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Mariners Moose Tracks, 2/9/17: World Baseball Classic, Brian Wilson, and Conor McGregor

Get some fresh links to start off your Thursday!

By Anders Jorstad
MLB: Spring Training-Tampa Bay Rays at Minnesota Twins Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning everyone! I’m currently snowed in here on Long Island, but the baseball news always continues. The biggest story from yesterday was the unveiling of the World Baseball Classic rosters.

A total of 11 Mariners were selected to various teams around the world: Robinson Cano, Felix Hernandez, Nelson Cruz, Drew Smyly, Tyler O’Neill, Pat Venditte, Sam Gaviglio, Edwin Diaz, Emilio Pagan, Yovani Gallardo and Sebastian Valle.

The major downside to having all of these players compete in the WBC is that they won’t be able to report to spring training until a little bit later. That might take some of the fun out of pitchers and catchers reporting. However, the most exciting thing is that real baseball is on the horizon. I’m sure as heck going to enjoy watching it.

Now let’s see what else happened in the baseball world.

In Mariners news...

  • Former Mariner John Buck’s kid is going to surgery soon. We all wish him the best of luck!

All right talk today....If any of you follow my wife she has posted about my son. If not my son is slated for surgery Monday to remove what they think is a Dermoid cyst. They have told us it is most likely not cancerous. It is however a monster in size.. It fills his nasal cavity, pushes through his skull, and is dangerously close to the brain. He will have an ear to ear battle wound. He is very nervous. I told him that so many people are praying for him. He made the comment I don't really have that many friends....typical 8 year old feeling sad for himself thing to say. A member of our baseball family went through something similar and suggested we start a hashtag like #blueforbrody They said it helped their kiddo during recovery. So if you know me I go all out and sometimes overboard on most things I do so of course I'm going to do the same for my little man ! People have been asking how they can help. I want to show my boy he is loved and people are praying for him. I sincerely believe love is the greatest healer to the heart and soul and without doubt helps you heal physically as well !!! We opened an email for people to send warm wishes, thumbs up pics, videos telling him he has this ! Also fell free to tag me in any post on Instagram but here is the email as well brodybuck14@gmail.com. If you feel inclined a friend of ours has also suggested we wear #blueforbrody on Monday which we plan on doing as well. Again thanks for all the love and support that we have received already and it is truly humbling to see the support from friends and family who love you in times like this! #prayersappreciated #theywork #dadshish

A photo posted by John Buck (@johnbuck44) on

  • Ryan Rowland-Smith is returning to the mound for Team Australia!
  • Apparently Jean Segura likes the way he looks in Mariner blue. (Caption translation: “Well I look better.”)

Así me veo mejor

A photo posted by Jean Segura (@elmambodesegura) on

Around the league...

  • Carlos Quentin is coming back to baseball after retiring with the Mariners organization. The outfielder signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox.
  • Brian Wilson is attempting a comeback to the sport with the help of a newly-learned knuckleball.
  • Apparently C.J. Wilson randomly retired and nobody heard about it? That’s sure rough for the Angels.
  • Lefty reliever Javier Lopez has also decided to hang ‘em up.
  • David Laurila interviewed Chase Headley to figure out why he opts for right-on-right or left-on-left hitting on occasion even though he is a switch hitter.
  • Grant Brisbee provides his biggest takeaways from the PECOTA projections. The projection system is quite low on the Cardinals for some reason.

Anders’ picks...

  • The Washington Capitols invited a United Arab Emirates women’s hockey player to practice with the team.
  • I’m not really into MMA fighting or boxing, but for those of you who are: Conor McGregor released a boxing training video. The video is leading people to speculate on whether a McGregor-Mayweather fight could really be in the works.
  • The VCU men’s basketball team pulled off its second near-impossible win in a row. The Rams were given the opportunity to win thanks to a ridiculous foul call with 0.4 seconds left in the game.

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