Elephant Rumblings: Barreto’s Hot Start Continues, Are We Witnessing The Windup’s Decline?

A’s Coverage:

• Lefty Manaea scratched due to back stiffness...
• A’s among teams singled out by union for not spending revenue-sharing checks...
• Franklin Barreto continues early hot hitting at the plate...
• Oakland Athletics 2018 top-50 prospects: Jesus Luzardo, LHP...
• Oakland Athletics hiring Hall of Fame Racing Mascots for upcoming season...

MLB News:

• MLBPA free agent camp players will play exhibition games vs. Japanese amateur team...
• Tim Lincecum agrees to deal with Rangers...
• Astros’ Yuli Gurriel will have surgery on his left hand...
• Indians sign Mike Napoli to minor-league deal...
• Blue Jays shut down Marcus Stroman due to shoulder inflammation...
• Mets Sign A.J. Griffin To Minor League Deal...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Reliance on metrics may be cause for talented, veteran free agents who remain unsigned...
• Sullivan: We Might Be Observing the Decline of the Windup...
• Fangraphs’ 25-and-Under Rankings...
• Brian Cashman not opposed to Russell Wilson playing in a spring training game...

Today in Baseball History:

• 1999 - Diamondbacks pitcher Kenny Robinson is killed in a car crash. Teammate John Rosengren is arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the alcohol-related accident. Robinson pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals from 1995 through 1997.
• 2013 - Elvis Andrus adds his name to the list of baseball’s most bizarre injuries, as he is scratched from the Rangers’ line-up before a Cactus League game because of “sensivity and muscle soreness” in his left shoulder, the result of an elaborate tatoo commemorating his late father, reaching from the top of his shoulder to his biceps.

Best of Twitter:

• Strong lineup today...

• Of note...

• A dark-horse roster candidate...