Good afternoon HDWEB'ers, it's March 6th and Ervin Santana still doesn't have a job. Here's everything you need to know.
HDWEB: Sad Junior nearly ruins the day, but Bryce Harper and Brett Gardner would like a word
In today’s HOW DARE WE ENJOY BASEBALL, Ken Griffey Jr. has a bizarre and disheartening interview, we look at scout deployment and back injuries, and we brighten the day with jacked-up Harper and the best picture of Brett Gardner you’ll ever see. YES!


If you have ideas or suggestions, send 'em my way at @justinbopp.
Baseball heartbreak is worse than any other:
Who hurt you, Junior? What’s wrong? I watch this video and my mind races. Was there something I missed? Where’s that smile? Are you on something? Did somebody just tell you a racist joke before the cameras came on? Did you just realize you could’ve jacked up on ‘roids and PEDs and had the best MLB career of all time? Or is it something more sinister? Is Upper Deck holding you hostage? Are you ok?
What happened to you?
I am so filled with sadness after watching this video. Those stilted, one-word answers. That oblivious, you’re-wasting-my-time look he can’t remotely hide. It’s like that time I heard that George Brett was actually a big huge jerk to everyone in Kansas City. Or that time I heard Michael Jordan was an insufferable asshole and/or a bully to basically everyone (The Chamillionaire/Jordan story in particular). In both cases, and in this one, I’m left slightly more hollow than I was the day before.
I’d still let each of them be a jerk to me, though.
Anyway, you’re not here for sads, you’re here for happy. Let’s fix this pronto:

Ahhhh, that’s better.
Matt Carpenter, Cardinals discussing contract extension - SBNation.com
St. Louis is looking into a long-term deal with their surprise MVP candidate.Yasiel Puig exits with upper back injury, but expected back in lineup Thursday - True Blue LA
Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig left Wednesday's game with soreness in his upper back, but he is expected to be back in the starting lineup on Thursday.Cole Hamels Suffers Setback - The Good Phight
Cole Hamels is unlikely to pitch in April after suffering another setback.Tigers owner Mike Ilitch admits he has been dealing with health issues - Bless You Boys
As part of a statement as to why he will not be in attendance for the number retirement of the Red Wings' Nick Lidstrom, Tigers owner Mike Ilitch admits to having health problems.Jeff Samardzija extension: Cubs GM Hoyer prefers to extend right hander - SBNation.com
Samardzija has frequently appeared in trade rumors this offseason, but the Cubs hope to keep him in Chicago.Bovada makes Texas Rangers the favorite in the A.L. West - Lone Star Ball
Bovada has the Rangers at 7 to 4 odds of winning the A.L. West, the best odds of any team in the division
Jose Fernandez shines in spring debut; Zobrist, Jennings lead Rays - SBNation.com
Recapping Wednesday afternoon's spring training games, which saw Jose Fernandez return to the mound in fine form.Mark Teixeira injury: Yankees 1B 'ticked' by lack of swings in camp - SBNation.com
Teixeira was hoping to get some work in at the cages, but the Yanks shut him down after a short batting session.The Red Sox Epic Battle for utility man - Over the Monster
Brock Holt vs. Jonathan Herrera. Only one man can win. Feel the excitement.Yankees spring training: Hitters' Making the Team Meter - Week One - Pinstripe Alley
Examining where players without guaranteed spots on the Yankees' Opening Day roster stand in their quest to make the team after one week of Spring Training:
Pretty much anyone with two arms and a glove with knowledge of playing the infield is an option to make the team at this point. The favorites might be Dean Anna, due to his 40-man roster spot, or Yangervis Solarte, who has been impressing with his bat so far this spring.
Eduardo Nunez might be the favorite because he’s been there before, but there could be enough bench spots to share if some of the other options can put up impressive numbers over the next few weeks.
Roster cuts are imminent in Lakeland - Bless You Boys
The Tigers will be making their first roster cuts of the spring within the next few days as the team approaches the 2014 season.Zack Greinke throws bullpen session, return to mound closer - True Blue LA
For the first time in six days, Dodgers starter Zack Greinke threw off a mound, still dealing with a strained right calf.
Are Major League Baseball Teams Deploying Their Scouts Efficiently? - The Crawfish Boxes
Texas, California, and Florida lead the nation in draftees, and not coincidentally, in scouts. But is the way the scouting community is currently situated the best way?
How Are Scouts Currently Being Deployed?
Minor League Ball Gameday: Thursday, March 6 - Minor League Ball
Bogaerts and Baez showed off their respective boom sticks while each of the four Top 100 pitching prospects in action had scoreless appearances.Lucas Giolito and A.J. Cole Top MLB.com's List of the Nationals' Top 20 Prospects - Federal Baseball
MLB.com released their list of the Washington Nationals' Top 20 Prospects this afternoon. Right-handers Lucas Giolito and A.J. Cole were atop the rankings. While Giolito is no.1, Cole is likely closer to making an impact at the major league level...Eduardo Nunez and hope eternal - Pinstripe Alley
Sometimes all you need is one chance. And then a few more. Maybe one after that, too.Talking Chop's 2014 prospect breakout candidates - Talking Chop
The Talking Chop prospect team discusses our favorite breakout candidates for 2014.Keith Law names Mookie Betts the 'most blocked' prospect in baseball - Over the Monster
Where oh where will Mookie Betts wind up?
Combining Value and Production, Cardinals' Rotation is Good, But the Tigers' is Better - Viva El Birdos
With a solid young staff behind Adam Wainwright this season, the Cardinals' rotation is a good mix of production at decent prices. When surveying all of baseball, however, the Tigers is the best.Player performance in a free agent year: an analysis - Beyond the Box Score
Do players perform better in their free agency walk years? Read and find out.NL West 2014: Juan Uribe, Michael Cuddyer among regression candidates - SBNation.com
Uribe and Cuddyer were both really old and really good in 2013. It's highly possible that those two guys will boast only one of those characteristics when 2014 all said and done.Phillies Defensive Philosophy "Shifting" (See What I Did There?) - The Good Phight
Up until now, the Phillies have been one of the few teams in baseball not to employ defensive shifts against their opponents. Wednesday's spring game against Atlanta showed that may no longer be the case.The Dustification of Chris Heisey - Red Reporter
Is it possible that Dusty Baker stunted Heisey's development?

What is a microdiscectomy, and what does it mean for Andy Dirks? - Bless You Boys
In short, nothing we should be too worried about when it comes to Andy Dirks' timetable for return.Revisiting the Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki extensions - Purple Row
It's hard to believe that it's been three years already since Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki signed long-term extensions with the Rockies. Let's check in on how that has gone so far.Robinson Cano and the lineup protection myth - Lookout Landing
There's an increasing amount of chatter that says the Mariners have to "protect" Robinson Cano in the lineup or his offense will be wasted. Don't fall for it.
His secret? Thin Mints, it appears. RT @1067thefandc: WHOA. Look how huge Bryce Harper is now. http://t.co/thGnImTY4B pic.twitter.com/ObK8SBEenv
— Mr. Irrelevant (@MrIrrelevantDC) March 5, 2014 Bryce Harper is jacked, carrying Girl Scout Cookies - SBNation.com
Look at how big Bryce Harper is, then let's RANK THESE COOKIES!Helping Fox with their 'Keys to the Game' - SBNation.com
A free service.Cool Padres Card: Jason Thompson and His Surfboard - Gaslamp Ball
Upper Deck had such great and offbeat photography back in the 1990s; this Jason Thompson card is a prime example. In a shot reminiscent of Tim Flannery's 1988 Fleer and Ryan Klesko's 1996 Pinnacle,...Help Joba Chamberlain choose his Opening Day facial hair - Bless You Boys
On Opening Day,do you want to see Joba Chamberlain in a mustache? Maybe a goatee? How about a full beard? Or should he be clean shaven? You can help make the call!Mark Teixeira and juice: A love story through GIFs - Pinstripe Alley
Everyone's favorite bizarre juice fanatic took a YES reporter into his juicing lair. The world may never be the same.Five Great Rick Ankiel Throws (GIFs) | Serious Jammage
Let us never forget that amazing arm.
- The Yankees posted THIS PICTURE of Brett Gardner to their Facebook page.
- Have a beautiful day:

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