Elephant Rumblings: Best Smell in Baseball

A’s Coverage:

• Brazil: Laureano Q&A: Choosing new glove, best smell in baseball
• Kleinschmidt: A’s Buddy Reed hopes to reunite with Florida teammate A.J. Puk in 2020
• Kawahara: A’s Franklin Barreto has taken plenty of swings — with too many misses ($)
• Gallegos: Piscotty discusses ‘perpetual cycle of hurt’
• Hickey: Melvin’s Experience Could Play Well for A’s
• Rubin: A’s react to MLB shutting down clubhouse access to media. What’s next?
• Stibrik: Weddings, whiskey, waiting for spring: How A’s players spent the offseason

MLB News:

• Lloyd: Francisco Lindor and the Indians have suspended contract talks. Now what?
• Davidoff: Yoenis Cespedes’ and Jed Lowrie’s quiet springs only add to Mets intrigue
• Borelli: MLB, MLBPA At Odds Over Future Punishments To Players Who Electronically Steal Signs; How To Limit Video

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Jaffe: Coronavirus Concerns Reach the Majors (discussion of open clubhouse policies overall, not just virus concerns)
• Mailhot: Austin Pruitt Is the Astros’ Latest Pitching Project
• Davidoff: Yoenis Cespedes’ and Jed Lowrie’s quiet springs only add to Mets intrigue

Today in Baseball History:

• 1970 - Experimental, lively X-5 baseballs are used in all spring training games played in Arizona and Florida. The results are inconclusive.
• 2002: The Yankees release outfielder Ruben Rivera for stealing Derek Jeter’s mitt out of his locker, and selling it on the black market for $2,500.
• 2017: Colombia wins a World Baseball Classic game for the first time in its history as it defeats Canada, 4 - 1

Best of YouTube:

Cool two and half minute watch about an Emeryville Negro League squad...

Best of Twitter:

Best of Twitter:

A’s getting in the spirit of election season. Polls close at 9am...

Journalists rallying to defend the policy of open clubhouses...

That third play is full whackadoodle...