The Astros are 49-96, 38.5 games back of Boston and 9.5 games back of the 14th-place White Sox. They don't spend a lot of money on payroll.
The Yankees are 77-68, 28 games ahead of Houston, but 10.5 games back of Boston and two games back of the Rays for the 2nd Wild Card spot. They do spend a lot of money on payroll - $236.2m - and will be paying more than the Astros' entire payroll, just in luxury tax.
Yet the Astros and Yankees may be playing the same sport in October: golf.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
