*Roy Oswalt was in camp yesterday, preaching durability and the need to throw 200IP.
When I was in Spring Training, I told the guys all the time, 'I prepare myself to throw 300 innings and then when you only throw 230, 240, it's like a day off.' You train your body and arm to do more than you're supposed to do.
*Luke Gregerson is working on a third pitch: the circle change. Gregerson:
I would love to have an extra pitch for guys to think about up there while they're sitting sinker or slider all the time.
*Keuchel is planning on getting five Grapefruit League starts.
*From John Perrotto: Carlos Beltran is back, and hungry for a ring.
*Preston Tucker is close to 100%, five months after shoulder surgery. Click the link to see one of the all-time great pictures of Tucker.
*Carlos Correa is close to 100% after getting all four wisdom teeth removed last week.
*Among the minor-leaguers participating in a mini-camp beginning on Saturday: new Cuban pitcher Cionel Perez, catcher Jake Rogers, shortstop Anibal Sierra.
*Rumor: a signal from the dugout will be all it takes to get an intentional walk. Considering that the Astros were intentionally walked 31 times in all of 2016 (Altuve led the way with 11), and Astros pitchers intentionally walked 19 batters in all of 2016...this won't affect a whole lot.
*Rob Manfred is straight up pissed at Tony Clark and the MLBPA over the lack of rule changes, and may move on without them in 2018.
*PRAISE BE: umpires Bob Davidson and Jim Joyce have retired.
*Number one on Sammy Sosa's similarity score, according to Sammy Sosa, is Jesus Christ.
*After 27 reviews, Jordan Peele's "Get Out" has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
