If you missed last night's All-Star Game (or if you tuned out after Justin Verlander imploded), then a brief recap of the Altuve action is in order:
Jose entered the game as a defensive replacement for Dan Uggla in the bottom of the 5th, then assisted in doubling up Detroit's Miguel Cabrera an inning later to help preserve the National League's shutout. Altuve got one AB in the top of the 8th, facing Baltimore's Jim Johnson, grounding to second and getting called out on a veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery close play at first. But the NL won in their last game with Houston's assistance, so it's all good.
A few other notes/links from the last couple of days:
*From Monday, Wilton Lopez is officially back from the DL, and David Carpenter is back to OKC.
*FOX 26's Mark Berman reported that Roger Clemens is back with the Astros, in... some capacity.
*USA Today had a nice feature on Altuve the All-Star (including a shoutout to the Juvenile Court Clerk's wildly popular How Many Altuves?).
*The Chronicle's Zachary Levine had a nice chat with fans on all things Astros yesterday.
*Preston Tucker (7th round) is Houston's highest remaining unsigned draft pick, and the signing deadline is Friday, but he has an excuse this week: he's accepting an award at the ESPYs tonight. Expect news of his signing tomorrow or Friday.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
