*Brian T. Smith wrote about A.J. Hinch in Year 3:
Jim and Jeff have been great to me. But I know this sport - sports - is about winning. I know that the expectations, as they raise, the microscope starts to come to me. And to be honest with you, I prefer it to be on me than I do the players.
*Yulieski Gurriel: Starting first baseman. Also, Gurriel also admitted suffering from fatigue as he got used to MLB's daily schedule.
*Brian McCann is learning the details of his pitching staff.
*Speaking of catchers, the Astros asked Garrett Stubbs to add weight this offseason. This is something that has never been asked of me.
*Tyler White will play first and third base this Spring in an effort to increase his versatility.
*Palm Beach Post: The new Spring Training facility is a hit.
*The Astros didn't crack FanGraphs' Top Ten Transactions of the Offseason list.
*Yordano Ventura's final weeks were filled with turmoil.
*Why weren't Mookie Betts and Mike Trout drafted earlier?
*Blake Swihart's throwing issue and the fragility of baseball careers.
*Check out the Indians' Beep Drill
*Inside Pablo Sandoval's complete reshaping of his body.
*The Yankees and Dellin Betances are not exactly getting along
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
