and he punched out the side. I lost count but I think he got 10 or 11 swinging strikes. All 5 Ks tonight were swinging.

Call his ass up, pronto. #Astros

Bennett Sousa made his 3rd appearance of the season and punched out both batters he faced. He's now thrown 2.2 IP, allowing 0 hits or runs, walking 1 and punching out 6.

Hope he's ready soon. #Astros

Xavier Neyens later follows with a 3-run oppo taco, his 2nd of the season. #Astros

Anthony Huezo of Fayetteville just hit his first HR of the season to RCF. #Astros

I'm not blaming anyone else for Click trading Wilyer and I dont know if he would or woud not have signed Jose Abreu. I do know he wasted $14M on Pedro Baez and Niko Goodrum and his draft classes have produced limited impact, so far.

Not saying he was a poor GM. Just not convinced he's the answer.

The guy who traded Wilyer Abreu?

Coming into tonight, Yainer Diaz had the 17th worst wRC+ out of 189 qualified hitters in baseball this season. After an 0fer with 2 K and a GIDP, safe to say he's not improved his standing.

Oh, and he's 0-9 throwing out runners trying to steal. #Astros

Remember when Correa said they've been playing shitty baseball? Uh, huh.

With that leadoff hit tonight, Jose Altuve is now tied with Sammy Sosa for 125th on the all-time hits list. Next up: Mickey Mantle. #Astros

I'm in.

The Launch Briefing: April 16, 2026 Welcome to the Launch Briefing, a daily feature, where you will find a roundup of news and interesting stories from the Astros clubhouse and from around the league.  Discuss and share in the c…

The Launch Briefing: April 16, 2026
#Astros

A well-pitched game by the Houston #Astros. Feels weird, but I like it.

And now his 3rd of the year to RCF.

Off to a torrid start: .370/1.192

20yo Camilo Diaz just smoked his second HR of the year to LCF for Fayetteville. Got all of a hanger. #Astros

#Astros win. Sleep well, friends.

A pair of 2-out, 0-2 singles.

The struggle is real, amigo.

Sucks to be worried when scoring 7 runs.

2026: #Astros have already lost 3x in 8 games when scoring 7 or more runs.

2023-2025: HOU lost 11x in 121 games when scoring 7 or more runs.

The Ramblin' Man and Dreaming My Dreams were fave albums of my parents when I was young. They loved all the Outlaw Country artists.