*Some people in Congress introduced a bill to further limit the amount of money minor-leaguers can make, so The Batguy wrote a letter to his congressman.
*I wrote about how the Rangers are doing this.
*The Astros swept the Angels yesterday with a 10-4 win. Hinch wanted to give Altuve the day off, but instead he went 4x5.
*The Angels had a team meeting following the loss.
*Keuchel, on Altuve:
I mean, there's nothing really else to say about him. He's the best player in the league.
*ESPN: Altuve's MVP-caliber season is one for the ages. David Schoenfield examines Altuve's season - so far - in comparison to other great seasons at 2B. John Kruk says Altuve is one of the most complete players in baseball.
*The Yankees stunned the Rangers with a 6-run 9th inning. Oakland beat San Francisco. The Pirates beat the Mariners. The division looks like this:
*Gun Barrel City: -
*Houston: -9
*Seattle: -11.5
*Oakland: -15.5
*Anaheim: -19
The Red Sox lost but the Blue Jays and Royals both won, so the Astros are a half-game behind both Wild Card spots.
*FanGraphs: 18.3% to win the division, 55.1% to make the playoffs.
*FiveThirtyEight: 15% to win the division, 47% to make the playoffs.
*Feldman could have earned himself another spot start in the near future.
*DJ Gallo: The Astros have turned their season around by doing nothing.
*The Astros worked out 32-year old Yulieski Gurriel in Florida yesterday, according to reports, and afterwards he posted a picture of himself in an Astros hat on Instagram. McTaggart:
Gurgle projects to hit .285 with 15-18 home runs and 85 RBIs. He can play second base and third base, and he has been described as a more fluid Jeff Kent. Gurgle hit .500/.589/.874 with 15 home runs, 20 doubles and 51 RBIs in 49 games for the Industriales in 2015.
Ken Rosenthal says the Astros could play Gurriel at 3B/DH this season and move him to the outfield next year with the possible departures of both Carlos Gomez and Colby Rasmus.
*John Perrotto writes that Dallas Keuchel is one of the biggest disappointments in baseball.
*The Astros have every intention of moving their High-A affiliate to Fayetteville of the Carolina League.
*Mark Appel had surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow and his season is done.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
