Happy Friday everyone! We’re officially a week away from MLB Opening Day in 2020 (fingers crossed). With that, here’s what you need to know as you get your day started.
In Mariners news...
- Eric Longenhagen at Fangraphs explores the AL West, and which prospects from each team are worth keeping an eye on from the 60-man player pools.
Around the league...
- This is not a surprise.
ESPN says that Matt Vasgersian and Alex Rodriguez will be calling Sunday Night Baseball games from a studio in Bristol, Conn. Welcome to sports during a pandemic!
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) July 16, 2020
- Travis Sawchik at FiveThirtyEight wrote about the unique nature of the Rangers’ new ballpark.
- The Washington Nationals are exploring the idea of opening their season away from their home ballpark, including the possibility of kicking things off at the new park at High-A Fredericksburg. If they play there, it’ll be the first MLB game played in the state of Virginia since 1884 (stat courtesy of Devan Fink).
- Tim Anderson is ready to get behind the plate.
Heard They Was Looking For A Replacement For Joe West pic.twitter.com/ZLNwlM9jqP
— T A 7 (@TimAnderson7) July 16, 2020
- This comes as no huge surprise, but Justin Verlander is slated to start the season opener against the M’s.
- Twins Daily talked to Chelsea Ladd about how the American Association became the first pro baseball league to get their season going during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Royals made a minor trade with the Padres, acquiring toolsy outfielder Franchy Cordero from San Diego.
- If you’re a gamer, the crowd sounds may sound pretty familiar. That’s because MLB is using fake crowd noise straight from MLB The Show.