Mariners Moose Tracks 7/22/18: Kyle Lewis, Oriole Elevator Troubles, & Talk About Christian Pulisic

Arise, slumbering humans, for it is the day of the sun and the Mariners have the chance to salvage a series win. To get ready for that, here’s the news of the day, or at least everything important. We would also be remiss if we didn’t thank everyone who came out for Team Lookout Landing to the Refuse to Abuse 5K yesterday at Safeco Field, which was an absolute blast with our team of nearly 30 participants!

Additionally, Baseball Prospectus Night at Safeco featuring former and current staff galore was a delight, so if you made it out there, we appreciate you. The world of online publishing is one without many glamorous (or paid) moments so nights like that are both gratifying and surreal for those who participate. We hope to see you all for similar events soon.

In Mariners news...

• Hark, a trade rumor! I would file this as 2% more likely to occur than the rumored Jay Bruce interest from this offseason, which is to say due diligence being done.

• Jerry Dipoto emphasized pitching, and strong middle/long relief pitching, as a likely target at the deadline when asked at the Baseball Prospectus panel before yesterday’s game.
• INF Beau Branton, Seattle’s 28th round pick in this year’s draft out of Stanford, is being promoted from Everett to Modesto for this weekend at least.
• Speaking of promotions, in case you missed it yesterday, OF Braden Bishop sadly has a broken hand caused by an HBP. His injury led Seattle to call up top prospect Kyle Lewis to AA-Arkansas. He got a scary greeting in his first game.

Thankfully, Lewis was unfazed, and went 2-for-3 on the night with a BB in addition to the HBP above in his Double-A debut!

• In other minors news, rehabbing catcher Mike Zunino went 1-for-3 with a sac fly in Tacoma.
• The Mariners appear to recognize the need for an offense spark. This... is not what my first solution would be.

Around the League/Bundesliga...

• One of the deadline’s top starting pitching options, RHP Michael Fulmer of the Tigers, may be on the DL when the deadline passes.
• The Orioles season has been an unmitigated disaster. It may have just hit rock bottom, however.

• A few significant trades were finalized today. First, RP Jeurys Familia was dealt from the New York Mets to the Oakland Athletics for two prospects and $1 million in international amateur cap space. Familia has been lights out in 2018 following a poor performance in 2017 in addition to a 15-game suspension per MLB’s Domestic Violence policy.
• Additionally, the lower profile dealing of RHP Jesse Chavez from the Texas Rangers to the Chicago Cubs led to the jettisoning of a former Mariners farmhand.
• Much to Mariners’ fans chagrin, Kole Calhoun’s new stance appears to have gotten him back on track.
• Former LL editor and current professional baseball writer Patrick Dubuque wrote about the dying breed that is the speed-and-D outfielder.
• Apparently in Germany beat reporters haven’t been using the “talk about” line.

John’s Pick...

• It’s Sunday, life can be tough. You deserve a joyful song. You deserve a win.