Good morning everyone! This week we will have real baseball! While you’re preparing to get your day started, I’ve got some links for ya. Enjoy!
In Mariners news...
- Jeff Sullivan and Ben Lindbergh previewed the Mariners in the latest edition of the Effectively Wild podcast with the help of Lookout Landing alumn and Managing Editor of The Hardball Times, Meg Rowley.
- Ryan Divish at The Seattle Times takes a look inside the daily routine of Nelson Cruz and how he manages to stay in shape at his age.
- Some late cuts from Mariners camp:
Mariners have reassigned Ryan Cook, Zach Vincej and Tuffy Gosewisch to minor league camp. Ariel Miranda has been optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) March 25, 2018
- We’ve got some good news on Hisashi Iwakuma!
Stottlemyre said Iwakuma's 24 pitch bullpen was better than any 1st bullpen he has seen in the last 2 yrs. "He was backspinning the ball as he has always done. Very encouraged."
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) March 25, 2018
Couple days off and then will start to build intensity and add pitches in bullpens.
- After months of suspense, the decision has been made: the Mariners will have King Felix start on Opening Day.
Around the league...
- Former Mariners fan favorite Munenori Kawasaki has decided to retire, noting that his heart just isn’t in it anymore.
- In a move that may spark a trend around baseball, the Phillies have signed second base prospect Scott Kingery to a six-year extension even though the infielder has not taken a big-league at-bat yet.
- This is pretty funny.
Spotted a Hanwha Eagles couple fans with customized jerseys.
— Sung Min Kim (@sung_minkim) March 25, 2018
Left: Hanwha fan since birth
Right: Hanwha fan following my girlfriend pic.twitter.com/CeiyC94oEg
- Rangers hitting instructor Howard Johnson will not require surgery after getting hit by a foul ball, although he did break several bones in his cheek.
- The Braves have agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Peter Bourjos.