Sunday Morning Hot Links

*Random 2017 Astros fact:

Which batter got to each Astros starting pitcher during the regular season? Here is the batter and slash line (ordered by OPS, minimum 6 PAs) against:
Dallas Keuchel: Kevan Smith (6 PAs) - .800/.833/1.600
Justin Verlander: Jose Ramirez (11 PAs) - .625/.727/1.375
Lance McCullers: Elvis Andrus (6 PAs) - .800/.833/1.233
Charlie Morton: Khris Davis (6 PAs) - .500/.500/1.500
Collin McHugh: Yoan Moncada (6 PAs) - .750/.833/.750
Brad Peacock: Luis Valbuena (6 PAs) - .600/.667/1.200
Mike Fiers: Josh Donaldson (6 PAs) - .500/.833/2.000

*Shohei Ohtani sent a questionnaire to all 30 MLB teams in advance of his expected posting next Sunday asking why each team would be a good fit for him.
Ohtani is asking teams to identify his strengths and weaknesses as both a pitcher and a hitter, as well as descriptions of many factors including teams' player development and medical training systems, their facilities at the Major and Minor League levels, and why their organization would be the one that would make Ohtani feel comfortable.

*Kyle Tucker was ranked as the #6 prospect in the Arizona Fall League.

*The New York Daily News' Bill Madden named Yuli Gurriel as one of his ten turkeys in baseball for 2017. Come for the Gurriel knock, stay for the absolute slander of Jeff Luhnow (#4, if you're scrolling). There is more than one problematic issue with Luhnow's inclusion:
Of the key players on the Astros, Dallas Keuchel, George Springer and Jose Altuve were signed before Luhnow got there, while Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, and Lance McCullers were all no-brainer No. 1 picks...

I'll let y'all be the ones to tell him that, yes, he's right about Keuchel, Springer, and Altuve. He even got Carlos Correa right. But Alex Bregman (#2 overall pick, close) and Lance McCullers (#41 overall pick) weren't. And Madden slotted Luhnow right behind disgraced former Braves GM John Coppolella, who is not allowed in baseball for the rest of his life. (But David Price and Noah Syndergaard were *bigger turkeys* than that guy.

*Marwin Gonzalez found his dog.

*Step 1: Don't give Nazis a platform
Step 2: If you're going to give Nazis a platform, don't just make them seem misguided.