Lookout Linkage, 3/18/14

Magical portals leading to various places on the interwebs:

• Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes about Lloyd McClendon and Andy Van Slyke's reunion in Seattle and about how Van Slyke hopes to improve the Mariners' outfield defense.
• Dave Cameron at Frangraphs argues that the Tigers don't necessarily need to sign Stephen Drew.
• Jason Churchill discusses possible breakout hitters throughout the majors on Prospect Insider. Pop quiz: I bet you can't guess which Mariners shortstop makes the list.
• Remember when Cliff Lee was a Mariner and allowed a crazy low number of walks? Beyond the Box Score discusses how both Lee and Hiroki Kuroda avoid issuing the free pass in very contrasting ways.
• Greg Johns on Mariners.com has a nice story on the "shortstop battle" between Brad Miller and Nick Franklin. Apparently Franklin has played "every position on the field now" except CF and RF. Huh.
• Bless You Boys reminds people how unpredictable the recovery for Jose Iglesias will be, given the history of stress fractures. Also, the URL is worth a chuckle.
• Athletics Nation talks about the pitching woes the A's have had this spring.
• A's pitcher Jarrod Parker along with Braves pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy are each all likely to have their second Tommy John surgeries.
• The Phillies appear to be "urgent to trade" Jimmy Rollins according to Buster Olney. This would conceivably take out a possible destination for Franklin, but the Mets and Yankees indicate that they're not interested in Rollins.
• Shannon Drayer gives her thoughts on the possibility of Roenis Elias making the team and how it could impact the 40-man roster.
• Bob Dutton of The News Tribune also has a story on Elias.
• ESPN lists the top 10 second baseman and the top player probably won't surprise you. Eric Karabell and David Schoenfeld do a nice breakdown of the field in the video.
• Baseball Prospectus gives a list of five prospects to watch in the American League, and there's a Mariner on there whose appearance was quite surprising to me.
• Interesting to look at the updated playoff chances on Fangraphs, as the Mariners are projected to have a better shot than teams like the Yankees, Reds, and Indians.
• Need help filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket? Baseball can help you, says Grant Brisbee.
• The Pirates might be shopping right fielder Jose Tabata in order to make room for prospect Gregory Polanco.
• Craig Goldstein looks at three managers whose days as skipper might be numbered.
• Ken Rosenthal criticizes the Dodgers for spending so much on the roster only to run out such a weak bench, which now includes former Mariner Chone Figgins.
• Let's Go Tribe previews the 2014 Seattle Mariners.