It's the first full Spring Training edition of 2017!
*A.J. Hinch's Spring Training plan is designed to make players tired and sore.
*Hinch is excited about the balance of the 2017 Astros.
*Dallas Keuchel's shoulder didn't feel right the entire season. Keuchel:
From the get-go, coming into spring training, it wasn't right. But I was telling myself I could push through this and get through it. That wasn't the case. I actually hurt the team more than helped out.
Hinch, on Keuchel's struggles:
He took it on the chin a few times, but he also pitched a couple of good games, as well. He didn't have an entirely wasted season...I think he learned a lot about himself.
*Lance McCullers is working on a more compact throwing motion.
*Collin McHugh doesn't have any beef with the Astros after going through - and winning - the arbitration process.
*Day 1 and here's an eyebrow being raised: Evan Gattis received an anti-inflammation shot in his shoulder. Gattis:
It's just been a little sore, a little more sore than usual. So we just kind of nipped it in the bud, especially with a lot of volume coming up. I'm not too worried about it.
WE'LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT, EVAN GATTIS.
*The Astros are extending protective netting all the way through the dugouts on both sides of the field. Corpus Christi is doing the same thing at Whataburger Field.
As someone who has an irrational fear of getting hit in the face with a foul ball, I applaud this decision.
*Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the new Spring Training facility
*John Sickels' Top 200 Prospects List features nine Astros, headlined by Francis Martes at #29, with six in the top 100.
*Former Astros prospect L.J. Hoes was suspended 50 games without pay for a second violation of a drug of abuse.
*Money may not be the only reason the Rangers let Yu Darvish walk after 2017.
*Late Tigers owner Mike Ilitch paid Rosa Parks' rent for years.
*Football hooligans in Russia are trained, organized, and violent.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
