SnakeBytes, 9/3: Weekend Edition

We face off against the Astros tonight- though both teams come in with less-than-impressive records, they're both on pretty good runs against teams heading into the playoffs.  This might be a surprisingly good series.

Previews:

• [miamiherald.com] Houston Astros (62-71) at Arizona Diamondbacks (55-79) - We'll be facing off against Brett Myers- he's going for his 28th straight start of at least six innings. That's a pretty good stretch.

• [cbssports.com] Astros-Diamondbacks Preview - Despite their poor record, the Astros are 8 games above .500 since the All Star Break.

• [azcentral.com] Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros set to open 3-game series - We'll put Daniel Hudson on the mound to start series, hoping he'll follow up on his great month of August.

DBacks News:

• [mlb.com] Daniel Hudson of the Arizona Diamondbacks voted winner of the Gillette presents National League Rookie of the Month award for August - And speaking of that month... Hudson was 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA. A great debut. On top of that, he was named NL Pitcher of the Month. Okay, kid, now we'll expect this all the time.  Haha, just kidding! /dumb

• [foxsportsarizona.com] GM search cranks up - Derrick Hall says they'll talk to "five to ten candidates." I'm still waiting for a call.

• [azcentral.com] Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers pounding inside part of plate - From the comments: "Interesting how Gibson's leadership has made everyone on this team better. All of a sudden the same pitching and hitting coaches that could do nothing right, are are great coaches." Sarchasm or no?

• [fanhouse.com] Mike Hampton to Join Diamondbacks' Bullpen Friday - Announced yesterday, we'll see Mike Hampton in the bullpen tonight.

Around Baseball:

• [si.com] Nationals' Nyjer Morgan enrages baseball by violating The Code - Hey, we're back to The Code. An interesting look at what's gone on with Nyjer Morgan lately- he's been suspended by MLB for eight games, so add that to the seven game suspension he's already appealing, and he's in line to miss much of the rest of the season.

• [hardballtimes.com] The Nickname Game: the right fielders - On the topic of nicknames...

• [fangraphs.com] Is Edwin Jackson Throwing a Cutter? - FanGraphs asks if the White Sox have started Edwin Jackson on a new pitch.  Some fans just think he's standing up straighter when he throws.

• [espn.com] The 2010 Dodgers and the reinvention of lying - The Dodgers have made a habit of saying one thing and then doing something else. Apparently, this was Frank McCourt's plan all along.