Hello everyone and happy Friday!
With the Mariners kicking off a six-game road trip this evening, how are you feeling about their chances to turn things around against a pair of weaker squads in the Cardinals and Twins?
In Mariners news…
• John Trupin checked in on the wild AL West where nobody seems to want to win.
• Jack Foley at Pitcher List broke down the improvements Emerson Hancock has made in what’s looking like a breakout season.
• Check out the latest episode of the Cal Raleigh Show!
Around the league…
• Former Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, who is facing up to 15 years in prison for obstruction of justice and providing false statements to federal officials, signed a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Canadian Baseball League.
• The Phillies have released former Mariner Taijuan Walker following a rough start to the season for the right-hander.
• Bainbridge Island native JR Ritchie earned a victory in his MLB debut with the Braves despite giving up a first-pitch homer.
• The Rangers have called up 30-year-old right-hander Peyton Gray to make his MLB debut.
• Sandy Koufax was honored with the sixth-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from Baseball Digest.
• Ben Railton at the Saturday Evening Post wrote about Jackie Robinson’s connection to his childhood friend Shig Takayama and the common threads between African American and Japanese American baseball.
• The Rockies already have their tenth win of the season. Compare that to last year…
• George Steinbrenner has to be rolling in his grave over this one.
• April baseball continues to be strange.
• Baseball is, in fact, the best!
• The MLB Pipeline prospect team checked in on one pitching prospect impressing so far in each organization.
Anders’ pick…
• Ever wonder what your name would look like from space? Thanks to this neat NASA tool, now you can find out.
