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Astros News
- Yesterday was the first full game of baseball played by the Astros at Spring Training this year, which ended with a walk off hit by the Nationals (MLB.com)
- But before that Framber Valdez was dealing in his two innings of work and here’s Dusty Baker talking about that (Twitter)
- Speaking of Dusty, check out this story about how he inspired Adam Greenberg after his MLB career was cut short (Astros.com)
- Baker then proceeded to inspire me by saying that Springer would remain at leadoff (ESPN)
- Zack Greinke rolls into Spring Training whenever Zack Greinke feels like rolling into Sprint Training (Larry Brown Sports)
- Will this be a make or break season for Forrest Whitley? (Call to the Pen)
- Here’s the story of how newly-minted Astro Jared Hughes started sprinting in from the bullpen when called upon (The Runner Sports)
- Brent Strom had a chat with the Athletic about where he is in his career and how the scandal has affected thoughts on his future (The Athletic, $$$)
- The Astros should be prepared for the anger to continue, but other teams should be prepared for the Astros to bring some noise of their own (538 Sports)
- They should also be prepared for them to continue being the 2017 Champs (Bleacher Report)
- It’s hard to get mad at cheating scandals in a world where cheating is ingrained in sports (The Ringer)
- Indeed, that sentiment is part of the Astros, Red Sox, and MLB defense for lawsuits filed over the banging scheme (The Athletic, $$$)
- I find it really weird that Nationals fans are so pissed at the Astros considering they weren’t affected by the scheme AND won a World Series (Texas Sports Nation, $$$)
- They even brought signs to Saturday’s cancelled game, which were confiscated because they’re against stadium rules and have been (KHOU 11)
- Jim Crane sent out an email to Astros season ticket holders addressing the scandal and I wish it was what he had read at the press conference on Apology Day (Twitter)
- Nice to see the national media pushing back on anger at the Astros after it goes too far (ESPN)
Around the League
- Manfred is getting a lot of negative press because he didn’t crucify the Astros players even though he wouldn’t have been able to punish them anyways (New York Times)
- The White Sox continue to nail down their young talent with a five-year extension for Aaron Bummer (MLB Trade Rumors)
- Jake Marisnick, Spring Training hero (Twitter)
- Yoenis Cespedes might be ready for Opening Day according to Yoenis Cespedes (MLB Trade Rumors)
- The MLBPA would like very much for the Rays to remain in Tampa Bay (MLB Trade Rumors)
- Turns out Madison Bumgarner is a secret rodeo star, which makes a lot of sense in retrospect (MLB.com)