Elephant Rumblings: A’s option Mengden to Triple-A

A’s Coverage:

• Slusser: A’s option Daniel Mengden — rotation picture slightly clearer...
• McWilliams: What optioning Daniel Mengden means for the A’s rotation plans; the choice between Piscotty and Olson to bat third... ($)
• Morosi: Hendriks to punt on baseball? No worries, mate...
• Simon: These are the 6 toughest clubs to predict in ‘19...

Best of AN:

• Hall: Mengden’s 4th option leaves realistic door open for Jesus Luzardo
• effectivelymild: Spring Game #18 - Rockies ride long ball to victory over A’s...

MLB News:

• Rosenthal: An intriguing option for Kimbrel; Greinke’s Hall candidacy; Mets’ brewing position battles; more notes... ($)
• Sheldon: Reds’ Lorenzen makes spring 2-way debut...
• Johns: Kyle Seager to miss a month with hand surgery...
• Dierkes: Out Of Options 2019...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Sarris: Joey Votto on hitting strategy, reacting to last season, and what he’s lost... ($)
• Meisel: Trevor Bauer wants to increase MLB’s popularity, and he knows his reputation must improve if he’s to lead the charge... ($)
• Jaffe: Dallas Keuchel Needs a Home...
• Laurila: Tony Barnette, Ryne Stanek, and Nick Tropeano on Developing Their Splitters...

Today in Baseball History:

• 1921 - Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis suspends eight members of the Chicago White Sox for their alleged involvement in the fixing of the 1919 World Series. The group includes outfielder Joe Jackson, who batted .375 in the Series. Others banned are Eddie Cicotte, Happy Felsch, Chick Gandil, Fred McMullin, Swede Risberg, Buck Weaver and Lefty Williams. None of them will ever play in organized baseball again.
• 2015 - Actor Will Ferrell pulls off a bizarre and hilarious stunt to drum up support for cancer survivors, as he suits up for ten different teams and takes part in five different games (all of them for both teams) during Cactus League play today. He plays all nine positions as well as designated hitter and even puts in some time as a third base coach, while being rushed from game to game. He retires the only batter he faces as a pitcher for the Dodgers, but for some reason all the teams he plays for decide to cut or trade him, once for a couple of hot dogs, after each of his brief appearances. He uses a police escort and a helicopter to ferry him from ballpark to ballpark, wearing uniform number 19 at every stop. “I’m a five-tool guy”, the comic actor explains. The strange adventure will be the subject of a television special to be broadcast on HBO during the season.

Best of Twitter:

• A great story, and I can’t wait to see this happen...

• In case you were wondering what Dallas Braden has been up to this spring...

• Really cool - Vince and Dominic Cotroneo shared the booth for yesterday’s game...