Mariners Moose Tracks, 7/18/20: Daniel Bard, Yasiel Puig, and Domingo Germán

In which three players’ careers go in vastly different directions.

By Anders Jorstad@AndersJorstad Jul 18, 2020, 7:00am PDT

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Houston Astros v Boston Red Sox — This picture is more than 7 years old

Good morning folks! It’s the final weekend before Opening Day in baseball. Here’s what you need to know as you get your Saturday started.

In Mariners news...

Shannon Drayer breaks down a pair of good outings by young M’s arms in her latest Mariners notebook.

Around the league...

Former big leaguer Preston Wilson spoke to Sports Illustrated about why he thinks the game is losing the interest of Black Americans.
You can put any thoughts of the Nationals beginning the season elsewhere to rest.

The Washington Nationals and New York Yankees have been cleared to play opening night in Washington, D.C., source confirms to ESPN. Questions had been raised about whether the Nationals were going to have tot move the game, but as @Ken_Rosenthal said, they have gotten clearance.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 17, 2020

These instrasquad games have brought a bunch of cool moments like this one.

Ok. I just cannot help myself. That is my son Robert Hill making his first MLB mound visit with the Dodgers intra-squad game at Dodger stadium. #gododgers #dodgers #dodgerblue #dodgersnation #proudpapa pic.twitter.com/yqEBG73xKy
— Ed Hill (@TheEdHill) July 17, 2020

Congratulations to the Broxton family!

Congratulations to @KeonDDBroxton on the birth of his second child, Koa Jaxon, born on July 14. The family is happy and healthy! pic.twitter.com/xnUlQto3yZ
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 17, 2020

Another Angels pitcher bites the dust.

LA #Angels pitcher Justin Anderson has a tear of the UCL in his right elbow. He will undergo Tommy John surgery on July 22 in Dallas, GM Billy Eppler announces.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 17, 2020

Yasiel Puig announced on his Twitter page that he has tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, it appears his deal with the Braves is no longer.
Domingo Germán, who was slated to begin serving a suspension he received for domestic violence, seemingly announced his intentions to retire from baseball on his Instagram page.
This is certainly a good sign, if true.

MLB/PA announced latest COVID-19 test results thru 7/16:
6 of 10,548 samples (0.05%) positive.
The past week included a 5-day period in which no new positives were reported.
5 of 6 positives were players and 1 was a staff member.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 17, 2020

Baseball America reports that Major League Baseball is considering an “MiLB Network” as a part of their plans to reinvigorate the minors. ($)
This is awesome news for Daniel Bard.

#Rockies have informed OF Matt Kemp, UTL Chris Owings and RHP Daniel Bard -- who last pitched for the #RedSox in '13 -- that they have made the 2020 Opening Day roster, GM Jeff Bridich said.
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) July 17, 2020

Nick Francona, son of Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona, says that a change of the team’s name is just one step in a larger process of healing the organization needs to undergo.