*The Masked Marvel started a series of Astros Depth Charts. Here's the Primer, and here are the Catchers.
*Luhnow hasn't ruled out signing Keuchel to a long-term extension.
*Despite only being $250,000 apart, the Astros are prepared to go to an arbitration hearing with Jason Castro for the first time since 2011.
*Three different executives told Peter Gammons yesterday to watch the Astros on Yoenis Cespedes.
*Baseball America's Top 10 Astros prospects: A.J. Reed, Francis Martes, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, Daz Cameron, Joe Musgrove, David Paulino, Colin Moran, Derek Fisher, Michael Feliz.
*Minor-league titles are paying dividends for Astros.
*Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr used words like "rogue element" and "outlier" in talking about Cheatin'-ass scouting director Chris Correa.
*In this big Drellich piece about the Cardinals, a source said that the hacking case won't get a huge priority from the FBI because it doesn't involve national security. It involves my personal security, though.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
