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Good morning everyone and happy Wednesday! It’s the mid-way point of the week, and we’ve got some fresh links for you today. Let’s see what we’ve got to get your day going.
In Mariners news...
- The M’s certainly know what they need to improve on this season.
Servais wasting no time making point. First drill of full-squad workout ... baserunning. It’ll be focus all spring. pic.twitter.com/YBoCF8e6Oj
— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) February 20, 2018
- I’m not sure how many fans will be relieved by this but I’ll just put it out here.
Erasmo Ramirez says his lat muscle had been a little tender for about a week, so they shut him down because it wasn't getting better. But he believes it really is a minor issue and will clear up quickly.
— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) February 20, 2018
- I guess these two are getting along well.
The mark of being a good teammate? A willingness to do whatever it takes - like when @FlashGJr asked Zunino to wear his pants to get them stretched out. Mike complied. Dee looks great.
— Jen Mueller (@JenTalksSports) February 20, 2018
Around the league...
- Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle avoided using public transportation for a few weeks after a group of teenagers told him he looks like Seth Rogen.
- Ben Lindbergh at The Ringer profiled Sherri Nichols, a major figure in baseball’s saber movement who doesn’t get enough credit for her accomplishments.
- Here’s an interesting minor change that could make a small difference this season.
#Angels announce they have lowered the right field wall at Angel Stadium by 10 feet
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) February 20, 2018
- Every MLB team will wear special caps to honor the victims of the Florida high school shooting.
- Cuban outfield prospect Juan Pablo Martinez has been cleared to sign with major league teams.
- Christian Yelich says the tragic death of Jose Fernandez led to the Marlins’ organizational pivot.
- Travis Sawchik at Fangraphs notes that the new pace-of-play rules for 2018 won’t change the speed of the game in any significant way.
- The Rays, Diamondbacks, and Yankees drew up a rare three-team trade during spring training that sent Steven Souza to Arizona and Brandon Drury to New York.
- Despite the recent trades that might suggest otherwise, Tampa Bay is probably done selling major pieces from their team.