Short one today - I'm exhausted.
*The Astros lost 7-4 to the Marlins. Chas McCormick (21st Round - 2017) hit a grand slam. Taylor Jones, Jeremy Pena, and Drew Ferguson had the other hits. Chris Devenski and Jared Hughes saw their first action of the Spring and combined for 2IP, 3H/0ER, 1K:0BB.
*Chris Devenski dropped 20 pounds this offseason and is looking to return to his All-Star form. Devenski:
I worked this offseason on getting my fastball right, getting my command right and spinning the ball out of my hand the right way. I went back and did a bunch of drills on that. I think everything for me is mental. I know the way my body feels and when I'm in the shape I'm in right now.
*In this McTaggart piece, we find:
-Dusty Baker really likes the young pitchers.
-Dustin Garneau is settling into the analytics side of being an Astros catcher.
*Myles Straw is among the fastest players in MLB. Straw:
(Astros Strength & Conditioning Coach Brendan) Verner would wear me out about it last year and kind of pushed me and motivated me. I'll probably work with him a lot this year and try to be the quickest in the league.
*Abraham Toro was supposed to start on Tuesday but was scratched with an eye irritation.
*The Astros play a split-squad game against the Mets and the Cardinals. Jose Urquidy and Forrest Whitley will be on various mounds, George Springer and Michael Brantley will play. I'm sure Boos are coming.
Sign-Stealing Stuff
*The Ringer: The Astros' Trash-Can Cheating Scheme is a Window Onto Human Nature.
Other Stuff
*Texas Southern beat #6 Mississippi State in Starkville.
*A Red Sox prospect arrived at Spring Training from Taiwan...and was immediately quarantined.
*The New Yorker: Survivor's Guilt in the Mountains.
*Esquire: How a former mechanic became one of America's best bread wizards.
*A Musical Selection:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith