*Brady Rodgers became the first Fresno pitcher to start the Triple-A All-Star Game in 19 years. He struck allowed a solo home run but struck out three in 2IP. Mike Hauschild and James Hoyt threw scoreless innings. But the International League won 4-2.
*Brian McTaggart has an overview of the 1st Half of the season.
*Former Astros beat writer intern or something Chandler Rome - now a writer for The Advocate in Baton Rouge - has a fantastic article on Alex Bregman. And, no, he's not coming up this weekend.
*The Plus Command of Joe Musgrove.
*So you want the Astros to get a starting pitcher? Begin your search by reading MLBTR's comprehensive starting pitching market.
*2016 7th Round pick Tyler Buffett will not sign with the Astros and will return to Oklahoma State for his senior season. The Astros came within $15,000 of losing 2017 draft picks.
*FanGraphs broke down Rob Manfred and Tony Clark's comments on reprehensibly-low minor-league pay.
*How StatCast has changed baseball. (This is the 3rd in a four-part series. Links to the first two parts can be found within).
*Joel Sherman on how to fix the All-Star Game.
*Former Astros great Anthony Gose (acquired by Toronto in the famous Brett Wallace deal) got into a "heated argument" in the dugout with Toledo manager Lloyd McClendon, and got sent to Double-A.
*Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron?
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
