HDWEB: Russell Wilson loves baseball, filthy curves, and the worst cap ever

Good morning HDWEB'ers, it's March 4th 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.

Now at 2nd for the Texas @Rangers... @DangeRussWilson! pic.twitter.com/mSiIF3Q0xx

— NFL (@nfl) March 3, 2014

• Russell Wilson debuts at Rangers spring training camp -- Wilson, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Rockies, was picked up by the Rangers in the Rule 5 Draft last December. He made his spring training debut on Monday with hundreds of onlookers and proved yet again that everyone loves baseball the most.

• Backyard Baseball Free Agent Rankings and Predictions " -- CESPEDES FAMILY BARBECUE -- Our friends at CFB scouted Backyard Baseball's eccentric children and the results are glorious.

• Here's Ivan Nova's curveball, normal speed:

• Qualifying offers update: Stephen Drew, Ervin Santana, Kendrys Morales still without contracts -- Robinson Cano wants the Mariners to sign Santana and Morales, but Seattle might not have the financial flexibility to do so. It's nice to want things! I wonder, was this discussed prior to Cano signing his deal with Seattle? (obligatory Royals are one Santana away from serious contention reference).

• Orioles nearing minor league deal with Johan Santana - Camden Chat -- The Orioles are nearing a minor league deal with two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana, who has a long rehab ahead of him after a second shoulder surgery. Remember: Santana was recently clocked at a top speed of 81 mph. (uh-oh?)

• Cameron Maybin to miss 2-3 months with ruptured bicep -- The Padres will be without their starting centerfielder for at least the next two months. Maybin appeared in just 14 games last season. It's my contention that nothing goes right for the Padres and only half of it is their fault. Damn shame.

• MLB instant replay: First challenge comes in Blue Jays-Twins game -- Blue Jays manager John Gibbons made the first unsuccessful challenge in baseball history on Monday.

• BREAKING NEWS -- I finally figured out who Don Mattingly looks like:

• Huston Street Pulls Groin; Insert Joke Here - Gaslamp Ball -- Corey Brock is reporting on the latest setback at spring training, and it's all about closer Huston Street's nether regions. Poor guy.

• Jhoulys Chacin injury: Rockies P to resume throwing in '2 to 3 days' - Purple Row

Tim Lincecum's fastball was 92-93 in 1st inning. He pitched around a pretty bad Tanaka throwing error in scoreless frame.

— Andrew Baggarly (@CSNBaggs) February 26, 2013

• Tim Lincecum pitches well, Giants lose 7-2 - McCovey Chronicles -- "One of those things means something. Not sure which one, though."

• Blue Jays lose to Twins: Bad start for J.A. Happ - Bluebird Banter -- "J.A.Happ was terrible. Started by giving up a hard hit single and double, then went on to walk 4." YIKES. The Blue Jays need Happ to be good this season.

• Jordan Pacheco injury: Rockies C scratched from lineup, will undergo MRI on shoulder - Purple Row -- Pacheco's injury, depending on the seriousness, could cost him a spot on the Rockies' Opening Day roster.

• Injury Expert Will Carroll On Miguel Sano - Twinkie Town -- Injury expert Will Carroll visits with Twinkie Town's Jesse regarding Miguel Sano and his upcoming surgery and recovery.

• Astros prospect Jon Singleton details drug struggle - Associated Press -- I could be wrong and I hate going on the record for difficult stories like this, but I think this is a story that ends well (the Astros' support for Singleton is crucial here):

"At this point it's pretty evident to me that I'm a drug addict," he told The Associated Press over breakfast on a recent day near the Astros' camp.

"I don't openly tell everyone that, but it's pretty apparent to myself." Vividly so. "I know that I enjoy smoking weed, I enjoy being high and I can't block that out of my mind that I enjoy that," he said. "So I have to work against that."

• Talking Chop's 2014 Prospect Sleepers - Talking Chop -- The Talking Chop minor league team picks their favorite sleepers for the 2014 season.

• BP ranks Rangers 7th best in under-25 talent - Lone Star Ball -- Baseball Prospectus ranks all 30 teams in under-25 talent, and has the Rangers at #7 overall.

• Spring training 2014: The Perils of Evaluation: the Brett Wallace story - The Crawfish Boxes -- Maybe being inside baseball would be fun. But, RedHawks First Baseman proves just how awful that experience can be.

• Paul DePodesta on the state of the Mets' farm system and player development - Amazin' Avenue -- The Mets' vice president of player development and amateur scouting sees a bright future.

• MLB Advanced Media's new fielding tracker and the end of fielding debates -- Lasers. The lasers will tell us how to behave.

Jeff Sullivan

• Reviewing Last Year’s Bunt Doubles - FanGraphs Baseball -- Jeff reviews the bunt doubles from the 2013 season, and finds: "One was pulled almost like a line drive. One was put down against an infield shift. One was put down into an infield shift."

• Discussing MLBAM's new tracking system - Beyond the Box Score -- Neil Weinberg, Kevin Ruprecht, and Bryan Cole discuss what to expect from MLBAM's new tracking system, and how it will change the way we watch and think about baseball

• Finding positives in the already-maligned Brian Roberts - Pinstripe Alley -- Like it or not, Roberts is the Yankees' second baseman for the foreseeable future. Before fans decide to bury Roberts entirely prior to his first official game, what benefits could he bring to the team?

• The true cost of a Mike Trout extension - Beyond the Box Score -- Mike Trout is rumored to be about to sign a long-term deal. What is the real cost of such a deal, and what will he have to do live up to it?

• A potentially useful projection system - Beyond the Box Score -- Projection systems are often (rightfully) conservative when projecting individual player seasons. What if we focused on the distribution?

This is too good. pic.twitter.com/CbG5LhQgW8

— Troy Machir (@TroyMachir) March 3, 2014

• Royals edge Bears in Spring Training shocker -- It's early in Spring Training, and the players are just as not-ready as you'd expect. So, apparently, is everyone else.

• NL Central starting lineups and rotations, as described by Google autocomplete -- In part five of the six-part series, we explore which sensical and nonsensical things come up in Google's autocomplete for every starter in the NL Central.

• There's no way this hat being sold at Target is real. No way. Nope. I challenge you to find a worse hat. It cannot be done. h/t r/baseball

• Have a beautiful day:

Ivan Nova's curveball in slow motion -- h/t @pitchergifs