*Lance McCullers retired all six batters he faced in his Spring debut as the Astros beat the Cardinals 3-0.
*With Tony Sipp's ineffectiveness, James Hoyt looks to benefit as an option to get lefties out. Hinch:
He's very similar to a left-handed specialist that can get lefties out even though he's right-handed. His split, his secondary pitches, are really difficult for hitters. He handles the opposite side very well.
*A.J. Reed is showing signs of life this Spring. Wednesday he beat the shift and then knocked a homer.
I'm just trying to have good at-bats and hit the ball hard and swing at the right pitches. Right now, I'm seeing the ball well and having some good swings.
*A.J. Hinch thinks David Paulino will be a factor for the Astros in 2017. Paulino threw 3IP, 2H/0ER, 2K:0BB yesterday against the Cardinals.
We're going to need up to double-digit starting pitchers at some point due to something that's going to happen, (related to) either performance or health or double-headers, and he's right in the middle of it.
*SportsNet.ca listed Joe Musgrove as a potential sleeper candidate.
*Francis Martes will start tomorrow instead of Mike Fiers, who has a sore hamstring.
*A kid got to warm up in the bullpen yesterday.
*The player specifically mentioned in the court documents in the Cardinals' hacking scandal talked.
*The Cubs gave Kris Bryant $1.05m for 2017 - the most money ever given to a second-year player. That sound you hear is Jon Heyman's thundering orgasm...because Heyman just used a second weekly notes column to blast the Astros for not giving Correa more money...and to wonder why Doug Fister doesn't have a deal yet.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
