Be sure to check out The Batguy's and Not Hank's pieces on Bagwell and the HOF, in addition to these fine Grade-A links:
*Evan Drellich writes that, despite having addressed the team's offseason goals (reliever, outfield), the Astros are one more deal short of a good winter
*Reid Laymance says the numbers are tilting Bagwell's way.
*Jayson Stark has five lessons from the 2016 HOF voting.
*Ronny Torreyes, who was protected by the Astros instead of Delino DeShields in the 2014 Rule 5 draft, was DFA'd by the Dodgers to make room for new pitcher Kenta Maeda.
*New Tri-City ValleyCats hitting coach Dillon Lawson is coming from Southeast Missouri State (where he held the same job), and took the position based on the recommendation from former player Alex Winkelman, who spent the end of 2015 in Tri-City.
*Former Astro great Anthony Bass - part of a trade with the Rangers and Mariners that sent Tom Wilhelmsen to Texas - has asked for his release from Seattle to go play in Japan.
*Read about Al Bacosa, the 1,389th player chosen in the 1988 draft - one spot before Mike Piazza.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
