Elephant Rumblings: MLB worries about Fiers’s safety, First spring game (A’s v. Cubs) tomorrow

A’s Coverage:

• Bair: Rob Manfred working to protect A’s pitcher Mike Fiers from retaliation
• Papke: Mike Fiers downplays MLB’s concerns about his safety
• Gallegos: Manaea using Randy Johnson’s advice on slider
• Rubin: Five things we learned from A’s HQ: Mike Fiers speaks on Astros, Jonah Heim learns the ropes and situational hitting
• Settle: Oakland Athletics: A complete fantasy baseball guide for 2020

MLB News:

• Rivera: Yankees shut down Luis Severino with forearm soreness
• Todd: Red Sox, Padres Reportedly Still Negotiating Wil Myers Swap

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Dierkes: 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings
• Paschal: The Springfield Nuclear Plant Nine: Where Are They Now?
• Davidi: Behind the Scenes Looks at Toronto Front Office Hunt for Pitching

Today in Baseball History:

• 1986 - Rollie Fingers passes up an opportunity to return to the majors. Fingers is invited to spring training by the Cincinnati Reds, who ask him to shave off his trademark handlebar mustache to comply with team rules. Fingers refuses to do so and decides to retire.
• 2000 - The Cincinnati Reds announce the team has dropped its ban on earrings but denies that the acquisition of Ken Griffey, Jr. is the reason. Players have worn them in the clubhouse, but weren’t allowed on the field with them.

Best of YouTube:

Remember, tag plays. Do. Not. Go. Get. The. Ball...

Best of Twitter:

First game will be televised...

Miss ya big fella...

Chappie doing Chappie things...

A’s Spring Training Schedule:

This is for the games in Arizona only..

And here’s what the final two weeks of March look like, including Spring and Regular season games...