The Brewers rapped out 14 hits - three from Jonathan Lucroy and a solo homer from Ryan Braun - to whip up on Collin McHugh and the Astros 6-1 at Minute Maid Park. Tyler White drove in the lone Astros run. All is lost. Abandon hope all ye who enter here.
*The Astros have decided to pass on Wandy Rodriguez for the final spot in the bullpen, leaving it to either Michael Feliz or James Hoyt. And with Matt Duffy making the Opening Day roster, it solidifies that A.J. Hinch is going with 12 arms and 13 bats to open the season. Wandy signed a $1m minor-league deal and can either accept an assignment to Triple-A or try to catch on with another club.
*Jon Singleton was pulled over in Arizona on December 30, 2014 in which marijuana was found in his car. (alt link)
*Correa is looking to become the youngest AL MVP.
*Keuchel's three rules to becoming a good pitcher are the same rules for having a successful business: Location, Location, Location.
*Hinch knows who he wants as closer, but he's not ready to say just yet. I actually love the idea of using the player best suited for the situation, rather than anointing someone to only pitch the 9th.
*Lance McCullers threw live BP.
*Luis Valbuena is dedicating his 2016 season to his grandmother, who passed away last week.
*The Astros came in at #5 on ESPN's Power Rankings. Here's the season preview. Other than all the potential strikeouts (minimized with the departure of Chris Carter), "it would seem the only thing that could stop the Astros would be something like the flukish rally that thwarted their chance to knock out the Royals in Game 4 of the ALDS last season."
*Be sure to check out SB Nation's MLB season preview. It is, predictably, fantastic. Here is the Astros section, if you just want to head there.
*Five Thirty Eight says that Texas teams will rule the AL West in this chat.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
