HDWEB: Homer Bailey had a big day and Bo Porter is the new Trey Hillman

In today’s HOW DARE WE ENJOY BASEBALL, we enjoy Homer Bailey’s 6-year extension, that Astros Manager is the new Trey Hillman, we watch Bryce Harper’s swing, and more! YES!

by Justin Bopp

Feb 20, 2014, 1:00 PM UTC

Good morning HDWEB’ers, it’s February 20th and Ervin Santana still doesn’t have a job. Here’s everything you need to know.

If you have ideas or suggestions, send 'em my way at @justinbopp.

Homer Bailey, Reds agree to 6-year, $105 million extension - Homer Bailey and the Reds have come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension.
Braves extend manager Fredi Gonzalez and GM Frank Wren - This continues the succession of extensions that started at the beginning of the month given to key players for the resurgent franchise.
Brandon Belt signs with Giants, avoids salary arbitration - The first-time arbitration-eligible first baseman will earn a reported $2.9 million in 2014.

One more reason not to mess with Grant Balfour: this is his truck. pic.twitter.com/xhATcv9y2F
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) February 19, 2014

MLB expected to approve home plate collision rule soon - We could see the finalized language of the long awaited ban in the near future.
Bo Porter thinks Astros players were 'disrespectful' to Roger Clemens - Bo Porter wasn't happy with how his Astros team prepared itself for a speech from Roger Clemens on Wednesday morning. Between this and the inspirational texts nonsense, I think we're looking at a guy who will get fired quickly. 3 years tops. These antics remind me so much of Trey Hillman's stint with the Royals and every Astros fan should be panicking right about now:

One of the first things Hillman did as new manager of the Royals was call a team meeting at home plate after a spring training game. He then yelled at his players in full view of the public -- while people were filing out of the stadium -- for some base running blunders they had made. Now, some people LOVED that. It showed guts. It showed that he was serious about discipline. Moore would say that he watched Hillman pull that Herb Brooks stunt and thought, “He’s going to be one of the great ones.”
And that’s fine but ... many of the players lost respect for him. They thought he was showboating -- he certainly could have yelled at them behind closed doors. They thought he was compensating -- he was ACTING the way he imagined a big league manager acts rather than BEING a big league manager. Mostly, they thought he was small-time. A Little League coach. And whatever point he was trying to get across, well, it didn’t take.
Joe Posnanski, Sports Illustrated -- Lack of Major League experience doomed Trey Hillman

Orioles interested in Ike Davis - The Orioles are searching for another bat, and they are mulling over the possibility of trading for Ike Davis.
Padres GM Josh Byrnes thinks MLB is ready for an openly gay player - Gaslamp Ball -- Byrnes thinks a player's sexuality would be a non-issue in the modern game of baseball. I hope he's right because the day will be here before we know it.

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Cactus League Media Day - Bleed Cubbie Blue -- All of the Cactus League managers and general managers were at Chase Field Tuesday to meet the media.

Bryce Harper takes is first BP session of spring. #Nats https://t.co/A02TVV3EqG
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 18, 2014

Nationals spring training: Watch Bryce Harper take BP - Federal Baseball
On the first day of full spring training, Lloyd McClendon kicked down the door - Lookout Landing -- On the day the Mariners held their first full-squad workout, Lloyd McClendon sent a message about what type of manager he's going to be.
Yankees Spring Training: There's only one open roster spot for position players - Pinstripe Alley -- The Yankees have only one spot open on the roster for position players because they have too many players with too few skills to fill all the team's needs

Baseball America Names Seven Cubs To Top 100 Prospects List - Bleed Cubbie Blue -- Only the Red Sox had more players in this prestigious list.
Baseball America includes four Mets in list of top 100 prospects - Amazin' Avenue -- The Mets' farm system comes out looking good once again.
Rockies land 4 players on Baseball America's Top 100 prospects list - Purple Row -- Jon Gray and Eddie Butler are the obvious ones. See who else found their way into the respected publication's top prospects list.
Joc Pederson, Corey Seager lead Dodgers in Baseball America Top 100 prospects - True Blue LA -- Joc Pederson was rated No. 34 and Corey Seager No. 37 by Baseball America in their 2014 top 100 prospects in baseball. Three different Dodgers were ranked as the franchise's best prospect by different national publications.

Carlos Martinez, Illusory Starter - Viva El Birdos -- "Carlos Martinez is not going to throw 90 or so pitches every fifth day this summer no matter how much we want him to."
Does speed force errors? - Beyond the Box Score -- It's a well-known baseball saying that speed puts pressure on a defense. Is there any truth to this cliche or is it without merit?
Does Edwin Encarnacion Have Another Gear? - Bluebird Banter -- Edwin Encarnacion has already broken out to become an elite offensive force over the last two seasons. Is it possible he has a little bit more breaking out to do?

Lagaresspin

New-era outfield arms - Beyond the Box Score -- With many of the past decade's premier outfield arms gone from the game today — we examine the league's A-1 outfield arms here to stay.
Fernando Rodney and the surprising effectiveness of old closers - Lookout Landing -- What Fernando Rodney objects to is you automatically treating him like an inferior.

Is Derek Jeter better than Honus Wagner? Steve says yes and everybody is angry. -- Come argue in the comments and make your stand for Honus!
RetroNews: Royals Acquire John Mayberry from Astros (12/18/1971) - Royals Review -- Yesterday was Big John's 65th birthday. Let's look back to the day when the Royals stole him from Houston.
Top 40 Orioles of All Time: #18, Al Bumbry - Camden Chat -- CC's #18 greatest Oriole is the only one who is also a war veteran. Al Bumbry was a solid outfielder for over a decade for the Orioles, and he did all of this after having his career interrupted by serving in Vietnam.
This Day in History: Cincinnati chases away the game's biggest cheat - Red Reporter -- On this day in 1919, the Reds sent first baseman Hal Chase to the Giants for first baseman Walter Holke and catcher Bill Rariden. Holke and Rariden were unremarkable players, but this was an...

Standing out in the market: the last gasp attempts from remaining free agents - MLB Daily Dish
After Tim Byrdak took to Twitter to find a job, a number of top free agents were inspired to get creative with their approaches as well. Will the attention grabbing-stunts help Ervin Santana, Nelson Cruz, and the rest actually get a job?
Chris Sale is "The Condor" elsewhere now - South Side Sox -- Chris Sale's nickname takes next step beyond South Side Sox. You MUST read this if only to see Sale's inverted W in its new, truer form.
Phillies 2014 Photo Day: Bests and Worsts - The Good Phight -- The Phillies sat in front of the photographer today in Clearwater, and, like any Class Photo Day you remember from middle school, the results are tremendous.

Playing possum @Phillies Spring Training. #wildlife #SpringTraining #Phillies pic.twitter.com/fiIPHKnOr8
— David Maialetti (@davidmaialetti) February 19, 2014