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Please forgive any typos in today’s links as I’m still riding the high from the Mariners’ improbable high-profile win last night. The Deadgar Ghost is hard to shake, but John—who would like to never hear that phrase again in his life—did a good job laying it to rest in last night’s recap, which you should definitely read if you haven’t already. But also, a ton of non-Mariners stuff happened! Let’s catch you up.
In Mariners news:
- Congratulations to the Mariners’ Eric Filia, who will be part of Team USA at the Olympics this year.
The team that will bring home Olympic gold #ForGlory
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) July 2, 2021
See you in #Tokyo2020: https://t.co/L9ApiIgXxK pic.twitter.com/51LEnyte85
- If you were wondering what the umps were investigating with Hector Santiago last night, Ryan Divish has some insight:
Apparently, umpires complained that Santiago's glove wasn't black enough. They considered it gray and they told him he couldn't use it any further. Santiago told the umpires that they took his other glove.
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) July 3, 2021
I’m thinking of making HECTOR INNOCENT shirts to wear to the next home game. Any takers?
In Mariners minors news:
I’m including this section this week because I blew the State of the Farm deadline this week (no one appeared to notice?), and a new affiliate—the ACL Mariners—has been added as well, so we have lil’ shavers in action stateside! So exciting!
- FanGraphs included Mariners prospect Juan Then in their latest daily prospect notes. I still feel like Then’s ultimate path to Seattle is as a high-leverage reliever, which is definitely a symbol of just how deep the pitching depth on the farm is.
- Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of Julio Rodríguez signing his professional contract with the Mariners, and Julio celebrated by lighting it up in the Travs’ doubleheader, hitting three singles in one game, making a stellar play in the outfield, and hitting his first Double-A home run in the other:
Mr. Big Moments, Julio Rodríguez, does it again. On the fourth anniversary of his signing a professional contract, he hits his first Double-A home run to break a scoreless tie for Arkansas. Felicidades @J_RODshow! pic.twitter.com/5cztTXLWZh
— Lookout Landing (@LookoutLanding) July 2, 2021
- Julio wasn’t the only recently-promoted player tearing it up; Brandon Williamson got the start in Game 1 of the doubleheader and continued to look very comfortable in Double-A.
Here's a full at-bat where Williamson retires Donovan Casey on four pitches so you can see how he sequences and attacks hitters. Just a very complete pitcher. pic.twitter.com/6A9egv5fj5
— Lookout Landing (@LookoutLanding) July 2, 2021
Around the league:
- Former Mariners farmhand Pablo López was immediately ejected after throwing just one pitch in yesterday’s Braves-Marlins game. López hit Ronald Acuña Jr., who the Marlins have a pretty unfortunate history of probably-intentionally-hitting, but it’s pretty clear to me that López didn’t mean to hit Acuña—you can see his head drop immediately after it happens, and also, knowing Lopez a little from his time with the Mariners, he’s just not the type of guy to do that. Still, López was ejected immediately, as was Don Mattingly, who was understandably livid about his starting pitcher being ejected with no warning. For his part, López said he felt bad for the bullpen for having to cover that whole game. MLB umps are drunk on power and it’s gotta stop.
Marlins SP Pablo Lopez hit Acuña with the first pitch of the game and was immediately ejected. pic.twitter.com/mNe841rWbe
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 2, 2021
- The White Sox called up big-slugging prospect Jake Burger to help address some of their power outage issues as Luis Robert remains on the shelf. Let the fast food puns begin.
- Giants top prospect Joey Bart has been tearing it up in Triple-A lately, but had to leave a game against the Aviators after he got hit in the ankle by a wayward pitch from a rehabbing Jesús Luzardo.
- The Brewers won again, giving them their first 10-game win streak since 2003.
- Remember that story about Joe Kelly trading his jersey for a charro jacket from a mariachi band that was performing at Dodger Stadium? Well, he wore it to the White House when the Dodgers visited:
We don't deserve Joe Kelly pic.twitter.com/0eRatKnjYE
— Randi (@randi_radcliffe) July 2, 2021
- Trevor Bauer has been placed on 7-day administrative leave while MLB investigates the allegations of sexual assault leveled against him. Bauer has not opted to appeal the decision. Reliever Brusdal Graterol will take Bauer’s place on the active roster. The Pasadena Police Department, meanwhile, says new information has come to light that could extend the duration of the investigation.
- The Mets and Giants made a minor trade, with the Mets sending 3B Will Toffey to San Francisco and the Giants sending left-hander Anthony Banda back in return. Banda helps bolster the Mets’ thinned-out pitching depth, and Will Toffey has a fun name.
- The sticky stuff crackdown is so stupid but I do appreciate the moments of levity it’s brought, like underwear company Saxx sending Sergio Romo a years’ worth of underwear (and offering to pay his fine!) after Romo basically disrobed on the mound for his sticky stuff check last week.
Yooooo! @saxxunderwear with the package!! No sweaty balls over here! Haha #thatswhatsup mad appreciation for u guys! pic.twitter.com/Chopg3Qdwm
— Sergio Romo (@SergioRomo54) June 30, 2021
- Steve Cohen has talked a good game since taking over the Mets, but Dennis Young at the NYDN points out that generosity isn’t spilling over to the Mets’ minor league system.
- Kyle Schwarber has been incandescently hot for the Nationals, but that might all come crashing down as he had to leave yesterday’s game with an apparent hamstring injury.