Elephant Rumblings: Thoughts on Melvin’s Extension, A’s Deal First in Peralta Poker, Stolen Bases

A’s Coverage:

• Sean Manaea finishes up-and-down season with strong outing against Rangers; A’s win 4-1...
• Manaea says weight loss, ADD medication affected season...
• Lockard: 2017 Season in Review: Nashville Sounds...
• A’s deal first card in game of Peralta Poker...
• A’s give Bob Melvin extension through 2019, contract now mirrors Beane, Forst...
• Jenkins: A’s Bob Melvin makes the smart call with his extension...

MLB News:

• Report: Mets owner Fred Wilpon overruled executives who wanted to fire Terry Collins...
• Texas Rangers break ground for new $1.1B stadium...
• Stanton homers twice, one away from 60...
• MLB upset after Wiz Khalifa endorses marijuana at Pirates game...
• Billy Hamilton, Dee Gordon vying for MLB stolen base crown...
• Stephen Vogt, Brewers within two games of Colorado heading into final weekend...
• Judge sides with Albert Pujols, who was sued by his cousin for defamation...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• What walk-up music reveals about baseball...
• Popular Mechanics: What's the Longest Possible Home Run?
• 1-2-3-4-5 Starters. What does that mean?
• CAA Breaks The Bank For Its Baseball Clients...
• Jenkins: Baseball offense: from the launching pad to the think tank...
• How Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman Embraced Yoga, Got Healthy and Revitalized his Career...

Today in Baseball History:

• 1968 - Carl Yastrzemski maintains a .3005 batting average to win his second straight batting crown with the lowest title-winning average ever. He is the AL’s only .300 hitter; Oakland’s Danny Cater comes in second at .290.
• 1986 - Chicago Cubs rookie Greg Maddux defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3. The losing pitcher was his brother, Mike, also a rookie. It was the first time brothers faced each other as rookies.

Best of Twitter:

• Seems like an all-around good guy...

• Our former division foe ended the Cardinals’ playoff hopes...

• Vizquel has been rumored as a possible MLB manager next season...