Good morning everyone and happy Wednesday! Let’s get your day started with some links.
In Mariners news...
- The American League All-Star voting update came out yesterday, and the trends don’t look great for the Mariners.
- Spike Friedman at The Stranger discussed the Mariners’ success this year despite their pedestrian run differential.
- Jerry Dipoto and company aren’t worried about run differential because their C the Z numbers say that this team is for real, per Corey Brock of The Athletic. ($)
- Jerry Crasnick takes a look at the specific trades that made the M’s as good as they are.
- Similarly, Deadspin wonders if the M’s are for real this season.
- Extra offseason workouts helped M’s prospect Nick Zammarelli secure a spot in the California League All-Star Game.
- We’ve got some not-great injury news.
Servais says Nick Vincent did not make it through his bullpen yesterday. Still felt the groin injury when pushing off the rubber. He is not scheduled to go out on a rehab assignment yet #Mariners
— Jen Mueller (@JenTalksSports) June 12, 2018
- (Divish later corrected himself and said it was a Grade 1 strain, but still, oof)
Dan Altavilla is doing traditional rehab for his Grade 2 Flexor Mass strain -- No PRP injection. He said he first felt something after trying to warm up quickly in Houston. He is shut down from throwing
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) June 12, 2018
- Man, this is pretty cool.
Haniger did a neat thing before the game. Was the chairperson for an event where they brought young cancer patients to the park from Seattle Childrens Hospital and gave them special baseball cards made by Topps that featured the kids themselves that that the players then signed.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) June 13, 2018
Around the league...
- Well shoot.
Mike Trout, not a Mariner, is the first player to have consecutive multi-HR games at Safeco Field.
— Kazuto Yamazaki (@Kazuto_Yamazaki) June 13, 2018
- Former Lookout Landing writer Meg Rowley fielded tons of Mariners-related questions in her latest Fangraphs chat. It’s definitely worth checking out the transcript.
- James Wagner at The New York Times talked about what English-speaking announcers do about Hispanic names that they encounter on a daily basis.
- Sounds like a rough spot for Cole Hamels and the Rangers.
Revisiting Morosi's claim that the teams not on Hamels' no-trade are the Mariners, Cardinals, Nationals, Astros, Cubs, Phillies, Braves, Royals, and Rays… Those are all contenders but the last two, which is certainly a bit of good luck for the Rangers front office.
— Levi Weaver (@ThreeTwoEephus) June 12, 2018
- In case anyone wondered where Mike Morse went.
Happy to see that Mike Morse is living his best life pic.twitter.com/iQwM2nNmaQ
— Carmen Kiew (@carmenkiew) June 12, 2018
- Former Mariner alert and...yikes.
Carson Smith will have shoulder surgery tomorrow in New York. Season probably over.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) June 12, 2018
- I guess it’s a good thing the Tigers weren’t competing anyway, but jeez.
Miguel Cabrera has a ruptured tendon in his bicep. He will undergo season-ending surgery.
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) June 13, 2018
- A National League executive said that he thinks Bryce Harper is an overrated player.
- Rian Watt at Fangraphs takes a look at how Scooter Gennett was able to transform into a slugger.
- The Mets have cut ties with first baseman Adrián González.
Anders’ picks...
- Zach Gottschalk wants you all to see pictures of Fiona the baby hippo. Thank him for the endless joy she gives you.